Bob Stewart - Clan Stewart

Artifacts

My pages contain two Stewart artifacts. The Stewart crest is here. The motto, Virescit Vulnere Virtus, means "Courage Grows Strong at a Wound." The meaning seems rather similar to Conan the Barbarian's "That which does not kill you makes you stronger."

The other artifact borders the top and left on all the pages. It's a darkened version of the tartan known as "Hunting Stewart." Of the many Stewart tartans I chose that one as I'm partial to green. Clan tartans are historically more recent than my own claim to the name.

It's been relatively few years since I became interested in the history of the family name and its origin in Scotland. Perhaps as I see my own offspring multiply I gain a sense of continuity with the past, or perhaps there's an attraction to its imagined glory.

History

In the early to middle 1100s Walter Fitzalan supported King David I and was appointed High Steward of Scotland, founding the family name. In 1371, when David II, son of Robert the Bruce died without a son, Robert II, son of the Bruce's daughter and Walter Stewart became the first Stewart King of Scotland. In 1603, James VI of Scotland became also King of England.

The spelling of the royal line's name was changed from Stewart to Stuart during an exile in France because French has no "w."

To the best I can determine, Dr. John Stewart of Scotland died in the American colonies in the early 1700s, leaving a line of descendents tracing to me mostly through Putnam County,

Castle Stewart

In the Highlands of Scotland, not far from Inverness stands Castle Stewart. Although other Scottish castles are strongly associated with the name this is the one that bears it. We've spent the night in the tower room with three turrets. They say it's the haunted room, but we saw no ghost. Big stone buildings are very quiet at night.