Patrick Stewart, 5th of Ledcreich to Cape Fear, North Carolina

“The succession of Stewarts of Ledcreich continued to hold assignment to these lands until 1739 when
Patrick Stewart, 5th of Ledcreich and his wife, Elizabeth Menzies, immigrated from Ledcreich to Cape
Fear, in the North Carolina Colony along with approximately 300 fellow Highlanders. They were the
vanguard of what began as a trickle and grew into a flood of Highland emigrants to what was then
Bladen County, North Carolina, later to be divided into Cumberland, Moore, Robeson, Harnett and
Hoke Counties.

 

The colonists sailed from Scotland in June 1739. On 6 June, the customs office of Campbeltown, Argyll, cleared the Thistle of passengers for "Cape Fear in America." From Campbeltown, she sailed to Gigha to take on additional passengers and join the Charming Moll", cleared at Belfast also to carry part of the colony.

 

Patrick Stuart, 5th 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 died about 1772.

“The Stewarts of Cape Fear, North Carolina”
As previously stated, the earliest families named Stewart who settled in the flat watershed of the Cape
Fear river of North Carolina were Highlanders from Argyleshire and western Perthshire.

"Patrick Stewart sold his lands of Ledcreich in Balquhidder to John Stewart, a younger son of John
Stewart of Aucharn in Argyleshire, and sailed with his wife and young children for American in 1739. He and John k [McLauren] bought Oct. 31, 1739, of Ann Shirley two tracts of land of 300 acres each in Bladen County, North Carolina. Later, on May 21, 1741, he was granted a patent to 600 acres of land on Maple branch, in the same county.

He, "of New Hanover county," sold to John McLauren [J-aa - John McLerran “J” and “K” Families] on
June 16, 1747, his half of the 600-acre tract which together they had bought of Ann Shirley in 1739.
On Sep. 29, 1750, Patrick was granted 200 acres on John Young's path between Six Runs and Goshen
swamp in Sampson [then in Duplin] County. He sold this place to Peter Smith for 20 pounds on Feb. 23, 1754. At that time he was residing on the place, for the deed said that he was "of Duplin County." Patrick evidently moved to Bladen County within the next twelve years, for on Dec. 19, 1766, Pat. Stuart++ and Peter Broades signed as witnesses to a deed from Joseph Clarke to James Stewart of Bladen County, conveying… ”

Written by George Thomas Edson and originally published in various issues of Stewart Clan Magazine from 1927 to 1957

The Primary source for the McLaren clan chief’s ‘duchthus’ at Auchleskine tradition, came from Patrick Stewart in South Carolina in the year 1763. Patrick Stewart dictated his lineage to his son, Charles Stewart on January 18,  1763, it states that his paternal ancestor Duncan Stewart, 3rd of Glenbuckie married the daughter of an Auchleskine McLaren, the chief of the clan McLaren, circa 1512-1540. This information from Patrick Stewart was mailed to George Crawford in Scotland, then published in George Crawford’s “History of Renfrew” and genealogy of the Stuarts in 1782.

Auchleskine, Akleskin, Achadh le sgiathan = "field of the wing / portion". Sgiath also means "shield" and thus may result in "shielded / sheltered field".

Patrick dictated his personal lineage in South Carolina, with the view to correct the errors made by
Crawford in his 1710 lineage of the Stuarts.

“The following genealogy was written by Charles, son of Patrick, Stuart and under his immediate
direction, with a view of correcting some errors which had been committed by Crawford in his history of the Stuart family. This history had been sent by Crawford to Patrick Stuart, then in America, and he,
perceiving the error, wrote to have it corrected, but never received a later edition of the work, and for that reason had his own genealogy made out and placed in his large family Bible, where it remained until the death of Ann, daughter of James, Stuart, son of Patrick. The said Ann was married to Edward Tongee, of Cain Acre, S. C. Edward Tongee died without children, and Ann Stuart his wife, married a Gist, of Union county, in the same State, and died without issue. Upon request this ancient paper was sent to the writer of these sheets, the book from which it was taken remaining with the Gist family.”

Morgan Brown.

Note. The writer knew Patrick Stuart and his writing, and has no doubt that the paper *sent to him was
the original genealogy, and the proper signature of the said Patrick Stuart, whose pedigree it purports to
be, and that it was made with his own hand.12th of March, 1826. Morgan Brown.

Patrick Stewart ex of Ledcriech, Balquhidder’s authentication signature, 1826

" 1st. Patrick Stuart, of Ledcreich, in Balgheider (Balquhidder), in the Southeast district of Perthshire, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter to Doctor Duncan Menzies, and his wife Margaret, daughter to Robert
Menzies (cousin-german to Sir Robert Menzies, of Weem, and grandfather to the present Sir Robert and
William Stuart, brother-german to the said Patrick), came in company with six Argyleshire gentlemen and above three hundred common people from Scotland, to Cape Fear, in North Carolina, in the year 1739.

"The said Patrick was oldest lawful son to Alexander Stuart, of Ledcreich, and Catharine his wife,
daughter to Alexander Stuart, brother to Robert Stuart of Glenogle, predecessor of John Stuart, of
Heindfield and Storrer.

" 2d. Alexander Stuart, of Ledcreich, was only son to Patrick Stuart, of Ledcreich (who suffered much in the reign of the two kings Charles, and James the Seventh),* and to Margaret his wife, daughter to Robert B[uchanan], of Drumlain, cousin-german to the Laird of Lenny.

" 3d. Patrick was son to William Stuart, of Ledcreich and Translarry, by Mary his wife, daughter to
Duncan MacGregor, cousin to Gregor MacGregor of that Ilk, which family is now extinct.

" 4th. William was son of Patrick Stuart, of Glenbucky, by his wife Christian, daughter to Sir John
Drummond, of Niganer.

" 5th. Patrick was oldest lawful son to Alexander Stuart, of Glenbucky, by his wife Stuart, his own second cousin.

Note. This Patrick sold his right and title of Glenbucky to his next brother, Duncan Stuart, second son to the aforesaid Alexander Stuart, and his posterity enjoy the land and title at present.

"6th. Alexander was son to Duncan Stuart, of Glenbucky [born about 1630], by his wife McLarin,
daughter to McLarin of Achleskin, reckoned then to be chief of that name.

" 7th. Duncan was son to John Stuart, first of Glenbucky, by his wife Buchannan, daughter of Buchannan of McCorthe, predecessor to the Lairds of Ampion, Ochlevy, McCorthe and Dealettes.

" 8th. John, first of Glenbucky, was second son of William Stuart, of Baldowran and Balgutheddon, by his lady Campbell, daughter to Sir Colin Campbell, of Glenbucky [and Glenurchy], predecessor to the Earl of Bradalbine.

"9th. William was son to James Stuart, of Baldowran and Balgruidher, by his lady Buckhannon, daughter of Sir Patrick Buckhannon of that Ilk.

" 10th. James-Beg, or Sir James-Beg, as he was promiscuously called, was fourth son to Lord James, only surviving son to Murdoch, Duke of Albany, by his lady, daughter of the Earl of Antrims." Patrick Stuart of Ledcreich, 1826.