Genealogical Records of Stewart-Stuart Families

Editor - George T. Edson, 1307 High St., Beatrice, NE

Associate - Horace Dickerman, New Haven, CT

 William¹⁸ Stewart (Alexander¹⁷) was born about 1738 at the family estate, Green Hill, near Carnemauga, County Donegal, Ireland. His mother, Rebecca (Galbraith) Stewart, brought her children -- Charles, Robert, William, Frances, and Margaret -- to Pennsylvania about 1745 and settled in Donegal township, Lancaster County, where she died in 1749. William went to the vicinity of Carlisle, Cumberland County, in 1758 and took up land at a place called Meeting House Springs. He married in 1760, Mary Gass, daughter of Benjamin and Eleanor Gass of Cumberland Co. His Bible, in which he wrote "Wm Stuart his Bible bought in Carlisle from John Wilky -- Wm Stuart is my name. Do not stale this book for fare of shame For onder nath is the oner's name," contains the names and births of his 11 children. The names of 10 are spelled Stuart but Capt. Stewart inscribed the 11th as Stewart, returning to the old family spelling. When the Revolutionary War broke out William joined the Cumberland County militia and marched as a lieutenant in the 3rd Company in Colonel John Davis's regiment, and was wounded in 1777. Later he was First Lieutenant and Adjutant in Col. Hazen's regiment, called Congress's Own, his last service being a tour against the Indians in 1782. For his services the Pennsylvania General Assembly, by an act of Mar. 12, 1783, granted him 200 acres of land, which was located on Indian Run in Mercer County. He was known as Captain Stewart. Sometime around 1800 he removed to Westmoreland County. He willed his 200-acre farm in Mercer County to his two youngest sons, Robert and George. He died in Mercer or Westmoreland County. Children:

 Benjamin¹⁹ Stewart (William¹⁸) born Aug. 9, 1762, may have remained on the home farm in Cumberland Co., and may have inherited the Gass farm near Chambersburg, Franklin Co. (formerly part of Cumberland Co.). In the census of 1790 Benjamin Stuart and 4 children were residing near Chambersburg.

William¹⁹ Stewart (William¹⁸) b. Sep. 21, 1779, married Eleanor Knox of Harrisburg. He removed to Bridgeport, Belmont Co., Ohio, where he became a large raiser of livestock. He and his son William engaged in the importation of livestock and made several trips to Scotland and Ireland in this business. They hunted up their kinfolk in County Donegal, descendants of Alexander₁₈, eldest brother of Lieutenant William, still living on the Green Hill estate, and later some of them came on a visit to Ohio. William later removed to Wayne County.

Robert¹⁹ Stewart (William¹⁸) born Sep. 17, 1781, married (1) Mary Young, born in 1786. She had ten children and died in 1827. He married (2) Sarah Shipler, by whom he had a daughter Harriet. He died Feb. 12, 1861, at Mercer, Pa. Children:

Georgie¹⁹ Stewart (William¹⁸) born Jan. 12, 1785, married Jane Nelson. He and his brother Robert inherited their father's farm near Mercer, Pa. Children:

William, b. Feb. 12, 1820. Went to Cedar Rapids, IA; George; Mary; Eliza; Margaret; Robert; Samuel (twin of Robert); Benjamin.

Later we shall give some account of William Stewart who has been claimed as the son of Lieutenant William but who could not have been. He went to Clarion County, Pa., about 1808; his wife was Sarah McKibben, daughter of Thomas McKibben, who also located in Clarion County.

Solomon W.⁵ Stewart was born in 1754 in the parish of McClarar, County Tyrone, Ireland, according to American Ancestry, ii:120. He came to America before the Revolution and settled in Columbia County, NY, this authority says; he was adjutant to General Lafayette and was professor of languages and music. He married Hannah Youngs. From information found in an old manuscript marked "Family Record" by Marks Barker, who was born in England July 6, 1762, and whose daughter Hannah married Stewart's son, Solomon W. Miss Isabella L. Stewart, 791 East 24th St, Paterson, NJ, sent us in 1925 some data on this line. "There was a story in our family," Miss Stewart said, "that the first of our Stewarts to come to this country had been at school in Dublin, fought a duel and left in haste. He came over with General Burgoyne's army and after the war he turned country school teacher, and that he played the violin." Both accounts seem equally hazy but are interesting. Solomon W. Stewart was living in New Milford, CT, in 1788, when his son Solomon Wallace was born, but later lived in Hudson, Columbia County, NY, where he died in 1842. The only information we have been able to get about his children, excepting Solomon Wallace, is from the will of John₆ Stewart of Stockport, 1855:

John⁶ Stewart (Solomon W.⁵) was born about 1792, for he gave his age as 62 when he made his will Jan. 10, 1855 (Columbia Co. probate, N:694). He called himself millwright, of Stockport. It is probable he never married. He mentioned in his will "my housekeeper, Lavinia Golding." His niece, Abigail Miller, daughter of Nathaniel Bondy, was to receive the feather bed which belonged to her grandmother Stewart. He bequeathed to his two nephews William and Richard Caudren "all lands I may be entitled to as a soldier in the war of 1812" but in a codicil he canceled this bequest and assigned his title to John Stewart, Jr. (probably his nephew), and Henry Bondy. He mentioned his brother, Solomon W. Stewart, and "my brother's sons William, Marks, Thomas Wallace, and John Stewart," and "my nephew John Milton Bondy." The residue of his estate he gave to William and Jane Van Hoesen of Stockport. The executors were John Milton Bondy, Marks Stewart, and William F. Butler.

