Genealogical Record of Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart
of Uchdnanetaig and Croftdouglas

Uchdnanetaig, Strathtummel, near Blair Atholl

Although the surname of Stewart is very common in the parish of Blair Atholl, there are very few marriages between a Donald Stewart and a Helen Stewart, which makes it all the more frustrating that there are inconsistencies in the information about this couple and their family. The Blair Atholl OPR records that on 19th December 1813 Donald Stewart of Uchdnanetaig married Helen Stewart of Balcastle, and these are two Stewart families which are well documented.

Donald and his twin brother Alexander were born on 30th July 1779 at Uchdnanetaig, Borenich. Their parents were Donald Stewart junior, a handloom weaver, and his spouse Margaret Robertson of Croftcarnoch. Donald's parents were married on 30th November 1768 and the family had originally lived at Tomanbuie, but had moved to Uchdnanetaig after the birth of John, Donald's eldest brother, in 1772.

Helen Stewart was born at Balcastle on 6th March 1794. She was the eldest daughter of Robert Stewart and Janet Robertson who were both living at Balcastle when they married on 25th November 1791.

After they were married Donald and Helen seem to have moved to Fincastle, as this is where their first child was born.

Dull OPR, baptisms

1815. Jean, daughter to Donald and Helen Stewarts in Achastle was baptised 16th February.

As Donald's father was a handloom weaver there would not be any land for Donald to cultivate, so he might have been a weaver like his father or else he would have been working as a farm servant. In either case he would have been moving from place to place until he could secure a permanent home for his family.

The circumstances of the family's move to Croftdouglas are revealed in a letter to The Duke of Atholl from his agent, James Stewart, dated 10th May 1817.

Let Croftdouglas to John Stewart from Dr Stewart's lands of Borenich, and Alexander Stewart who, with his mother, a widow in Croftdouglas, had before a part of it under Alexander McDonald in whose name the tow was held in tack. Alexander McDonald, having been seized with a palsy some time ago, had to subsett the tow except two acres and a cow's grass to others. He has five children, the last two twins.

The "John Stewart from Dr Stewart's lands of Borenich" was Donald's brother John, who had been the informal sub-tenant to Alexander McDonald for a few years. By formally taking over part of the tenancy he was able to allow his brother's family to take up residence at Croftdouglas, which was where most of the family were born.

Blair Atholl OPR, baptisms

1817. Robert, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Uchdnanetaig was born 21st June, baptised 24th.

1819. John, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Croftdouglas was born 17th January, baptised 21st.

1821. Janet, lawful daughter to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Croftdouglas was born 4th November, baptised 8th.

1824. Donald, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Croftdouglas was born 22nd January, baptised 26th.

1826. Alexander, lawful son to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Croftdouglas was born 23rd March, baptised 29th.

1829. Helen, lawful daughter to Donald Stewart and Helen Stewart his spouse in Croftdouglas was born 20th January, baptised 28th.

However, by 1841 the family were no longer at Croftdouglas. It would appear that Donald Stewart had died and that his widow and some of the family were living at the next dwelling, Balchapel. This cannot be confirmed as, although there is a good match for the names, in most cases the recorded ages are roughly ten years more than their actuals ages.

1841 Census Return for Balchapel (Chapelton) - Blair Atholl Parish (district 12)

By the time of the 1851 census, the location of the family is unknown, except for one of the daughters. On 9th January 1842 both the Blair Atholl OPR and the Dull OPR record that Alexander Forbes married Jane or Jean Stewart. Alexander was probably the son of Charles Forbes and Elspeth Fergusson who were married in Dull parish on 18th December 1791. If these are the correct parents, then Alexander was born 10th April 1805.

At the time of his marriage the Blair Atholl OPR gives Alexander Forbes as living at Dundavie (Fincastle) in the parish of Dull, and gives the bride as Jane Stewart of Chapelton (Balchapel). The Dull OPR names the bride as Jean. So this would appear to be Jane rather than Janet. However Jane's death certificate of 20th April 1875 (Tenandry) gives her age as sixty, which is much closer to that of the older Janet.

Which ever one it was, Jane was a widow when she died at Allean farm in 1875, and both of her parents were deceased. The certificate was witnessed by her son Donald Forbes who was living at Fincastle. The children of Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart were:

Dull OPR, baptisms

1842. Helen, daughter to Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart, Dundavie of Fincastle born 4th February.

1844. Charles, son to Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart, Dundavie of Fincastle born 20th March.

1847. Donald, son to Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart, Dundavie of Fincastle born 13th May.

1854. James, son to Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart, Dundavie of Fincastle born 25th May.

1856. female, daughter to Alexander Forbes and Jean Stewart, Dundavie of Fincastle born 13th November.

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