Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll

Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll (died 1319) was a Scottish nobleman, the eldest son of John Stewart and Margaret Bonkyll, and the father of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus.

Alexander was the first cousin of Walter the Steward and Sir James Douglas two of the most important commanders during the First War of Scottish Independence. He was also brother-in-law of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, nephew of Robert I of Scotland.

His father had been one of the strongest supporters of the exiled John Balliol and was killed at the Battle of Falkirk. After the disaster at Falkirk William Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland and was replaced by John Comyn, nephew of the exiled Balliol. After Comyn achieved some notable success fighting against the English a quarrel broke out between Comyn and his rival Robert the Bruce over their competing rights to the throne. During a meeting between the two sides at Dumfries in 1306, Comyn was fatally stabbed by Bruce and his supporters and the War of Independence now became a civil war. Because of his fathers long allegiance to King John, Alexander fought under John MacDougall of Lorn against Bruce but was captured by his cousin James Douglas in 1308 and was given a royal pardon. He died circa 1319.

Sir Alexander Stewart was born before 1285. He was the son of Sir John Stewart, Lord of Bonkyl and Margaret de Bonkyl. He died in 1319.

Sir Alexander Stewart lived in Bonkyl, Berwickshire, Scotland.

Notes

• (1-169) Some writers state that Sir Alexander Stewart, Sir John's father, was the first Earl of Angus created by Bruce, but no proof of this has been found, and he appears to have died about 1319.
• Earl of Angus in a charter 15 JUN 1329 (must refer to his son?)

Links

• http://www.genealogy4u.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I11024&...
• http://www.cyberancestors.com/cummins/ps91/ps91_247.htm
• Jim Weber's Rootsweb database

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Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll (c.1271 – 1319) was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll, and the father of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus.

Alexander was the first cousin of Walter the Steward, father of King Robert II of Scotland, and of Sir Sir James Douglas, two of the most important commanders during the First War of Scottish Independence.

He was also the brother-in-law of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, nephew of King Robert I of Scotland.

His mother was Margaret de Bonkyl, the daughter of Sir Alexander de Bonkyl of that Ilk.

Alexander's wife was Jean Fitz James [Jean's surname should be "fitz Alexander" as the custom was "fitz" (daughter of) or "Fitz" (son of) then the father's Christian name in this case "Alexander" hence "Jean fitz Alexander"], daughter of Alexander Fitz James, with whom he had two children, a

• son and heir, John Stewart, and a
• daughter, Isabella Stewart, who married Domhnall II, Earl of Mar

Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll