The Stewarts of Glenogle

Fifth Branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran

By Jared Linn Olar

With the invaluable assistance of the Rev. Ryk Brown, Belinda Dettmann, Fiona Truncik, and Gordon MacGregor

August 2006

Updated March 2008

According to Duncan Stewart’s 1739 genealogical history of the Stewarts, the Stewarts of Glenogle (also called the Stewarts of Hyndfield and Stronvar) were a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran, descended from Robert Stewart, a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran. Stewarts of the South names the Stewarts of Glenogle as the Fifth Branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran. However, only recently has the reconstruction of the history of this family of Balquhidder Stewarts been attempted. Much progress has been made in assembling the numerous surviving fragments of information on the Stewarts of Glenogle, but much work is yet to be done, and many questions do not yet have definitive answers (and perhaps never will).

In this article, what is known of the main line of this family is compiled in chronological order, the data is examined, and probable or hypothetical reconstructions of the Glenogle genealogy are presented. A large quantity of information is available on cadet branches of the Stewarts of Glenogle, but this study will restrict itself to the main Glenogle line, with only brief comments on Glenogle branches.

To begin, Stewarts of the South, written about 1815-20, lists the Stewarts of Glenogle as the fifth branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran, and situates them as follows:

“Branch fifth commonly called the Stewarts of Glen-ogle or Cloich-glas,

near Loch-earn-head or Hyndfield, all in parish of Balquhidder – Glen-

ogle belongs to Lord Braid-alban, and Cloich-glas also – Hyndfield is

the property of Capt Stewart, Glenbuckie.”¹

The Perthshire locale known as Glenogle is, as its name indicates, the glen of the River Ogle, which flows in a south-south-easterly direction into the far western end of Loch Earn. “Ogle” comes from a Gaelic word meaning “deep.” Glenogle is situated to the northeast of Balquhidder. Stronvar, another locale associated with this family, is located at the foot of Glenbuckie, and Stronvar House later was the main residence of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie, one of the principal families of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. The Stewarts of Glenogle were also associated with Hyndfield, a farmstead very close to Lochearnhead on the western end of Loch Earn. Finally, Clach-glas (which means “grey stone”) was the name of a section of the western side of the glen of the River Ogle, and should not be confused with “Clach Glas of Glenbuckie” also in Balquhidder parish. It is unknown exactly how and when this family acquired these properties, but in some cases we can make some reasonable guesses and inferences.

Origin of the Stewarts of Glenogle:

As mentioned above, Duncan Stewart’s 1739 genealogical history of the Stewarts identifies the ancestor of this family as a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, who was probably born circa 1500.² Duncan Stewart’s history lists only two children of Alexander, “Andrew, his successor,” and “Robert. From whom John Stewart of Hyndfield or Stronvar is the 5^th in a lineal descent.”³ Unfortunately, nothing else is known of this Robert. No contemporary documents have been found that name him,⁴ and it is unknown whether or not Robert ever held Glenogle, Hyndfield, or Stronvar. It could be that Robert’s children or descendants acquired them later. Since his reputed father Alexander was probably born about 1500, Robert’s birth would probably have been about 1535 or so.

However, due in part to the fact that no mention of Robert Stewart has been found anywhere else but in Duncan Stewart’s history, others have speculated that the Stewarts of Glenogle and Hyndfield were actually descended from other sons of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, whose names do not appear in Duncan Stewart’s history.

For example, the Ardvorlich History compiled by Major John Stewart, 14^th of Ardvorlich, omits Robert as a son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, and instead identifies the ancestor of this family as John Stewart in Kirkton, a different younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran.⁵ According to the Ardvorlich History, The Black Book of Taymouth records that “Andro Stewart in Gartnafoir,” his brother “Johne Stewart in Kirkton,” and several other Stewarts signed a bond of 1557 for their kinsman Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy. Since “Andro Stewart in Gartnafoir” is Andrew Stewart, 3^rd of Gartnafuaran, “Johne Stewart in Kirkton” must be a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran.

