History of the Stewart Family

SNBns ·s ·r BIOGRAPHICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE STEW ART FAMILY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA 1754 - 1912 Compiled and Written by J.S.BURNS PREFACE "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abidcth forever." Eccl. I : 4. History and biography we have known from the earliest dates. We have national history, both ancient and modern. These are usually written by persons who have gained the distinction of historians. But family history is often written by some member of the family. Family history is generally of a biographical nature, inasmuch as it is usually made up of the social and religious standing and character of individuals, and is chronological so far as the order of events is concerned. History, of whatever kind it may be, to be interesting and useful. should be accurate both in detail and chronological order. This requirement has made this history all the more difficult to prepare. One hundred and fifty-eight years, the period covered by this history, is a long time. And reaching back, as it does, into the primeval period of Western Pennsylvania, we are sure it abounds with deeds of daring which would add pith to this narrative. But our ancestors were too busy making history to take time to write it, and duly authenticated details have been hard to secure. So far as we know this is the first attempt to gather up the scattered fragments of the records of the Stewart family and tabulate them in form for the use of future generations. And our information, coming as it has from such varied sources, we have endeavored to classify and arrange in such a way as to be easily understood. We accord all due credit to the many friends who have rendered valuable assistance. All have our sincere thanks. This little history is submitted to the reader with a full consciousness that it is by no means replete with that pithiness which is essential to dispel the monotony of a multiplication of names and dates. And in years to come may some one write, The names of others now unborn, • And add to this History pages bright, And each milestone of the Stewarts adorn. J. S. B. History of t JOHN STEW ART. a cov Ireland , in 1665 to 1685, on 1720. His son, ROBERT STEW ART, w Drumorsrrop, County Down, I time of his father's death. H SAMUEL STEWART. of large stature, 6 'feet tall, complexion. He married M plexion and large person. T Dauphin County, Pa., in 1771 first son, JOHN STEWART, was 25 , 1776, he enlisted under C iment. He was killed at the \ Note Hugh Stewart, a b rother o another family of Stewarts that r am corner of Findlay T ownship. He w biography of J ohn Et!waru Stewart. This brings us down to been able to find as relates PENNSYLVANIA. It is c on linen parchment. On th page. We have no knowled it indicates having been writ a character as would set at present day. From it we le JAM who was born April 25, 1 His father died (was killed) 1797 . James Stewart was History of the Stewart Family JOHN STEWART, a covenanter, fled from Scotland to near Belfast, Ireland, in 1665 to 1685, on account of religious persecution. He died in 1720. His son, ROBERT STEWART, was born near Glasgow in 1665 and died in Drumorsl"rop, County Down, Ireland, in 1730. He moved to Ireland at the time of his father's death. He had a large family. His son, SAMUEL STEWART, was born near Glasgow in 1698. He was a man of large stature, 6 feet tall, Roman nose, gray eyes, brown hair, and ruddy complexion. He married Mary McClay, who was noted for her dark com plexion and large person. They came to America in 1735, and he died in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1770. They in turn had a large family. Their first son, JOHN STEWART, was born in Ireland; came to America and on May 25, 1776, he enlisted under Capt. James Grier; Co.- , 1st Pennsylvania Reg iment. He was killed at the battle of Germantown April 19, 1777. (Note-Hugh Stewart, a brother of John, wus the eighth son of the above couple, and represents another family of Stewarts that came from Carlisle in li9l or 95 and settled in the Northeastern corner of Findlay Township. He was the great·gr:indfathrr of the writer of this history. See biography of John Edward Stewart. ) This brings us down to the most ancient family record which we have been able to find as relates to the STEWART FAMILY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA . It is contained in a little book of ten leaves, written on linen parchment. On the opposite page is a reproduction of its cover page. We have no knowledge of the writer, nor when it was written. But it indicates having been written with a quill; and the penmanship is of such a character as would set at naught the writing of most business men of the present day. From it we learn that the pioneer father was JAMES STEW ART who was born April 25, 1754, a son of JOfiN and JANET STEWART. His father died (was killed) April 19, 1777, and his mother died November 1797. James Stewart was married August 25, 1779, to 2 to some extent abated. MARGARET McCOW AN take a glance at the con (Note-\Ve use l\lcCowan, as we find it in thi:s family record; but from some unknown cause, in Near the close of 1781 later years, their name was changed to :\1cEwin~.) sealed. The winter of I She was born February 19, 1759, a daughter of John and Eleanor Mc settlement; the Indian Cowan. Her father died April 1789, and her mother July 5, 1816. These British, who had instig ancestors were Scotch-Irish. The record reads: "Removed from Dauphin the conclusion of the w County to Washington County, Pennsylvania." No specific date of their ments, and weakened t removal is given, but tradition says they had two children at the time; con said to have dawned up sequently it must have been about 1783. alarms of war. But, They located on land bordering on Potato Garden Run. It was known permit their vast hunti as the "Leeom" tract, and adjoining the "Hopewell" tract, which later be they continued to pay came the property of the Bumses. The title from the Commonwealth for while the torch laid wa this tract bears date December 31, 1774, and contained 400 acres. But it is brief statement we can asserted by some, that he at one time owned 800 acres located on both sides fronted the" initial subj of Potato Garden Run; and later sold 400 acres located on the west side of We have no positiv the run, for the same price he paid for it, which was one dollar per acre. dition hands down the But when we compare this price with that paid for other lands, we must con remarked, "They mau clude that this transaction occurred a good mmy years after they settled said that on their arriv here. Be that as it may, their first cabin was located on the farm now owned their wagon until an op, by George Miller, commonly known as the Thomas Stewart farm. Their openmg. nearest neighbors lived some two miles distant. The most common "Heaven gives us fri ends to bless the present scene." l Young. ) the State was by p1ck This farm being located in Findlay Township, Allegheny County, leads chandise brought over to some confusion as to their locating in Washington County. But Alle Hayden, who drove four gheny County had not yet been formed when they came to this section. But it is quite possible By Act of Assembly passed September 24, 1788, being some five years after attempt was made to tr their arrival here, Allegheny County was taken from Westmoreland County. After the family w And by another Act passed September 17, 1789, the boundaries of th is county ing the land, and in d were enlarged by the annexation of a large tract from the northern part of wheat was sown; but w Washington County. made into okes it prOI From the best evidence obtainable it would seem that James Stewart wheat" because after e came to this section, made his location, and built his cabin soon after pro the dog became sick. curing the land. A comparison of dates shows that something like nine the soil had much to years elapsed between the date of his title ( 1774) and the time he moved his time the greater part o family here, (1783). Some have wondered at this delay in coming. But mountains; and not inf we are constrained to believe that the fearful depredations of the Indians had for subsistence. much to do with this delay; and by the time they came these hostilities had 3 WAN to some extent abated. But in better answer to this it might be well to take a glance at the conditions as they then existed in Western Pennsylvania. from some unknown rause, in Near the close of 1781 the independence of the United States had been sealed. The winter of 1782-83 had been spent in comparative quiet by the ohn and Eleanor Mc settlement; the Indians being convinced by this time that the cause of the July 5, 1816. These British, who had inst_igated and supported them, was hopelessly lost. And moved from Dauphin the conclusion of the war with Great Britain gave new impulse to the settle specific date of their ments, and weakened the confidence of the Indians, and a new era may be dren at the time; con- said to have dawned upon Western Pennsylvania, so long accustomed to the alarms of war.

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