Footnotes on Helen, daughter of Donald and Janet Stewart of Balcastle

Croftdouglas, Strathtummel, near Blair Atholl

In 1912 Alexander Stewart Ross of Thomson, Nova Scotia, published a genealogy of his ancestors, tracing them back to Donald and Janet Stewart in Balhastle (i.e. Balcastle), Strathtummel. This important document was written from the Canadian perspective, and appears to have been based on information from family bibles, family documents and personal recollections. As its content was not based upon the Blair Atholl parish records it contains scant information relating to the Stewarts who remained in Blair Atholl parish.

The following introduction to this Stewart genealogy provides the first scant references to Helen, the daughter of Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart.

Genealogical Record of a branch of the Stewart Clan commencing with Donald and Janet Stewart of Balhastle, Loch Tummel, Parish of Blair Athol, Scotland, to the year 1912, being a period of about two hundred years.

(Generation 2) THEIR CHILDREN

Alexander, born about 1758; married and settled in Perth; had a family. He died 1826.
Robert, born about 1760; father of Deacon Rob. and Donald Rob. Stewart of Lochaber, N.S.
John, born July 7th, 1764; died August 1st, 1824. Family came to Westchester, N.S., in 1832.
Christina, born 1768; married Alex Scott; went to P.E.I. about 1806.
Helen, born Sept. 3rd, 1770; married John Stewart (teacher) brother of Girzel, John's wife.

John Stewart, son of Donald and Janet Stewart of Balhastle, and Girzel Stewart of Balnald, were married 27th February, 1798. He died in Blair Athol, 1st August 1824. She died in Westchester, June 29th, 1861; aged 83 years.

The entries in the Old Parish Records which relate to Helen are as follows:

Blair Atholl OPR
Donald Stewart in Uchdnanetaig and Janet Stewart in Balintepaill of Fincastle, Parish of Dull were married 17th July 1754.

Blair Atholl OPR
Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart in Bailchastail had a daughter Helen baptised 3rd September 1770

The genealogical record provided tantalising snippets about Helen and her husband, John Stewart, but nothing else was known about her. Their date of marriage is unrecorded in the Blair Atholl OPR, and two possible marriages (Blair Atholl, 8th Feb 1788, and Blair Atholl, 2nd Jun 1797), are for unrelated couples with the same two names. There was no indication as to where they were living after they married, neither was there evidence for any children.

Despite knowing that both Helen and her brother John had married into the same family, no trace of Helen was found until December 2008, when the death certificate of William Stewart in Croftdouglas showed that Helen Stewart was his mother and linked her to Croftdouglas. Helen's death certificate (1857) gives her parents as Donald Stewart, farmer, and Janet Stewart, maiden name, Stewart. A daughter, Margaret, signed the death certificate with her mark.

Helen's husband, John, died in 1860 and the death certificate gives his parents as Donald Stewart, handloom weaver, and Margaret Robertson. Once again the daughter, Margaret, signed the death certificate with her mark. The death certificates state that both Helen Stewart and John Stewart are buried in the Borenich burial ground, and the large un-named flat slab probably marks their resting place.

It was fortunate that both Helen and John died after 1855, otherwise Helen's parentage could not have been confirmed. As Ross states that Helen's husband John, was Girzel's brother, it provides the conclusive proof that the parents of Girzel (Grace) Stewart who died in Westchester, June 29th 1861, aged 83 years, were Donald Stewart, handloom weaver, and Margaret Robertson.

John and Helen were farming Croftdouglas at the time of the 1841 census, and the circumstances in which John and Helen became the tenants are revealed in a letter to The Duke of Atholl from his agent, James Stewart, dated 10th May 1817.

Let Croftdouglas to John Stewart from Dr Stewart's lands of Borenich, and Alexander Stewart who, with his mother, a widow in Croftdouglas, had before a part of it under Alexander McDonald in whose name the tow was held in tack. Alexander McDonald, having been seized with a palsy some time ago, had to subsett the tow except two acres and a cow's grass to others. He has five children, the last two twins.

