The Stewarts in Harriston,
Minto Township,
Wellington County, Ontario

and their ancestors:
The Stewarts in Little Dullater,
Loch Venacher, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland
A cadet branch of the Stewarts of Glenfinglas

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STEWARTS OF BALQUHIDDER DISCUSSION FORUM

Contents

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Introduction

This page is part of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group Web Site jointly hosted by myself, Ryk Brown, and my research partner, Chuck Speed.  The research presented on this page is not ours alone.  It is the product of all the Fellow Researchers of the Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Group.  We are indebted to them for their generous contributions.  This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other.  The first-time reader is advised to begin with the introduction found on the Principal Families Page before proceeding on with this page.

The Stewart family in Harriston, Ontario are descended from James Stewart who was born in Little Dullater in Perthshire, Scotland and who immigrated to Canada in the early 1830s.  The Stewart family in Little Dullater were descended from one of the many branches of Stewarts who lived in Glenfinglas, just north of Loch Venacher in Callander parish in southern Perthshire, Scotland.  Most of the Stewarts of Glenfinglas were themselves descended from the Stewarts of Annat, who were, in turn, a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich.  These Stewart branches can all trace their common ancestry back to Robert Stewart, King Robert II of Scots, the first of the Stewart kings and grandson of King Robert The Bruce.  However, the Dullater Stewarts were the exception.  They descend from the only branch of the Glenfinglas Stewarts not related to the others, but who descend from a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Appin.

A more complete presentation of the history of the Stewarts in Glenfinglas and of the ancestors of this family in particular can be found on the Stewarts of Glenfinglas Page.

Family Report

Duncan Stewart and Agness McGregor in Little Dullater, Perthshire, Scotland

This branch is being researched by Donald Stewart.

Duncan Stewart in Duart was born ABT 1770 probably in Duart in Glenfinglas, Callander parish, Perthshire, Scotland.  Duncan's exact birth record has not yet been identified, but the most likely candidate so far is Duncan Stewart bap. 12 DEC 1769 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, son of Robert Stewart and Janet Cameron, residing in Duart, Glenfinglas.*  Duncan is presumed to have married Agness MCGREGOR although no record of their marriage has been found.  They lived in Little Dullater on the south shore of Loch Venacher in Callander Parish, Perthshire, Scotland.  Present-day maps do not show a "Little" Dullater, just an "East" and "West" Dullater.  As West Dullater is the smaller of the two, it is presumed that Little Dullater is West Dullater.  The Stewarts of the South mentions Duncan Stewart as a tenant in Duart in Glenfinglas in Callander Parish on the Earl of Moray's property.  He was one of the "eight portioners" of Glenfinglas (explained more fully on The Stewarts of Glenfinglas Page), for which he paid an annual rent of £111.2.6 and he had a £60 of advance with the Earl of Moray against the Dullater farm valued at £140.  This same document, dated ca. 1815-1820 mentions that he had one son who was a Buchanan barrack master in Fort William, Inverness, Scotland.  The son so mentioned is presumed to be Alexander, unless there is an earlier son so far unknown to us.  Duncan's second son, James, was probably too young to be known to the author of the Stewarts of the South and thus was not mentioned in that document.  In this same document Duncan's character is described by the author as "keen, shrewd, sly and sensible."  The Duart property had been held by Duncan's family since the early 1600s.  As Duncan is mentioned as holder of this family's portion of Glenfinglas in 1820 then it is likely that Duncan was from the senior male branch of the Duart family.

Dullater (pronounced "doo-lay-ter") is believed to mean "the dark hillside" and derive from the Gaelic dubh meaning "dark" leiter meaning "a pass or hillside sloping towards water".

Although this family was not a close blood relation to the other Stewart families in Glenfinglas, these families all considered themselves to be of one clan together and were "as blood" to each other.

The Ardvorlich History also notes that around the middle of the 19th century nearly the entire clan of Glenfinglas Stewarts emigrated en masse to Ontario.  There is another branch of the Glenfinglas Stewarts that immigrated to Huron County, Ontario, just west of Harriston. 

The IGI indicates that Duncan and Agness had the following children:

1. Alexander STEWART, born 2 NOV 1799 in Ardcheanochdan, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  It is not known if he emigrated or remained in Scotland.

2. Mary STEWART, born 12 FEB 1806 in Ardcheanochdan, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland.  Nothing more is known of Mary.

3. James D. STEWART, b: 2 MAY 1807 in Little Dullater, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland and baptized 4 JUN 1807 in Port of Menteith Parish, Perthshire, Scotland.  James immigrated to Canada.  His story is continued below.

