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James STUART (b 1866)

James was born at 11 pm on Monday, 28 May 1866 at 62 Stewart Street in the Milton district of Glasgow. His father reported the event, signing with a very shaky hand, more than two weeks later on Wednesday, 13 June. James was his parents' eighth child and fifth son. The given name James does not appear to have been common in either parent's family and its source is unknown.

James had a settled life at 62 Stewart Street in his earliest years while his father was serving as a Glasgow police constable. The 1871 Census shows that James was in school at the age of five. The 1881 Census reported that James was a telegraph messenger. At some time in the next eight years, after he had moved with his parents moved to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, he went to sea. In 1889, he was serving on the Fishery Cruiser Vigilant, a government ship patrolling waters off the west coast of Scotland.

On 08 November 1889, at age 23, James married Maria Barron, also age 23, a warehouse worker, in James' parent's home at 22 Russell Street in Rothesay. The Church of Scotland ceremony was performed by the minister of the Gaelic Church in Rothesay. Three children were born to this couple in the next six years: a daughter Isabella (born 26 October 1890; died 18 February 1892), a son William (born 03 February 1892), and a second daughter Alice Carroll (born 22 September 1895). All of the children were born in Rothesay. Alice Carroll was named after her maternal grandmother. The family appears in the 1891 Census living at 24 Castlemain Street in Rothesay.

Something obviously went wrong with James' marriage to Maria. The family did not appear in the 1901 Census of Rothesay and I have been unable to find any of them in Scotland that year. The next appearance James makes in records I have found is his marriage to Edith Western in Johannesburg, South Africa on 13 Sep 1906. At that marriage, James gave his place of birth as Dunedin, New Zealand and his marital status as bachelor. James' two children, William and Alice Carroll, joined James and Edith in South Africa the next year, 1907. William and Alice made the voyage from Liverpool to Cape Town on the ship Medic in February 1907, apparently unaccompanied. William was 15 years old at the time.

Maria Barron appeared in a 1918 Duke Street Prison entry after having been taken to court for being 'drunk and incapable.' Sentenced to five days, she appears to have been released after an overnight stay. This was reported to be her 11th time in prison. Her health was said to be only 'fair', a term in contrast to the majority of entries on the page that used the word 'good'. Maria died two years later, on 27 October 1920 at 9 Broomhill Street in Glasgow. Her usual residence at that time was given as "Shian," Amulee by Dunkeld [Perthshire]. The cause of death was cardiac failure. A nephew, John McCulloch of 2 Stirling Street, North Glasgow was the informant.

James and Edith had a child named Rose. I have not been able to find a birth registration for Rose, but she gave her age as 25 when she was married to William Thomas Mitchell in 1939. That suggests a birth date in 1914, eight years after James and Edith married.

James worked as a miner in the Transvaal region of South Africa, working presumably in May Consolidated Gold Mine in Germiston until 1935 when he turned 69. His death certificate gave his occupation as rigger.

James and Edith signed a "mutual will" in 1943 naming Rose as their sole heir. When Alice Carroll married in 1914, she was apparently living with her father at the May Consolidated Gold Mine in Germiston. Alice emigrated with her new husband, Joseph Kelly, to New Zealand shortly after her marriage. I have found no trace of William.

Edith died on 10 Jun 1946 at their home at 17 Larkspur Road in Primrose, Germiston. James died only a few years later, on 14 May 1949. Both Edith and James are buried in Primrose Cemetery, Gauteng, Germiston, South Africa.

Sources and Notes:

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.

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.

