| Notes |
- Duncan Stewart (1739) says, "Walter married Isabel, daughter of John Stewart, predecessor to Glenbucky and had three sons: Alexander, Robert, and John."
Walter initially resided in Glen Finglas prior to inheriting Gartnafuaran.
The Murder of Lord Kilpont
Walter Stewart and his father, Andrew, were present on 1 September 1644 after the Battle of Tippermuir/Tibbermore in the camp of James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, when his uncle and chief, James Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich, murdered John Graham, Lord Kilpont. On 1 March 1645, Walter and Andrew were among those who were pardoned for the act of fleeing the scene of the murder. Those pardoned included James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich; his son, Robert Stewart, younger of Ardvorlich; Duncan MacRobert Stewart, 2nd of Glen Ogle; Andrew Stewart, 6th of Gartnafuaran, and his son, Walter Stewart in Glenfinglas.
Gordon MacGregor, The Red Book of Scotland, says Walter was "served heir to his grandfather, Alexander Stewart, on 26 May 1653."
The Edward S. Gray Papers say Walter’s will was probably confirmed 27 March 1679. This would suggest his death was shortly before that date. (Olar)
Walter was one of the signatories of the 1654 Bond of Keltney Burn along with the heads of the other Stewart households of Balquhidder, Annat and Atholl, in support of King Charles II and in opposition to Oliver Cromwell. This document would have been considered treasonous at the time. (Stewart Clan Magazine, Jan. 1940, vol. XVII, no. 7, pp. 126-127, and Dec. 1962, vol. 40, p.265, c/o Olar)
Stewarts of the South says the following about a Walter Stewart of Gartnafuaran: "Although they are the last, I think they ought to be the second, at least. In general, they are something like to the family of Ardvorlich, not altogether valiant as the Glenbuckie family, but more of a Low country nature. The only distinguished character known to me of this family was one "Walter-du-mor" ("Big Black Walter") who [along] with his two sons was killed at the battle of Kilsyth, [although] some say, however, that they were killed at the battle of "Bodle (Bothwell) brig", which was certainly not the case.
The Battle of Kilsyth took place on 15 Aug 1645 and the Battle of Bothwell Brig took place on 22 Jun 1679. One interpretation is that this applies to Walter Stewart in Glen Finglas, eldest son of Alexander Stewart, 5th of Gartnafuaran, and that he and his sons died in 1645. However, another interpretation could be that the author of Stewarts of the South, writing about 150 years later, may have been mistaken about the battles. It could refer to this Walter Stewart who died the same year as the Battle of Bothwell Brig, and one of his sons, Robert, is know to have fought at Bothwell Brig, then fled to Ireland, and could have been mistaken for dead along with one of his brothers.
Walter's testament is extremely difficult to read, but what can be discerned from it is that he died in January of 1678. His residence was Stronslany, not Gartnafuaran at the time, which was in the hands of Donald Fergussone. His sons Alexander and John are mentioned. His wife is not mentioned, so it may be that she was already deceased.
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1625 - 1678 (53 years)
