The Descendants of John 'Bonnety' Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot

The Stewart Memorial Stone in Borenich Burial Ground

John "Bonnety" Stewart was the grandson of Duncan and Janet Stewart, and this is a well-documented family as, in 1912, Alexander Stewart Ross of Thomson, Nova Scotia, published a genealogy of his ancestors, tracing them back to Donald and Janet Stewart of Balhastle, Loch Tummel.

This is an important document as it was written from the Canadian perspective, and appears to have been based on information from family bibles, family documents and personal recollections. Its content is not based upon the Blair Atholl parish records, and the scant amount of information relating to the Stewarts who remained in Strathtummel, suggests that contact between the two branches was lost very quickly.

The full "Genealogical Record of the Loch Tummel Branch of the Clan Stewart (1712 - 1912) Compiled by A. S. Ross, Thomson, Nova Scotia" is available in the Record Room, but this does not include the families which remained in Strathtummel.

Contrary to popular belief Donald Stewart and Janet Stewart were not living originally in Balcastle, as is shown by the Blair Atholl OPR.

Blair Atholl, 1754
Donald Stewart in Uchdnanetaig and Janet Stewart in Balintepaill (i.e. Balchapel) of Fincastle, Parish of Dull (married) July 17th

Donald and Janet had four children whilst living at Uchdnanetaig: Alexander; Christian, Robert and John, and it was not until after the birth of John, that the family moved from Uchdnanetaig to Balcastle. Balcastle is only a short walk to the west of Uchdnanetaig, but probably provided more space for the growing family. The last two children, Patrick and Helen, were born at Balcastle.

A. S. Ross's Genealogical Records says that Robert was born about 1760, and was the father of 'Deacon' Robert and Donald Robert Stewart of Lochaber, Nova Scotia, but no mention is made of his wife, nor their other children. However the Blair Atholl OPR contains the following information.

1791
Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson both in Balcastle of Borenich married November 25th

1792
Robert Stewart in Balcastle and Janet Robertson his wife had a child born 17th and baptised 21st October named Donald

1794
Robert Stewart in Balcastle and Janet Robertson his wife had a child born 6th and baptised 9th March named Helen.

1795
Robert Stewart in Balcastle and Jannet Robertson his wife had a child baptised 27th December named Alexander.

1798
Robert, son to Robert Stewart and Jannet Robertson in Bailchastle born 17th May and baptised 20th.

1807
Janet, lawful daughter to Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson his spouse in Bailchastle born 4th November and baptised 9th.

1810
John, lawful son to Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson his spouse in Bailechastel born 8th December and baptised 12th.

In addition to these children, there is good reason to believe that Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson also had a daughter called Elizabeth who was born between 1802 and 1805.

It is uncertain when Janet Robertson died, but Robert was still alive in 1841 and appears in the census as a cottager, aged 80, living at Balcastle with his married son John, and John's family. Robert's sister, Helen, also appears in the 1841 census, living with her husband just down from Balcastle, at Croftdouglas. There is no further record of Robert, and it is assumed that one of the flat stones in the Borenich burial ground marks his resting place.

John had married Ann Stewart of Bohally in 1838. Ann’s death certificate shows that her parents were William Stewart, farmer, and Isabella MacDonald, but there is no record of her birth in the OPRs. It seems that William only had his sons baptised.

Blair Atholl, 1838
John Stewart in Bailecastle of Borenich of this parish and Ann Stewart in Bohally, parish of Dull married 4th February.

At the time of the 1841 census John and Ann Stewart were sharing a house with John's father and two children, as well as a servant girl who was probably related to them.

The newly born girl was christened Isabella, probably after her maternal grandmother. The first daughter had already been named after her paternal grandmother. In 1843, their first son was born and was named Robert after his paternal grandfather. Unfortunately he died in 1846, and was presumably buried, like his grandfather, in the Borenich burial ground, where the headstone records his short life.

By the time of the next census in 1851, three more children had been born, grandfather Robert Stewart had died, and John Stewart was no longer working as a weaver but had set himself up as a dyke contractor to support his family. The import of cheap cotton materials from the mill-towns of northern England was making life impossible for traditional weavers, and the flax mill at Borenich seems to have gone out of business around this time.

