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William STUART (b c1826)

William Stuart is my paternal great-great-grandfather.

William Stuart was born probably in 1826, possibly in Grahamston in Neilston Parish in Renfrewshire. His birth does not appear in the Old Parish Registers, and the date must be inferred from later sources. At the birth of his daughter in February 1855, he was said to be 30 years of age and his birthplace was given as Grahamston. The informant in this instance, however, was not William himself but a cousin on his wife's side, Robert Law. In July of that same year, in an employment record for which William himself was likely the source, his age was recorded as 28. It seems likely that William was 28 in July of 1855 and that he turned 29 between July and December of that year. This would place his birth between July and December of 1826.

The location of William's birth is uncertain. Again, there is no direct, primary evidence of the location. In later records, his place of birth was variously recorded as Grahamston, Paisley, and even Ireland. None of these records seems especially trustworthy. However, William's parents were married in Grahamston and his sister's birth was recorded in early 1829 in nearby Barrhead. Grahamston seems the likely place of birth.

According to information provided by son William at the time of his father's death, William's parents were William Stuart and Janet Craig. This couple was married in Grahamston in Neilston Parish on 8 Aug 1828. The records of the same parish identify a daughter, Janet, born on 23 March 1829, as the couple's first child. The record is almost certainly in error, and William is almost certainly the son of these same parents.

William appeared with his parents in the 1841 Census on New Street in Duntocher in Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire. The entire family was engaged in work with cotton. Father William was a cotton spinner. William, at 17, was a cotton piecer. Sister Janet was a cotton framer. At the time of William's marriage in 1855, his occupation, like his father's, was cotton spinner.

Sometime between 1841 and 1851, William's family moved from Duntocher to Paisley. It may have been during those years that William first met Isabella Little, the daughter of a Barrhead blacksmith. Presumably his family maintained its ties with the town of Grahamston and nearby Barrhead despite having settled some miles away in Paisley center.

William married Isabella Little after banns at Barrhead in Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire on 31 Dec 1849. The Rev. Andrew McEwen, minister of the Levern Church, conducted the marriage ceremony. The couple's first child, a daughter, Janet, named after both Isabella's mother and his own, was born on 18 Nov 1850. Children would arrive with regularity every two or three years until 1866 when the last child, a son named James, was born.

William's father died in Paisley in 1853. Nothing is known about his interaction with parents or siblings after his marriage in 1849, but William did serve as the informant on the occasion of his mother's death in Greenock in 1868.

In July 1855, William secured an appointment as police constable with the Glasgow Police. The appointment was the beginning of a new and long career. Except for one brief period between November 1864 and June 1865, William remained with the Force from 1855 until his retirement in March 1886. During those 31 years, he rose from Constable 4th Class in 1855 to Constable Merit Class in 1871. The first note of his salary was recorded in 1858. It was 17 shillings per week. The last record of his salary, in 1873, was 27 shillings per week. There is no indication in the record that his salary changed from 1873 until his retirement in 1886.

William's personnel record shows that he was six feet tall in 1855. Glasgow life took its toll on this tendency to height. None of William's children appear to have come even close to six feet, and William's grandson, John, who lived his entire childhood in Glasgow, was only 5' 2" as an adult. Son William, many years later, however, commented on the extraordinary height of his Canadian cousins who were said to be over six feet.

The record of William's employment notes admonishments and awards. All negative reports occurred within his first eight years on the force. On two occasions in 1856-1857, he was fined for drunkenness. On five occasions over the eight years, he was admonished for idling his time, neglect of duty, insolence to a superior officer or pushing his sergeant. Despite the sound of it, William's record was actually a good one. It was not uncommon for members of the force to incur long lists of infractions capped finally by dismissal. William persevered. He even received rewards of 17/6 in November 1864 for "Attending to proclamation regarding Dogs."

Upon retirement on 08 Mar 1866, William took his pension of 13/6 and moved with his wife and daughter Mary Little to Rothesay in Bute. He rented a flat at 26 Russell Street in a beautiful new line of flats at the corner of Mill and Russell Street in Rothesay. Why William chose to settle in Rothesay during his retirement is unknown. There may have been family connections in Bute, but most likely it was simply the attraction of a lovely Victorian seaside resort that brought him there.

William lost Isabella, his wife of 44 years, in 1893. He lived on as a widower in Rothesay until his death in 1908. He and his daughter, Mary Little, moved from Russell Street to Bridge Street near the Gallowgate sometime after Isabella's death.

William died at 8:10 p.m. on Thursday, 09 Jul 1908. The cause of his death was arterio sclerosis and heart disease. He was buried the next day in the cemetery of the High Kirk in Rothesay in the same lair as his wife Isabella. Both the death and burial records give his age as 83 years. The death notice and his gravestone state that he was 84. The death notice mailed to family members at the time read simply "In loving memory of William Stuart, who died at 10 Bridge Street, Rothesay, on 9th July, 1908. Aged 84 years." However, if earlier estimates of his date of birth are correct, he would have been not 83 but 81 years old. He was probably approaching his 82nd birthday.

In 2003, the white marble stone marking William and Isabella's grave still was still standing in the High Kirk cemetery in Rothesay.

Sources:

1828 Proclamation of Banns for William Stuart (b c1806) and Janet Craig: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1828/Marriages/572/50/70. Content: The marriage register of Neilston Parish (Renfrewshire), Proclamations in 1828 reads: William Stuart, cotton spinner, Neilston, and Janet Craig, residing at Grahamston both in this parish, gave in their names for proclamation in order to marriage 25 July and gave to the poor 3/6.

1829 Birth Registration for Janet Stuart: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1829/Births/572/40/177. Content: The 1829 Old Parish Register of Neilston Parish [Renfrewshire] (page 255) reads: 1829, William Stuart and Janet Craig, spouses, Neilston/Cotton-spinner and of this parish had their 1st child being a daughter born on 23 Mar and bapt 17 May following, named Janet.

1849 Marriage Registration for William Stewart (b 1826) and Isabelle Little: Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1849/Marriages/572/50/322. Content: The Old Parish Register for Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland for 1849 (p 336) reads Stewart and Little, William Stewart, Cotton Spinner, Barrhead, and Isabella Little, there in this parish were booked for proclamation of Banns 14th December and being regularly proclaimed and no objection offered were married aat Barrhead the 31st Day of Dec 1849 by the Rev Andrew McEwan, Minster of Levern Churh.

1850 Birth Registration for Janet Stewart (b 1850): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1850/Births/572/40/476. Content: The Old Parish Register of Birth for Neilston Parish, Renfrewshire under years 1850/51 shows the following entry: Stewart, William Stewart & Isabella Little, spouses, Barrhead had first child being a daughter born on the 18th November and baptized on the 15th December named Janet.

1852 Birth Registration for William Stewart (b 1852): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1852/Births/572/40/499. Content: The Old Parish Register for Neilston Parish (Renfrewshire) Scotland (p 107) reads: William Stewart and Isablla Little, spouses Barrhead, had their 2nd [child] amd first son born on the 16th Nov and baptized on the 12th December, named William.

1855 Birth Registration for Isabella Stewart (b 1855): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1855/Births/572/57. Content: The registry entry reads: Stewart, Isabella, Female, [born:]1855 Feb 19, 1h 0m am; Barrhead; Father: William Stewart, Cottonspinner, 30 yrs, birthplace: Grahamston, Neilston Parish; when and where married: 1837 Barrhead; issue living and deceased: 1 boy and 2 girls alive; Mother: Isabella Stewart, maiden name Little, 28 years, her 3rd child, [Isabella born:] Barrhead. Informant: Robert Law, cousan (sic); when and where registered: 1855 Mar 12 at Neilston.

1857 Birth Registration for John McCarter Stewart (b 1857): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1857/Births/644/7 497. Content: An 1857 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 497) shows that John McCarter Stewart, male, was born 1857 April Fourteenth at 9h 30m am, at 64 Maitland Street, Glasgow. Father: William Stewart, police officer. Mother: Isabella McCarter Stewart maiden name Little. Informant: William Stewart, father, not present. Registered 1857 May 2nd at Glasgow.

1859 Birth Registration for Albert Stewart (b 1859): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1859/Births/644/7/902. Content: An 1859 birth registration from the District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow (entyr 902) shows that Albert Stewart , male, was born 1859 Aug 8 at 5h pm at 64 Maitland Street in Glasgow. Father: William Stewart, Day Constable. Mother: Isabella Stewart maiden name Little. Signed: William Stuart, father, present. Registered: 1859 Aug 17th at Glasgow.

1862 Birth Registration for Mary Little Stewart (b 1862): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1862/Births/644/7/645. Content: An 1862 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 645) shows that Mary Little Stewart, female, was born 1862 April 13 at 7h 45m am at 64 Maitland Street. Father: William Stewart, day police constable. Mother: Isabella Stewart m.s. Little. Married 1850 Dec 31, Barrhead. Signed: William Stuart, present. Registered: 1862 May 12th at Glasgow.

1864 Birth Registration for Alfred Stuart (b 1864): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1864/Births/644/7/590. Content: An 1864 District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow birth registration (entry 590) shows Alfred Stuart, male, [born] 1864 Apr 17, 1h 30m pm, at 64 Maitland Street. Father: William Stuart, day constable police. Mother: Isabella Stuart m.s. Little. Married: 1849 Dec 31, Barrhead. Signed: William Stuart, father, present. Reigstered 1864 May 3rd at Glasgow.

1866 Birth Registration for James Stuart (b 1866): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1866/Births/644/7/815. Content: An 1866 birth registration in the District of Milton, Burgh of Glasgow shows that James Stuart, male, [was born] 1866, May 28th at 11h 0m pm at 62 Stewart St, Glasgow. Father: William Stuart, day police constable. Mother: Isabella Stuart m.s. Little. Married 1849 Dec 31 Barrhead. Informant: William Stuart, father, present (signed with very shaky hand). Registered: 1866 Jun 13 at Glasgow.

1841 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1806): Citation: National Records of Scotland. Census 1841/501/00 008/00 031. Content: The 1841 Scotland Census of the Parish of Old Kilpatrick [Dunbartonshire], Duntocher, New Street on 06 Jun 1841 shows a household composed of (1) William Stewart, male, age 35, cotton spinner, born I[reland] (sic), (2) Janet Stewart, female, age 35, [no occupation], born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (3) William Stewart, male, age 17, cotton piecer, born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (4) Janet Stewart, female, age 14, cotton framer, born in Scotland but not in Dunbartonshire, (5) Susan Stewart, age 12, cotton framer, born in Dumbartonshire, (6) Agnes Stewart, age 8, born in Dumbartonshire, (7) Matthew Stewart, male, age 5, born in Dumbartonshire, (8) Alexander Stewart, male, age 4 months, born in Dumbartonshire. [Note: The place of birth for William Stuart, head of household, is almost certainly a simple enumerator error. It follows a household in which all members were born in Ireland.]

1851 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1851/Census/572/ 11/ 68. Page 68 or 87. Content: The 1851 Scotland Census of Neilstron Parish, Barrhead (Renfrewshire) on 30 Mar 1851 schedule 240 shows a household composed of (1) William Stewart, head, married, male, age 26, cotton spinner, born Neilston, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stewart, wife, married female, age 24, born Neilston, Renfrewshire, and (3) Janet Stewart, daughter, female, age 5 months, born Neilston, Renfrewshire.

1861 Scotland Census, Household of William Stewart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1861/Census/644/7/15/6. Content: The 1861 Scotland Census of Glasgow Barony Parish, Milton District, Glasgow (Lanarkshire), 64 Maitlan Street on 07 Apr 1861 shows a household composed of (1) Wm Stewart, head, male, age 37, police constable, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stewart, wife, female, age 35, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (3) Wm Stewart, son, male, age 10, scholar, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (4) Ino Stewart, son, male, age 8, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (5) Albert Stewart, son, male, age 6, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (6) Janet Stewart, daughter, female, age 4, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (7) Isabella Stewart, daughter, female, age 2, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (8) Robert Law, boarder, male, age 22, unmarried, railway porter, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (9) Ino McNab, boarder, male, age 35, unmarried, railway porter, born Pottafion, Argyleshire.

