Historic memorials of the Stewarts of Forthergill Perthshire, and their male descendants. With an appendix containing title-deeds and various documents of interest in the history of the family

PREFACE.
[HE publication of the present work has been undertaken as a memorial of an
ancient and once numerous race of Stewarts in Athole, now represented in
the male line by a very few descendants.
Although my own immediate ancestor left Scotland to enter the army more than
one hundred and fifty years ago, and his descendants, after serving their country by land
and sea, settled 'in Ireland and south of the Tweed, they never forgot their ancestral
home, or the race from which they sprung.
Recent investigations, the results ©f which are given in the following pages, have
proved beyond question the exactness of the traditions handed down by them from
father to son through each consecutive generation.
The ancestors of my friend and kinsman, Mr. Stewart-Robertson of Edradynate,
springing from a common progenitor, have, however, been in an unbroken line possessors
of landed property in their native district, amidst the very hills and glens where our
forefathers lived, and fought, and died ; — indeed, Edradynate, Mr. Stewart-Robertson's
principal property, was in the possession of John Stewart of Forth ergill in 1465 ; and to
the assistance he, from his family and local lore, was so well able to supply, I am deeply
indebted for the completion of these Memorials ; while the generous aid afforded him by
several famdies of note in his district (and for whose kindness and courtesy he has often
expressed his great obligation) has materially assisted in the compilation of the proofs
contained in this volume. Some of the documents thus obtained from private charter-
rooms are invaluable ; and although genealogical memorials cannot be expected to be of
much interest to any beyond the families to which they relate, yet in these pages there
are a variety of incidents narrated, copies and facsimiles of old charters, and documents
of a quaint character given, which may be found of more general interest.
Few can imagine the pleasure attached to a first visit to the home where our fore-
fathers dwelt, every name and site of which one has heard of from childhood ; and to
myself these " Memorials' " will ever be a souvenir of the kindliness and consideration I
have experienced, and the many happy hours I have spent, under the hospitable roof of
Edradynate.
Best thanks are also due to the Reverend W. Macleod, a gentleman whose intimate
acquaintance with the literary treasures contained in the Register House, Edinburgh, and