Soon after 1851 the family left Balcastle, and when the first edition of the Ordnance Survey for Perthshire was published in 1867, the settlement was described as "in ruins". Meanwhile, John had changed his occupation yet again, and was now the innkeeper of the Diamond Inn at Bankfoot. The valuation roll for Bankfoot shows that the property was owned by Thomas Dow of Strathtummel, and this must be Thomas Dow of Balnabodach who is recorded as "house proprietor" in the 1851 census.

Apparently the name of the inn was inspired by the diagonal arrangement of some of the roof slates, but the premises turned out to be a diamond for all concerned. It provided John 'Bonnety' Stewart with enough income to be able to send his youngest son, Alexander, to train as a lawyer in Edinburgh. It is purely conjecture, but perhaps Thomas Dow and 'Bonnety' had more than one business arrangement, which you can read about in Donald Dow's tale of The Battle of Corrymuckloch.

John Stewart and his family outside the Diamond Inn, Bankfoot

This photograph shows the Diamond Inn, and it is just possible to see the diamond pattern of roof slates on the stables that gave the inn its name. From the heights of the children, the photograph must have been taken about 1855. The group would seem to be John Stewart (with hat and moustache, the locals had nicknamed him 'Bonnety'), sitting beside his wife, with four of his five older children: John, Jannet, Christy (or possibly Isabella) with Ann behind him. The stables have long since gone, but the location of the inn, on the east side of the Dunkeld Road at the north end, can still be identified. Although the present house on the site is either of more recent origin, or the original stonework has been harled over, it is still known as 'Diamond Cottage' by the locals.

Life was obviously better for the family in Bankfoot, as shown by the following entry for Dunkeld Road, Bankfoot, in the 1861 census for Auchtergaven.

Ann Stewart died on 14th September 1866, after which Janet acted as housekeeper and helped to look after the younger children. Janet never married and died in 1875. Isabella had married Peter Stewart in 1859. John's son Donald is probably the Uncle Dan who eventually emigrated to South Africa.

The 1871 census for Dunkeld Road, Bankfoot shows a much smaller family.

After the death of his daughter Janet in 1875, John 'Bonnety' Stewart retired and by 1881 he was living on his own on the south side of the Dunkeld Road. In his declining years he was living with Isabella and Peter who looked after him.

John 'Bonnety' Stewart drew up his will on 12th January 1878 in his residence at Bankfoot and died six years later, at 10.25pm on 13th January 1884 of a malignant disease of the liver. This will and testament, as well as the inventory at the time of his death, is all available at the Scottish Record Office (Perth Section pages 296-306). The will enjoins that his mortal remains should be interred in the churchyard of Barrauch (i.e. Borenich). All goods and gear were to be exposed for sale by public auction after being advertised, and the proceeds were to be shared equally by the surviving members of his family:

1. Isabella Stewart, wife of Peter Stewart
2. Christina Stewart, wife of Hugh Cairrncross
3. John Stewart
4. Annie Stewart, wife of John Sime
5. William Stewart
6. Donald Stewart
7. Alexander Stewart

In the event, as recorded in the inventory, “subsequent to the date of his settlement the deceased retired from business and his furniture and household effects were disposed of, partly by public auction, and partly by one of his daughters with whom he was living”. He left cash in the house amounting to £12.7s.6d., and his silver watch and personal effects were valued at £5.0s.0d. With bank accounts and life assurance, his personal estate amounted to £281.7s.3d.

A stone was erected in Borenich cemetery in his memory and reads:

1884
In
memory of
John Stewart
sometime farmer Balcastle
afterwards innkeeper
Bankfoot
who died 13 Jan 1884 aged 72 years
Ann Stewart his wife
who died 14 Sept 1866 aged 56 years
And of their children
Robert
who died in 1846 aged 3 years
Janet
who died 11 March 1875 aged 35 years
John
who died in Edinburgh
25 January 1906 aged 59 years

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The descendants of John 'Bonnety' Stewart are numerous, and have spread throughout the world. The following information covers all of the known descendant lines, but does not continue up until the present day in order to respect personal privacy.

(Generation 4) The children of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot

John Stewart, the son of "Bonnety" was said to have been a cabinet-maker in Edinburgh, but his death certificate suggests that he was a wright. He never married but a couple of stories about him have been passed down through the family.

