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STEWART FRÅN BÖRJAN
The traditional accont of the descent of the family of Stewart from Banquo, Thane of Lochaber, and through him from the ancient Kings of Scotland, is
now generally discredited.
The research of recent years makes it more certain that the Stewarts or Stuarts are of Breton origin, decended from a family which held the office of
Senescal or Steward of Dol, under the count of Dol and Dinan, in Brittany ( to whom it is suppored they were related ) in the eleventh century.
In the chartucary of the Abbey of St. Florent we find in 1080 and again in 1086 `Alanus Senescallus `or `Alanus Dapifer Dolensis, `withnessing grants of
lands to the Abbey, of which he was himself a benefactor, as is proved by a deed ( ante 1080 ), to which his brother Rivallon, who entered into religion
as a monk at Mezuoit.
Alan the Senescal engaged in the crusade of 1097, and died apparently without issue. The lands and office of Senescal of Dol reverted to Fledacdus or
Flaald, who had a son :-
ALAN, who appears to have accompanied Henry I to England. ALAN FITZ-FLAALD appears in the English records as Sheriff of Shropshire and
otherwise from 1101 onwards. He founded Sporle Priory in Norfolk as a cell of St. Saumur in Brittany before 1122, and further proof of his Brittany
connection is afforded by the lives of his descendants. He married Avelina de Hesding, by whom he left three sons :-
1. Jordan, who inherited the family estates and office of Senescal of Dol in Brittany and the lands of Burton, Tuxford, Warsop, etc., in England.
He appears in the English Pipe Rolls as a landowner in Lincolnshire 1129-30, and in 1130 in a agreement with the Abbot of Marmoutier in Brittany.
He is there styled ´a valiant and illustrious man, ´and his wife is named Mary. He left two sons :-
1. Jordan, ´the son of Jordan the son of Alan,´who restored to the church of Sele ( a cell of St. Florent de Saumur ), the mill at
Burton which the monks had enjoyed in the time of ´Alani Filii Flaaldi ´and of ´Jordani patris mei. ´He appears to have died
s.p.
2. Alan, who succeeded his brother Jordan, and who with his wife Joan confirmed to the Priory of Marmoutier a grant by his
grandfather Alan Fitz-Flaald of the title of the lands of Burton. He also figures in the Brittany records as ´Alanus Filium
Quondam Jordani, Dolensem Senescallum, ´and in a bull of Pope Alexander III he figures as Alan ´a noble man, Senescal
of Dol, son of Jordan deceased, ´granting to the Abbey of Tiron all his rights in the Church of Tronchet, etc., and the churches
of Sharrington, Tuxford, and Warsop in England. By his wife Joan he left a son and two daughter :-
1. Jordan who died s.p.
2. Olive, who appears as owner of Sharrington in England in 1227.
3. Alicia, who was married to William Spina, son of Hamo, and appears in the Brittany records as in possession
of the lands and office at Dol.
2. William Fitz-Alan Lord of Oswestrie in Shropshire. He was ancestor of the English house of Fitz-Alan. His grandson John Fitz-Alan married Isabel
second daughter of William third Earl of Arundel, by which marriage the honours of Arundel came to his descendants.
3. Walter, ´the son of Alan,´appears in the English ´Liber Niger Scaccarii, ´about 1154, as vassal of ´William the son of Alan of Salopscire, ´for lands of
the value of two knights fees. In a charter of 1185 William the son of Alan and Walter the son of Alan appears as benefactors of the order of knights
templars. William Fitz-Alan supported David I of Scotland in asserting the rights of the empress Matilda to the English throne, and his brother Walter
Fitz-Alan seems to have accompanied David into Scotland, and to have been identical with the ´Walter the son of Alan ´who appears as High Stewart
of Scotland in the reign of David I and Malcolm IV.
This is rendered more sure by the fact that in 1335 that office was claimed by Richard Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel (descenede of William Fitz-Alan
above mentioned), as his by hereditary right, the real holder, Robert Stewart, the representative of Walter Fitz-Alan the orgiginal grantee, having been
temporarily dispossessed by the English.
On his creation as High Stewart of Scotland he also received great estates in the lowlands of Scotland from King David I. In 1157 King Malcolm IV
ratified the grants of the office of Stewart of Scotland to his family, and added greatly to his possessions to support the dignity while travelling in the
service of the Crown. In 1164 he repelled an invasion of renfrewshire. He founded Paisley Abbey the foundation charter of which further proves his
connection with Shropshire by showing that monks to carry on the work were brought from thence, and that it was dedicated inter alios to St. Milburgh
of Wenloc in Shropshire.