The other tenant, Alexander Stewart, was John Stewart's nephew. Alexander was the son of James Stewart and Isabel Stewart who married 6th July 1792, and 'widow Isabel' was John's older sister who was born 18th September 1769 at Nethertown (Miltown) of Borenich.

John Stewart and Helen Stewart probably were married in 1798 as they had a son, when they were living at Uchdnanetaig, baptised with the name Donald, 6th August 1799. The child died in infancy and their next son was also given the name Donald as this was the name of both the paternal and maturnal grandfathers. None of the other children had their names entered into the Blair Atholl OPR and, in their absence, three other sources have been relied upon: the census returns for Croftdouglas; death certificates; and a couple of letters written by Daniel Stewart, teacher in Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

It is a pity that the 1841 census for Croftdouglas (Blair Atholl Parish, district 4) does not show the relationship between the different people in the three households, but this has been determined by later research.

John Stewart and Helen Stewart were living in dwelling 1 with their daughter Margaret and son William. The three young children living with them, and the two young children were the grandchildren of John Stewart and Helen Stewart. Their parents were Alexander Stewart and Janet Stewart, who was another daughter of John Stewart and Helen Stewart.

Janet Stewart died soon after the birth of their son Donald in 1834, and Alexander then married Margaret Robertson in Gascan of Bohespic, 6th May 1836. In 1841 she was living in dwelling 3. The four-year old Janet, or Jessie, was the daughter of Alexander Stewart by his second wife. Alexander, himself, may have died by this time, but this is not certain.

Isabella Stewart living in dwelling 2 was the younger sister of Alexander. She was born 19th October 1807, and in old age she lived in Broughty Ferry with Daniel Stewart the teacher, who was married to Alexander's sister Christian.

The 1851 census for Croftdouglas (Blair Atholl Parish, district 4) does not list Alexander Stewart, Margaret Robertson nor any of their children. Jessie eventually became the housemaid to her uncle, Daniel Stewart, the teacher in Broughty Ferry. In one of his letters Daniel mentioned that Jessie was the daughter of his wife's brother, Alexander, by his second marriage.

William married Christian Stewart, the daughter of Alexander Stewart and Margaret Dow in Chamberbane, 7th April 1849. He and his father were farming the 7 acres of Croftdouglas together. Both of William's parents died before the 1861 census.

Helen Stewart, married farmer's wife, died at Croftdouglas on 8th May 1857 aged 87 years and was laid to rest at Chapeltown of Borenich (the Borenich Burying Ground) as certified by William Stewart (carpenter). Her parents were given as Donald Stewart, farmer, and Janet Stewart, both deceased. The informant was her daughter Margaret Stewart who signed with her mark.

John Stewart, farmer and widower, died at Croftdouglas on 6th July 1860 aged 88 years and was laid to rest in the Borenich Burying Ground as certified by William Stewart, carpenter. His parents were given as Donald Stewart, handloom weaver, and Margaret Robertson, both deceased. The informant was his daughter Margaret Stewart who signed with her mark.

The names of John and Helen's other children come from a letter written by Daniel Stewart in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, to John James Stewart his cousin, editor of the Halifax Herald in Nova Scotia, Canada, dated February 22nd 1887. Daniel, himself, was one of their children.

My father died in his 89th year, my mother on her 87th. I am the only one of the family alive, Jannet, Margaret, Alexander and William have formed the majority (i.e. gone to be with their ancestors) ....

Your father’s cousin Sandy who married my sister Jannet, married again and had one daughter named Jannet. She is now living with us in our frail old age.