However, there is no evidence that John Stewart in Kirkton had anything to do with the Stewarts of Glenogle or Hyndfield, and John actually may have been the founder of a family of Stewarts in Glenfinglas.⁶ In contrast to the Ardvorlich History’s statement, the Edward S. Gray Papers on file at The Stewart Society in Edinburgh list both John Stewart in Kirkton and Robert Stewart as sons of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, and state that Robert Stewart was the ancestor of the Stewarts of Glenogle and Hyndfield.⁷

Scottish genealogical researcher Gordon MacGregor recently has proposed two similar hypotheses about Glenogle origins that both seem to be much more plausible than the “John Stewart in Kirkton” conjecture, although they remain unproven at this time. One of MacGregor’s conjectures would trace the Stewarts of Glenogle, Hyndfield, and Stronvar back to two brothers, Duncan Stewart and Robert Stewart, younger sons of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, with Glenogle passing from a grandson of Duncan to a son of Robert.⁸

Robert Stewart, of course, is the son of that name who appears in Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history, whereas Alexander’s son Duncan Stewart is named in a document recorded under the Privy Seal in 1569:

“8 Sept. 1569. Gift to Alexander Stewart in Pittareg of the escheat of

numerous persons all from Balquhidder including Alexander Stewart in

Gartnascrow [recte Gartnafarow] and Andrew his son also Duncan

Stewart his son, and Blak Alexander Stewart in Glenbuckie and Patrick his

son, for the murder of Hugh and John Stewart, his brother, in the lands of

Balquhidder in December last [1568].”⁹

MacGregor has very plausibly suggested that Alexander’s son Duncan is to be identified as the Duncan McAllester Stewart mentioned in another document from 1569:

“Tack by dame Jonet Stewart, lady Ruthvene, to John, earl of Atholl,

lord of Balveny, her grandson [recte nephew], of her two merkland of old

extent of Carneley, occupied by Malcolm McCoulkere and Duncan

McAllester Stewart, and the two and a half merkland of old extent of

Glenbaith, occupied by John McYulay VcAne Vore, in lordship of

Balquhidder, sheriffdom of Perth, for three years, 12 April 1569.”¹⁰

“Carneley” is Carnlea near Ardveich, north of Loch Earn and just east of Glenogle, which means Duncan McAllester Stewart was living next door to Glenogle. Duncan McAllester in Carnlea is very likely the same as Duncan, son of Alexander, named in the 1569 escheat, although we lack definitive proof of that identification. Similarly, there is no hard evidence that places Duncan in Glenogle, nor that supports MacGregor’s suggestion that Duncan was the ancestor of the Stewarts of Glenogle and Hyndfield. Still, it is a plausible conjecture and is in agreement with the chronology and onomastic evidence of the Glenogle family.

However, in a modification of that conjecture, MacGregor has suggested that Robert, ancestor of the Stewarts of Glenogle, was the son of Duncan McAllester rather than Duncan’s younger brother. In this version, Glenogle passed from a grandson of Duncan to another grandson of Duncan. That conjecture also fits the chronology and onomastic evidence. We shall conduct further examination of MacGregor’s conjectures regarding this family as we continue our chronological and genealogical survey.

Alexander Stewart in Glenogle (1613-1622)

The Ardvorlich History says that an “Alexander S in Glenogill” appears in a document of 1613. That is the earliest known historical reference to a member of this family. Unfortunately, the Ardvorlich History does not indicate what the document was in which this Glenogle Stewart was named. In any case, this Alexander is very likely the same as the “Alexander Stewart in Glenogle” who signed a bond of 1622:

“Bond by Alexander Stewart in Ardvorlich, James Stewart, his eldest son,

Alexander Stewart in Portnellan, Andrew Stewart of Blairgarrie, Duncan

Stewart in Monochyle, Alexander Stewart in Glenogle, John Dow Stewart in

Glenfinglas and Walter Stewart his brother german, for all their kin in

Strathgartney and Balquhidder, to William, earl of Menteith. Date in

January of 1622.”¹¹

Chronologically, this Alexander Stewart in Glenogle could have been the son (or perhaps the grandson) of Robert Stewart, younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran. However, MacGregor conjectures that Alexander was the son of Duncan Stewart, younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran. It remains unclear just how Alexander Stewart in Glenogle was descended from the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran. However, the earliest known tradition is that this Stewart family descended from Robert, son of Alexander, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran.

