| Notes |
- Childhood in Scotland
Peter Stewart was born in 1820 in the clachan of Morell in Easter Glentarken, Comrie parish, Perthshire, Scotland. The Comrie OPR records his place of birth as "Moril." He was the tenth of eleven children born to Robert Stewart and Catharine McNaughtan. Peter would have been raised with Gaelic as his first language in the home and English taught in the local school in Comrie. At some point in his young childhood, his family was evicted from the clachan in Glen Tarken where they'd lived for two generations and they were forced to relocate to the nearby village of St. Fillans. Peter was probably just ten or eleven years old when his father, Robert Stewart, died.
Deciding to Leave Deep Roots
The financial hardships they endured, compelled Peter's older siblings and their widowed mother to decide to move the entire family to Canada. Peter's father's family had lived around the shores of Loch Earn since the 1400s. His mother's family roots stretched back to Pictish times (pre-800 CE). With roots that deep, it could not have been easy to leave.
Many of their neighbours from nearby Wester Glentarken and elsewhere in Comrie parish had earlier moved to southern Ontario, Canada in 1818. That earlier party included McNaughtons, Maclarens, MacNabs and Carmichaels, many of whom were distantly related to our family. Those earlier emigrants sent back letters with stories of the opportunities for free land and prosperity in the New World, which may have enticed our Stewarts to brave the journey.
Leaving Scotland for Canada
Peter, along with his extended family, emigrated in 1833. They landed firstly in Montreal, Quebec, Canada after a journey of many weeks at sea where one of Peter's older brothers-in-law died of cholera. In Montreal, they hired an oxen-pulled barge to haul their belongings. Peter writes about the night their barge crashed on rocks and all their possessions were lost at the bottom of the river, while the family clung to the rocks till morning.
After a stopover in Muddy York (Toronto), Ontario, they finally arrived in the newly formed town of Hamilton, Ontario. Today, Hamilton is a city of a half-million people. In 1833, when our Stewarts arrived, the population was only 1000 and it had just been granted official status as a "police village."
Assisted by Sir Allan MacNab
Upon arrival, having lost all their possessions on the journey, the Stewarts presented themselves at the home of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, future 1st Baronet of Dundurn Castle, future pre-confederation Premier of the United Provinces of Canada, then a very successful local land speculator, lawyer and politician. MacNab's family came from farmtoun of Dundurn in Scotland, in the same parish of Comrie where our Stewarts came from. Their families were not merely neighbours, they were likely related as Peter's grandmother was a MacNab from nearby to Dundurn.
Sir Allan MacNab helped our Stewarts get established in Hamilton by acquiring housing for Peter's older brother Duncan Stewart along York Street across from the then-under-construction Dundurn Castle. Peter's older siblings, John Stewart, and William McCallum, lived nearby and were likely also assisted by MacNab, although we lack documentation to be sure.
Settling in Puslinch
With the older Stewart siblings established in Hamilton, the younger siblings and their widowed mother acquired a land grant for future farm development on Concession 3, Lot 19-rear, in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, just southwest of the newly settled village of Guelph, Ontario. (See map above.) It is likely that MacNab aided in their land acquisition.
The Puslinch settlers included: widow Catharine Stewart (age 60), and siblings, Robert Stewart, Jr. (21), Catharine Stewart (18), Peter Stewart (14) and William Stewart (9). They arrived in Puslinch in 1834.
There was only one road between Hamilton and Guelph in 1834. It would have been a rough dirt path through the forest. At the time that they settled in Puslinch, their land was still uncleared, rough forest - they were true pioneer settlers, and they were the first Europeans to live on their land. Before they could farm their land or even build a house, they first had to clear the land of trees.
Peter's older brother, Robert, became head of the household in Puslinch and married shortly thereafter to Mary Gillespie, whose family shared the same land.
First Winter in a Shanty
Their first winter was spent in little more than a shack. Peter Stewart’s childhood memory described it as “a shanty without any door but an old country blanket hung over.” Bears, wolves, and rattlesnakes were common hazards. Peter recalled a bear actually barging into the shanty at one point. As someone who has lived through many southern Ontario winters, I can only imagine how harsh it must have been. Highlanders were hardy people.