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(Generation 3) The Children of John Stewart and Helen Stewart in Croftdouglas

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Margaret Stewart in Croftdouglas

Margaret was born 17th July 1800 when the family were living on 'Dr Stewart's lands of Borenich', at Uchdnanetaig, but the Blair Atholl OPR gives her mother's name as Girsel in error. The whole family moved to Croftdouglas in 1817 and for most of her life she worked as a farm servant, and looked after her parents until they both died. At the time of the 1861 census Margaret was looking after her invalid niece Isabella Stewart, the daughter of her brother Alexander who had been married to John and Helen's daughter Janet. Isabella died 19th April 1869. Soon afterwards she moved to Pitaldonich and lived there as a pauper boarder with John Stewart and his family.

Margaret Stewart, unmarried pauper, died at Pitaldonich on 28th November 1880. Her parents were given as John Stewart, farmer, and Helen Stewart, both deceased. The informant was Archibald Stewart, Inspector of the Poor.

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Daniel Stewart and Christian (Christina) Stewart in Broughty Ferry, by Dundee

Daniel Stewart was born at Uchdnanetaig on 22nd March 1805 and was baptised as Donald, the two names being inter-changeable. He was the second son to be given that name, the first being born at Uchdnanetaig, 6th August 1799, and dying in infancy. In Daniel's later years he corresponded with numerous relatives, both in Scotland and Canada, and it is fortunate that a couple of these letters survive as they provide snippets of his early life in Strathtummel. In a letter to his cousin John James Stewart, Editor of the Halifax Herald in Nova Scotia, dated February 22nd 1887 he wrote:

I knew both your grandfathers, for when my mother took her father to live with her, he was very frail and I slept with him, of which I have a vivid recollection for he gave me some sugar when in bed owing to a bad cough, and always in bed he searched for my mouth to give me some of the sweet. I wish I could give you his age and the date of his death. He would be about 80 years I suppose. Your other grandfather I knew very well, a cheery little old man. He died in his 74 year of cancer. You will easily conclude that as I knew the grandfathers, I knew far better the grandmothers. If I’m not mistaken your grandfather was the first in Borenich that had the first Gaelic translation of the bible. He had it in two volumes and cost him one guinea. I heard him often reading the history of Joseph and at the affective part of the narration he would break down and weep like a child.

It may seem highly unlikely that there were sweets or sugar-loaf available in Borenich at this time, but Willie Scott who farmed Borenich said that as a child he remembered an old woman who told him that she used to get sweets from Mrs Fraser who was a grocer at Tomanbuie, next to Borenich farm.

The introduction to the Ross Genealogy states that John Stewart, Daniel's father, was a teacher. At present, no evidence has come to light to verify this statement, but Daniel certainly was a teacher by the time that he moved to Broughty Ferry, Monifieth parish. In his letter of February 1887 he recounted that he had been in Broughty Ferry for fifty year.

In the 1841 census for the parish of Monifieth, Daniel Stewart, a 35 year old teacher, was living on his own in Broughty Ferry, but within a few years he had married his cousin Christian (Christina) Stewart, the daughter of James Stewart and Isabella Stewart. Isabella was the elder sister of Daniel's father.

Monifieth OPR
Daniel Stewart, teacher, Broughty Ferry and Christian Stewart, parish of Perth were proclaimed here on the 19th May 1844. Married by (blank)

Their first home was in Bath Street and Daniel must have been well paid as he subscribed £25 to the Railway Subscription 1845 Contracts deposited in the Private Bill Office in the current Session of Parliament (Edinburgh and Northern Railway).

1851 census is unreadable - getting a new copy. Daniel, Christian, a neice? plus 2 others.

The Dundee Directory for 1853-54 lists Daniel Stewart as a teacher at the Sessional School in King Street, Broughty Ferry. His residence at that time was East Brook Street, and he was still there in 1861.