1889 Marriage Registration for James Stuart (b 1866) and Maria Barron (b c1866): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1889/Marriages/558/00/9918Z. Transcribed from microfiche by the author. Content: The register of 1889 Marriages in the Burgh of Rothesay in the County of Bute (entry 36) records a marriage on the Eighth day of November at 26 Russell Street in Rothesay after banns ... according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland. Groom: James Stuart, Seaman (bachelor), age 23, Fishery Cruiser Vigilant, Father: William Stuart, retired constable; Mother: Isabell Stuart ms Little. Bride: Maria Barron, Warehouse Girl, age 23, spinster, of 5 Roslie Place off Burnard's Street, Glasgow, Father: Michael Barron, Soldier (deceased), Mother: Alice Barron m.s. Carroll (deceased). [Officiant:] D MacKay, minister of the Gaelic Church, Rothesay. Witnesses were Charles Buchanan and Alice Barron. [Filed:] 1889 November 11th at Rothesay.

1890 Birth Registration for Isabella Stuart (b 1890): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1890/Births/558/00/0063Z. Transcribed from microfiche by the author. Content: The register of 1890 Births in the Burgh of Rothesay in the County of Bute (page 68, entry 187) shows that Isabell Stuart, female, was born 1890 October Twenty-sixth 10h 30m pm at ?74? Castlehill Street, Rothesay. Father: James Stuart, Seaman, Fishery Cruiser Vigilant. Mother: Maria Stuart m.s. Barron. Married 1889 November 8th, Rothesay. Signed: James Stuart, Father (present). Registered: 1890 Novenber 14th at Rothesay.

1891 Scotland Census, Household of James Stuart (b 1866): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1891/Census/558/11/0/2/13. Transcribed from microfiche by the author. Content: The 1891 Scotland Census of Rothesay, Bute, on 05 Apr 1891, 24 Castlehill Street, lists a household composed of (1) James Stuart, head, married, male, age 24, seaman, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, (20 Mary Stuart, wife, married, female, age 24, born Portsmouth [England], and (3) Isabella Stuart, daughter, female, age 6 mos, born Rothesay, Bute.

1892 Death Registration for Isabella Stuart (b 1890): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1892/Deaths/558/24. Content: The 1892 register of Death in the Burgh of Rothesay in the County of Bute (entry 24) shows that Isabella Stuart, female, age 15 months, single, died 1892 February Eighteenth 7h 0m am at the Hospital Rothesay. Usual residence: ?31? Castlehill Street. Father; James Stuart, Seaman. Mother: Marie Stuart m.s. Barron. Cause of Death: Scarlet Fever. [Informant:] William Stuart, grandfather, 26 Russell Street, Rothesay. Registered: 1892 February 18th at Rothesay.

1892 Birth Registration for William Stuart (b 1892): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1892/Births/558/00/0011. Transcribed from microfiche by the author. Content: The 1892 regirstry of Births in the Burgh of Rothesay in the County of Bute shows that William Stuart, male, was born 1892 February Third 1h 20m am at ?24? Castlehill Street, Rothesay. Father: James Stuart, Seaman. Mother: Marie Stuart m.s. Barron. Married: 1889, November 8, Rothesay. [Informant:] Jame Stuart, Father. Registered: 1882 February 6th at Rothesay.

1895 Birth Registration for Alice Carroll Stuart (b 1895): Citation: The National Records of Scotland. 1895/Births/558/00/0050Z. Transcribed from micofiche by the author. Content: The register of 1895 Births in the Burgh of Rothesay in the County of Bute (page 50, entry 150) shows that Alice Carroll Stuart, female, wsa born 1895 Septebmer Twenty-second 1h 30m pm at 20 West Princes Street, Rothesay. Father: James Stuart, Seaman. Mother: Marrie Stuart m.s. Barrons (sic). Married: 1889, November 8, Rothesay. [Informant:] James Stuart, Father (present). Registered: 1895 September 23d at Rothesay.

1906 Marriage Registration for James Stuart and Edith Western: Citation: FamilySearch: South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Marriages, 1870-1930, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF5-Y353 : 5 January 2023), James Stuart and Edith Western, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa; citing Marriage, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, NARS "Civil registration (marriages - coloureds), Transvaal and Swaziland, 1898-1927." The National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria. Content: A 1906 marriage registration in Johannesburg in the District of Witwatersrand reports a marriage on 13 Sep 1906. Groom: James Stuart, age 39, birthplace: Dunedin, New Zealand (sic), bachelor (sic), residence: Windsor ... Dist Krugersdorp. Bride: Edith Western, age 29, birthplace: Startford, London, England, spinster, residence: Cumberland House, Pirtchard St, Johannesburg. Signed John G Kerr, Magistrate.

