| Notes |
- Joseph, 4 (John, 3 Robert, 2 Walter, 1 ) b. in Londonderry, N. H., Jan. 17, 1721 ; m. June 1, 1747, Margaret Thompson who d. subsequent to 1770 ; he m. 2d, Hannah Hescock who d. in 1824 (?). Prior to 1752 he removed from Londonderry, N. H., to Colrain, Mass., and came into possession of lot No. 43, upon which he lived. It was located well under the protection of Fort Morrison, to which the family resorted in time of danger from Indian raids, and where he, doubtless, served as defender under Capt. Israel Williams in 1756, and again under Capt. Samuel Wells in 1759. He was chosen one of the fence viewers in 1756; chosen fence viewer and collector in 1757 ; in 1760 he was chosen to manage the affairs of the town; March, 1768, he was chosen assessor but refused to take the oath ; in 1757 he sold the south half of lot No. 44, to Alexander Thompson bounded north by land of John Thompson and south by his own land ; in 1762 he sold land in the second division to James Anderson Thompson; March 15, 1770, he sold his homestead but the family seem to have been living in the vicinity of Colrain until 1773.
After this date they seem to be pioneering through the southern towns of Vermont and we find them at Halifax and Bennington. He served in the Revolution under Col. Blair, Albany County, N. Y. In 1800 they appear in Washington County, N. Y. In 17 19 Joseph and Hannah Stewart deed land to Joseph, 3d.
The following interesting letters, written by him in the 97th and 98 th years of his age, have unveiled so much of the Stewart history, the compiler could not refrain from the impulse to append them as a fitting memoir of this grand old patriarch, who d. at White Creek, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1 82 1, a. 100 years, 1 month and 5 days.
"White Creek, Aug. the 28, 18 18.
" I have received your letter and I am sorry to hear of your sickness.
" By all accounts of our descent, we are of the royal house of the Stewarts. My Father was John the eldest son of Robert my Grandfather, who was obliged to fly to Ireland when they were newly married. My Granny was sent to Edinburgh and he was born there. As far as I can learn they belong to the House of White Rose and not altogether separated from the House of Black Hall. My Grandfather's family's names was John and Robert and their sister's name was Juleyan, Samuel, the youngest. My Grandfather had a good estate in Scotland when he fled from it. King William would do nothing about it, neither would Queen Anne, but when King George came to the crown their Uncle Samuel Stewart, by the help of the Duke of Argyle, recovered it. That must be the estate you mention. I was informed that Uncle Samuel died without issue, left no heirs. The way that I came to know of our descent was by old Father James Stewart of Colrain. You may remember young James, who married at last Margaret Anderson your cousin. That descent was from White Rose, for he himself belonged to Black Hall. He had a catalogue of the house of Stewarts for many hundred years, but son Alx carried it away with him to Pennsylvania. I did not know all this until after my father's death. This I knew they belonged to the Rose party, by reason of the high esteem they had for Charles the ist who had many good properties.
" My father's eldest son Charles who is your uncle, and my Father and your grand Uncle Robert would never own the last pretender or any of the race by reason of his spurious birth. No man dare assail the name of Stewart that was if he would not forfeit his life. It gives you the reach, James the ist had two sons James and Robert, James the 3d had two sons James and Robert. This is the whole I can give you at present. I am afraid you can't read for since I got that fall at your house I could never hold a pen to write straight. I would beg you would acquaint me of your proceedings therefore I rest
"To John Stewart. Your father, Joseph Stewart."
The following letter was addressed to a person, name unknown, who evidently had written him a letter of inquiry.
"White Creek, March 15, 1819.
" Dear Sir,
"I received yours of the 16th February last, informing me that the heirs of Elizabeth Forsyth that she married a Stewart. My Father's name was John Stewart, the eldest son of Robert Stewart. My mother's name was Elizabeth Forsyth. My grandmother's name was Forsyth, her Christian name forgot. My great-grandfather's name was, as I believe, Walter. My grandfather's name by my mother's side was either William or James, which I cannot tell." The above letter seems to have been closed abruptly and never received by the person addressed, it being a choice relic now in the possession of Joseph's descendants.
(Severence)
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1721 - 1821 (100 years)