By 1864 Daniel and his wife had moved to Oswald House, Long Lane, and he seems to have been actively engaged in public affairs, as The Courier and Argus, Dundee, 17th May 1864 (p3) contains the following:

At the final meeting of the Committee on the Voluntary Scheme for improving the streets of the Ferry etc., it was found that upon repaying money in full back to those persons who had subscribed towards it, a sum remained after expenses were paid, which was voted towards a present to their late clerk, Mr Daniel Stewart, schoolmaster. This was supplemented by a few friends, both of that scheme and others who had a great respect for him, and a very handsome silver snuff-box (furnised by Mr Whytock) was presented to him on Saturday evening by a small committee apponted for that purpose, bearing the inscription - Presented to Mr Daniel Stewart by a few of his Broughty Ferry friends as a mark of respect to him. April 1864.

By 1881 Isabella Stewart, Christina's younger sister, had joined the couple in Broughty Ferry.

In his letter to John James Stewart his cousin, Daniel explained that he had been hurt in a fall and that they now had a niece looking after them.

Perhaps you cannot make much sense of my rambling communication but I tell you I write under great disadvantage for, eleven weeks ago I was in my usual health and went out, it being very hard frost and slippery, and fell with all my weight on my left thigh which disabled me so much that I have been for the most part of that in bed and not able to move from one place to another. Give my love to your Dear Father, he knows that I had a weak side from my childhood and it is on that side I got my hurt. I have not been out of doors since and have no prospect of being much better. My wife is about as usual but has rheumatic pains. Bell, my wife’s sister was very poorly about the middle of April last. She lost the power of her legs. She is to be lifted every movement.

We three are in a weak state at present. The youngest, eighty years of age, but we have with us Jessie Stewart, a daughter of Alexander Stewart, my wife’s brother by a second marriage. She is strong and active and very kind and attentive to us all.

Daniel had been Pastor of a small Baptist Church in Tayport, on the other side of the river Tay from Broughty Ferry, for the space of 31 years but owing to the accident was unable to meet with the Church which distressed him.

Daniel Stewart, schoolmaster married to Christian Stewart died at Long Lane, Broughty Ferry on 19th November 1888, aged 83 years. Parents given as John Stewart, farmer, and Helen Stewart, both deceased. Informant was Jessie Stewart, niece.

Christina Stewart, widow of Daniel Stewart, schoolmaster, died at Long Lane, Broughty Ferry on 5th April 1893 aged 89 years. Parents given as James Stewart, crofter and tailor, and Isabella Stewart, both deceased. Informant was Jessie Stewart, niece.

The Dundee Sheriff Court 18th December 1888, Wills and Testaments, contains a record of Daniel Stewart's Inventory and instructions to the Trustees of his personal estate.

Inventory
Cash in the house - none
Household furniture and other effects - £25 12s 6d
Royal Bank of Scotland, joint account with wife, with interest - £20 9s 5d
Interim precept by the Commission of Police for the Burgh of Broughty Ferry, with interest - £301
Sum due to deceased and his wife by Margaret McMillan, Dundee, bill dated 15th May 1881 - £3
Sum due to deceased and his wife by Ann Martin, Tayport, bill dated 19th November 1884 - £140

The trustees were instructed that after payment of his just and lawful debts, sickbed and funeral charges, his spouse, Christina Stewart was to get full use of all the household furniture, household plenishing and other household effects, holding the balance of the estate to provide for her comfortable maintenance.

After the death of both him and his wife the trustees were to give the best chest of draws in the dwelling house to Christian Foreman, or Smith, wife of George Smith, factory worker in the Perth Road, Dundee.

And to Susan Smith, daughter to James Smith, labourer in Broughty Ferry, a bed and mattress, pillows and bedding.

Six months after the death of both him and his wife the trustees were to pay the following legacies:

One hundred pounds Sterling to Jessie Stewart, niece;
One hundred pounds Sterling to Isabella Stewart, sister of his wife;
Twenty pounds Sterling to nephew John Stewart, residing in Strathtummel, son of his brother William Stewart;
One hundred pounds to the Baptist Home Missionary Society for Scotland, chiefly for the Highlands and Islands to be employed in promoting the objects of that society;
Fifty pounds for the Baptist Church at Broughty Ferry.