Andrew Stewart in Glenogle (1618-1622)

The next Glenogle Stewart known to history is “Andro S. in Glenogill,” who appears in a document of 1618, according to the Ardvorlich History. As with the 1613 document naming Alexander Stewart in Glenogle, the Ardvorlich History does not identify the 1618 document in which Andrew Stewart appears. However, this Andrew Stewart is certainly the same one who was ordered to appear before the Lords of the Privy Council in 1622:

“Bond by James Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart in Ardvorlich, and

Alexander McKen Stewart in Portnellan to William, Earl of Menteith,

who have become cautioners to produce Andrew Stewart son of Alexander

Stewart in Glenogle before the lords of the Secret Council. Dated 11 June

1622.”¹²

Alexander Stewart in Glenogle who signed the bond of Jan. 1622 would be father of Andrew. It should be noted that the names Alexander and Andrew both appear in the family of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran about this time, so that tends to support the tradition that the Stewarts of Glenogle were a cadet of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran. Also, Andrew Stewart in Glenogle’s troubles with the Privy Council could have ended in his imprisonment, exile, or even death, which would explain why Glenogle did not pass to a son of Andrew.

Duncan Stewart in Stronvar and Glenogle (1623-1628)

According to Gordon MacGregor, “Duncan McRobert Stewart in Stronvar” is listed, along with Alexander Stewart, 1^st of Ardvorlich, and several other local Stewarts, as a signer of a bond of friendship with Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy dated 17 Sept. 1623. Also, according to the Ardvorlich History, a document of 1628 mentions “Duncan McRobert Stewart in Glenogill,” obviously the same as Duncan McRobert Stewart in Stronvar. Finally, because it is known that the later Stewarts in Monachyle were a cadet of the Stewarts of Glenogle, it is all but certain that Duncan McRobert is the same as the “Duncan Stewart in Monochyle” who signed the above-quoted bond of 1622.

Although the chronology of the generations of this family is unclear at this point, nevertheless Duncan’s father Robert could be none other than the Robert Stewart who is named in Duncan Stewart’s 1739 genealogical history of the Stewarts as the ancestor of the Stewarts of Hyndfield or Stronvar. On the other hand, since the chronology is uncertain, it is possible, though not as likely, that Duncan’s father Robert was a son of the Robert Stewart who traditionally was this family’s ancestor. Alternatively, Duncan McRobert could be a grandson of Duncan, son of Alexander, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran, as MacGregor has proposed.

Also uncertain is the exact way in which Duncan McRobert was related to the Alexander Stewart in Glenogle and the Andrew Stewart in Glenogle who appear around this same period of time. Duncan McRobert may have been a younger brother of Alexander Stewart. However, MacGregor has suggested that Duncan was Alexander’s cousin, conjecturing that Duncan’s father Robert was a younger brother of Alexander’s possible father Duncan McAllester. In his modified conjecture, MacGregor proposes that Duncan McRobert’s father was a son of Duncan McAllester.

Duncan McRobert Stewart in Glenogle evidently is the “Duncan Stewart of Glenogle” who is shown in Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history as the husband of his kinswoman Janet Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 1^st of Ardvorlich.¹³ Janet was probably born circa 1600. Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history says Duncan Stewart of Glenogle was “ancestor of John Stewart of Hyndfield,” no doubt the same John Stewart of Hyndfield that Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history says was the fifth in lineal descent from Robert Stewart, younger son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran.

Robert Stewart in Glenogle (1645-1657)

The Ardvorlich History indicates that the next reference to this family comes in 1645, when a document mentions “Robert Stewart in Glenogill.” This is likely to be the “Robert Stewart, predecessor to Hyndfield” who is named in Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history as one of the Stewarts of Balquhidder who signed the 1654 bond of Keltney Burn in tacit support of King Charles II.¹⁴ Robert was probably the son of Duncan McRobert. This must be the “Robert Stewart in Achanlachoylithie” who had sasine of Glenogle in 1657:

“Sasine for infefting Robert Stewart in Achanlachoylithie in the

land of Auchanlachoylithie, Glenogle and Balanluig for £1000

Scots. 3 June, 1657.”¹⁵

Balanluig or Ballinluig is located very close to Stronvar, which first appears as a possession and dwelling of the Stewarts of Glenogle in 1623.

Alexander Stewart in Glenogle (1667-1684)

According to the Ardvorlich History, the Atholl Hunting Rolls show “Alexander S in Glenowgill” in 1667. Alexander is probably the son of the preceding Robert Stewart in Glenogle (although for the Glenogle succession from 1623 to 1730 we unfortunately lack documentary evidence providing genealogical links in this lineage). It is apparently the same Alexander who appears in the 1684 testament of James Stewart in Wester Achtow, which refers to “Alexander Stewart in Glenogil.” Stewarts of the South indicates that the Stewarts of Wester Achtow were a cadet of the Stewarts of Glenogle. According to MacGregor, James Stewart’s testament is described as follows:

“Testament of James Stewart in Wester Auchtow who died in December

of 1684 given up by Alexander Stewart in Glenogil in the name and on

behalf of Alexander and Isabel Stewart, children of the defunct. Debts

were owed by the deceased Alexander Stewart, brother of the defunct

and also Duncan Stewart in Ballimeanoch and James Stewart in Glentarff.”¹⁶

In a communication with Rev. Ryk Brown, Gordon MacGregor suggested that “Alexander Stewart, brother of the defunct [i.e. James Stewart in Wester Achtow]” could be the same as the Alexander Stewart in Glenogle who gave up James’ testament in the name and on behalf of James’ children Alexander and Isabel. However, since the testament says James’ brother Alexander was deceased, he could not be the Alexander of Glenogle who was then acting on behalf of James’ children and therefore was undeniably still alive in 1684. The exact way in which the Stewarts of Wester Achtow branched off the Stewarts of Glenogle remains unknown, but proven descents have been documented from the Stewarts of Achra, who may be a cadet of the Stewarts of Wester Achtow.¹⁷

Robert Stewart in Glenogle (1704)

The next generation of this family is apparently the “Robert Stewart in Glenogle” who died in July 1704, who was almost certainly the son and heir of the preceding Alexander Stewart in Glenogle. The Ardvorlich History, citing the “Dunblane Comm. Records,” also refers to a document of 1704 naming this Robert, but that is likely to be his testament. MacGregor says this Robert’s testament is recorded as:

“Testament of Robert Stewart in Glenogle who died in July of 1704

given up by Duncan Stewart in Monochyle as creditor.”¹⁸

According to Stewarts of the South, a family of Stewarts in Monachyle Mor and Monachyle Beg apparently were the senior representatives of the Stewarts of Glenogle in the latter 1700s and early 1800s.¹⁹

An examination of the chronology of the families of the Stewarts of Ledcreich and the Stewarts of Glenogle indicates that this Robert Stewart in Glenogle is the “Robert Stewart, of Glenogle” who is named, along with a brother Alexander and a niece Catherine, daughter of Alexander, in the 1763 genealogy that was written by Patrick Stewart of Ledcreich. The American Historical Magazine transcribed the relevant passage of Patrick Stewart’s genealogy as follows:

“The said Patrick was eldest lawful son Alexander Stewart of Ledcreich,

and Catherine his wife, daughter to Alexander Stewart, brother to Robert

Stewart, of Glenogle, predecessor of John Stewart, of Hindfield and

Strauser.”²⁰

In comparison, Stewart Clan Magazine transcribed the same passage as, “brother to Robert Stewart of Glenagle, predecessor to John Stewart of Hindfield and Stronsor.”²¹ Of course, “Stronsor” and “Strauser” are misreadings of “Stronvar,” and this John Stewart of Hyndfield and Stronvar is undoubtedly the same one who is said in Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history to have been fifth in descent from Robert Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart, 2^nd of Gartnafuaran.