He died in 1177, leaving by his wife Eshyna de Molle, widow of Robert de Croc and daughter apparently of the Thomas de Londoniis, whose son
Malcolm was the first Doorward of Scotland, Alan, who carried on the family and its honours, ´Simon, brother of Walter the son of Alan,´appears
as a witness in the foundation charter of Paisley Abbey. To him the Boyds, who bear the same arms as the Stewarts, trace their descent, but there
seems to be no proof of this, and no other notice of Simon is known.
Alan, son of Walter and second High Stewart of Scotland, is supposed to have accompanied Richard Coeur De Lion to the Crusades. He is said
to have married Eva, daughter of Svan, son of Thor Lord of Tippermuir and Tranet, but this seems to be founded on a mistaken reading by Duncan
Stewart of a charter in the Register of Scone. He died in 1204, leaving at least two sons :-
1. David, who appears as a guarantor of King Alexanders´s engagement to marry the princess of England.
2. Walter, who succeeded his father as High Stewart.
WALTER third High Stewart, was the first to adopt the name of his office as a surname. He was appointed Justiciar of Scotland by Alexander II
in 1230, and negotiated that Kings second marriage. He is said by Duncan Stewart to have married Beatrix, daughter of Gilchrist Earl of Angus, but
no prof has been found of this, and he died in 1241 leaving issue :-
1. Alexander his successor.
2. John killed at Damietta 1249.
3. Walter married Mary, younger daughter of Maurice Earl of Min tenteith, and became Earl of Menteith. He appears to have died soon after 13 june
1292, leaving two sons :-
1. Alexander his successor in the earldom, representation ultimately merged in the Ducal House of Albany by the marriage
of his great-granddaughter to Robert Stewart Duke of Albany.
2. Sir John, who was ancestor of the Menteiths of Rusky and Kerse.
4. Euphemia, married Patrick sixth Earl of Dunbar.
5. Margaret, who is said to have been married to Nigel or Neil of Galloway Earl of Carrick.
6. Elisabeth or according to others, Beatrix, stated to have been married to Macdoven Earl of Lennox.
7. Sir Robert Stewart of Tarbolton and Cruxton is said to have been a son of this Stewart. So also is William de Ruthven, ancestor of the Ruthven,
but this is founded on a mistaken reading of the Scone charter referred to above.
ALEXANDER fourth High Stewart, designated of Dundonald was born in 1214 and in early life joined the crusanders. In 1255 he appears as one
of the regents of Scotland during the minority of Alexander III. In 1263 he commanded the right wing of the Scots army at Largs, when the Norsemen
under Haco were completely ruuted. He played a prominent part in other matters during the reign of Alexander III., and died in 1283, leaving two sons
and a daughter. His wife is said to have been Jean daughter of James lord of Bute.
1. James, his successor.
2. Sir John, who married Margaret, daughter and heiress of Sir Alexander de Bonkyl in Berwickshire; fell at the battle of Falkirk, leaving a numeros
family of sons and one daughter :-
1. Sir Alexander, ancestor of the Stewarts Earl of Angus.
2. Sir Alan, ancestor of the Stewarts of Darnley Earls of Lennox.
3. Sir Walter, ancestor of the Stewarts of Garlies Earl of Galloway, and the Lords Blantyre.
4. Sir James, ancestor of the Stewarts Lords of Lorne, the Earls of Atholl, Buchan and Traquair and the Stewarts of Appin and
Grandtully.
5. Sir John of Daldar, died s.p.
6. Sir Hugh.
7. Sir Robert are also said to have been sons, but of their descendants nothing is certainly known.
8. Isobel, married to Thomas Randolph Earl of Moray.
3. Elisabeth, married to Sir William Douglas of that Ilk, called ´le hardi,´and was mother of the ´good Sir James ´Douglas.
JAMES fifth High Stewart, was born about 1243. He was one of the six guardians appointed in 1286 on the death of Alexander III., and in 1292
was one of the auditors appointed by Bruce to represent him in his claim for the crown of Scotland. He was in 1292 one of the leading men who
opposed the attempts of Edward I to destroy the independence of Scotland, and was present with Wallace at the battle of Stirling in 1297.