 STEWARTS OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, NY

Thomas Stewart of Beaver Kill

Thomas⁶ Stewart was born about 1787 in Middletown, CT, and was brought by his parents in 1789 to Beaver Kill, Dutchess Co., NY, we learn from the New York Genealogical & Biographical Record, 1921. He married Nancy -------. In the administration of the estate of Samuel Stewart, Chatham, CT, appears this entry: "Thomas Stewart, bill for cambric, 83c," in a list of creditors Jan. 24, 1818. Thomas died Feb. 2, 1837, aged 49. His widow Nancy married Aug. 7, 1840, Lee Mitchell. She died Sep. 5, 1859, aged 75. Children of Thomas and Nancy Stewart:

 STEWARTS OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NC

Records gathered by rs. Elizabeth Stewart Bundy, Monroe, NC

Henry⁴ Stewart (Matthew³) was born Jan. 29, 1750₁ in Anson County (that part later established as Mecklenburg County, NC. He married Feb. 19, 1780, Lucy -------, who was born May 4, 1764. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary Was and the record of his service is given in the February, 1930, number of this magazine. Early in 1784 he and his brothers William and James went from North Carolina and settled in the Bethany neighborhood in Wilkes County, later formed into Greene and eventually Taliaferro County, Georgia. They cleared a small piece of ground, planted corn and pumpkins and built cabins. As soon as Henry could leave his crops he returned to North Carolina, after arranging with a miller to supply his wife with corn meal; but the miller was recreant to his trust and the wife and small children had to subsist on pumpkins until Henry's arrival home. The Stewarts and others in Bethany were Presbyterians and "possessed with a great deal of the Scotch-Irish element." They built a church of hewn logs, "and the Stewarts were great servers to it." One day when Henry was in the field "an Indian came to the house and tried to scalp his wife; she locked the doors, and the Indian started in the window. She caught him while he was in the window and took his tomahawk from him. Then she told her little boy to go to the spring and ring the bell, which was on a stump. They always rang the bell for help. He rang the bell and Henry came to the house and killed the Indian." Henry Stewart "has many, many descendants in Georgia." He died Oct. 17, 1863, aged 104. Children₁:

Dr. Josiah, Feb, 1791, GA; m. 1818 Nancy Pomeroy, Indian; d. May, 1865, Carmi

Elam

Lemira

Amaryllis

Robert C.

Theresa

Mary Narcissa m. Peter Clinton

John⁴ Stewart (Matthew³) was born about 1765 in Mecklenburg County, NC, and is said to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married about 1785, Agnes Moore, daughter of John Moore of Mecklenburg Co. He remained in North Carolina but removed into what is now Union County and owned a fine plantation near the state line, near Lancaster Co, SC. He died there in 1826, and he and his wife are buried in the old Waxhaw cemetery. The names of their children are given in the February, 1930, magazine.

James⁴ Stewart (Matthew³) was born about 1769 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. He is said to have accompanied his brothers, Henry and William, to Georgia in 1784 but to have returned and settled near Fort Mill, York Co., SC, adjacent to Mecklenburg Co., NC. On Sep. 20, 1792, James Stewart, Sr. - evidently not this James - of York district, SC, signed a release to Alexander Stewart of York district [see magazine for October, 1929] to 108 acres of land on Dry Fork of Turkey Creek [Yorkville clerk of court, H:187]. James Stewart of York district, planter, made his will June 14, 1854, which was proved Sep. 7, 1854.₅ He provided that his wife Nancy should live on the plantation and have control of it for life; his sons John and William were to assist her, and son Josiah was to finish at Davidson College. There is nothing to indicate that this James Stewart was James⁴, son of Matthew.³

Reuben⁵ Stewart (Henry⁴, Matthew³) born Sep. 3, 1804, in Taliaferro County, GA, married (1) Sarah Derby, by whom he had four children: James, Mary, Thomas, and Ann; and (2) Penelope Brantley, by whom he had nine children: John, Elizabeth, Ella, William, George, Douglas, Francis, Golden, and Jesse. Four sons, William, George, Golden, and Jesse, are still living in Taliaferro Co., 1932. Reuben Stewart died in 1887, aged 82.

James Stewart was born Dec. 1, 1762, in North Carolina, according to Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Illinois. He enlisted in 1779 in North Carolina for two months with Capt. H. McClure and Col. E. Lacy, and again in 1780 for three months with Capt. John McClure. Again in 1780 he enlisted, serving under Capt. John Steele and Capt. Philip Walker, and later he served two more enlistments, making five altogether, under Col. E. Lacey. He was in the Battles of Rocky Creek, Hanging Rock, King's Mountain, Fort Granby, the siege of Ninety Six, Hedarell's Point, and Eutaw Springs. He removed to Kentucky. In 1840 he was living in Wayne Co., IL, aged 78, head of the family₁₀. He died Oct. --, 1845, a pensioner, in Fairfield township, Wayne Co. IL₁₃.

George Stewart married ----- Utley and was living in Cumberland Co., NC, in 1800, when his son William was born. Further information about him and his ancestry is desired by Oscar T. Stewart, RFD 1, Pocatello, ID, a descendant. Children:

William Stewart (George) was born Oct. 24 ,1800, in Cumberland Co., NC. He married Delpha Jones, who was born in Cumberland Co., daughter of Ellis Jones. Their daughter Caroline was born in Fayette Co., where they apparently were living about 1833; but they were living in Cumberland Co. in 1835 and 1837, when their children Randolph and Elizabeth were born. They removed to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, before April, 1839. William Stewart died Oct. 23, 1891, in Moab, Grand Co., UT, the day before his 91st birthday. Children:

"He was far from Christ-like, however, in some ways. Though he knew the Bible almost in its entirety and could quote more scripture than anybody I ever knew. He cursed with almost every breath. He remained unmarried, living alone, until the time of his death, which was at an advanced age, probably 80. He compiled a family history of the Stewarts, which is now owned by a favorite nephew, to whom he left his estate. Maybe I'd better try to get a peep into that history!"

The above poem, by Mrs. Montgomery, appeared in Kaleidoscope, a national magazine of poetry edited by her and her husband, Walter Montgomery, 702 North Vernon St., Dallas, TX.

Dr. Frances Edward Stewart of Englewood, NJ, has sent us a collection of articles on heraldry, genealogy, etc. We shall study it over as soon as time permits.

Dr. Andrew Stewart of Washington, DC, was recently in Amarillo, TX, on a trip for thegovernment, inspecting a helium production plant. He was intrigued with the mesquite brush, prairie dogs, cattle and cowboys, never having seen the west before.

Dr. Ferdinand Schmiter of New York City, on another incursion into the Catskill Mountains , met John K. Grant of Stamford, who gave him a book on the Grants by his cousin, John P. Grant, who was sojourning in Florida. Dr. Schmitter lent us the book, which contained some Stewart data.

Mrs. Fred N. Taylor of McAllen, TX, registrar of the Rio Grande Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, died early in April. She had sent this magazine various Stewart records and lists of addresses of Stewart descendants. She was trying to help Mrs. Minni (Stewart) Parks find the ancestry of Garrett Stewart, --B:218. Recently we discovered that Garrett was a son of James G. Stewart of Bowling Green, KY., -- A:78.

This issue finishes volume 9, and with the July number the Stewart Clan Magazine starts into its tenth volume. We appreciate the support and cooperation of the good people of the Stewart kith. The editor has not always had the time to respond promptly to inquiries or to acknowledge the receipt of records but is gratified to know of the interest in Stewart genealogy and in this little magazine, which is trying to reach sources of records and to place these records wiht the reach of persons who are now or will be hunting eagerly for family data.

Our ability to obtain and print Stewart records is largely measured by the amount of money we have available to pay for the copying of probate, land and other records, and while we are willing to do all we can single-handedly, without thought of remuneration, our desire to be of service in the largest way possible leads us to accept with gratitude whatever financial aid is given for the magazine. All that we take in is promptly devoted to the gathering of more records or printing more pages. While many unique data are given to us willingly and generously, there are data which necessarily involve some expense in searching, transcribing, and mailing.

We urge those subscribers who subscription has expired to renew their subscription and those who receive this number as a sample copy, to add their names to our list now, so as to receive all of the numbers of the next volume. There are some persons, of course, who like to avail themselves of what information others dig up and publish, without sharing in the expense, and we are glad they may enjoy this privilege, but if very many hoped to procure their data in this way there wouldn't be much for anybody.

The Stewart Clan Magazine has some very fine people among its patrons, and we are continually finding more. Our desire is to retain all we find, so that the magazine may continue on through these trying years without discourgement, eventually to hold a place of seniority, prestige and recognized value in its field.

Since a number of generous persons contributed more than the amount of one subscription to help finance the printing of volume 9, we shall submit an accounting. The total receipts were $316.45. The cost of printing was $311.82; postage $48.20; stationery $14.28; and records $10.00; a total of $384.30. The editor's salary was a deficit of only $67.85, which, considering the times, is satisfactory. May the coming year be no worse.

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Symbols and references: a number preceded by a dash, as --90, means refer to that page; m. means married; m.int. means marriage intention; m. lic. means marriage license; b. = born; bp = baptized; d. = died; bur. = buried. (₁) = Bible record; (₂) church; (₃) town; (₄) gravestone; (₅) probate; (₆) court; (₇) land; (₈) military; (₉) pension; (₁₀) census; (₁₁) tradition; (₁₂) local history; (₁₃) patriotic society; (₁₄) biography or genealogy; (₁₅) deduction of the editor.