John Stewart of Hyndfield and Stronvar (1718-1733)

At last we come to the John Stewart of Hyndfield and Stronvar whom we have had occasion to mention several times. As we have seen, the genealogical links of the successive Glenogle generations are not fully documented. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that, just as Duncan Stewart’s genealogical history speaks of a five-generation descent from a Robert Stewart, so our survey of Glenogle Stewart history apparently shows us five successive generations beginning with the son of a Robert Stewart: 1) Duncan McRobert Stewart, 2) Robert Stewart, 3) Alexander Stewart, 4) Robert Stewart, 5) John Stewart. We don’t know that is a father-to-son lineage, but it is probable that it is. Thus, even though Duncan Stewart’s statement regarding John Stewart of Hyndfield’s ancestry is not fully confirmed, the documentation that is available does seems to support Duncan Stewart’s tradition of Glenogle origins – a tradition that almost certainly came from Duncan Stewart’s contemporary John Stewart of Hyndfield himself, who likely would have known his own genealogy.

According to the old Balquhidder parish register, by 1718 John was a married adult with children, at which time he was in possession of Stronvar. By 1730 John was in possession of Hyndfield, as indicated by Duncan Stewart’s 1739 history as well as the parish register. That means John was probably born about 1690, which fits perfectly with the 1704 date of death of his probable father Robert.

On the other hand, a 1719 document raises the possibility that John was not the son of Robert. According to Gordon MacGregor, that document is described as:

“Contract of feu between John, Duke of Atholl, and Helen Murray,

relict of James Stewart in Glenbuckie, for the 7 merk lands of Stronvar

with the salmon fishings on Loch Voil. Dated 17 January, 1719.”

Because this contract involved Stronvar, it is possible that Helen Murray and her late husband James Stewart were the parents of John Stewart of Hyndfield and Stronvar. If John was the son of James, then it would be likely that James was a younger brother of the abovementioned Robert Stewart in Glenogle who died July 1704 – a conjecture that would agree with the tradition of a five-generation descent from Robert.

However, the Balquhidder parish register says “John Stewart in Stronvar Mor” baptised a daughter in June 1718, about seven months before Helen Murray’s contract of feu. If John was Helen’s daughter, how is it that he was apparently overlooked in a contract that would involve his own inheritance? Why was the 1719 contract made with John’s purported mother rather than with John himself? Certainly if John were still a minor in 1719, that would explain why the contract was with Helen instead of John, but John was already married and having children by 1718, so he was no longer a minor. The parish register also indicates that Stronvar Mor was still John’s chief residence as late as March 1727. Consequently it seems likely that the 1719 contract had to do with a different set of feudal tenants in Stronvar, not John’s family. That in turn would mean that Helen and James were not, after all, the parents of John, who thus may have been Robert’s son after all.

The Balquhidder parish register shows “John Stewart in Stronvar Mor” as the husband of Janet McNab, by whom he had the following recorded children: Katrine Stewart, baptised 11 June 1718 in Balquhidder parish; Bettrice Stewart, baptised 8 May 1724 in Stronvar Mor, Balquhidder parish (mother not listed, but presumably she had the same mother as Katrine); and Anna Stewart, baptised 7 March 1727 in Stronvar Mor, Balquhidder parish. Scottish parish registers sometimes have gaps for various reasons, so John and Janet may have had other children, including some who may have died young.

A sasine of 1729 found by Gordon MacGregor shows that John apparently had removed his chief residence from Stronvar to Hyndfield by that year:

“Sasine to James Campbell, son of Duncan Campbell, brother of the

Laird of Edinample, for the eighth part of the lands of Gartnaferan called

Stronslanny, granted in his favor by Alexander Stewart of Gartnaferan.

Dated at the Kirkton of Balquidder on 13 December 1729, before these

witnesses, Patrick Campbell of Edinchip, John Stewart of Hyndfield, James

Stewart, son to said Alexander S. and Thomas Campbell, writer in Killin.”

