Genealogical Record of John Stewart, father of the Scotch Block, Esquesing Township, Halton, Ontario

John Stewart, father of the Scotch Block, and his wife Margaret Lamont

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The first known record relating to John Stewart is the marriage of his parents in the Fortingall OPR.

Alexander Stewart in Tempar and Margaret Stewart in Lasstintullich, both in this parish, were booked (8 Aug 1760)

Tempar is on the south side of Dunalastair Water, between Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel, and this supports the family belief that John Stewart was descended from the Stewarts of Drumcharry, Crossmount, and Duntanlich, who originally came from Appin.

Finding their children is not without problems. There would appear to be children baptised before 1760, but these belong to another couple with identical names who were living in Fortingall parish at the same time, and were married in 1753. Another search complication is that the databases for both ScotlandsPeople and the IGI fail to register Margaret's surname despite the fact that the entries clearly state that the parents are Alexander and Margaret Stewarts (in the plural).

Fortingall OPR (Rannoch) baptisms

Donald, son to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, was baptised, Jun 20 1761

Archibald, son to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, was baptised, Jun 18 1763

Janet, daughter to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, was baptised Dec 14 1764

John, son to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, Mar 22 1767

Angus, son to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, Apr 8 1770

Margaret, lawful daughter to Alexander and Margaret Stewarts in Tempar, was baptised Jan 21 1774

Catherine, daughter to Alexander Stewart and Margaret Stewart in Tempar, (was baptised) Dec 8 1777

John married Margaret McGilliwie (or Lamont) in 1795. Her parents are unknown, but the strong naming tradition of this area suggests that her father was Robert McGilliwie.

Fortingall OPR (Rannoch) marriages

John Stewart and Margaret McIlliwuie, both in Tempar, this parish, 21 (Nov 1795)

In Canada, Margaret's surname is given as Lamont or Lamond but her family's original Gaelic surname was McGilliwie. In the early 1800s the parish registrars started to anglicised the old Gaelic names, so that Calmanach became Dow, Cattanach became McIntosh and McGilliwie became Lamont with slightly different spellings by different registrars. Of course, the name McGilliwie also had various spellings, as Gaelic was a spoken language rather than a written language. Thus McIlliwuie was the registrar's version of McGilliwie.

Their first five children: Alexander; Robert; Duncan; Elizabeth and Margaret were born in Fortingall parish, but their next two children were born in the City of Perth, Scotland.

Alexander, son to John Stewart and Margaret McIlliwuie in Tempar, 30 (Aug 1796)

Robert, son to John Stewart and Margaret McGilliwuie in Tempar, 30 (Mar 1798)

Duncan, son to John Stewart and Margaret McGilliwuie in Lassintullich, 29 (Dec 1802)

Margaret, daughter to John Stewart and Margaret McGilliwuie in Lassintullich, 26 (May 1804)

The baptism of Duncan is recorded for a second time, later on in the Fortingall OPR:

Duncan, son to John Stewart and Margaret Lamond in Lassintullich, 22 (Apr 1803)

Perhaps the registrar thought that he had forgotten to enter it the first time, but basically it is a repeat except that 'Lamond' has been substituted for 'McGilliwuie'.

The move from Tempar to Lassintullich was only a small step for the family, as Lassintullich is only 1km to the east of Tempar, but the next move was much bigger.

At some time between 1804 and 1807 the family moved south to the city of Perth, where John Stewart found work as a day labourer. This suggests that John had been working as a farm servant and was looking for the opportunity to improve their prospects. They were living in Methven Street when their daughter Janet was born.

(Perth OPR)
Methven Street, Monday the thirty first day of August, Eighteen hundred and seven, was born, Janet Stewart, lawful daughter to John Stewart, labourer in Methven Street, Perth, and Margaret MacGellewie his spouse, and baptised the first day of September said year, by the Reverend Mr Duncan McFarlane, Minister of the Gaelic Chapel in Perth.

The Perth Burial Registers record that Jannet Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, was only 2 months old when she died on 28th October 1807, and that she was buried on 29th October at Grayfriars Cemetery, Perth. The cause of death was given as 'nervous'.

The following year their son, John, was born.

(Perth OPR)
Blackfriars East Church parish, Perth, Sabbath the twenty seventh day of November, Eighteen hundred and eight, was born, John Stewart, lawful son to John Stewart, day labourer in said parish, and Margaret MacGellewie his spouse, and baptised the seventh day of December said year, by the Reverend Mr Duncan McFarlane, Minister of the Gaelic Chapel in Perth.

John Stewart and Margaret McGilliwie also had a daughter Elizabeth and her monument inscription in Canada suggests that she was born in 1802, but the Fortingall OPR has been thoroughly searched from 1795 to 1816 and there is no baptismal record for Elizabeth. Considering the birth years of her siblings, it is most likely that Elizabeth was born in 1800. Now there is one entry for that year in the Fortingall OPR which suggests that there may have been a clerical error.

Elizabeth, daughter to John Stewart and Margaret McNaughtan in Lassintullich, 15 (June 1800)

Everything is correct for Elizabeth Stewart, except her mother's surname. However, there is no record of a marriage between a John Stewart and a Margaret McNaughtan, and the only birth to parents with these names was in 1784 at Craigelich (in Glenlyon?).

The family emigrated to Canada in 1817. Settled Lot 9, Concession 3, Esquesing Township by 1819.

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The Family of John Stewart and Margaret McIlliwuie, McGilliwie or Lamont in Fortingall and Esquesing Township, Ontario

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The monument to John's eldest son, Alexander, reads "Alexander Stewart, born in Perthshire, Scotland, August 12th 1798, died at Toronto, August 20th 1881, aged 83 years and 7 days. Deceased landed in Canada in 1817 and arrived at Toronto 1819. Anna Maria Hickox, wife of the above, born December 25th 1810, died March 29th 1899. Be Ye Also Ready".

The Family of Alexander Stewart and Anna Maria Hickox in Toronto, Ontario

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The Family of Robert Stewart and Elizabeth Purkiss in Toronto, Ontario

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"Erected in the memory of Margaret Gillies, wife of Duncan Stewart, who died at Esquesing the 11th day of April 1879 in the 67 year of her age. Born in the parish of Kilmartin, Argyllshire, Scotland".

The Family of Duncan Stewart and Margaret Gillies in Esquesing Township, Ontario

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