As an example of Highland hospitality it is recounted that Bonnety's son John, on deciding to take a holiday and visit his relatives, would set out with no luggage except a clean white handkerchief, a toothbrush in his pocket, and his gnarled walking stick, made from the stem of a vine, in his hand.

Even John's funeral was a Highland event never to be forgotten. His coffin was brought to Pitlochry by train from Edinburgh and transferred to the undertaker's horse-drawn hearse. To help the mourners on their long and winding journey to Borenich, refreshments were provided at the local hotel. Unfortunately the undertaker took too eagerly to the hospitality and had to be left behind in Pitlochry. The mourners eventually arrived at Borenich burial ground only to find that they could not open the hearse to remove the coffin, as the keys were still in the pocket of the undertaker - back in Pitlochry!

(Generation 5) The children of Peter Stewart and Isabella Stewart of Bankfoot, Auchtergaven
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

Isabella Stewart married Peter Stewart on the 22nd July 1859 at Bankfoot, Perthshire. She was only eighteen at the time, and was working as a housemaid, probably in her father's inn. Peter was twenty five, the son of John Stewart, labourer, and Elisabeth McGiliwie and was born on 15th June 1834, in Little Dunkeld. He was working as a waiter in the Royal Hotel in Dunkeld at the time of his marriage which was witnessed by Duncan Fraser and John Stewart.

Isabella Stewart and Peter Stewart took up residence in Brae Street, Dunkeld, where Mary Ann was born in 1861, just after the census for that year. Strangely, Peter's son John is given as having been born in Caputh parish instead of Auchtergaven, and the same error is made for Mary Ann in 1871. Ann Stewart, Isabella's sister, was visiting the family to help prior to the birth of Mary Ann.

1861 Census - (Schedule 62) Brae Street, Dunkeld

When Margaret was born, the family was living at Balmacneil Cottage, but by December 1870 when Peter was born, times were becoming difficult. The family had moved to the village of Waterloo and Peter Stewart snr was working as a general labourer. Luckily this was a temporary set-back, and by the time of the 1871 census Peter was re-employed as a waiter.

1871 Census - (Schedule 27) Waterloo, Auchtergaven

Susan Butter Stewart was born in 1879 while the family were living at Blealoch, Auchtergaven. Peter had given up waitering and was now working as a railway surfaceman.

1881 Census - East Nether Blealoch Cottar House, Auchtergaven

In 1900 Margaret Stewart, housekeeper at Dunkeld Road Bankfoot married Dave Kennedy, mason of Dunkeld Road, Perth. Peter Stewart her father was recorded as a retired church officer, and the ceremony was witnesed by her sister, Janet.

Peter became a captain in the 10th Highland Light Infantry, and after the death of his first wife, he married his cousin Tina Cairncross. The marriage took place on 4th October 1916 at the Maitland Hotel, Shandwick Place Edinburgh, while he was on leave from the British Expeditionary Forces. The occupation of his deceased father was given as forester, and the ceremony was witnessed by Jean Sime, another cousin. After the war they lived in Upper Grove Place, Edinburgh. They had no children.

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(Generation 5) The children of Hugh Lamont Cairncross and Christina Stewart of Edinburgh
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

Christina Stewart married Hugh Lamont Cairncross on the 6th July 1869 at Bankfoot. She was twenty-four years old and living at 24 Drummond Place, Edinburgh. Hugh was twenty-seven, the son of James Cairncross, and Janet Lamont.

1881 Census - (Schedule 71) West Claremont Street (renamed Saxe Coburg St.), St Cuthbert, Edinburgh

Hugh Lamont Cairncross Snr. died on 10th May 1891 at 3 Roseburn Terrace, Edinburgh.

1901 Census - (Schedule 62) St Peters Place, Merchiston, Edinburgh

James S. Cairncross moved to London where he worked as a chemist.

On 14th July 1909, Hannah Kerr Cairncross of 304 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, married Joseph Wightman Brown, chemist and druggist, at the Maitland Hotel, Shandwick Place Edinburgh. His parents were given as Thomas Brown, baker, and Agnes Wightman. Christina Cairncross witnessed the ceremony.

Tina Cairncross of Church Hill Place, Edinburgh, married her cousin, Captain Peter Stewart on 4th October 1916 at the Maitland Hotel, Shandwick Place Edinburgh, while he was on leave from the British Expeditionary Forces. Her father's occupation was given as pharmacist.

