Although I was tempted at one time to pursue a search for my ancestral roots, I never really became over enthusiastic in the venture. However I did uncover four generations before my father`s. These I have attached to the side of the page.
Who knows, maybe some Stewart out there in the wide world is related to me through one or other of the attached names.
To add flesh to the bones, so to speak, I list here the findings of various Census returns involving the family.
Robert Stewart
(1803 - 1878)
m
Charlotte Hastie
(1805 - 1876)
They begat
Robert
b Aug 8 1825 Leith
Thomas
b 1827 d Aug 4 1887
Fleming Law
b 1832 Leith
Margaret
b Feb 2 1840 Dundee
Jane b 1838 Forfar
Elisabeth
b 1843 Leith
Charles Hastie
*****************
Thomas Stewart
(1827 - 1887)
m
Marion Allison
(1837 - c1907)
They begat
Jane
Mary Allison
Charlotte Hastie
May Dorward
Robert
James Allison
******************
James Allison Stewart
(1875 - 1932)
m
Margaret Stalker
(1879 - 1960)
They begat
James Allison
*****************
James Allison Stewart
(1909 - 1994)
m
Mary Ann Patterson
(1908 - )
They begat
John Patterson
Christian Ann
*****************
John Patterson Stewart
(1934 - )
m
Olive Margaret Jamieson
(1934 - 1998)
They begat
Karen Margaret
Pamela Ann
Alan James
****************
Karen
(1958 - )
m
Bruce Stewart
(1952 - )
They begat
Aileen
Caroline
*****************
Pamela
(1962 - )
m
Tommy Sutherland
(1958 - )
They begat
Fiona
Alison
****************
Alan James
(1967 - )
partner
Tracy Gordon
(1967 - )
They begat
Ava
****************
28 Bernard Street, Leith - 8th April 1861
Robt Stewart Head Married 59 Ship Joiner b Edinburgh Leith
Charlotte Stewart Wife Married 55 b Edinburgh Leith
Jane Stewart Daur. Unmar. 23 Cloak Maker b Forfar Dundee
Margt. Scott Stewart Daur. Unmar. 21 Cloak Maker b Forfar Dundee
Elisabeth Stewart Daur Unmar. 18 b Edinburgh Leith
Mrs Chas. Stewart Visitor Married 30 Wife of a Shipmaster MS
b Edinburgh Leith
Robt. G Stewart Visitor 3 mths b Edinburgh Leith
Hugh Black Lodger Unmar. 22 Joiner (Journeyman) b Ayr Irvine
James McLachlan Lodger Unmar. 21 Mason b Ayr Irvine
(Ref: 1861 Cens. South Leith 692/2/bk 42/p2)
Pertinent Facts relating to above entry.
a: The abode was described as having five windowed rooms.
b: The visitor, Mrs Charles Stewart was later to be traced as having been the wife of Charles Hastie Stewart, Master Mariner. He would have been at sea at time of Census.
The child, Robert was the son of the above couple.
8 Allan Street, Leith - 4th April 1881
Marion Stewart Head Married 44 Master Mariner`s Wife b Edinburgh Leith
May D. Stewart Daur. Unmar. 17 Milliner b Edinburgh Leith
Robert Stewart Son 14 Scholar b Edinburgh Leith
Mary A. Stewart Daur. 9 Scholar b Edinburgh Leith
Jeannie Stewart Daur. 8 Scholar b Edinburgh Leith
James Stewart Son 5 Scholar b Edinburgh Leith
(Ref: 1881 Cens North Leith 692/1/bk 21A/p 4
Pertinent Facts relating to above entry.
a: Thomas Stewart, Shipmaster was obviously at sea at time of Census.
b: The abode was described as having four rooms with one or more windows.
8 Allan Street, Leith - 86th April 1891
Marion Stewart Head Widow 53 Annuitant b Leith
Robert Stewart Son Unmar. 24 Mariner b Leith
May D. Stewart Daur. Unmar. 27 Millinery Buyer b Leith
Jane Stewart Daur. Unmar. 18 Dressmaker b Leith
James A Stewart Son 15 Apprentice Engineer b Leith
Ref: 1891 Cens. North Leith 6921/1/bk 27/p 22
Pertinent Facts relating to above entry
a: The abode was now said to have had five windowed rooms at time of Census.
b: The former Head of household, Thomas had died in the intervening years since the 1881 Census. Date of death was 4th August 1887.
James A Stewart then went on to complete his engineering apprenticeship, eventually qualifying as a seagoing engineer. He progressed up through the various degrees of engineering status before assuming a Chief Engineer position with the George Gibson Shipping Company in Leith.
It has always been a regret of mine that he never lived long enough to see his only son, my father marry, and consequently my own birth. My mother used to tell me that he was a splendid man and that it was a tragedy that he was taken so early, being aged 57 years.
The sea-going tradition of the family was broken with my own father, but I had always cherished the idea of resuming it. As I related my own story elsewhere on the website, I did try but it was not to be.