The Balquhidder parish register shows “John Stewart of Hyndfield” as the husband of Jean Campbell, by whom he had two children: Donald Steuart, baptised on 13 Aug. 1730 in Hyndfield, and Helen Steuart, baptised 13 Nov. 1730 in Hyndfield. Within a year or two of Helen’s baptism, John’s wife Jean died. The parish register shows that on 30 June 1733, John married a third time, to Janet Buchanan of Callander parish.

With John Stewart and his children, we nearly reach the end of the information that can be ascertained about this family from original documents. The Ardvorlich History refers to a 1798 document that named “Peter S. and John S. in Glenogle,” but it is unknown how, or whether, Peter and John were connected to the earlier Stewarts of Glenogle. Similarly, from 1699 to 1848, the old Balquhidder parish register lists numerous marriages, births, and baptisms of Stewarts in Glenogle, Stronvar, Hyndfield, and Clach-glas. No doubt many of those Stewarts were connected to the family of the Stewarts of Glenogle, but at this time it is uncertain exactly how. Stewarts of the South also describes nine separate lines of cadet branches of the Glenogle family.²² As mentioned above, by the early 1800s the senior representatives of the Glenogle family belonged to a branch from Monachyle. That indicates that the main line of the Stewarts of Glenogle ended with John Stewart of Hyndfield or his son Donald. In any event, it is hoped that as researchers continue to study the facts that are available in the original documents, additional genealogical connections and discoveries will be made that will increase our knowledge and understanding of this cadet branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran.

END NOTES

¹ Stewarts of the South, p.66. The discussion of the then-living descendants of the Stewarts of Glenogle is found on pages 66-68 of Stewarts of the South.

² In a footnote on page 9 of Stewart Clan Magazine Tome B (Sept. 1927, vol. vi, no. 3), George Thomas Edson asserted, “The Stewarts of Glen Ogle and others in Balquidder (sic) are also descendants of the Stewarts of Appin,” a statement derived from The Stewarts of Appin (1880). Some descendants of the Stewarts of Appin did live in and near Balquhidder, but the Stewarts of Glenogle were not a branch of the Stewarts of Appin.

³ See page 178 of Duncan Stewart’s A Short Historical and Genealogical Account of the Royal Family of Scotland . . . to Which is Prefixed a Genealogical and Chronological Tree of the Royal Family and the Name of Stewart, Edinburgh, 1739.

⁴ Outside of Duncan Stewart’s history, the only possible reference to this Robert would be in the patronymic of Duncan McRobert Stewart in Glenogle and Stronvar.

⁵ The information on John Stewart of Kirkton and the bond of 1557 is found in the Ardvorlich Papers on file at The Stewart Society in Edinburgh, otherwise known as the Ardvorlich History that was compiled by Major John Stewart, 14^th of Ardvorlich.

⁶ Rev. Ryk Brown has tentatively suggested that John Stewart in Kirkton could be the ancestor of a Stewart family in Glenfinglas. The Ardvorlich History records the following Stewarts as tenants in Glenfinglas in 1623: “Alexander S. alias M’ean, John, Archibald, and Andrew, his sons, Walter M’eandowie alias Stewart.” “M’ean” is “mac Iain,” son of John, while “M’eandowie” is “mac Iain Dubh,” son of Black John. Either Alexander or Walter, or both of them, could have been sons of John Stewart in Kirkton, although the fact that they were not known by the same patronymic might indicate that they were not brothers. In any case, it is known that the Gartnafuaran family acquired a ¼ portion of Glenfinglas just before 1622.

⁷ Extracts from the Edward S. Gray Papers and Ardvorlich Papers have been provided by Scottish genealogical researcher James Dinwoodie.

⁸ The Landed Families of Perthshire, Gordon MacGregor, MacGregor Publishing, Angus, Scotland, 2004, p.815.

⁹ Reg. Privy Seal, vol. VI, no. 737. These and most of the other original records quoted in this study were collected by researcher Gordon MacGregor from the National Archives of Scotland.