He died in 1309, a few years after the younger Robert Bruce had definitely asserted his claim and had been crowned King of Scotland. He married
Egidia, sister of Richard de Burgh, earl of Ulster, and had issue, four sons and one daughter :-
1. Andrew, a hostage for, but who predeceased his father.
2. Walter, his successor.
3. Sir John, killed at the battle of Dundalk with Edward Bruce in 1318.
4. Sir James of Durisdeer, died s.p.
5. Egidia or Giles, married to Alexander de Meyners or Menzies, ancestor of the family of Menzies.
WALTER sixth High Stewart of Scotland, was born in 1292. In conjunction with Sir James Douglas he commanded one of the divisions of the
Scotish army at Bannockburn in 1314, and in the following year received from King Robert I the hand of his daughter the Lady Marjorie in marriage.
He took part in all the principal episodes in the war of independence against Edward II notably in the defence of Berwick against a great English army,
and acted as regent of Scotland during King Roberts absence in Ireland. He died on 9 april 1326 at the early age of thirty-three. According to Douglas
he married, as his first wife, Alice daughter of Sir John Erskine, by whom he had a daughter Jean, married to Hugh Earl of Ross, but there is no proof
of this, and Hugh Earl of Ross, married a sister of King Robert Bruce.
The Stewarts first wife, so far as recorded was the Lady Marjorie Bruce by whom he had one only child :-
1. Robert, afterwards King Robert II.
He married secondly Isabel, sister of Sir John Graham of Abercorn, by whom he had two sons and one daughter:-
2. Sir John of Railston or Cunningham, who died at a great age, leaving :-
1. Sir Walter, who succeeded him.
2. Sir John, both sons seem to have died without issue.
3. Marjory, married first to Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk; and second to Sir William Douglas of Lugton by whom she
had a least one son.
4. Egidia, married to Sir Patrick Graham of Kincardine and Dundaff, and became ancestress of the Grahams Earl of Strathearn.
5. Margaret, married to Sir John Hay of Boyne and Enzie, Touch and Tullibody. Her daughter Egidia was married before 1426
to Alexander Seton, afterwards Earl of Huntly, and became the ancestress of the Setons of Touch.
3. Sir Andrew of whose descendants, if any, there is no record.
4. Egidia, who was thrice married; first to Sir James Lindsay of Crawford; second after oct 1357 to Sir Hugh of Eglinton; and third (contract oct.
1378) to Sir James Douglas of Dalkeith.
ROBERT II first King of the house of Stewart, was born 2 mars 1315-16, and was declared heir-presumptive to the throne on 3 dec 1318.
He fought at Halidon Hill in 1333 at the age of seventeen, and was the first to raise the standard of freedom after that disastrous battle. Encouraged by
his example other leaders joined him in his efforts to expel the English, and in 1338 he was chosen guardian of Scotland during the absence of King
David II in France. He was present in the ill-advised raid into England which resulted in the battle of Durham 17 oct 1346 where the King was taken
prisoner.
The High Stewart commanded one of the divisions of the Scots army, and after routing the force opposed to him was overwhelmed by numbers and
compelled to withdraw. He succeeded in saving the wreck of the army, with which, as guardian for a second time, he continved to maintain and assert
his country's independence. On the death of his uncle David II he succeeded to the throne as Robert II., 22 feb 1370-71.
In this reign the succession to the crown of Scotland was definitely settled by parliament. King Robert died at Dundonald 19 april 1390, and was
buried at Scone. He married first Elizabeth daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan (dispensation by Pope Clement VI., 22 nov 1347),. and had by
her :-
1. John Robert III
2. Walter
3. Robert Duke of Albany
4. Alexander Earl of Buchan
5. Margaret
6. Marjorie
7. Elisabeth
8. Isabella
9. Jean
King Rober II second marriege Euphemia daughter of Hugh Earl of Ross, and widow after John Randolph third Earl Moray (dispans of Pope Innocent
VI 2 maj 1355). Isuee:-
10. David Earl of Strathearn.
11. Walter Lord of Brechin and Earl of Atholl.
12. Egidia
13. Jean
Robert II utomäktenskapliga söner.
1. Sir John Stewart
2. Thomas Stewart
3. Alexander Stewart
4. Sir John Stewart of Dundonald Lord of Burley
5. Alexander Stewart of Inverlunan.
6. James Stewart of Kinfauns.
7. Sir James Stewart of Cardney.
8. Walter Stewart.
ROBERT STEWART Duke of Albany third son of King Robert II by Elizabeth Mure, his first wife, born in 1339 married first by dispensation
dated 9 sep 1361, as her fourth husband Margaret Countess of Menteith by which marriage he became by courtesy Earl of Menteith. He entered into
an indenture with Isobel Countess of Fife relict of his elder brother Walter, dated at Perth 30 mars 1371, wherein she acknowledges him to be her
lawwful heir-apparent, and that, when the earldom of Fife is recovered and the Countess has got possession of it, she will resign it into the Kings hands
for infeftment in his favour.
In consequence of this he succeeded to that Earldom, and was styled Earl of Fife and Menteith. By crown charter, dated 7 feb 1372-73, the custody
of the castle of Stirling was committed to his care. In 1382 he was appointed Great Chamberlain of Scotland, which office he held till 1408, when he
resigned it in favour of his son John Earl of Buchan.
In 1385, in conjunction with the Earl of Douglas and body of French auxiliaries under Jean de Vienne, admiral of France, he invaded England with an
army of 30.000 men, took the Castle of Wark, and ravaged the country from Berwick to Newcastle, on the advance of the Duke of Lancaster against
him, he retired into Scotland, which was thereupon invaded by the English.
The Earls of Fife and Douglas, along with Archibald Lord of Galloway, thereupon invaded Cumberland as far as Cockermouth, spoiling the country
between the fells and the sea. The Earls of Menteith made another successful invasion of England in 1388, his father King Robert II, being now far
advanced in years, and his elder brother, the Earl of Carrick, afterwards Robert III, being from bodily infirmity unable to take an active part in
government, a parliament was called in which the Earl of Fife was by the Three estates solemnly recognised on 1 dec 1388 as guardian of the
Kingdom, in which office he continued after the death of his father and the accession of his elder brother, John Earl of Carrick, to the throne, under the
title of Robert III in 1390.
Eight years after this, when the heir-apparent to the throne was created Duke of Rothesay, the Earl of Fife and Menteith, on 28 april 1398, was
created Duke of Albany. The following years he had the pretended King Richard II placed under his custody. His nephew, the Duke of Rothesay,
having been for some youtful excesses by order of his father, King Robert III, seized and delivered into his safe-keeping, it has been alleged that he
was most barbarously starved to death in Albanys Castle of Falkland, 27 mars 1402. It is more likely, however, that he died of dysentery.
Aparliament was called and met at Edinburgh, 16 may 1402, to inquire into the fact, and Albany and the Earl of Douglas having confessed the
imprisonment, imputing the death to divine providence, were acquitted of the charge and obtained a full remission under the Great Seal.
The following year the Regent assembled forces, took Innerwick from the English and saved Cocklaws Castle from being delivered up to the Percies
by James de Gladstones, who had agreed to surrender if not succoured in time. On 2 sep 1403 the Earldom of Atholl, which had reverted to the
crown on the death of the Duke of Rothesay, was conferred on him in free regality during the lifetime of the King only, with a remainder to his son
John in case of his predecease.
On the death of King Robert III in 1406, the Duke of Albany was constituted Regent and Governor of the realm of Scotland, his nephew James being
a prisoner in England. When King Henry V was in France, in 1417, the regent raised an army to invade England and attack Berwick, but was forced
to retire by the Duke of Bedford and Exeter.
In 1419 he despatched his son John Earl of Buchan, with a chosen army of 7000 men into France to assist the dauphin against the English, and he
concluded a long and active life of vigorous exertion at the Castle of Stirling, 2 sep 1420, aged upwards of eighty, his body was interred in the Abbey
Church of Dunfermline. Wintoun and Bower draw his character in very flattering colours and while he may not be the melo dramatic villain described
by Pinkerton, neither was he, as represented by the writer of the red book of Menteith, the most perfect man who ever inhabited this world.
He married first Margaret Countess of Menteith, only daughter of Sir John Graham and Mary countess of Menteith, widow of Sir John Moray, Lord
of Bothwell, Thomas thirteenth Earl of Mar, and Sir John Drummond of Concraig. By her, who died about 1380, he had issue :-
1. Murdac Stewart second Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife and Menteith, born probably in 1362. He was appointed to the office of justiciar north
of the Forth on 2 april 1389. On 8 nov 1392 the earldom of Lennox was settled upon him and his wife Isobel, daughter of Duncan earl of Lennox
and their issue, after the death of the said Duncan without heirs-male of his body, but he never enjoyed the title. He had a grant from King Robert II
on 8 feb 1393 of one hundred merks sterling annually furth of the great customs of Aberdeen.
