Person:Patrick Stewart (3)

Personal History

In 1739, Patrick left Scotland and arrived in North Carolina at Wilmington.^[1] On 26 February 1739/40 a petition to the general assembly of the House of Burgesses, held at Newburn, North Carolina, was read on behalf of about 350 people from Scotland who arrived in September 1739. The House resolved to provide them freedom “from payment of any Publick or County tax for Ten years next ensueing their arrival.”^[2]

Patrick and his family first resided at Brown's Marsh, Bladen co., North Carolina, and about 1766–7 they removed to Cheraw district, South Carolina.^[1]

Death and Probate

In his will dated 8 May 1772,^[3][5] Patrick Stewart of St. David's parish, Craven Co., South Carolina, planter, bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth Stewart £150 in lawful South Carolina currency, or £40 annually in Proclamation money, and for her lifetime the use of his books, household furniture, livestock, and two young negro slaves. He then bequeathed to his son James Stewart, if he should return to the parish to reside therein and marry, five negro slaves with the requirement that he pay Elizabeth's legacy. Otherwise, his three daughters would receive the slaves and pay the legacy; three slaves were bequeathed to Catharine Little (husband not mentioned), one slave was bequeathed to Margaret Carraway, wife of John Carraway, and one slave was bequeathed to Elizabeth Stewart, wife of James Stewart. He also separately bequeathed to his son James one negro man slave. Upon his wife Elizabeth's death, all of the books, household furniture, and livestock for her use were to be given to James, and the two slaves would be given one each to Catharine and grandson Charles Stewart Carraway. Finally, he bequeathed the residue of his estate to James. His daughter Catharine Little and friend Alexander Gordon Esq. were appointed his executors.

On 6 January 1774, in the Court of Ordinary, a dedimus was issued to Claudius Pegues Esq. to prove the last will and testament of Patrick Stewart, deceased, and qualify the executors therein named.^[6] An inventory of the estate was taken on 23 March, with the estate valued at £2948-18-9, including eight slaves valued £2775.^[4]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} “Some Stories of Colonial Families: Stuart of South Carolina”, in Browning, Charles H. (ed.). The American Historical Register and Monthly Gazette of the Patriotic-Hereditary Societies of the United States of America. (Philadelphia: The Historical Register Publishing Company)
   vol 1 (Jan. 1895), pp 441–445.

   From the pedigree purportedly written by Patrick Stuart himself, Patrick “came in company with six Argylshire gentlemen and above three hundred common people from Scotland, to Cape Fear, in North Carolina, in the year 1739.”
   
   “Patrick Stuart, Laird of Ledcreich, was a staunch supporter of Prince Charles Edward, and when the Prince failed to establish himself on the throne of England and was banished, the Laird of Ledcreich became disaffected, and, finding life in Scotland a burden, sold his estates to a younger brother and, with his wife and several children and his brother William, left Scotland forever, and sailed for Cape Fear, N. C., in 1739. They landed at Wilmington, and first resided at Brown's Marsh, Bladen county, N. C., and about 1766–67 Patrick removed to near Cheraws, S. C., where he d. about 1772.”

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Saunders, William L; Walter Clark; and Stephen Beauregard Weeks. The Colonial records of North Carolina published ... by order of the General Assembly. (Raleigh, North Carolina: Nash Brothers, 1886-1914 (Goldsboro, N.C. : P.M. Hale, Printer to the State))
   vol 4, pp 489–490, 1886 edition.

   (https://archive.org/details/colonialrecordso04nort/page/489 : accessed 27 Sept. 2019)
   
   The record begins:
   
   “The Petition of Dugald McNeal and Col: McAlister in behalf of themselves and several other Scotch Gentlemen and several poor people brought into this Province.
   
   “Setting forth that they arrived into this Province in the month of September, with about three hundred and fifty people from Scotland to settle in this Province.
   
   “And if proper encouragement be given them, that they'l invite the rest of their friends & acquaintances over.
   
   “And prays for such encouragement as they think proper.”

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} South Carolina. Probate Court (Charleston County). South Carolina wills and related probate matters, land and property records, public records, some marriage contracts, 1671–1868. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958–1959)
   FHL 23461 [item 2] (Record of Wills, 1774–1779), pp 48–49.

   Digital image in DGS 7648977, image 307 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PY-4Z1M : accessed 27 Sept. 2018).
   
   The will of “Patrick Stewart of Saint Davids Parish in Craven County in the Province of South Carolina, planter,” dated 8 May 1772; exor. daughter Catharine Little, friend Alexander Gordon Esq; wit. Charles Bedingfeild, William Godfrey, William Pegues.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Charleston County (South Carolina). Probate Judge. Charleston District, South Carolina estate inventories, 1732-1844. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1959)
   FHL 194636 [item 2] (Inventories, 1772–1776), p 337.

   Digital image in South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732–1964, DGS 4754683, image 512 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-V39L-MQ : accessed 27 Sept. 2018).
   
   Inventory of Patrick Stuart late of St. David's Parish deceased, exix. M^rs Catharⁿ Little, £2948-18-9, taken and appraised 23 March 1774, by Sam^l Wise, W^m Godfrey, Fran^s Gillespie.

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Charleston County (South Carolina). Probate Judge. Wills and miscellaneous probate records, 1671–1868. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952)
   FHL 23476 [item 3] (Wills, vol 16 [1774–1779]), pp 78–81; Charleston County will transcripts by South Carolina CWA, original recorded in Will Book 1774–1779, p 48.

   Digital images in DGS 4753752, images 800–803 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-N43P-Q : accessed 23 Aug. 2019).

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Charleston County (South Carolina). Probate Judge. Wills and miscellaneous probate records, 1671–1868. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1952)
   FHL 194663 (Inventories, vol 95 [1771–1775]), p 138; Charleston County inventories transcripts by WPA, from page 154 of original record.

   Digital image in DGS 4753890, image 208 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JXVD-4 : accessed 27 Sept. 2018).
   
   “Dedimus issued to Claudius Pegues Esq^r to prove the last Will & testament of Patrick Stewart dec^d & qualify the Exors therein named Jan^y 6. 1774”

7.   North Carolina. Secretary of State. Land Grant Record Books, 1693–1960. (Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1965–6)
   grant to Patrick Stewart of 320 acres, recorded in vol 8, pp 66–7 (file no. 619), and vol 9, p 343 (file no. 888), dated 4 June 1740.

   Records with images from microfilm # S.108.160-2, frame 519 (http://www.nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.33.621 : accessed 6 Oct. 2019) and frame 827 (http://www.nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.33.892 : accessed 6 Oct. 2019). The latter frame appears to be the older entry.
   
   From frame 827 [or frame 519]: “… given unto Patrick Stewart three hundred and twenty Acres of Land lying in Bladen County on the S^o: W: side of the NW: Branch of Cape Fear river beginning at a hickery on the river Bank being the lower corner of M^r. Duncan Campbel's Land about two miles and a half above the great falls running S^o: 170^d: [or 70] W: 41½ ch[ain] to a Stake then S^o: 20 E 56¾ ch to a Stake then N^o: 70 E 71½ ch to a maple then to the beginning …”