Person:John Stewart (362)

'In 1826 John and Elizabeth Stewart emigrated to Canada from Dunmanys County Cork Ireland. The next year he bought 100 acres of land from Mr George Hamilton, Lot 26 Concession 5. John Stewart lived until 1831 dying at the age of 51.'

'I visited the Academy Hill cemetery in Haldimand Township and photographed the new plaque that Jack was instrumental in having erected to replace the original weathered inscription.'

The plaque says:
'STEWART
1780 John Stewart 1831
1786 wife Elizabeth 1861
1816 son Benjamin 1861'

'John Stewart (b1780) died December 3rd, 1831 at 51.'

The year his son John immigrated (assumed to be with his parents) is given as 1829.

'William Stewart ... was born in County Cork, Ireland, 1815, and in 1827 came to the New World with his parents, John and Eliza (Willis) Stewart, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of County Cork, Ireland. ... Their children were James, Jane and Elizabeth, all now deceased; Thomas; Mary, deceased; William; Benjamin and Ann, both deceased; and John.'

'I do know through several independent family sources that John Stewart was a merchant in Dunmanway.'

John Stewart (father of William Stewart) 'was a well educated man, and in the old country had followed merchandising, but in [North] America devoted his energies to clearing and improving his land.'

The following memorial was signed by Thomas Stewart (son of John Stewart and one of the executors of his will) 19 Apr 1831 and registered 20 Apr by A.L. Wilcock.
'October 8th, 1830 John Stewart's Will
A memorial to be registered pursuant ... the said John Stewart did give and bequeath unto his wife Elizabeth Stewart all his real estate consisting of lots number twenty-six, twenty-seven and twenty-nine in the fifth concession of the said township of Haldimand; also all his personal property and also all Bills of Exchange, bonds, notes or monies, belonging to him or that shall in any way belong, to her use in support of his family until the youngest son shall come to the age of twenty-one years, then divided as follows: To his eldest son James Stewart the east half of lot number twenty-nine in the fifth township of Haldimand. To his second son Thomas Stewart the east half of lot twenty-seven. ... To his third son William the west half of lot number twenty-seven. ... To his fourth son Benjamin the west have of lot number twenty-nine. ... To his fifth son John the east half of lot number twenty-six. ...
The said John Stewart did also give and bequeath to his wife Elizabeth the west half of lot number twenty-six in the fifth concession of the said township of Haldimand for the use and support of his wife and daughter till the decease of his wife, then to be divided equally among his daughters and also all monies which shall hereafter be paid by the Executors or Administrators of the estate of the late James Atkins of Ireland to be equally divided among his said daughters.
The said John Stewart did also give and bequeath to his brother James Stewart all his right, title and interest to the east half of lot number twenty-eight in the fifth concession of Haldimand to his use during life then to be given to one of his sons, the one that he shall think the most deserving. ...'