He was taken prisoner by the English at the battle of Homildon on 14 sep 1402 and sent to Henry IV, by whom he was liberated on parole not to
withdraw from England. Not withstanding many efforts to obtain his release, he only secured his freedom in 1415 by being exchanged for Henry.
Earl of Northumberland on the death of his father in 1420 he succeeded him in his titles, as Governor of Scotland and keeper of Stirling castle.
After many delays he at last accomplished the ransom of his cousin King James I in 1424, and thereafter placed him in the chair of state at his
coronation at Scone on 21 maj 1424.
In a parliament held at Perth, on 25 mars 1425 the King issued order for his arrest with others, took possession of his Castles of Falkland and
Doune, and sent him prisoner to Caerlaverock. The Parliament thereupon adjourned to Stirling, where the Duke with two of his sons and father-in-
law, the Earl of Lennox, were brought to trial. Walter, his eldest son, was first tried 24 may, found guilty, and instantly beheaded; and on the
following day the Duke, his second son Alexander, and the Earl of Lennox were convicted and executed, their bodies being buried in the
Blackfriars Church at Stirling.
He married ( indenture dated at Inchmurrin 17 feb 1391-92 ) Isobel, eldest daughter and co-heir of Duncan Earl of Lennox, and by her, who
survived to 1458 or 1459, he had issue.
1. Robert, called of Fife and Kinclevin, styled Master of Fife, witness to charters in 1407, 1409 and 1410, died without issue
shortly before july 1421.
2. Sir Walter of Lennox, and after the death of , his brother styled of Fife, Lennox and Menteith, executed at Stirling 24 may 1425.
He had a papal dispensation on 26 april 1421 for marriage with Janet, daughter of Sir Robert Erskine, but it is probable it was
never celebrated, by a lady of the name of Campbell he had apparently two natural sons, Andrew Lord Avondale, and Artur
and, possibly by Janet Erskine, another son Walter of Morphie, from whom descend the Earls of Castle Stewart in Ireland.
These three sons were legitimated 17 april 1479.
3. Sir Alexander, knighted by King James I. At his coronation 21 may 1424, executed at Stirling 25 may 1425.
4. Sir James, called James More, who upon hearing of his father´s imprisonment, came down from the highlands with a consider-
able party of men, burnt the town of Dumbarton, and killed John Stewart of Dundonald, Governor of the castle, with many
others. For this he was obliged to fly to England, and afterwards in 1429 to Ireland, where he died in 1451. By a Lady of the
family of Macdonald he had a natural son James Beg, from whom decend the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, and a daughter Matilda,
who was married to William Edmonston of Duntreath.
5. Isobel, married to Sir Walter Buchanan of that Ilk.
The Regent married secondly Muriella eldest daughter of Sir William de Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland, who survived him and died shortly before
whitsunday 1449. By her he had issue :-
2. John Earl of Buchan.
3. Andrew, next in substitution to John in the charter of the Earldom of Buchan, dated 20 september 1406. He died before 1413, without issue.
4. Robert, mentioned in the charter before mentioned, is erroneously stated to have been killed with his brother, the Earl of Buchan, at the battle of
Verneuil, 1424. He was alive in 1431, when he received in that and the two previous years a pension out of the customs of the Burgh of Dundee
of £13,65. 8d.
The Regent had by his two wife six daughters:-
Janet Stewart ( Eldest daughter of his first marriage) who was contracted in marriage, on 20 july 1372, to David de Loen, eldest son of Sir
Bartholomew of Loen and Lady Phillipa Mowbray of Barnbougle.
Maria Stewart, married to Sir William Abernethy of Sactoun, who died 1420, and had issue. Two of theirs sons mentioned in the exchequer
rolls in 1407 and 1414.
Margret Stewart, married first after 1390, to Sir John Swinton of Swinton, who was killed at Homildon, 14 sep 1402; and secondly, to Robert
Stewart of Lorn, by both of whom she had issue.
Isobel Stewart, married first before 1398 to Alexander Leslie, Earl of Ross, who died before feb 1407-08; and secondly to Walter Haliburton
of Dirleton, with issue by both.
Marjory Stewart, married to Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochaw first Lord Campbell.
Elizabeth Stewart, married before 28 june 1413 to Malcolm Fleming of Biggar and Cumbernauld, who was executed four days after the
Earl of Douglas and his brother, about 28 nov 1440, and had issue.
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