Any residue was to be paid equally to Jessie Stewart and John Stewart previously mentioned, or failing that equally to his nieces, Helen Stewart and Christina Stewart, the daughters of his brother William Stewart.

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Alexander Stewart and Janet Stewart in Croftdouglas

Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Croftdouglas and Janet Stewart in Croftdouglas married 27th May 1827. They were first cousins.

Alexander Stewart was the eldest son of James Stewart and Isabel Stewart, who married 6th July 1792. Alexander was born 1st January 1794 at Balintochich, but the family moved to Croftdouglas shortly before 1807 as sub-tenants of Alexander McDonald. As previously mentioned, Alexander McDonald had been seized with a palsy and the family could only manage to farm 2 acres and a cow's grass. Alexander's father, James died at some time between 1811 (the birth of his son William) and 1817 when the Atholl Estate Factor leased part of Croftdouglas to Alexander and his widowed mother.

Alexander and Janet had five children but none of their baptisms appear in the Blair Atholl OPR and it is possible that the parents were Baptists. However, in 1854 it was announced that Civil Registration would commence the following year, and there was panic. Parents who, for decades, had never bothered to get their children baptised suddenly wanted their names entered in the Blair Atholl OPR before it was too late. The registrar was overwhelmed with births which were entered in no chronological order. The births of Isabella (1832), and Daniel (1834), appear one after the other in the middle of this clamour so it is not surprising that errors were made. The registrar recorded the mother's name as Isobel Stewart, instead of Janet Stewart.

Janet Stewart died shortly after the birth of her son Donald in 1834 and, with five young children to look after, it is not surprising that Alexander soon remarried.

Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander Stewart in Croftdouglas and Margaret Robertson in Gaskan (of Bohespic) married 6th March 1836.

Alexander Stewart and Margaret Robertson had only one child, a daughter Janet (Jessie), born around 1837, but her baptism does not appear in the Blair Atholl OPR which is strange, as one might have thought that it would have been added at the same time as those of Isabella and Donald.

As previously mentioned, in 1841 Janet's children were being looked after by their grandparents, John Stewart and his wife Helen, and by Isabella Stewart, their father's youngest sister. Margaret Robertson was looking after Jessie, but her husband Alexander is not listed at Croftdouglas. He may have been away on business or perhaps he had died. The reason for his absence is not known, but the rentals for Croftdouglas may clarify this point.

None of Janet's children are at Croftdouglas in 1851 but by the time of the 1861 census Isabella, her invalid daughter, had returned and was being looked after by Isabella Stewart, her aunt.

Isabella, unmarried servant, died at Croftdouglas on 19th April 1869 aged 38 years. She had been paralysed from the age of twenty. Her parents were given as Alexander Stewart, cottar, and Janet Stewart, both deceased. The informant was her (half)-sister Jessie Stewart.

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(Generation 4) The Children of Alexander Stewart and Janet Stewart in Croftdouglas

(Generation 4) The Children of Alexander Stewart and Margaret Robertson, his second wife, in Croftdouglas

The 1851 census for Uchdnanetaig almost certainly shows Alexander's second wife as a widow.

The Blair Atholl OPR shows that Duncan Robertson and Margaret Stewart in Uchdnanetaig had a son, Donald, baptised 23rd March 1843, but there is no entry for a marriage between Duncan Robertson and Alexander Stewart's second wife. This suggests that Alexander Stewart died between 1836 and 1842, and probably earlier than 1842 as he does not feature in the 1841 census. Donald is probably an illegitimate son which would account for Margaret Robertson's absence from Croftdouglas. However, the 'mistake' of the mother did not tarnish the daughter, as Jessie was the informant for her step-sister's death certificate in 1869.

