Captain Alexander STEWART

From family papers (specifically, written by Carrie Ferris 4 Jan 1961 at 423 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, CA):
Alexander STEWART was born in Scotland early in 1700. He left Scotland during the Irish (Scots?) Rebellion. He went to the north of Ireland and emigrated to Norwich, CT. He was a sea captain; he was called Captain Alex STEWART.

From Stewart Clan Magazine:
Alexander was admitted as an inhabitant of Plainfield, CT in 1728, probably coming from New London. He married Amy SPAULDING in Plainfield (Windham Co.) 18 Apr 1734. Amy (b. 13 Dec 1717 in Chelmsford, MA) was the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (HAYNES) SPAULDING.

Fellow Stewart researcher (and cousin) Bob STEWART uncovered this interesting tidbit. According to some information he came across, Alexander fled Norwich Landing "to preserve his life" at the beginnning of the Revolutionary War because he was "a loyalist and wore the kings red coat." He was apparently not a soldier but a merchant. Another STEWART researcher (Ronald Allen STEWART) clarified that this phrase (wearing the king's red coat) was an expression of the times, meaning the person was overt in their support for the king; as opposed to many who "rode the fence" until actually forced into making any declaration of loyalty. Such as throughout history when 'investors' may patronize an occuping army. With those who "wore the kings red coat" at the outset of America's Revolution there were possibly advantages leading to 'trade commissions' under the Kings warrant (suttlers, hosteliers and the like) whereby the person may have been authorized actual wearing of an 'official red coat' sans military acroutements/rank. More colorful names for these extreme loyalists were in use by the minority of 'radicals and 'traitors' who weren't all that vocal in the earliest days of Revolution, before July 1776! The source of this information was another researcher (online ID mtgloans) who was descended through Alexander's son George. It was in some old notes written out by an aging aunt.

According to Bob, Alexander of this page (of Plainfield and Norwich) is said to be a nephew or cousin of Alexander STEWART of Voluntown.

From Robert STEWART of Bakersfield (RSTEWART@bak.rr.com) of the STEWART rootsweb list: My "burning" question is 'What are the origins of Alexander STEWART of Norwich, CT?'. In the town records of Plainfield, CT, he is shown as being 'admitted an inhabitant' in 1728 and his marriage in 1734 to Ame SPAULDING in 1734. His residence varied between Plainfield and Norwich as evidenced by the birth records of 6 of his possibly 9 children, 2 being born in Becket, MA in the 1750's and one unsubstantiated child. His family divided in about 1800 with most going to New York and one son and his family moving to the Ohio's. Both sides of this migration contain oral history that make Alexander a merchant and/or ship owner and a loyalist in the revolution though at least 2 of his sons were patriots. I look to the list for advice.

Robert believes (and is trying to locate records indicating) Alexander came to New London, CT from Ireland c1718-9 alone, or possibly with his parents "probably named John and Elizabeth STEWART." Carrie Ferris' statement above that Alexander came during the Irish Rebellion probably refers to the 1715-6 first Jacobite uprising in Scotland in support of (Catholic) James Edward (the Old Pretender) STUART (but also involving Ulster Scots living in N Ireland).

The book How the Scots Invented the Modern World (2001) by Arthur Herman provides, among other things, much interesting background information on this conflict. The 1688 "Glorious Revolution" in England saw Dutch Protestant William III of Orange invited to the throne and Catholic James II (STUART) exiled to France. On William's death in 1702, his sister-in-law Anne succeeded the throne (d. 1714). In 1706-7 London pushed through the Act of Union uniting England and Scotland as Great Britain under Queen Anne, angering many strongly nationalist and Protestant Scots simmered against English domination (tho some supported it for primarily economic reasons). By the time Protestant Queen Anne, the last STUART, died without an heir, Parliament (wanting another Protestant on the throne) had arranged (via the 1701 Act of Settlement) for the crown to pass to her German cousin, Elector George of Hanover. A huge (and venal) scramble for power and influence with George ensued.

A major loser was John ERSKINE, the 6th Earl of Mar (who had earlier been a treaty supporter, while the Dukes of Hamilton, Atholl had opposed it), who was pointedly snubbed by the new king (why?). Desperate for money (relying completely on royal favor, like many other aristocrats), he initiated the rebellion in August 1715, declaring he'd changed his mind on the Union and would now fight to undo it and make the Scots "again a free People, and that they should enjoy their ancient liberties" (48). He supported the exiled (Catholic, Old Pretender, son of James II) James Edward STUART as rightful ruler of Scotland and England. "Although Mar was a (assume Presbyterian?) Lowland lord and had no clan to command, (Catholic) Highlanders from the west and east rose up to meet him. GORDONs, FRASERs, CAMPBELLs of Breadalbane and Glenlyon, MACKENZIEs, MACLEANs, and MACDONALDs of Clanranald offered their swords and lives to Mar and the STUART cause" (p. 48). By October, Mar had raised an army of at around 10,000 men, "far larger than the ragtag bunch Prince Charles would assemble during the more famous Jacobite revolt in 1745" (48). James, who hadn't been consulted by Mar, became so confident of Mar's victory that he left exile in France and landed at Peterhead on 22 Dec (he had also come in 1708 with similar hopes), making "plans for his coronation at Scone" (48). Mar's army met the much smaller loyalist army (led by the Duke of Argyll) at Sheriffmuir, beginning on 13 Nov 1715. Strangely, "each army managed to rout a large part of the other" (48) so that there was seemingly no clear winner. Eventually, though, Argyll won by patiently holding his ground, while Mar retreated to Perth to wait for French reinforcements that never came. "As Argyll's forces grew in strength, Mar and James were forced to evacuate Perth. On 3 Feb 1716, James STUART went sadly back into exile in France with the humiliated Mar" (49), thus ending the '15.'

Although the 1745 rebellion is better known, the '15' was far more serious, "deliver[ing] a severe shock to the political class of both England and Scotland. Only the Earl of Mar's hesitations and incompetence had saved the situation. The Fifteen added a new and bitter division within Scotland [in addition to highland Catholics v. lowland Presbyterians, pro- v. anti-union, etc.], between Jacobites and 'Whigs,' or those who supported the Protestant House of Hanover. It also left an air of tension and uncertainty. No one knew just when James the Pretender might come back, and whether the whole political ediface of Great Britain might someday come crashing to the ground" (49).

Herman also notes (39) the term Whiggamore (shortened to Whig) derives from the Scots Whigg, meaning sour milk or whey, the main diet of the poor and indigent in hard times, and had been used earlier (16-7C) as a derogative against lowland Presbyterian Covenanters, thought to be 'lower-class trash.' By Locke's time, it simply meant anyone favoring a Protestant succession.

It seems reasonable to assume that Alexander STEWART left Scotland (via Ireland) for reasons related to this rebellion. Knowing exactly when he left might shed some light on his sympathies in this conflict, i.e. a departure soon after Aug 1715 might indicate lowland, Presbyterian, Whig sympathies and fear of a seemingly imminent Mar victory, whereas a later departure might indicate just the opposite; a highland, Catholic, Jacobite (Tory?) sympathy and fear of Mar's by then apparent defeat. The latter seems more likely given his apparent later royalist position in the American Revolution. Can anyone help me locate a ship record for his passage or any other information about this Alexander STEWART?

Sources: