James Stewart (abt. 1582 - abt. 1660)

Born about 1582 in Ben Vorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1660 at about age 78 in Perthshire, Scotland

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Biography

James Stewart is a member of Clan Stewart.

This profile is part of the Stewart Name Study.

Maj. James Beag Stewart (2nd of Ardvorlich) was born about 1589 at the Lady's Loch on Ben Vorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. He was the son of Alexander Stewart (1st of Ardvorlich) and Margaret Drummond (of Drummonderinoch).

Major James “Beag” Stewart, the second Laird of Ardvorlich on Loch Earn, is perhaps, one of the most misrepresented characters in Scottish history. Much of the guilt for this we must lay at the door of none other than Sir Walter Scott. Scott was without doubt the most widely read and popular writer of his day when he wrote the story of James Stewart's life under the title of “The Legend of Montrose”. In the book he named the hero, based on James Stewart , Allan McAulay and changed the name of his family castle on Loch Earn from Ardvorlich to Darnlinvarach, but made no secret of the fact that both were based on James Stewart and his family home Ardvorlich. To this day, if you look inside the old ruined kirk at Dundurn, St. Fillans, you will see the name Allan McAulay carved at the foot of Major James Stewart's memorial plaque on the old stone wall. The Stewart family obviously did not take too unkindly to their relative being portrayed as – to borrow the Byronic epithet - “mad, bad and dangerous to know”; presumably taking the view that all publicity is good publicity and assuring Major James Stewart more than a mere footnote in the turbulent annals of Scottish history.^{[1] [2][3]}

(He should not be confused with the earlier James Beag Stewart, 1st of Baldorran. "Beag" is a common Gaelic nickname which means "small".

He died about 1660 and was buried secretly at St Fillians, Perthshire, Scotland and then later interred at the family vault in Dundurn, Perthshire, Scotland.

Marriage

• 1. James Beag Stewart was married firstly to Barbara Murray (of Buchanty) the daughter of Robert and Barbara Murray (of Buchanty). A sasine to "James Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart in Ardvorlich and Katherine Murray for the lands of Port of Lochearn 14 Nov. 1620" helps to establish the date of their marriage as being no later than 1620.

• 2. James Stewart was married secondly to Janet Buchanan, widow of Walter Buchanan, (ancestor of Arnprior). Her birth surname is unknown.

Children

Children of James Stewart & his 1st wife Barbara Murray;

1. Alexander Stewart b: ABT 1621 in Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, who was a student St. Andrews where he was killed in a fight in 1642.
2. Barbara Stewart , of Ardvorlich b: ABT 1623 in Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.
3. Robert Stewart , 3rd of Ardvorlich b: ABT 7 NOV 1625 in Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland.
4. Harry Stewart b: ABT 1627 in Ardvorlich, Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Harry Stewart (a.k.a. "Henry") was abandoned by his father on the battlefield at Tippermuir in 1644 and left to die when James fled after murdering Lord Kilpont. It is speculated that "Harry" may only have been a nickname.

Children of James Stewart & his 2nd wife Janet Buchanan;

They had no known children. James had the following "natural" (i.e. illegitimate) son by an unknown woman, probably born between his marriages.

• 1. John Dubh Mhor Stewart of Dalveich b: ABT 1630 in Loch Earn, Perthshire, Scotland. John became chief of the Stewarts of Dalveich

Sources

1. ↑ Highland Strathearn; https://www.highlandstrathearn.com/table-of-contents/clan-warfare-local-clans/the-stewarts-of-ardvorlich
2. ↑ The Mad Major of Ardvorlich; http://www.robroycountry.com/mad-major-of-ardvorlich.html
3. ↑ A Legend of Montrose; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Legend_of_Montrose

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rykbrown/stewart_of_ardvorlich.htm#James Baeg Stewart, 2nd Ardvorlich

• Burial. https://incallander.co.uk/st-fillans