Stewart of Balquhidder facts for kids
The Stewarts of Balquhidder are a special family group from Perthshire, Scotland. They are part of the larger Stewart clan and are connected to the royal House of Stewart, which once ruled Scotland. Their family line comes from Sir William Stewart of Baldorran (who lived around 1440 to 1500). He was the great-grandson of Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, who was punished by King James I of Scotland in 1425. Murdoch Stewart was also the grandson of King Robert II of Scotland, who started the Stewart royal family.
The Balquhidder Stewarts include families like the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Glen Buckie, Gartnafuaran, and Annat. These families have lived in places like Balquhidder, Callander, The Trossachs, Loch Earn, and even as far south as Stirling. They have been there since the 1400s and still live there today. Most of them were "Tacksmen." A Tacksman was like a manager of land for a bigger landowner in the Scottish Highlands.
Even though there isn't an official "chief" for this specific group, the person who would be considered the head of the family is Alexander Donald Stewart. He is the 15th Laird (or landowner) of Ardvorlich, living at Ardvorlich House near Comrie, Perthshire. His family has lived in Ardvorlich House for more than 400 years!
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Where They Lived
Balquhidder is a parish, which is like a local area, in Perthshire, Scotland. The lands owned by the Stewarts once included parts of nearby Comrie, Callander, Doune, Glen Ogle, and Kilmadock. These Stewart families were connected to each other, much like other Scottish clans, such as the well-known Clan Stewart of Appin.
Family History
In 1425, a man named Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany, was punished by the King, and his family lost their lands. Murdoch's youngest son, James Mor Stewart, had to escape to Antrim, Ireland, to be safe from the King. James never returned to Scotland, but his youngest son, James "Beag" Stewart, was eventually allowed to come back home.
James "Beag" married Annabel Buchanan, whose father was the 14th Laird of Buchanan. James "Beag" was given the land of Baldorran (also called "Balindoran") in Stirlingshire. William Stewart was their second son.
Around 1488, William Stewart of Baldorran was given an important job. He became the Royal Bailie (a kind of local official) for the King's lands in Balquhidder, Perthshire. William brought the Stewart name to Balquhidder and started the Balquhidder Stewart family group. The Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Glen Buckie, Gartnafuaran, and Annat, along with their smaller family branches, all come from him.
The Stewarts made a home for themselves in a part of Scotland that was sometimes wild and lawless. They lived near other families, some of whom were not always friendly. These included the Campbells from places like Edinample Castle. Other families nearby were the Drummonds, the MacLarens, the Murrays, the Neishes, the MacNabs, and the MacGregors. Some of these families were friends, and others were not.
A Famous Story from Sir Walter Scott
A true story about a difficult event in the 1600s inspired the famous writer Sir Walter Scott to write his book, A Legend of Montrose.
Back then, it was common to offer food and a place to stay to anyone who asked for it. If a guest wasn't a friend, they would still be given shelter, but they might get cold food instead of a hot meal. This is where the saying "given the cold shoulder" comes from!
Following this custom, Lady Margaret Stewart at Ardvorlich, who was expecting a baby, offered a place to stay to some traveling MacGregors. Something very upsetting happened, and Lady Margaret was so distressed that she ran out into the hills. There, she gave birth to her son, James Stewart, who later became known as the "Mad Major." The small lake where she gave birth is now called Lochan na Mna, which means "Loch of the Woman."
Major James Stewart became a famous person during the Covenanting Wars in Scotland. He is the main character in Sir Walter Scott's novel A Legend of Montrose. In the book, Scott changed James Stewart's name to Allan M'Aulay. This name is even carved on James Stewart's gravestone in the old churchyard of Dundurn, near the village of St Fillans by Loch Earn.
Family Branches
There are four main family branches of the Stewarts of Balquhidder: Ardvorlich, Glen Buckie, Gartnafuaran, and Annat. Each of these main families has several smaller branches. Sometimes, the family name is spelled "Steuart" or "Stuart" instead of "Stewart." The Stewarts of Ardvorlich are considered the most important branch of the family.
Ardvorlich House
Ardvorlich House, located near Comrie, Perthshire, is the long-time home of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. It is still standing today. A description from 1819 said the house was "surrounded by fine old timber, and very young plantations."
The fictional castle called “Darnlinvarach” in Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel A Legend of Montrose was based on Ardvorlich House. Scott himself had visited the house. The Stewarts of Ardvorlich have owned this estate for more than 400 years and still do today. The current 15th Laird of Ardvorlich is Alexander "Sandy" Stewart.
Famous Family Members
- John Stewart of Ardvorlich: He was a writer who wrote books about Scottish families, including The Stewarts (1963) and The Camerons, A History of Clan Cameron (1971).
- George H. "Maryland" Steuart: (1828-1903) He was a general in the American Civil War who surrendered in 1865, helping to end the war.
- Robert Stuart: (1785-1848) He was an explorer and a partner in a fur trading company. He was one of the people who explored the famous Oregon Trail in America.
- John Stuart: He was an explorer, fur trader, and an important manager (called a Chief Factor) for the Hudson's Bay Company. Stuart Lake and Stuart River, both in British Columbia, Canada, are named after him.
- George Hume Steuart: (1700–1784) He was a doctor, a tobacco farmer, and a politician in colonial Maryland who supported the British during the American Revolution.
- James Baeg Stewart: He was the 2nd Laird of Ardvorlich, also known as "The Mad Major." He was an officer in the army of Sir David Leslie during the Scottish Civil Wars.
- Sir William Stewart of Baldorran: (around 1440-1500) He was the 2nd Laird of Baldorran and the first Royal Bailie of the King's lands in Balquhidder. He is known as the founder of the Balquhidder Stewart family group.
See also
- Loch Earn
- Lochearnhead