1907 Passenger Manifest listing William Stuart (b 1892) and Alice Stuart (b 1895): Citation: Ancestry.com. UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Content: A 1907 ship manifest for SS Medic sailing from Liverpool, England to Cape Town, South Africa includes the names of William Stuart (age 15) and Alice (age 11). They appear to be unaccompanied. The departure date was 09 Feb 1907.

1914 Marriage Certificate for Alice [Carroll] Stuart (b 1895) and Joseph Kelly : Citation: The author is in the possession of an official copy of a Union of South Africa marriage certificate provided on 18 Jan 1958. Content: An official transcript of a 1914 marriage certificate from the Union of South Africa records a marriage on 22 Dec 1914 in St Boniface Church, Germiston [District]. Husband: Joseph Kelly, age 33, bachelor, born Dublin, Ireland, address: East Rand Proprietory Mines. Wife: Alice Stuart, age 19, spinster, born: Isle of Bute, Scotland, address: May Consolidated Gold Mine, Germiston. The marriage included an antenuptial contract. Consent for Alice was given by her parents. Witnesses: J Stuart, E Stuart.

1918 Prison Register Entry for Maria Barron or Stewart: Citation: Prison Register, Glasgow (Duke Street) Prison, Lanarkshire, NRS Reference HH21/32/83 p. 109; Index, Scottish Indexes (https://www.scottishindexes.com/prisontranscript.aspx?prisonid=328310937: accessed 31 Jan 2023); Original Source: Prison Registers, National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. Content: A Duke Street Prison (Glasgow, Scotland) includes an entry from Northern Glasgow on 17 May 1918 for Maria Barron or Stewart. It appears that she was picked up for the police for being 'Drunk & Incapable'. Her age is given as 54. She is 5 feet 1-1/2 inches tall, education appears to be an 'I' (possibly meaning illiterate or possibly just not provided), born Portsmouth, nationality: Irish, address: 1, Swan Lane, Port Dundas [Glasgow], occupaation: mostly illegible (but possibly Cleaner), religion: ?C[hurch] E[ngland]?, health: Fair (this is in contrast with most other entries on the page which a marked 'Good'), trial particulars: date: 17 May 2018 [struck through and annotated 20 October 1916], court: Police, where: Glasgow, sentence if convicted: 7/6, 5 days [also annotated from 17/5/18], liberated or removed: date: 18 May, authority: F.P.P [Police], remarks: 5, 4 yrs ago, previous imprisonment in any prison: number: 11, Last Reg No in this Prison: 1213/15 [probably entry 1213 in 1915].

1920 Death Registration for Maria Barron Stuart [b c1864]: Citation: The National Records of Scotland. Deaths/1920/644/8 573. Content: A 1920 register of Deaths in the District of St Rollox in the Burgh of Glasgow (entry 573) shows that Maria Stuart, female, age 56 yrs, married to James Stuart, Seaman (merchant service) died on 1920 October Twenty-seventh 1h 30 pm at 9 Broomhill Street, Glasgow. Usual Residence: "Shian" Amulree by Dunkeld. Father Michael Barron, Soldier (deceased). Mother: Alice Barron m.s. Carrol (deceased). Cause of Death: Cardiac failure. Informant: John McCulloch, nephew, 2 Stirling Street, North Glasgow. Registered: 1920 October 28th at Glasgow. [The margin notes a corrected entry Vol 5 page 124, 13th December 1920. I have not seen the corrected entry.]

