Alvan Stewart (1790 - 1849)

Born 1 Sep 1790 in Granville, Washington, New York, USA

Ancestors

Died 1 May 1849 at age 58 in New York City, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Donna Baumann [send private message], Justin Bahn [send private message], Jody Benedict [send private message], and Wini L Bahn [send private message]

Alvan Stewart was a part of the Abolitionist Movement.

Biography

Birth: 1 Sep 1790 Death: 1 May 1849 Parents: Urial Stewart, Anna Holgate Spouse: Keziah Holt

Alvan was the great anti slavery advocate of New York. He devised and put into operation the so called underground railway scheme for aiding runaway slaves to reach Canada. He was associated with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Charles Sumner, John Brown, Frederik Douglas, Susan B. Anthony and other leaders for human rights. He was a candidate for governor of New York in 1844.

From: Special Collections Otto G. Richter Library The Alvan Stewart Papers Alvan StewartPreston.Cline.Family TreeThe Alvan Stewart Papers contains approximately 200 handwritten pages of a diary by New York lawyer and abolitionist Alvan Stewart (1790-1849). The diary chronicles Stewart's travels from May to September 1831, including a sea voyage from New York to Liverpool, his travels through England and France, and the return voyage. The diary offers a unique and previously undiscovered glimpse of Stewart's early life, his blossoming religious and abolitionist feelings, and his growing concerns with the fate of mankind. A keen observer of the human condition, Stewart's observations and experiences aboard ship and as a traveler throughout England and France provide an entertaining and fascinating first-hand account of life in Europe, as viewed by an educated American gentleman.

As Stewart leaves New York in May 1831, he plans a journey of a year to eighteen months. During the voyage across the Atlantic and throughout his travels, Stewart reconsiders his decision to be away from home and family. The outbreak of cholera on the European continent and an uprising in Paris on the anniversary of the 1830 Rebellion exacerbate Stewart's yearnings for home. Stewart cuts short his travels and returns home at the end of August 1831. The two crossings of the Atlantic comprise almost half of the time Stewart spends away from home and his writings while on board two packet ships detail of his personal feelings and religious beliefs. Several storms beset the travelers and Stewart writes eloquently about the power of nature and man's place in God's domain. He also provides descriptions of his fellow passengers, the weather, whales and other sea life, and various sailing techniques.

After landing in Liverpool, Stewart travels through the English countryside to London. He writes in awe of the Manchester Railroad that transports its passengers at amazing speeds of forty to fifty miles per hour. Arriving in London, Stewart describes the people and sights as he tours the city. He visits the various courts, the British Museum, Tower of London, the Stock Exchange, Westminster Abbey, and even catches a glimpse of King William as the ruler arrives to address Parliament. In preparation for touring in France, Stewart hires a man to act as personal servant and translator. Together they travel through Dover and Canterbury and cross the channel to Calais, France. There the two men board a large public stagecoach and travel to Paris. Stewart's writings contain frank opinions of France and its people, and he describes explorations of the city and outlying areas. While in Paris, Stewart meets and befriends James Fenimore Cooper and spends a great deal of time in the author's company. He also meets and converses with various American diplomats. Stewart's notations include observations on America's intervention in the Polish situation and the post-revolution climate in France.

Many thoughtful descriptions and intellectual meditations fill the pages of this unique and valuable manuscript. The diary pages are written in a clear hand, and are readily decipherable, though a stain mars both the first ten pages and the margins of the end papers.

The Alvan Stewart Papers was curated by William E. Brown, Jr. and Ruthanne D. Vogel. This Web site was placed online July 1998 and was last updated December 27, 2006.

Alvan Stewart (1790–1849), attorney and abolitionist, was born in South Granville, New York. After attending several sessions at the University of Vermont and working for a number of years as an educator in Vermont, Canada, and New York, he undertook a journey, 1815–16, that took him to Kentucky, where he met Clay, and Virginia, where he visited TJ at Monticello. Stewart returned thereafter to New York, was admitted to the bar, and resided first in Cherry Valley and, from 1832, in Utica. In his latter years he tirelessly promoted the cause of abolition. Stewart helped organize and served as president of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society, raising money, giving speeches, and advocating more aggressive tactics than the moral suasion favored by William Lloyd Garrison. In an 1845 test case before the supreme court of New Jersey, he forcefully challenged the constitutionality of slavery. A fervent supporter of protectionism, a national bank, public education, federally funded internal improvements, and temperance, Stewart ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York on the ticket of the abolitionist Liberty Party in 1840 and 1844. He died in New York City (ANB; DAB; Levi Beardsley, Reminiscences [1852], 167–8; Luther Rawson Marsh, ed., Writings and Speeches of Alvan Stewart, on Slavery [1860]; New York Weekly Herald, 5 May 1849). PERMALINK What’s this? http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-10-02-0262 Note: The annotations to this document, and any other modern editorial content, are copyright © Princeton University Press. All rights reserved.

=

Alvan was born in 1790. He was the son of Uriel Stewart and Anna Holgate. He passed away in 1849. Great Anti-Slavery Activist in NY State.

Marriage

New York Marriages

Name: Alvan Sewart

Spouse's Name: Keziah Holt

Event Date: 26 Nov 1817

Event Place: First Presbyterian Church,Cherry Valley,Otsego,New York^[1]

Other Records

"Daughter's death record - New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," ^[2]

Name Jane Stewart Marsh

Event Type Death

Event Date 04 Mar 1887

Event Place Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Address 166 Madison Ave

Gender Female

Age 66

Marital Status Married

Race White

Birth Year (Estimated) 1821

Birthplace New York State

Burial Date 07 Mar 1887

Burial Place Greenwood

Father's Name Alvan Stewart

Father's Birthplace Wash. Co. N.Y.

Mother's Name Keziah Stewart

Mother's Birthplace Otsy Co. N.Y.

Sources

1. ↑ "New York Marriages, 1686-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F634-7PV : 10 February 2018), Alvin Sewart and Keziah Holt, 26 Nov 1817; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 534,225.
2. ↑ database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WVM-92L : 10 February 2018), Keziah Stewart in entry for Jane Stewart Marsh, 04 Mar 1887; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,412,484.

=

• Stewart Clan Magazine p.23
• University of Miami Special Collections: Alvan Stewart Papers
• Frank History at www.Frankhistory.com
• Family HIstory papers of Ethelbert Stewart
• The Alvan Stewart Papers was curated by William E. Brown, Jr. and Ruthanne D. Vogel.
• http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-10-02-0262

Note: The annotations to this document, and any other modern editorial content, are copyright © Princeton University Press. All rights r

• Source: S-1292014380 Repository: #R-1550429315 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=49268907&pid=381
• Repository: R-1550429315 Ancestry.com