Peter and the Drunk Oxen
It appears that Peter was a bit wild while growing up. His memoirs tell of a time while he was helping clear a neighbour's farm land. "There was a great work party with many neighbours and their oxen working to clear trees and stumps." Peter's team of oxen were going slower than everyone else's so he fed them each a bottle of whisky. Apparently they perked up a bit afterwards! He also comments that fortunately they were not his oxen!
Peter also used to haul whisky to Toronto for David Allen of Guelph. Peter and his partner Robert Allen (David's brother) would sell the whisky for $0.20/gallon. Their trip from Guelph to Toronto and back would take four days.
Peter Helps Build the Brock Road
Between 1838-1846, Peter worked as a road builder, like his older brother, Duncan. Peter worked for Absalom Shade, one of the founders of the town of Galt, to build what is now Brock Road through west Puslinch township. This work provided a significant secondary income for the Stewart household. (This story may have been confused with a later story below.)
Tragedy - a Family Orphaned by Smallpox
In 1848, tragedy struck the Stewart household in the form of a smallpox outbreak in the community, killing Peter's brother, Robert Stewart, his wife Mary Gillespie, and their mother Widow Catharine Stewart (MacNaughtan), leaving Robert's four children orphaned.
Siblings Catharine Stewart and Peter Stewart (now ages 32 and 28) stepped up to help raise the orphaned children, including Robert III (age 12), Hugh (9) and Catharine (7). The youngest orphan, James (2), initially went to live with his aunt, Margaret Stewart and her husband William McCallum, in Hamilton, but later rejoined his siblings in Puslinch.
The 1851 census shows Peter and his sister, Catharine, with orphans Robert (14), Hugh (12), and (10) Catharine residing with them in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. Orphan James was residing with his aunt Margaret in Hamilton. They are residing in a 1 storey log house.
Life on the Farm in Puslinch
Peter finally secured the deed of ownership for the family property in 1854:
"Province of Canada, Deed to Peter Stewart, Clergy Reserve Land
To Peter Stewart of the township of Puslinch in the county of Wellington, yeoman and his heirs
At the price of 75 pounds (Approximately $16,000 Cdn in 2022.)
One hundred acres, the rear or north half of the clergy reserve lot number 19 in the 3rd concession of the township of Puslinch
Signed at Quebec this 9th day of October 1854, in the 18th year of our reign."
In 1861, Peter was residing in Puslinch, Wellington, Ontario, Canada (his age is shown incorrectly as 30) with his sister, Catharine, and the orphans Robert, Hugh, Catharine and James. Also living with them is Peter's older sister, Jane McCowan (nee Stewart, age 60) and her son, Peter McCowan (age 23). They are shown to be still residing in a log home at this time.
Peter Fights off a Bear with a Branding Iron
“A bear came and got among the pigs and took one of them. I took a fire brand and gave chase, overtook the bear and struck him across the head, but he would not let loose the pig. [Our] dog, a large, heavy one, made an attack on the bear. Still he would not let loose, but he took the pig to the hill in the bush and had a good meal out of it and left what he could not eat under a turned-up maple tree.”
- Peter Stewart
Peter Builds the Stone Farmhouse
It is estimated that Peter's stone farmhouse was built sometime in the 1860s or 1870s. It seems likely that he may have wanted to have it built in time for his new bride to move into in 1866.
Peter Marries Catherine McLean and Raises a Family
Peter and Catherine raised their niece and nephews until they were old enough to live on their own. (For the story of the orphans and their descendants, see Robert Stewart, Jr.) It was only after the orphans were grown and gone that, in 1866, Peter, then age 46, married the young Catherine McLean, age 23, half his age. Together they had nine children of their own. Witnesses at Peter and Catherine Mclean's wedding included their nephew, Hugh Stewart and Peter's younger brother, William Stewart.
