Sir John Stewart, 15th of Grandtully, 3rd Baronet

Biographical Summary

"John Stewart, who on the death of his eldest brother, Sir Geaorge, second Baronet of Grandtully, in 1759, became third Baronet of Grandtully, was the second son of Sir Thomas Stuart, Lord Balcaskie. He was born 29th September 1687."

SOURCE: Red Book of Grandtully, William Fraser, 1868, page clxxv

"The first wife of Sir John Stewart was Elizabeth Mackenzie, daughter and heiress of Sir James Mackenzie of Royston, third son of George first Earl of Cromartie, one of the Senators of the College of Justice. By this lady he had two sons: George, who died young, and Sir John, who became his heir...

...Colonel John Stewart, when fifty-nine years of age, married, secondly, on the 4th of August 1746, Lady Jane Douglas, daughter of James second Marquis of Douglas, and sister of Archibald third Marquis and first Duke of Douglas, one of the most accomplished ladies of her age and country, handsome in person, gifted with strong natural talents improved by education, and most elegant and engaging in manners.

SOURCE: Red Book of Grandtully, William Fraser, 1868, page clxxvii

Notes

There is some discrepancy between materials as to whether to consider Alexander first or second of Grandtully. e.g. William Fraser identifies Alexander as second of Grandtully (Red Book of Grandtully), while Red Book of Scotland - Stewart of Grantully identifies him as the first. For this purpose, have aligned to Pedigree of the Family of Stewart of Grandtully outlined in the above mentioned Red Book of Grandtully.

Lady Jane Douglas, only sister of Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas, had in 1746 married without her brother's knowledge Colonel John Stewart, a former Jacobite sympathizer and veteran of the Swedish army, and fled to the continent. Two years later she informed the duke of the marriage and notified him that she was (at the age of fifty) pregnant. Subsequently she reported the birth on 10 July 1748 of twin boys, named Archibald and Sholto(1). The irascible and eccentric duke disapproved of the marriage, cut off his sister's allowance, and—encouraged by the duke of Hamilton's family, who stood next in line to the sister as heir—refused to recognize the twins as hers. In 1751 the family returned to Britain, where they lived a hand-to-mouth existence as Colonel Stewart was soon imprisoned for debt.

Links

• http://douglashistory.co.uk/history/archibald1stbarondouglas.htm
• Referenced in Wikipedia Entry for George Mackenzie