The STEWART Clan (Appin) |
This famous clan surname is regarded as the royal name of Scotland. It is however arguably of Olde English pre 7th century origins as it derives from the ancient word "stigweard", the later steward, a compound of "stig" meaning household, and "weard", a guardian. As such it was the status and title used by an officer who controlled the domestic affairs of a royal or noble household. In Scotland after the 12th century it took on a meaning of even greater importance, and described the Steward of Scotland, the highest post in the kingdom, below that of the monarch. The Scottish royal family surname of Stuart or Stewart, the spellings have and continue to vary over the centuries, originated from their holding the hereditary office of High Steward over several centuries from about 1157. In so far that the royal family of Stewart family originally had a surname it was the French "Dapifer", the family of that name having come from Brittany, in Northern France after the conquest of England in 1066. King Robert 11nd, 1371 - 1392, was the first "Steward" to hold the crown of Scotland. The earliest recordings of the surname include Nicholas Staward of Somerset in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, and William le Fiz Stywarde of Berwick in 1296. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Rogere se Stiwerd. This was dated circa 1100, in the "Old English Byname Register". Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The "Stuart" spelling arose because there was no letter "w" in the French language and Mary Queen of Scots, in particular, became Mary Stuart, following her marriage to the Dauphin of France, later King Francis II. Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Stewart#ixzz2Y7aj13PT http://www.houseofnames.com/stewart-family-crest |
Rev. William Stewart (1778-1854) |
Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland - photo courtesy of Yvonne Russell & the Ireland Genealogy Projects website
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Transcription of the headstone for Rev. William Stewart and his wife Charitie
Top: Here lie the remains of The Revd. WILLIAM STEWART | Wesleyan Minister | who departed this life | January 9th 1854 aged 76 years | and of his beloved wife | CHARITIE | who died August 30th 1845 | aged 76 years | "He for more than half a century | an able and effective Minister of the | Gospel a man of one work and one aim | and she for more than forty years by | piety as enlightened and practical | asset was meek and devotional greatly | comitted to the varied usefulness | and by her affectionate and judicious | care of the young was the means herself | of bringing many into the fold of Christ” | Both fell asleep in Jesus | looking for the glorious appearing |Also the remains of SAML. H. STEWART | fifth son of | The Revd. SAML. H. STEWART LL.D. | Rector of Clarendon, Jamaica | He died January 9th 1844 | aged 11 years and 4 months. |
Collaboration with living descendants of Ernest Augustus Montgomery Stewart Sr. confirmed my hunch that my family is descended from William born 1778 who died in Ireland.
Two living descendants of Ernest's line shared documentation that indicates that S.H. Stewart senior had a son named "William". After years of research and several DNA tests including matches to direct descendants of Rev. William Henry Nassau Stewart I have been able to confirm that this is my family line. Below is the transcription of a letter written by Ella Stewart of Brooklyn, N.Y. to her cousin Ernest Montgomery Stewart Jr. of Spanish Town, Jamaica. The letter provides some history on this line of the Stewart family. |
William of Orange and the vicar of Swords |
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After reading Ella Stewart's letter above, I wanted to know more. Was my family line descendants of William of Orange? I would love to know! I believe the clippings below are somewhat linked to the information in the letter.
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Notes & Queries, July 4, 1896
Notes & Queries, August 1, 1896
rEV. Samuel Henry Stewart l.l.d (1799-1853) |
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Rev. Samuel Henry STEWART, L.L.D. was born About 1799 in Dublin, Ireland and died on Nov. 9, 1853 in Spanish Town, Saint Catherine, Jamaica.
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Pigot & Co. City of Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory (1824)
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Samuel Sr. is referred to as the Rector of Clarendon Jamaica in 1844 on the headstone of his parents Rev. William Stewart and Charite Freeman.
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Papers Relative to the Abolition of Salvery - Jamaica 1833-1835 pg 113
Papers Relative to the Abolition of Salvery - Jamaica 1833-1835 pg 151
General Report of the Emigration Commissioners - Volume 2
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Samuel married Mary Murphy on January 25, 1820 at St. Peter's Church in Dublin (COI), Mary was born about 1811 in Ireland and died on May 21, 1837 in Trelawny, Jamaica. I have documented 14 children for S. H. Stewart Sr. This corresponds with the Monumental inscription below for Edward Shaw Stewart stating he was the 14th child.
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Samuel and his wife Mary Murphy had six children:
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Monumental Inscriptions for Mary (Murphy) Stewart and Rev. S. H. Stewart
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Samuel had another six children with a woman named Mary Shaw. Not much is known about Mary Shaw but there is some indication that she was born in Ireland. Perhaps she arrived in Jamaica with the family? Looking at the children's birth dates it is rather confusing as some where born while Samuel Sr. was married to Mary Murphy. Then there are other children born after Mary Murphy's death and Mary Shaw is documented as "wife". To date I have not found a marriage registration for Mary Shaw and Rev. S. H. Stewart.
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Monumental Inscriptions for children of Mary Shaw and Rev. S. H. Stewart
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This 1851 UK census shows sisters Sarah (17), Frederika (13) and Jane (15)at school in St Marylebone, St Mark, Middlesex, England
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rEV. WILLIAM HENRY NASSAU STEWART l.l.d. (1824-1886) |
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