In 1871, Peter was residing at concession 3, lot 19, in Puslinch, Wellington, Ontario, Canada, as the property owner, employed as a farmer, residing with his sister, Catharine, and his wife, Catherine, and their children Mary (4), Robert (3) and newborn Catherine Ann. Also residing with them is Peter's nephew, Edward (13), son of Peter's brother, William Stewart. Peter's older sister, Jane, and her son, Peter McCowan (McGowan) was also residing with them. (p2, line4, family 6,) He has 100 acres with one house, one barn, 2 carriages/sleighs, 3 carts/wagons/sleds, 3 ploughs, 1 reaper, and 1 fanning mill. He has improved 75 of his 100 acres, with 10 acres in pasture, 2 acres in gardens or orchards, 10 acres in wheat, yielding 90 bushels in spring wheat and 100 bushels in fall wheat, 80 bushels in barley, 200 bushels in oats, 60 bushels in peas, 1 acre yielding 200 bushels in potatoes, 1600 bushels in turnips, 50 bushels in beets, 40 bushels in carrots, 8 acres yielding 15 tonnes of hay, and 30 bushels of apples. He has 3 horses over 3 years old, 1 colt or filly, 4 milk cows, 7 other horned cattle, 20 sheep, 4 swine. In the past year he slaughtered 3 cattle, 22 sheep, 6 swine. He generated 200 pounds of butter, 80 pounds of homemade cheese, 100 pounds of wool, 20 yards of homemade cloth or flannel, and 11 cords of firewood.
Barn Fire Revenge
In 1877, the farm next door to Peter came up for auction for $1500 (approximately equivalent to $3.4 million in 2020) due to the owner, Patrick McGuinness', failure to pay the mortgage. Patrick McGuinness was so upset about losing his farm to his neighbour that he torched Peter's barn that night. The fire killed all of Peter's livestock and destroyed all of his farm equipment. Patrick McGuinness was sentenced to 3 years hard labour in Kingston Penitentiary.
In 1881, Peter Stewart was residing in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada, employed as a farmer and living with his wife and children. His sister, Catharine Stewart, and nephew, Peter McGowan, are not listed with the family.
Tragically, in 1883, Peter's wife Catherine died prematurely at the young age of 40, leaving Peter and his sister Catherine to raise his children.
In 1891, Peter Stewart was a widower residing in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada, employed as a farmer, and living with his sister, his children, and his nephew Peter McGowan, who was working in the Stewart house as a servant.
Peter Gravels the Brock Road
"Mr. Peter Stewart has completed the gravelling on the Brock Road from Hamilton's Hotel to Aberfoyle. Judges say that the work is most satisfactory. The overseer, Mr. John Card, is also highly pleased with the work." - Guelph Mercury, Saturday, October 17, 1896. (As this story closely resembles the earlier Brock Road story, it's possible that only the latter is true and the earlier is a mis-remembering of this story.)
In 1901, Peter Stewart was residing in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada as a widowed farmer, with several of his younger children, his sister, Catharine, and his nephew, Peter McGowan.
Peter Stewart and Duff’s Presbyterian Church
Peter served as an elder at Duff’s Presbyterian Church for 27 years. He also ran the local Sabbath School for many years. He was remembered as an esteemed and generous man.
Death
Peter Stewart and his sister Catherine remained on the family farm until they died in 1901 and 1904 respectively.
The Stewart family farm house is located at 6981 Puslinch Conc. 4, RR # 6, Guelph, Ontario. Peter Stewart's stone house still stands. It is now owned by the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.
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McPhatter Letter, full text, 1898
(Peter would have been 78 years old when he gave the following account. This was only three years before his death in 1901.)
Peter Stewart was born in St. Fillans, Perthshire, Scotland in 1822 (sic) and arrived in Canada in 1834 and arrived in Puslinch the same year and bought this farm from a man named James Burnside and has lived here ever since and have now 200 acres of land, all in good order and a well stocked farm.
He can remember many of old time reminiscences of earlier days. On the way out from the old country with five brothers and five sisters, one of the sisters' husbands died in Montreal from cholera and that dreaded disease was prevalent all over Canada at that time. On the way up from Montreal, there were twenty-one oxen teams driven by French Canadians, and on the way the rapids were about to take the teams into the river. The ropes were cut and the boat was left broadside against a rock, but we were all saved by being allowed to remain on the rock till morning, and arrived safe in Toronto. We remained there three weeks and we arrived in Hamilton.
We could not get a house to live in on account of the cholera. We stayed in Hamilton till the next fall. [This contradicts the earlier account that they arrived in Montreal in 1834 and arrived in Puslinch the same year.]
Early days in the bush I have started out with my oxen on Monday morning and did not return till Saturday night being at a logging bee down on the 1st Concession and the Gore every day in the week. At one logging bee, when whisky was plentiful and good, Charles Borthwick was grog boss and I was driving a neighbour's oxen, and they were very heavy and lazy, and I got tired driving them and in the afternoon I gave each ox a bottle of whisky. I had the liveliest team in the field! And the oxen, I am glad to say, belonged to Kenneth McKenzie, an old Puslinch neighbour, now of Burnside, Manitoba.
