Notes |
- Sarah Jane Stewart. A sister of the subject of the foregoing notice (John Joseph Smale Stewart), was born at St. Fillans in the autumn of 1845 (sic, baptism records confirm she was born in 1839. Census records show that she started fudging her age in her early 30s). With a view to fitting her for a professional career, Sarah received the full educational course of the local school. Her mother dying suddenly, however, and her father following her into the silent land in little more than a year thereafter, her prospects in life were changed, and she had to go out to service. In the winter of 1877, she became the wife of the late Mr. John Hyslop, the well-known Kilmarnock postman-poet; author of “The Dream of a Masque and Other Poems,” and her wedded career was one of unbroken happiness. Since she was fourteen years old Mrs. Hyslop has cultivated, as opportunity afforded, a natural and true poetic gift, and has written many tender heart-warming poems and songs, which have been widely circulated and esteemed.
{Ford, Robert. The Harp of Perthshire. A Collection of Songs, Ballads, and other Poetical Pieces chiefly by local authors with notes explanatory, critical, and biographical. Paisley and Paternoster Square, London: Alexander Gardner, Publisher to her Majesty the Queen, 1893, p. 512.)
John [Hyslop] was twice married. The first marriage took place in the summer of 1863, when he was in receipt of 11s 6d per week, but odds and ends brought in a shilling or two more. Six children were born to them, three girls and three boys; of whom two girls and one boy died before their mother left his side to join them in the Better Land. After fourteen years of wedded life filled with sunshine and shadow; with smiles and tears; with many struggles and many triumphs, who who had been a loving mother and a good and loyal wife, died in the summer of 1877. Feeling his household getting into disorder, he married again in December of the same year, Sarah Jane Stewart, who had been spoken of to him by his first wife weeks before she died as the one she would like as her successor. Alluding to her, John wrote: “Clever, warm-hearted, and impulsive, widely read, with a magnificent memory, in many things our tastes and feelings are identical, and she, like myself, has been for years a maker of verses, some of which have appeared in various journals. Some of her lines are inscribed along with Surfaceman’s, and others in the Poet’s Album in Kilmarnock Burns’ Monument.”…
Mrs. Hyslop was born in Saint Fillans, in Perthshire, beautifully situated at the foot of Loch Earn. Her father, John Stewart, was a soldier in his youth, and served in that capacity for twenty-four years, the greater part of that time being spent abroad. He was in St. Helena during the whole time of Napoleon’s captivity. He married before leaving the army, but Sarah Jane was not born until after his discharge, and after he had returned to Loch Earn. She was born about the Autumn of 1845 (sic). Related to the Stewarts of Ardvorlick (sic), its then proprietor, unsolicited, procured for her father a police inspectorship at Loch Earn Head, which situation he held until within a few months of his death. With his salary as inspector and a sergeant’s pension the father was able to bring up his family of eleven (sic, eight) children without the struggle experienced by many parents with large families. Sarah Jane received her early education at Loch Earn Head, and resided there until she had reached the age of twelve years, when she was sent to the Normal School, Glasgow, having early displayed special aptitude for learning. Before she had reached her seventh year she could repeat several old Scotch ballads, and at the age of nine could repeat the Psalms from the 1st on to the 24th without a mistake, and also every line of the 119th. Not long after entering the Normal her mother died, and in a little more than a year afterwards her father was laid in the grave. Writing of this period, she says, “All joy seemed blotted out of my life. I had then to be taken from the Normal School, to which I had been sent after my mother’s death, and nothing remained for all of us who were able but to turn out to service. My eldest brother had gone to sea as admiral’s clerk, and within a year or two after these sad events, the home we loved so well was for ever closed against the boys and girls who enjoyed and played around its blythesome hearth. After serving in different capacities in several well-to-do families, I was married to John Hyslop in the winter of 1877.” As early as her fourteenth year she commenced writing verses, and throughout her life poetry has been the solace and refuge of spare hours. She has said: “My verses are not like these written by long-handed men, for I just make a dash at them, and scarcely ever given them a second thought or look.” Mrs. Hyslop sometimes after the decease of her husband got a situation with a family in Stirling, and there she is now, feeling comfortable and at home. Like John, Mrs. Hyslop was a frequent contributor for years to various journals and was successful in different competitions. The People’s Friend, the People’s Journal, Dundee Weekly News, and the Kilmarnock papers from time to time published poems and stories from her gifted pen.
(Johnston, William, editor. Memorial volume of John Hyslop, the postman poet. Kilmarnock: J.C. Motson, “Herald” Office, 1895. pp. xi, xv, xvi.)
The above biographies of Sarah indicate that she and John’s first wife were acquainted with each other prior to his first wife’s death. It’s possible that Sarah was working as a household servant to John Hyslop before his first wife died.
In 1841, at age 1, Sarah was residing in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland with her parents and siblings, Catherine, John, and Isabella.
In 1851, at age 10, Sarah was residing in Lochearnhead, Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland, with her parents and siblings, Mary, Isabella, Alexander and Helen. She was a student.
In 1855, Sarah Stewart is listed as being 16 years old on her father's death registration.
In 1861, at age 20, Sarah is believed (but not confirmed) to be residing in West Lundie (Braes of Doune), Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, employed as a dairymaid in the household of Alexander Dewar.
Sarah has not been confidently identified in 1871.
In 1881, at age 36, Sarah was residing at 2 St. Marnock Place, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, with her husband John Hyslop, and his children from his first marriage, John, Agnes and Jane. Sarah was a letter carrier’s wife.
In 1891, at age 45, Sarah was residing at 5 Mill Lane, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, with her husband, John Hyslop, and 2-year-old grandson, Alexander.
In 1901, at age 55, Sarah was residing at 28 India Street in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, widowed and employed as a domestic servant to Margaret Galbraith.
Sarah Jane Hyslop, widow of john Hyslop, former Postman, died 15 January 1920, 7 Bayne Street, Stirling, age 80 years. Daughter of John Stewart, sergeant of police (deceased) and Sarah Margaret Stewart nee Lowell (sic) (deceased). Informant: Grace Stewart, grand-niece, 6 Bruce Street, Stirling.
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