Margaret Robertson, widow of Alexander Stewart, farmer, died at West Lodge in the parish of Caputh on 6th February 1875 aged 65 years. Her parents were given as John Robertson, farmer, and Janet Robertson, both deceased. Informant was her daughter Jessie Stewart.

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Donald Stewart and Catherine McNab in Burnstown, Ontario

In Canada it is not uncommon for gravestones to to be inscribed with "A native of Blair Atholl, Scotland", as the early settlers were proud of their ancestral roots, despite having left their homeland. It is less common for the exact location within the parish to be given, but this is the fortunate case for Donald Stewart of Burnstown. His monument in the White Lake Cemetery, McNab township, is inscribed:

Daniel Stewart died September 27th 1905 aged 72 years. Born at Croftdouglass, Perthshire, Scotland. His wife Catherine McNab died September 1st 1925 aged 70 years

Donald emigrated to Canada around 1857, and may have emigrated at the same time as his uncle John Stewart, game-keeper at Foss House, who settled on the 2nd Concession, McNab township.

Initially he lived at Russell, near Ottawa, before moving to McNab township where he worked as a sawyer. It is probably not a coincidence that several other immigrants from Borenich worked in the sawmill. In 1873 he married Catherine McNab, and his marriage entry says that he was a 39-year-old bachelor, and that his parents were given Alexander and Janet Stewart. The marriage took place on 19th June 1873 at Pakenham, which was the homeplace of his bride, 19-year-old Catherine McNab, the daughter of Duncan McNab and Margaret Gillespie. The ceremony was witnessed by William Lindsay and Isabella Stewart of White Lake.

Soon after the marriage he took over a farm near to Burnstown, where he brought up a family of five children.

Alexander was born 6th May 1875. He married Marion Forrest on 29th July 1908, and the couple are said to have had nine children.

Alexander's parents and his siblings have monument inscriptions in the White Lake cemetery.

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(Generation 5) The Children of Donald Stewart and Catherine McNab in Burnstown, Ontario

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Alexander Stewart and Jean Chapman in Dundee and Perth

In two letters to his cousin John James Stewart, Daniel Stewart the teacher provided the few facts known about his brother Alexander.

My father died in his 89th year, my mother on her 87th. I am the only one of the family alive, Jannet, Margaret, Alexander and William have formed the majority (i.e. joined their ancestors) ..... Alexander, my brother’s widow is still alive. She and those remaining of the family are about Perth, a daughter died last year, three sons and two daughters are living.

Dundee OPR, October 1835
Contracted 3rd. Alexander Stewart, waiter, and Jean Chapman both in this parish, daughter of James Chapman, shipmaster.

James Chapman was the shipmaster of the Dundee Whaler 'Friendship' and lived in Thorter Row, and later at King Street. His brother was a silk merchant in Dundee. There is an interesting article about James Chapman in the Craigie Column of the Dundee Courier & Advertiser, Monday 15th February 2010:

A regular Craigie reader has contacted me to say he is surprised that all the recent correspondence regarding HMS Victory and the Battle of Trafalgar has failed to mention the fact that the last survivor of that battle is buried in the Western Cemetery in Dundee.

James Chapman, a veteran seaman, was born in 1784 and entered the sea-faring profession when he was a boy. He was on board HMS Victory and was with Lord Nelson for two years taking part in the Battle in 1805. He was not wounded during any of the action he faced and was honoured with two medals: the Trafalgar Medal and the Victorian Medal.

He was discharged in 1814, and apparently lived at West Newport in Fife for some time before moving to Dundee, to live with his son-in-law at Invercarse House. His son-in-law John Earl Robertson was a prominent silk mercer in the city.

The Burial administration section of the Local History Department in Dundee confirmed that James Chapman, late shipmaster, died on 12th November 1876 and was buried on the 15th. He was born in the parish of Kilspindie in Perthshire and was 92 years of age when he died. The funeral procession left from Invercarse House.