4. Duncan STEWART, bap. 10 JUL 1814 in Kincardine by Doune parish, of whom nothing more is know. (not confirmed to be of this family)

5. Peter STEWART. bap. 24 SEP 1815 in Kincardine by Doune parish, of whom nothing more is know. (not confirmed to be of this family)

*The suggested birth for Duncan does not match with onomastics for his children.  However this could be explained by the possibility of unrecorded earlier children who died young or an unknown previous marriage.

James D. Stewart and Lucy McMillan in Godmanchester Township and St. Anicette, Châteauguay Valley, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada

James D. STEWART, b: 2 MAY 1807 in Little Dullater, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland and baptized 4 JUN 1807 in Callander, Perthshire, Scotland, son of Duncan Stewart and Agness McGregor (above).  His middle initial "D" could be "Duncan", but it could also be "Duart" as his family was known by the by-name of "Duart", the property which they had held in Glenfinglas for nearly 200 years or Dullater.  James immigrated to Quebec, Canada sometime in the early 1830s.  He married on 12 NOV 1835 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Dundee, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada to Lucy MCMILLAN.  James was residing at the time of his wedding in Godmanchester Township, Huntingdon County, Quebec.  Lucy McMillan was born 20 JUL 1817 in Fassfern, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland as the daughter of Donald McMillan and Mary McMaster.  Her birth family is presented just below.  James farmed for about 20 years in Godmanchester Township from his arrival in the early 1830s until sometime between 1850-53 at which time he moved to a farm in nearby St. Anicette also in Huntingdon County.  Family records indicate that James' wife Lucy died 26 JUL 1862 in St. Anicette, Quebec, Canada.  Sometime after Lucy's death James moved to Harriston, Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  James is found in the 1881 census living as a widower in Harriston with his single daughters Sarah Ann and Jennie (presumably "Janet").  However, the census indicates that these daughters were born in Ontario, not Quebec, so it is possible that they may have moved to Harriston prior to Lucy's death.

Minto Township records for 1867 show a James Stewart living on Concession 9, Lot 29, and owning his own home.  It is presumed that this is the same James.  There are only two other Stewarts, namely, Henry and Peter.  They are not known to be related.

According to family records, James and Lucy had the following children:

1. Duncan STEWART, b: 17 AUG 1836, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 28 AUG 1836 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester.  Baptism is witnessed by a John Stewart, perhaps related?  A corresponding Duncan Stewart with matching onomastics can be found in the 1881 census living in Inverness East, Megantic, Quebec and working as a farmer.  This Duncan was born in 1837 in Quebec and was a widower in 1881.  He is living with a woman named Anne Stewart, born 1841 in Quebec (possibly a mistaken entry for Agnes, below).  He is shown with the following children:

   1. Mary STEWART, b: 1873 in Quebec
   2. James STEWART, b: 1875 in Quebec
   3. Margaret Currie STEWART, b: 1877 in Quebec
   4. Duncan Thompson STEWART, b: Nov 1880 in Quebec

2. Donald STEWART, b: 4 JUL 1838, presumably in Godmanchester Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, however his baptism is not recorded in the Chateauguay transcriptions.  He is not found in the 1881 census in Canada.  A close match is found in the 1880 census in Missoula, Montana, USA, with a Donald Stewart, single, working as a miner, born about 1841 in Canada East (Quebec) with both parents born in Scotland.

3. Hugh (Ewan) STEWART, b: 9 JUL 1840, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada.  bap. 9 AUG 1840 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester.  Hugh is not found in the 1880/81 census in Canada or the USA.  However, there is a Hugh Stewart shown in the Huntingdon County register having married on 26 JUN 1888 in Ste. Martine to Jane Matilda CARMICHAEL, and this is the only Hugh known to be in the area that would be of the correct age.

4. Archibald I. STEWART, b: 23 APR 1842, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 15 MAY 1842 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester.  He married Amanda Francis Stafford.  Their descendants are presented further below.

5. Agness STEWART, b: 4 OCT 1844, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 25 OCT 1844 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester.  Agness is suspected as being the single woman shown as "Anne" living with her brother Duncan, above, in 1881. (Anne was a known Gaelic substitute name for Agness/Una.)

6. Mary STEWART, b: 11 SEP 1847, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 11 NOV 1847 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester. 

7. Jannet E. STEWART, b: 2 APR 1850, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 25 AUG 1850 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in Godmanchester. 

