| Alexander Stewart |
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| Military General Service Medal with clasp for Martinique Ensign Alexander Stewart 90th Foot |
Alexander Stewart was born on August 14, 1791 (service papers) or 1792 (gravestone) in
Drumachary in the parish of Fortingall, Perth. He was the illegitimate son of Robert
Stewart of Garth and the half brother of Major General David Stewart of Garth. His
mother was Elizabeth McGregor.
His father, Robert Stewart of Garth, (1740-1820) had 3 sons with his wife Janet (Also a
Stewart whose ancestors are traced back to James I) All three sons had natural children
but none of them married and they died without legitimate issue, thus the end of the line.
The Stewarts of Garth (c1400) were descended from James Stewart, the son of
Alexander Stewart , the 4th son of King Robert II, the grandson of Robert the Bruce.
He served in the 90th Foot as an Ensign from May 4, 1807 until he was made Lieutenant
in the 96th Regt. on Dec. 16, 1808. However this promotion was not made known until
after the Martinique invasion. At the time of the invasion of Martinique he would only
have been 16 or 17. He was the only officer in the Regiment to get the medal with the
single clasp for Martinique
He subsequently served in the West Indies in the 96th Regt. (which was renumbered 95th
in 1816), then placed on half pay 25 March 1819 then appointed to 2nd Veterans
Battalion 25th October 1823. In December 1823, the 94th Foot was revived and its
officers were recruited principally from the half pay lists. The regiment went to
Gibraltar shortly after its formation and then Malta before returning home in 1834.
During this initial period of service in Gibraltar he was made Captain on April 7, 1825
The regiment was to next serve in Ceylon in 1838 but Stewart did not stay on and sold
out in 1837.
He was married to Sarah Janet Orr in a private ceremony in July 1827 while serving in
Gibraltar and together they had three daughters: Clementina Janet(1828), Sarah Jane
(1829). who sadly died on December 24, 1831 before reaching the age of two and is
buried in Witham's Cemetery in Gibraltar and Isabella (1831 in Malta).
Drumachary in the parish of Fortingall, Perth. He was the illegitimate son of Robert
Stewart of Garth and the half brother of Major General David Stewart of Garth. His
mother was Elizabeth McGregor.
His father, Robert Stewart of Garth, (1740-1820) had 3 sons with his wife Janet (Also a
Stewart whose ancestors are traced back to James I) All three sons had natural children
but none of them married and they died without legitimate issue, thus the end of the line.
The Stewarts of Garth (c1400) were descended from James Stewart, the son of
Alexander Stewart , the 4th son of King Robert II, the grandson of Robert the Bruce.
He served in the 90th Foot as an Ensign from May 4, 1807 until he was made Lieutenant
in the 96th Regt. on Dec. 16, 1808. However this promotion was not made known until
after the Martinique invasion. At the time of the invasion of Martinique he would only
have been 16 or 17. He was the only officer in the Regiment to get the medal with the
single clasp for Martinique
He subsequently served in the West Indies in the 96th Regt. (which was renumbered 95th
in 1816), then placed on half pay 25 March 1819 then appointed to 2nd Veterans
Battalion 25th October 1823. In December 1823, the 94th Foot was revived and its
officers were recruited principally from the half pay lists. The regiment went to
Gibraltar shortly after its formation and then Malta before returning home in 1834.
During this initial period of service in Gibraltar he was made Captain on April 7, 1825
The regiment was to next serve in Ceylon in 1838 but Stewart did not stay on and sold
out in 1837.
He was married to Sarah Janet Orr in a private ceremony in July 1827 while serving in
Gibraltar and together they had three daughters: Clementina Janet(1828), Sarah Jane
(1829). who sadly died on December 24, 1831 before reaching the age of two and is
buried in Witham's Cemetery in Gibraltar and Isabella (1831 in Malta).
Canada
In later life, he emigrated to Canada and in February 1842 he was married again, this time to Anna Maria MacNab of Hamilton
who was almost twenty years his junior. The marriage took place at Christ's Church. (Rev J.G. Geddes) She was the younger sister
of Allan Napier MacNab, a prominent politician who served in the war of 1812 and was a part of the Militia force who suppressed
the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. (for which he was knighted) and the prime minister of the Province of Canada from
1854-1856.
Stewart appears in the late 1840s and early 1850s as the registrar, deputy crown clerk and agent for the issue of marriage
licenses for Wentworth County. His eldest daughter, Isabella married Alexander Campbell in 1850 in the same church in Hamilton
by the same minister as her father and they had a daughter Catherine who was born in 1851 and who would have been Alexander's
only grandchild born while he was still alive.
Alexander died on 27 March 1858 at his home "Garth Cottage" in Hamilton after a short illness. A brief obituary appeared in the
Hamilton Spectator on March 29, 1858.
Death of Captain Stewart
"Death has removed from our midst another old and well-known resident. Captain Stewart expired at an early hour on Saturday
morning after a brief illness of a few days. He had been in feeble health for a considerable time, but we believe was able to
attend to the duties of his office in the beginning of last week. His demise is deeply regretted by a large circle of friends and
acquaintances. He was for many years up to the time of his death, the Registrar of the County of Wentworth."
Anna Maria died 25 years later in 1883, two days after her 73rd birthday.
In later life, he emigrated to Canada and in February 1842 he was married again, this time to Anna Maria MacNab of Hamilton
who was almost twenty years his junior. The marriage took place at Christ's Church. (Rev J.G. Geddes) She was the younger sister
of Allan Napier MacNab, a prominent politician who served in the war of 1812 and was a part of the Militia force who suppressed
the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. (for which he was knighted) and the prime minister of the Province of Canada from
1854-1856.
Stewart appears in the late 1840s and early 1850s as the registrar, deputy crown clerk and agent for the issue of marriage
licenses for Wentworth County. His eldest daughter, Isabella married Alexander Campbell in 1850 in the same church in Hamilton
by the same minister as her father and they had a daughter Catherine who was born in 1851 and who would have been Alexander's
only grandchild born while he was still alive.
Alexander died on 27 March 1858 at his home "Garth Cottage" in Hamilton after a short illness. A brief obituary appeared in the
Hamilton Spectator on March 29, 1858.
Death of Captain Stewart
"Death has removed from our midst another old and well-known resident. Captain Stewart expired at an early hour on Saturday
morning after a brief illness of a few days. He had been in feeble health for a considerable time, but we believe was able to
attend to the duties of his office in the beginning of last week. His demise is deeply regretted by a large circle of friends and
acquaintances. He was for many years up to the time of his death, the Registrar of the County of Wentworth."
Anna Maria died 25 years later in 1883, two days after her 73rd birthday.
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Alexander and Anna Maria had a son, Allan (1843-1872). Allan was Lieutenant of No. 5 Company 13th battalion V.M. I., the
forerunner of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He joined in 1864 (or earlier) and served as a private in No. 1 Company. He was
present at Ridgeway during the Fenian raids in 1866 and in other conflicts and was the first officer to die in connection with the
battalion. He was interred with military honours and a monument was erected by his brother officers near the spot where he is
buried with his parents in Hamilton Cemetery.
forerunner of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He joined in 1864 (or earlier) and served as a private in No. 1 Company. He was
present at Ridgeway during the Fenian raids in 1866 and in other conflicts and was the first officer to die in connection with the
battalion. He was interred with military honours and a monument was erected by his brother officers near the spot where he is
buried with his parents in Hamilton Cemetery.
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