1939 Marriage Registration for William Thomas Mitchell and Rose Stuart: Citation: FamilySearch: South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1840-1973, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6ZCM-ZXZF : 19 September 2022), William Thomas Mitchell, 1939. Content: A 1939 Marriage Registration from Germiston, Transvaal, South Africa reports a marriage on 04 Feb 1939. Groom: William Thomas Mitchell, age 23, born S Africa, bachelor, fitter and turner, residence: Germiston. Bride: Rose Stuart, age 25, born S Africa, spinster, residence: Germiston. A Presbyterian wedding following banns.

1946 Death Notice for Edith Western Stuart (b 1875): Citation: FamilySearch: South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7TH5-5FT2 : 29 September 2022), Edith Western Stuart, 1946. Content: The probate documents for the estate of Edith Western Stuart who died on 10 June 1946 includes a death notice with the following information: Edith Stuat (born Western). Birthplace: London England. Parents are unnamed but both reported to be deceased. Age: 71 yrs 4 mos. Occupation: Housewife. Residence: 17 Larkspur Road, Primroase, District Germiston. Surviving Spouse: James Stuart, married in community of property. Marriage: Johannesburg. Date of Death: 10 June 1946 at 17 Larkspur Road, Primrose, Germiston. Name of children: Rose Mitchell married in community of property to William Thomas Mitchell. Recorded: Primrose, 13 Jun 1946. Signed: J Stuart, husband of deceased, present at death.

1946 Probate of Estate of Edith Western Stuart (b 1875): Citation: FamilySearch: South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Death, 1869-1954, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7TH5-5FT2 : 29 September 2022), Edith Western Stuart, 1946. Content: The probate documents for the estate of Edith Western Stuart who died on 10 June 1946 includes a mutual will of James Stuart and Edith Stuart in Primrose, Germison [South Africa] with the words "In the event of both our deaths and their (sic) is no other later dated will, we bequeath all of our movable and immovable effects to our daughter Mrs Rose Michell. Signed: at Germiston, this ninth day of March, 1943.

1949 Death Notice for James Stuart (b 1866): Citation: Family Search: South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3W-K3XJ-C?cc=2520237&wc=Q6VB-1MZ%3A1590242997 : 16 December 2016), 007830360 > image 2204 of 2609; Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa. Content: A death notice included with the 1949 probate of the estate of James Stuart names his parents as William Stuart and Isabella Stuart nee Little and his birthplace as Glasgow Scotland. [Ilse of Bute has been struck through.] Age: 82 years 10 mos. Occupation: Rigger. Ordinary place of residence: 26 Homestead, Witwatersrand, dist Germinston. Marital Status: Widower. Spouse: Edith Stuart, nee Western died 10/6/46. Marriage: Johannesburg. Date of Death: 14th April 1949 at 26 Homestead, Witwatersrand, Germiston. Name of Children: William Stuart, Alice Stewart, nee Stuart, Rose Mitchell, nee Stuart married in community of property to William Thomas Mitchell. No movable property. Immovable property. Estate exceeds 300 pounds in value. Left a will. Signed: Germiston, 20th April 1949, W. T. Mitchell, son-in-law, present at death.

1949 Probate of Estate of James Stuart (b 1866): Citation: FamilySearch: South Africa, Transvaal, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1869-1958, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3W-K3XJ-C?cc=2520237&wc=Q6VB-1MZ%3A1590242997 : 16 December 2016), 007830360 > image 2204 of 2609; Pietermaritzburg Archives (formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa. Content: The probate papers for James Stuart (b 1866) filed in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa includes a will dated 27 October 1946 in which he names Rose Mitchell born Stuart as his sole heir and appoints her husband William Thomas Mitchell to be the executor of his estate.

Photo of Gravestone for James' and Edith Stuart: eGGSA Library, Gravestones in South Africa, Gauteng, Germiston, Primrose Cemetery.

James' descendants are in possession of an undated photograph of James with William and Alice Carroll and James' second wife Edith Western. The photo was likely taken about 1910. An unidentified family member has named the people in the photograph (on its obverse) as Stepmother (in reference to Edith), Uncle Bill (in reference to William) and Nana (in reference to Alice Carroll).