Donald Stewart was the eldest son of Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson of Balcastle. He was born 17th October 1792 and died 3rd April 1855 in North Lochaber, Nova Scotia.
1792 Blair Atholl OPR
Robert Stewart in Balcastle and Janet Robertson his wife had a child born 17th and baptised 21st October named Donald.
Whilst still living at Balcastle he married Helen (Ellen) McDonald, the daughter of Robert McDonald and Margaret Robertson of Chamberbane.
1823 Blair Atholl OPR
Donald Stewart in Bailahastail and Helen MacDonald, Chamberbane, both of this parish, (married) 3rd August.
Two sons, Alexander and John, were born while the couple lived in Balcastle.
1827 Blair Atholl OPR
Alexander, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Hellen McDonald his spouse in Balichastle
was born 4th August and baptised 6th.
1829 Blair Atholl OPR
John, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Helen McDonald his spouse in Balichastle
was born 28th February and baptised 29th. (sic)
It was becoming impossible to make a living in Strathtummel, so in 1833 the family emigrated to Canada (probably on the 'Charlotte Kerr') along with his brother Robert's family, and possibly others from the area.
After they had settle at Barney's River, Pictou, in Nova Scotia, their daughter Ellen was born. When she grew up she married James MacDonald.
It would seem that in Nova Scotia, so many Stewarts had similar names such as Robert or Donald, that they added the paternal names to avoid confusion. Thus Donald ‘Robert’ Stewart is Donald son of Robert. Alexander was known as ‘Alexander Donald Rob’, whilst his brother was known as ‘John Donald Rob’.
Robert died 3rd April 1855 and was buried in North Lochaber, Antigonish, N.S., where his wife Ellen McDonald was later buried. She died 21st April 1883.
In the 1881 Canadian Census the two sons and widowed mother are living in adjacent properties.
Lochaber, Antigonish, District 21B, Household 109
| Name | Status | Age | Birth-place | Occupation | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Stewart | M | 53y | Scotland | farmer | Presbyterian |
| Catherine Stewart | M | 49y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | |
| Ellen Stewart | 18y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Annie Stewart | 17y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Daniel Stewart | 15y | Nova Scotia | son | Presbyterian | |
| Alexander Stewart | 14y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| John Stewart | 12y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Robert Stewart | 8y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Hugh Stewart | 8y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Kenneth Stewart | 6y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| William Stewart | 4y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian |
Lochaber, Antigonish, District 21B, Household 110
| Name | Status | Age | Birth-place | Occupation | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen Stewart | W | 83y | Scotland | Presbyterian |
Lochaber, Antigonish, District 21B, Household 111
| Name | Status | Age | Birth-place | Occupation | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Stewart | M | 54y | Scotland | farmer | Presbyterian |
| Christy Stewart | M | 42y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | |
| Daniel Stewart | 22y | Nova Scotia | farmer | Presbyterian | |
| John Stewart | 21y | Nova Scotia | farmer | Presbyterian | |
| Alexander Stewart | 17y | Nova Scotia | farmer | Presbyterian | |
| James Stewart | 17y | Nova Scotia | farmer | Presbyterian | |
| Geddie Stewart | 16y | Nova Scotia | farmer | Presbyterian | |
| Maggie Stewart | 13y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Ellen Stewart | 11y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Franklin Stewart | 9y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Peter Stewart | 7y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| William Stewart | 4y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian | ||
| Barbara Stewart | 1y | Nova Scotia | Presbyterian |
Details concerning the family, and especially James H. Stewart, are to be found in the 'History of Nova Scotia' by David Allison, Halifax 1916 (volume 3, page 681).
Mr James H. Stewart was born in Lochaber, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, April 19th 1863. He was the son of Alexander D. Stewart and Christina
Stewart. The father was born in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland in 1827 and immigrating with his parents to Lochaber in 1833; came on a sailing
vessel to Halifax, where they took another vessel to Sherbrooke and they finally settled at Lochaber on a farm. He married Christina Stewart,
March 17th 1857, and lived at Lochaber until he died February 5th 1895.
The father’s parents were Donald and Ellen (McDonald) Stewart; they were both natives of Scotland, where they spent their earlier years till
emigrating in 1833. The mother was born in Lochaber, February 25th 1839, and died Nova Scotia May 8th 1886; she was a daughter of John Stewart
and Margaret Robertson, who immigrated to Lochaber from Blair Atholl, Scotland, in 1833 on the same vessel as the father’s parents. The mother’s
father was a cousin of Lord Harry Stewart.
James H. Stewart received his education in the common schools of Lochaber, Nova Scotia, and there he began life for himself by opening up a
produce business which he conducted there until 1890, when he removed to Antigonish, where he has since been successfully engaged in
mercantile pursuits on an extensive scale, carrying on a wholesale egg and tea business.
Mr Stewart was married on September 24, 1890 to Adelie P. Manson, a daughter of Alexander Manson of Lochaber and Catherine Cameron of Barney’s
River, Pictou County. To this union, nine children have been born, namely: Charles Manson, Harry Elmore, Alexander Downie, Clarence Berry, Homer
Douglas, William Ralph, Clinton Lee, Jean and James Roy.
Mr Stewart is a member of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has taken an abiding
interest in the development of Antigonish and was mayor of the own from 1900 to 1909, during which period he did a great deal for its permanent
welfare. He is also ex-president of the Antigonish Board of Trade.
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