REV. WILLIAM hENRY NASSAU sTEWART l.l.d (1821-1886)
Portrait of The Rev. W. H. N. Stewart
Centennial portrait gallery, representative men of Philadelphia.
Series: William Curtis Taylor Portrait Photographs
Documents show that from January 20, 1854 to September 23, 1856 W.H.N. Stewart was the Rector of Grace Church 409 Broad Street in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
Interior of Grace Church 409 Broad Street in Newark, Essex, New Jersey, USA.
In 1860 he became the Reverend of St. Andrews Church at 35th & Sycamore, Mantua, Pennsylvania.
St. Andrew (formerly St. Mark's Mantua) at 35th & Sycamore, Mantua, Pennsylvania
In 1869 William was appointed to be Assistant Priest to Dr. Batterson at St. Clement's Church, 2013 Appletree Street, Philadelphia. He served until 1875.
St. Clement's Church, 2013 Appletree Street, Philadelphia, USA.
|
My great great grandfather William Henry Nassau Stewart was a graduated from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
Alumni Dublinenses - 1924 edition Image
Sometime after graduating William traveled to Jamaica, West Indies likely to visit his parents and siblings. While there he conceived a son with Mirriam/Mary Ann Taylor. William Henry Stewart Jr. was born April 6, 1843. Based on her death registration Miriam was born c. 1809 and she died February 8, 1883 in Helicon, St. Ann. William Jr. was present.
In 1847 he was ordained a Deacon by the Bishop of Jamaica. By 1848 he was ordained a Priest by the Bishop of Jamaica and Island curate as seen on Jamaica in parish baptisms, marriages, burial records from 1849-1855, Vol. 3. On October 2, 1852 William is documented as arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, United States via a ship called the Flora of Baltimore. 
William married Julia Reynolds Vogdes June 21, 1851 when he was 30 years old at St. Mark's, Mantua in Philadelphia. The church later became St. Andrews. William and Julia had 4 daughters:
William's brother Ernest Augustus Montgomery Stewart was present at Hannah's Christening in 1865 in Pennsylvania. 
William Henry Nassau STEWART fought for the Union during the Civil War.
Name: William H. N. Stewart Gender: Male Enlistment Date: 5 Oct 1861 Enlistment Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA Muster Date: 5 Oct 1861 Muster Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA Rank: Chaplain Unit Type: Cavalry Regiment: 11th Pennsylvania 
|
On 24 Nov 1862 W.H.N. wrote to President Abraham Lincoln regarding Colonization. A portion of the handwritten letter serves as the header for this page. Below is the transcription of the letter.
William & Julia
William and Julia raised their daughters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
William & family on the 1870 Pennsylvania census
Albert Lea Freeborn County Standard February 16 1882
|
William Henry Nassau Stewart and Julia Reynolds Vogdes were divorced on January 28, 1883, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after 32 years of marriage. He was 60 years old. Julia sued for divorce on the grounds of desertion.
Philadelphia Inquirer - January 30 1883
|
The career of W. H. N. Stewart
1877
|
Philadelphia Inquirer - June 15 1877
|
Philadelphia PA City Directory 1861 1365.
|
Gospel Messenger - Montour Falls, NY 1848-1865
|
History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 |
Scharf, John Thomas, 1843-1898
|
McElroy's Philadelphia city directory
|
|
|
St. Clement's church
The following text is from the St.Clement's Church website some time ago.
(http://www.saintclementsphiladelphia.org/index.php?/main/parish-history-page-3/ ) However, the site has since been updated and no longer includes this information.
"Father Prescott arrived in February 1876 and brought his own staff with him. Dr. Stewart, who was still on the staff of St. Clement's, had many friends in the Vestry and the congregation. They were most desirous that Dr. Stewart should remain as one of the staff. Father Prescott would not listen to the suggestion. He wanted to begin his own work in his own way and with his own staff. From what we read about Dr. Stewart, it is easy to suspect that he was in his element when the waters were troubled, so it is not surprising to know he refused to resign! Father Prescott referred the matter to the Vestry but was firm in his resolve to immediately return to Cowley if the Vestry sustained the position taken by Dr. Stewart. While the Vestry were divided, the majority coincided with Father Prescott.
Dr. Stewart resigned as soon as the Fathers came into residence, and went to Jamaica and became Rector of a small Parish in that Island. He returned several years later broken in health.
St. Clement's had appreciated his good qualities, his courage, and his constancy during her own troubles. When he came back from Jamaica, the church was glad to recognize her obligation to him by voting him an annuity which was continued to him until his death."
(http://www.saintclementsphiladelphia.org/index.php?/main/parish-history-page-3/ ) However, the site has since been updated and no longer includes this information.
"Father Prescott arrived in February 1876 and brought his own staff with him. Dr. Stewart, who was still on the staff of St. Clement's, had many friends in the Vestry and the congregation. They were most desirous that Dr. Stewart should remain as one of the staff. Father Prescott would not listen to the suggestion. He wanted to begin his own work in his own way and with his own staff. From what we read about Dr. Stewart, it is easy to suspect that he was in his element when the waters were troubled, so it is not surprising to know he refused to resign! Father Prescott referred the matter to the Vestry but was firm in his resolve to immediately return to Cowley if the Vestry sustained the position taken by Dr. Stewart. While the Vestry were divided, the majority coincided with Father Prescott.
Dr. Stewart resigned as soon as the Fathers came into residence, and went to Jamaica and became Rector of a small Parish in that Island. He returned several years later broken in health.
St. Clement's had appreciated his good qualities, his courage, and his constancy during her own troubles. When he came back from Jamaica, the church was glad to recognize her obligation to him by voting him an annuity which was continued to him until his death."
REPORTS OF REV. W . H. N. STEWART'S DEATH
Buffalo NY Daily Courier 1883
|
In 1883 the newspapers incorrectly announce William's death 3 years before he actually died.
To the below is the retraction. 
Philadelphia Inquirer - January 30 1883
|
William Henry Nassau STEWART died on November 24, 1886, when he was 65 years old.
|
Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine, Volume 14
Grave site of W.H.N. Stewart, Saint James the Less Episcopal Churchyard https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160676450
|