In the 1841 census for Dundee Alexander and his family were living at Burnhead Street, which is now the southern end of Commercial Street next to the harbour. As in his marriage certificate he was described as a waiter, which probably means that he was unloading cargoes from the ships in the harbour rather than working in a tavern or eating house.

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Pomarium Street in Perth, about to be demolished in the late 1950s

At some time after the birth of Jane around 1844, the family moved to Perth and took up residence in Pomarium Street. It is said to have been the site of an orchard belonging to the nearby Carthusian Monastery. The 1851 census lists a son Alexander, but this appears to be a mistake and should be James. Alexander's brother Daniel, the teacher, wrote that Alexander had three sons and three daughters. The whereabouts of John, Jane (and another daughter?) is unknown.

Early in 1861 Christina Stewart married Robert Gray who was living at 84 Pomarium Street, only a few doors away from her parent's family.

Alexander Stewart, foreman, married to Jane Chapman, died at 71 Pomarium, Perth, on 25th January 1880, aged 69. Parents given as John Stewart, farmer, and Helen Stewart, both deceased. Informant was his son Daniel Stewart, 39 Princes Street, Perth.

1881 census shows widow Stewart with several members of her expanding family.

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(Generation 4) The Children of Alexander Stewart and Jean Chapman in Dundee and Perth

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William Stewart and Christina Stewart in Croftdouglas

After the death of his father in 1860, William continued to farm Croftdouglas on his own, as shown in the 1861 census return.

As previously mentioned, Margaret Stewart in the second dwelling was his older sister who was looking after their paralysed niece Isabella, the daughter of his deceased sister Janet. Isabella died in 1869 and William's sister Margaret seems to have been suffering senile dementia as she was being boarded out as a pauper, in the care the Inspector of the Poor.

By 1871 the size of the farm had increased from 17 to 20 acres.

William's 15 year-old son William was working as a 'halflin' at Grennich for Margaret Stewart, the widow of John Stewart. The old Scots term 'halflin' was applied to an adolescant lad employed as a farm servant.

William Stewart, farmer married to Christina Stewart, died at Croftdouglas on 26th October 1880 aged 66 years. Parents given as John Stewart, farmer, and Helen Stewart, both deceased. The informant was William's son William. The death certificate states that he died from a fracture of the skull, followed by meningitis. The circumstances of this accident were recounted by his brother Daniel Stewart, the teacher in Broughty Ferry, in a letter to his cousin John James Stewart in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

My brother William died 3 or 4 years ago, driving home with his horse and gig, his horse came down and he fell forward and got his head hurt, which caused his death.

William Stewart's son William had returned to Croftdouglas by the following year and the 1881 census shows him as a blacksmith. Presumably he had been apprentice to the blacksmith at Balnald of Strathtummel if he had stayed in the local area.

There is no trace of Alexander Stewart in 1881 and, as he was in Toronto by 1887, he may have emigrated already. Daniel may be the 24 year-old Donald Stewart in Home Farm (the new Blairuachdar), and the 17 year-old James Stewart working for him, may be his younger brother. In 1887 Daniel Stewart, teacher in Broughty Ferry, wrote to his cousin.

My brother William’s family are very much scattered. One is in California, Alexander in Toronto, James in London, John and Robert at home with their mother, Hellen is in Edinburgh, Christina is at home. (The one in California is either Daniel or William).

The one in California was either Daniel or William, and soon afterwards John also left, as shown in the 1891 census.

At some time between 1891 and 1895 Robert Stewart gave up the tenancy of Croftdouglas and became the sole farmer of Grennich, taking his mother and sister Christina with him.

Christina Stewart, widow of William Stewart, farmer, died at Grennich Farm on 9th February 1895 aged 71 years. Parents given as Alexander Stewart, farmer, and Margaret Dow, both deceased. Informant was her son Robert Stewart.

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(Generation 4) The Children of William Stewart and Christina Stewart in Croftdouglas