¹⁰ As mentioned in End Note ⁹, this record was found by Gordon MacGregor at the National Archives.

¹¹ See End Notes ⁹ and ¹⁰.

¹² ibid.

¹³ See pages 174-175 of Duncan Stewart’s history. (See End Note ³)

¹⁴ Stewart Clan Magazine Tome D pp.126-127 (Jan. 1940, vol. xvii, no. 7) and Tome H p.265 (Dec. 1962, vol. 40, no. 6). The Ardvorlich History does not identify that document of 1645 that names Robert Stewart in Glenogle, but “1645” may be a typographical error for “1654,” in which case the document could be none other than the Bond of Keltney Burn.

15 Gordon MacGregor found this sasine during a search of the archives at Blair Atholl Castle in early September 2006.

¹⁶ See End Notes ⁹ and ¹⁰.

¹⁷ For information on the descendants of the Stewarts of Wester Achtow, and on their offspring the Stewarts of Achra, see Rev. Ryk Brown’s webpage on the Stewarts of Glenogle at freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rykbrown/glenogle.htm.

¹⁸ See End Notes ⁹ and ¹⁰.

¹⁹ Stewarts of the South, p.66, indicates that Hyndfield had passed to Capt. Stewart of Glenbuckie by circa 1815, and commences its account of the branches of the Stewarts of Glenogle with “David Stewart late of Glenbuckie [who] was son of John Stewart of Craig-grui and Easter Monachail in the Parish of Balquidder.” That filiation, however, has been shown to be erroneous, because in the old Balquhidder Kirk Cemetery there is a memorial stone that says, “The stone is dedicated by David Stewart of Glenbuckie to the memory of his father Robert Stewart of Craigruie who died 1747 aged 57 years also of his mother Janet Stewart who died 1766 aged 65 years.” The old Balquhidder parish register shows a “Robert Stewart in Monachyle Mor” with a wife named “Janet S.,” no doubt the parents of David Stewart of Glenbuckie. The children of Robert and Janet were:

Duncan Stewart, bap. 28 July 1718 in ? (location not given)

James Stewart, bap. 29 April 1720 in Monachill

Issobel Stewart, bap. 27 Aug. 1721 in Monachill mor

Margaret Stewart, bap. 26 Oct. 1726 in Monachilmor

Robert Stewart, bap. 27 April 1735 in Leidscritan

Alexander Stewart, bap. 12 Oct. 1737 in Ledscritan

Robert Stewart, bap. 24 Feb. 1740 “of Monachill mor”

Walter Stewart, bap. 1 Feb. 1741 in Ledscritan (mother given as “____ Stewart”)

(NN) Stewart, bap. 13 Oct. 1742 in Marchfield

“Duncan” was the Gaelic equivalent of “David,” so the eldest son of Robert and Janet would be identical with David Stewart of Glenbuckie. The Scots naming tradition indicates that Robert’s father was named Duncan. David’s father Robert also appears in this 1719 muniment found by Gordon MacGregor in the archives at Blair Atholl Castle:

“Contract of feu between John, Duke of Atholl, and Robert Stewart

in Monachyle more of the 7 merks lands of Monchyle mor with the

fishing May 1719.”

In another 1719 muniment found by MacGregor at Blair Atholl Castle, the lands of Monachyle Beg are found in the possession of a Robert Stewart who is apparently not the same as Robert Stewart in Monachyle Mor:

“Contract of feu between John, Duke of Atholl, and Robert Stewart

in Glenogle of the lands of Monchal beg and Immerioch, for £560

16 April, 1719.”

It is unknown how this Robert Stewart was related to the main Glenogle line. He does not seem to have been a brother, uncle, or especially close cousin of John Stewart of Hyndfield and Stronvar. Rev. Ryk Brown has suggested that Robert resided in Glenogle while John held the superiority of Glenogle. Another possibility that Ryk Brown has suggested is that John sold Glenogle to his Monachyle cousins and then purchased Hyndfield. In any case, it seems that this Robert Stewart of the April 1719 contract of feu appears in the parish register as “Robert Steuart in Lochearnhead, Lettir and proprietor of Monachyle,” whose wife was “Marjory Steuart.” The register records the baptisms of nine of their children, as follows:

