Lineage of Stewarts of Fothergill

There are a number of books which show the ancestors of Rev. Robert Stewart and there seems no doubt that he descended from King Robert the Bruce of Scotland (and also King Edward III of England).

King James II (of Scotland) granted a feu-charter to John Stewart of Gart (John Stewart, first of Fothergill) for the lands of Fothergill (later Fortingall) on 30^th October 1455 (Historic Memorials of the Stewarts of Fothergill).

A charter dated 24^th February 1465 by John Earl of Athole, gave the lands of Eddiridagonat (Edradynate) to John Stewart of Furthirkill (Red Book of Grandtully & Historic Memorials).

Although the Stewarts owned and occupied Gart(h) Castle, they usually assumed the designation of “Stewarts of Fothergill”.

However, there are some inconsistencies in dates and names of individuals, so this article will only give an outline of the lineage.

Walter Stewart (c.1296 – 9^th April 1327) 6^th hereditary High Steward of Scotland, married Marjory Bruce (c.1296 – 1316/17), eldest daughter of King Robert the Bruce, and only child of his first wife Isabella of Mar.
Their son, Robert Stewart (1316 – 1390) became King Robert II (the first Stewart monarch) in 1371 on the death of his Uncle King David II. His first wife was Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan.
The 4^th surviving son of King Robert II and the youngest by his 1^st wife was Alexander Stewart, (1343 – 24^th July 1394). He already had extensive estates as the King’s son and in 1379 a charter from his father gave him lands in Rannoch, Strathtummel, Garth and Bolfracks from Janet Menzies (daughter-in-law). In 1371 he was created Lord Badenoch, “The Wolfe of Badenoch”, and he was the 1^st Earl of Buchan and Ross from his marriage in 1382 until his death. He was the progenitor of the Athole Stewarts / Stewarts of Garth, who assumed the designation Stewarts of Forthergill, although they owned and occupied Gart(h) Castle. He had a substantial clan of illegitimate children when, in 1382, he married Euphemia, Countess of Ross, a widow and most eligible heiress at the time with extensive lands in Skye, Lewis, Caithness, Sutherland, Nairn, Inverness and Banff. He gained lands when he married, but maltreated Euphemia, soon deserted her and returned to his mistress, subsequently losing the lands. Sentence was passed by his Bishop for this and other misdeeds; bound under a penalty of £200 to behave well to his consort. In revenge, he burnt Elgin Cathedral and was imprisoned by his father for a considerable time, then released by his brother who succeeded to the throne as Robert III. Alexander and Euphemia had no children. Alexander is buried in Dunkeld Cathedral.
James Stewart of Fortingall and Garth was one of the “natural” (i.e. illegitimate) children of Alexander Stewart and his mistress Mariota. James married Janet Menzies.
John Stewart of Forthergill, 2^nd Laird of Garth, Rannoch, etc., died 10^th December 1475 at Garth, and is buried in Dunkeld Cathedral. Married Marion. On 30^th October 1455, King James II of Scotland granted a feu-charter to John Stewart of Gart for the lands of Forthergill (later Fortingall). A Charter dated 24^th February 1465 by John Earl of Athole gave the lands of Eddirdagonat (Edradynate) to John Stewart of Furthirkill (Forthergill).
John Stewart, 3^rd Laird of Fortingall. The lineage is undoubtedly correct, but some sources give John as son of John and some sources give him as son of Neil, and grandson of John.
Alexander Stewart, 1^st Laird of Bonskeid, died 1501.
Robert Stewart, 2^nd Laird of Bonskied in 1501, died 1546.
James Stewart, (DoB? – 16 October 1565), 3^rd Laird of Bonskeid. First wife, a daughter of Dougal Robertson or McRobert of Faskally (Divorced). Second wife, Janet Stewart of Fincastle.
John Stewart, 4^th Laird of Bonskeid. Born c.1555, succeeded as a minor in the guardianship of Alexander Stewart of Grandtully. Married 11^th October 1572 Margaret Stewart of Carse, Alexander’s only child. Murdered December 1605 between Dunkeld and Athole by a marauding party.
Alexander Stewart, 5^th Laird of Bonskeid, married Margaret Robertson.
James Stewart, 1^st Laird of Wester Cluny. Born c.1615, Married 8 August 1638, Barbara Menzies, daughter of Duncan Menzies of Comrie.
Robert Stewart, 1^st Laird of Killiechassie, born 1^th May 1650. Educated at St. Andrews where he graduated in 1672. Married Anne Campbell of Edramuckie on 23^rd January 1683 at Finlarig Chapel. He was alleged to have married twice, though there is no documentary evidence for this. In addition to his four sons who are all interred with their parents in the Burial ground, he also had four daughters (Anne, Margaret, Katherine and Grizel). They all married into local families but are not referred to on any of the gravestones. Several of his descendants had daughters but also none of them are referred to on the gravestones.