1871 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1871/Census/644/7/59/3. [Note: The surname on this record has been entered into the index as Stevert.] Content: The 1871 Scotland Census of Milton District, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, 62 Stewart Street on 02 Apr 1871 shows a household composed of (1) William Stuart, head, married, male, age 45, police constable, born Paisley, Renfrewshire (sic), (2) Isabella Stuart, wife, married, female, age 43, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire. (3) Janet Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female, age 21, machinest, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (4) William Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 18, flesher, born Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (5) John Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 14, brassfounder's apprentice, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (6) Albert Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 12, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (7) Mary Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female, age 11, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (8) Alfred Stuart, son, male, age 7, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (9) James Stuart, son, male, age 5, scholar, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

1881 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1881/Census/644/8/60/3.. Content: The 1881 Scotland Census of Milton, Glasgow (Lanarkshire) on 03 Apr 1881 shows a home at 62 Stewart Street with a household composed of (1) Wm Stuart, male, married, head of household, age 55, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stuart, female, married, age 54, wife, [no occupation], born in Renfrewshire, (3) Wm Stuart, male, married, age 29, son, day constable, born in Renfrewshire, (4) Albert Stuart, son, male, age 22, unmarried, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (5) Mary Stuart, daughter, female, age 18, warehouse girl, born in Glasgow, (6) Alfred Stuart, son, male, age 16, umbrella maker, born in Glasgow, (7) James Stuart, son, male, age 14, telegraph messenger, born in Glasgow.

1891 Scotland Census, Household of William Stuart (b 1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1891/Census/558/13/9. Content: The 1891 Scotland Census of Rothesay, Bute, 26 Russell Street, on 05 Apr 1891 shows a household composed of (1) William Stuart, head, married, male, age 66, retired police officer, born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, (2) Isabella Stuart, wife, married, female, age 64, born in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, (3) Mary Stuart, daughter, unmarried, female age 28, a self-employed dressmaker, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (4) Alfred Stuart, son, unmarried, male, age 26, seaman, born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

1901 Scotland Census, Household of Mary Little Stewart (b 1862): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1901/Census/558/11/22. Content: The 1901 Scotland Census of Rothesay, Bute, 26 Russell Street, on 31 Mar 1901, shows a flat (schedule 119) of three rooms with a household composed of (1) Mary Little Stewart, head, single, age 29 [sic], housekeeper, [Born] Lanarkshire, Glasgow, and (2) William Stewart, father, widower, age 76, Retired Policeman, [Born] Renfrewshire, Paisley.

Employment record for William Stewart (b 1827): Citation: Registry, City of Glasgow Police Force, SR 22/55/2, page 7, number 12. Transcribed on 09 Mar 1999 at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

1853 Death Registration for Willlam Stuart (b c1806): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1853/Deaths/559/100/258. Content: The Abbey Parish (Paisley, Renfrewshire) death registry record dated 23 Nov 1853 names William Stewart, 29 New Sneddon Street, [there is no occupation or place of birth recorded], [cause of death:] asthma, [age:] 49y.

1868 Death Registration for Janet [Craig] Stewart (b c1806): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1868/Deaths/564/1/266. Content: The record of 1868 Deaths in the Middle Parish of Greenock, County of Renfrew, (p 89) reads as follows: Janet Stewart, (widow of William Stewart, Cotton Spinner), [died] 1868 8 Nov 5h pm, 110 Hamilton Street, Greenock. Female, age 62 years. [Father:] William Craig, Footman (dec). Accidental--Coma as cert by A D Stewart MC. Informant: William Stuart [signed], son, [Address:] Cowcaddens, Glasgow. Registered 1868 9 Nov at Greenock. Robert Cambell, Reg. There is a marginal note referencing Sec Reg of Cor Entr Vol 1, p 106, dated 18 Nov 1868.

1908 Death Registration for William Stuart (b c1826): Citation: The National Records of Scotland, 1908/Deaths/558/88. Content: The record reads: William Stuart, Policeman (Retired), Widower of Isabella Little, when and where died: 1908 Jul 9th 8h 10m pm, 10 Bridge St., Rothesay; male; age: 83 yrs. Father: William Stuart, Cotton Spinner (deceased); Mother: Janet Stuart m.s. Craig (deceased); Cause: arterio sclerosis, heart disease, etc., as certified by J. Burnett Lawson, MD; Informant: William Stuart, son, 617 New City Road, Glasgow (his signature). [Registered:] 1908 Jul 10 at Rothesay.

William's burial: Records of the High Kirk in Rothesay. The records are held by the Property Office of Argyll and Bute on High Street in Rothesay. William was buried in lair 605, Section B.