8. Sarah Ann STEWART, b: 9 JUL 1853, in St. Anicette, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada, bap. 28 OCT 1853 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church Dundee in Communion with the Established Church of Scotland.  Father, James, shown as a farmer in St. Anicette.  She married in Harriston, Minto, Wellington, Ontario to Charles SMIRL (uncertain)

9. Jane Emily Marion STEWART, b: 7 NOV 1855, presumably in St. Anicette, Quebec, Canada, however her baptism is not recorded in the Chateauguay transcriptions and the 1881 census indicates that she was born in Ontario.

10. Catherine Lucy STEWART, b: 5 NOV 1857, presumably in St. Anicette, Quebec, Canada, however her baptism is not recorded in the Chateauguay transcriptions and the 1881 census indicates that she was born in Ontario.

Donald McMillan and Mary McMaster in Fassfern, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland

Lucy McMillan's birth family can be identified as follows in IGI records.

1. John MCMILLAN, bap. 03 MAY 1795 in Fassfern, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland.  He either died as a baby or is a transcription error duplicating the next entry.
2. John MCMILLAN, bap. 3 MAY 1796 in Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland
3. Catharine MCMILLAN, b. JAN 1797 in Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland and died 17 MAY 1890.  She married in 1817 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada to Hugh MCLEAN (JUN 1793, Argyll, Scotland -17 APR 1879).  They had the following children:
   1. John MCLEAN, b: ABT 1818 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec
   2. Jane MCLEAN, b: ABT 1828 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec
   3. Alexander MCLEAN, b: 1829 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec
   4. Sarah MCLEAN, b: 14 JAN 1835 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec
   5. Duncan MCLEAN, b: 1839 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec
   6. Catharine or Kate MCLEAN, 18 JAN 1840 in Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Quebec 
4. Son MCMILLAN, bap. 11 MAR 1797 in Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland and presumably died at birth.
5. Ewan MCMILLAN, bap. 23 DEC 1798 in Marysburgh, Kilmallie, Inverness, Scotland
6. Peter MCMILLAN, b: 1803 in Torrmore, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland, and died 1 APR 1884
7. Sarah MCMILLAN, bap. 14 JUL 1807 in Kilmallie, Inverness, Scotland
8. Vera MCMILLAN, bap. 11 JUN 1809 in Kilmallie, Inverness, Scotland
9. Angus MCMILLAN, bap. 11 NOV 1812 in Torrmore, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland. Died 1 MAY 1851.
10. Lucy MCMILLAN, b: 20 JUL 1817 in Fassfern, Kilmallie, Argyll, Scotland.

Archibald Stewart and Amanda Francis Stafford in Harriston, Minto, Wellington, Ontario

Archibald I. STEWART was b: 23 APR 1842, in Godmanchester, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada as the son of James D. Stewart and Lucy McMillan (shown further above).  He married on 26 JUL 1875 in Tiverton, Ontario to Amanda Francis STAFFORD.  She was born 15 MAR 1858 in Ontario.  They are shown in the 1881 census as living with their first two children in Harriston, Wellington, Ontario.  Archibald is shown as a photographer.  They had the following children:

1. Della Maude STEWART, b: 17 JUL 1876 in Harriston, Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 3 OCT 190~ to Harry John H~~.  He was born 1 NOV 1873 in Waudsworth, Surrey, England.

2. James Frederick M~~ STEWART, b: 17 JAN 1879 in Harriston, Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario.

3. Lottie Florence STEWART, b: 14 JUL 1886 in Harriston, Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario and died as a child.

4. Vera Janette Gor~~ STEWART, b: 12 JUN 189~ in Harriston, Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario and died as a child.

Links

http://websites.epidirect.com/~chateauguay/search.asp

Legend

= This person has known descendants.

ABT = "about" and is used in three ways:

1. Where it precedes a precise date of birth, such as "ABT 3 DEC 1855", then it means that the person was baptized on 3 DEC 1795, but his/her exact date of birth is unknown.

2. Where it precedes a semi-precise date of birth with the month only given, such as "ABT DEC 1855", then that means that the birth is recorded in the civil birth registrations for the quarter ending with that month.  Thus the person's birth was registered sometime between the beginning of October 1855 and the end of December 1855, but no baptism record has been found nor any more precise birth record.

3. Where it precedes a year only, such as "ABT 1855", then it means that there is no information on the person's birth date at all and an educated guess has been made that he/she was probably born sometime around 1855.

Contact

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This page was last updated on May 05, 2008