Issabell Steuart, bap. 30 May 1718 in Lochearnhead

Duncan Steuart, bap. 18 Oct. 1720 in ? (location not given)

John Steuart, bap. 6 Dec. 1722 in Monachoil Mor

Alexander Steuart, bap. 16 Oct./16 Nov. 1724 (double entered) in Monachal Beg

Robert Steuart, bap. 21 June 1727 in Monachoil Beg

Alexander Steuart, bap. 22 Jan. 1731 in Monachal Beg

Marjory Steuart, bap. 28 Aug. 1732 in Lochearnhead

Margaret Steuart, bap. 6 Feb. 1735 in Monachoil Beg

Donald Steuart, bap. 5 Jan. 1739 in Letter

Because the eldest known son of Robert Stewart, proprietor of Monachyle, was named Duncan, born in 1720, it is probable that Robert’s father was named Duncan and Robert was born around 1695 or so. Though it is somewhat confusing, the old parish register shows two contemporary Roberts in Monachyle, residing adjacent to each other, one in Monachyle Mor and the other in Monachyle Beg – and both had eldest sons named Duncan (David) and probably had fathers named Duncan. These two Roberts very likely were related to each other rather closely, but the ancestry of Robert Stewart in Monachyle Beg is unclear.

Robert Stewart in Monachyle Mor was most likely the son of Duncan Stewart in Monochyle, who appears as a creditor in the 1704 will of Robert Stewart in Glenogle (and as Duncan Stewart in Monochhylemore in the 1707 testament of Alexander Stewart, tacksman of one-eighth of Glenfinglas). This Duncan Stewart is almost certainly the “Duncan in Monachyle” who appears in the old parish register with a wife “Isobel S” (i.e. Isobel Stewart), and is undoubtedly the parish register’s “Duncan in Monachyle Mor” whose son “J____” (probably an abbreviation of “John”) was baptised in May 1706. The parish register also shows Duncan Stewart in Monachyle Mor and Isobel Stewart as parents of an unnamed child, baptised 4 Aug. 1708, and a son James, baptised 20 Jan. 1712. These would all be younger siblings of Robert Stewart, whose memorial stone indicates a date of birth of 1690. If Robert was eldest son of Duncan, then Duncan was himself probably the son of a Robert.

One of the earlier Stewarts in Monachyle was “Robert Stewart in Monchyle,” mentioned as a witness to a sasine for the lands of Dalveich 3 Nov. 1656 (The Settlements of Western Perthshire, James Stewart, Pentland Press, Edinburgh, p.63), who Rev. Ryk Brown suggests was the father of Duncan Stewart of the 1704 testament. Also, as seen above, an earlier Duncan Stewart in Monochyle signed the Jan. 1622 bond of which Alexander Stewart in Glenogle also was a signer. It is probable that the Robert of the 1656 sasine was a grandson of the 1622 Duncan Stewart in Monochyle, who as we have seen is very likely to be none other than Duncan McRobert of Stronvar and Glenogle. Prior to Duncan, the first known Stewart in Monachyle was “Alexander Stewart in Monochaill” who signed a bond of Nov. 1557, according to the Ardvorlich History. It is unclear how that Alexander was related to the Stewarts of Glenogle, but he certainly belonged to one of the families of the Stewarts of Balquhidder and was likely closely related to the Gartnafuaran family if not actually one of the Gartnafuaran Stewarts himself.

²⁰ American Historical Magazine, University Press, vol. 8, 1902, p.149.

²¹ Stewart Clan Magazine Tome C, pp.115-116 (April 1935, vol. xii, no. 10).

²² Rev. Ryk Brown presents and examines these parish register entries and Glenogle branches at his webpage referenced in End Note ¹⁷. Descendants of Glenogle Line 7, the Stewarts of Rusgachan in Strathyre (Stewarts of the South p.67), have been identified.