John A. Cairncross's wife, Annie McKenzie Beaton, was the sister of Mary Beaton who married Alexander Stewart, the youngest son of John "Bonnety" Stewart. John Cairncross and Annie Beaton had two children: "Chrissie" who married Lyall Johnston (who was related through his first marriage to Euphemia Muir Sime); and Eric Cairncross who married Helen ........ and lived in Edinburgh.

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(Generation 5) The children of John Muir Sime and Ann Stewart of Broughty Ferry, Dundee
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

John Muir Sime and Ann Stewart

On the eighth day of July 1873 at Bankfoot, John Sime, power-loom factory manager, of Croft’s Lane, Liff and Benvie, married Ann Stewart, domestic servant of Hawkhill Place, Perth Road Dundee. His parents were given as John Sime, power-loom manager and Euphemia Muir. The ceremony was witnessed by his brother, Peter Sime.

John Sime was born in 1844 and was presumably named after his father. He adopted the middle name of Muir, possibly to avoid confusion with his father, as both John Simes were mill managers in Dundee. In the Dundee Directory of 1874-75, John Muir Sime is listed as manager of the Clepington Factory, Dens Road, with a home address of 17 Graham Place. However by 1881 he seems to have joined his brother’s company of Bell and Sime (timber merchants)

1881 Census - 179 Blackness Road, Rosefield Place, Dundee. (Parish of Liff and Benvie)

Their daughter Mary Kerr Sime had died on 25th June 1880 when she was only 4 years old.

By February 1882 the family had moved to 'The Cottage', Hill Street, Broughty Ferry, where the rest of their children were born. Unfortunately, Winifred Cairncross Sime died in 1889, only 4 months after her birth.

1891 Census - 'The Cottage' 30 Hill Street, Broughty Ferry, Monifieth

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(Generation 5) The children of William Stewart and Elizabeth Gray of Ardrossan
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

Bonnety's son William is described as a mill-wright in the 1871 census for Auchtergaven. He was obviously ambitious as soon afterwards he was working as an engineer in Glasgow. On 19th June 1878, whilst living at Overnewton Street Glasgow, he married Elizabeth Gray of Wallace Bank House, Elderslie, Johnstone. She was the daughter of Andrew Gray, land steward, and Grace Millar.

They had at least two children. John was born in 1881 in Lanark and Elizabeth 'Eba' was born four years later in Ardrossan.

1901 Census - 6 Church Place, Ardrossan, Ayrshire

On 7th June 1911 at the Alexandra Hotel, Glasgow, Elizabeth Gray Stewart of Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, married Walter Fairlie Hart, bank clerk, of Brechin Road, Kirriemuir. The occupation of Elizabeth's father is given as marine engineer. The ceremony was witnessed by Jean Gibson Sime (Elizabeth's cousin) and David Stewart Hart.

Walter Hart eventually became a bank manager, and their daughter Elsie Hart married Lindsay Hamilton who worked for the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

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(Generation 5) The children of Donald 'Dan' Stewart and ............. of South Africa
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

Virtually nothing is known about Donald 'Dan', except that he married, had three children and emigrated to South Africa. His son Robert 'Bob' married and had a daughter (Sylvia Lee Davies), who is thought to live in Johannesburg.

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(Generation 5) The children of Alexander Stewart and Mary Beaton of Edinburgh
(grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

Alexander went on to study law and eventually practised in Edinburgh. In the 1881 census he was in 'digs' in Dundee.

1891 Census - 27 Taits Lane, Dundee

In 1897 Alexander Stewart married Mary Beaton, the sister of Annie McKenzie Beaton, wife of John Cairncross. Alexander was buried in Pitlochry. In 1930 their only daughter Margaret 'Rita' (1903-1992) married Alexander Hardie Merrie (1903-1889).

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(Generation 6) The children of Alexander Stewart Sime and Mildred Hord Leiper of Atlanta and Elmhurst, N.Y.
(grandchildren of John Muir Sime and Ann Stewart of Broughty Ferry, Dundee)
(great-grandchildren of John 'Bonnety' Stewart and Ann Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot)

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The Descendants of John 'Bonnety' Stewart of Balcastle and Bankfoot

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