However, I must here say that in those days that the neighbours were so good to each other and would be happy to have to eat a scone made of flour and water, and we would have some wild gooseberries stewed and maple sugar with potatoes, venison and sometimes bear meat. We were very happy.
Another time we had a shanty to live in without any door but an old country blanket hung over, when [a] bear came and got among the pigs and took one of them. I took a fire brand and gave chase, overtook the bear and struck him across the head, but he would not let loose the pig. [Our] dog, a large, heavy one, made an attack on the bear. Still he would not let loose, but he took the pig to the hill in the bush and had a good meal out of it and left what he could not eat under a turned-up maple tree.
Many other of histories I can relate of hunting bears and deer. One evening we caught a good sized cub, killed him and took his pelt off when the old bear came along and we had all we could do to keep her away -- the roars of her was terrible. Then the old bear [came] along and we had all we could do to keep her away. [Later] she was looking for her cub and came [when] we were all in bed.
In those days there no concession and roads made, but [just] trails and blazes on the trees so that we could see. And I can well remember Shades Road through Puslinch. It follow on near where the Accommodation Road now is on the Blind Line between the 4th Concession and the 5th Concession and we at that time followed Shades Road with our loads of maple sugar on our backs to Galt.
Another incident of early days was hauling whisky to Toronto with two yokes of oxen with a wagon for David Allen of Guelph. His brother, Robert Allen, and I started from Guelph before daylight in the morning for Toronto with a big load and we sold whisky all the way down and we took four days on our way there and home. We sold it out by the barrel for twenty cents per gallon.
I have raised a family of nine children, four girls and five boys, all at home, but two [are now] in Manitoba.
Peter Stewart
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Obituary:
Peter Stewart. In Puslinch on Tuesday, December 3, 1901, aged 82. Funeral will take place from his residence, lot 19, 3rd concession, Puslinch on Thursday at 1. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this notice.
An old and respected resident of the township, he died after a long illness at his home this morning. In 1834 his widowed mother, with a family of ten came from Perthshire, Scotland. By industry and frugality, a comfortable home was provided. He leaves a family of nine, five sons and four daughters, viz: Robert, Harris, Kenneth and Mrs. David McNaughton in Manitoba and Mary, Neil, Duncan, Lizzie and Maggie and his sister, Miss Catherine, at home. Mr. Stewart was associated with Duff's Church ever since its organization and was an earnest and consistent member. For many years, even until his infirmities prevented, he was an active worker in the Sabbath school on the 3rd concession. For 27 years he was an elder of the church, serving faithfully and always taking an active and intelligent interest in all the work of the church. His home was ever characterized by kind hospitality and generous gifts to the needy. He was well known and highly esteemed for his goodness of heart, honest frankness, humility, purity of life and nobleness of character. During the last few years he suffered from repeated strokes of paralysis and for over seven months was unable to leave his room, where his family, kind neighbours and friends, ministered constantly to his needs until his peaceful deliverance came. The service was conducted by Rev. W. Robertson of Duff's Church assisted by the Rev. Mr. McDonald of Hespeler. Interment Crown Cemetery. Pallbearers: Alexander McCaig, Allan McDiarmid, Andrew Munro, John A. Cockburn, Hugh Ross and William McKay. Miss Catherine Stewart, now 84, who has always lived with her brother, is the only surviving member of the ten who constituted their family.
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Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
STEWART, Peter (d.). This respected Puslinch pioneer was b. in Perthshire, Scot., in 1817, and came to Canada in 1832. He stopped at Hamilton a year, and came up to Puslinch in 1833, and purchased 200 acres, lot 19, con. 3, where he settled, living on this farm the balance of his long and useful life. There were no roads back to the third concession when the late Peter Stewart made is settlement, and he followed a "blazed" path through the unbroken forest to his land. He made a small clearing and erected a log shanty. This farm he cleared, and though starting in the world without means, became a very successful man, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He took an active interest in church matters, and was one of the founders of Duff's Church [sic. Peter's mother was a founder. Peter was a child at the time.], and an Elder in it for many years. In politics he was a Liberal, although outside of being a School Trustee, he never sought municipal honors.
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Abt 1820 - 1901 (~ 81 years)
[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]