Thomas Stewart
ID # 5354, (1808-1890)
| Birth | Thomas Stewart was born in 1808 at Scotland. |
| Marriage | He married Hannah Smith. |
| Death | He died on 24 October 1890 at South Dumfries, Brant Co, Ontario. |
| Burial | He was buried at Glen Morris Cemetery, South Dumfries, Brant Co.. |
| Note | Available evidence seems to indicate that the church at Glen Morris was not established until 1853. Whether this was simply the congregation or physical church is unknown, but records for the Glen Morris Presbyterian church are to be found from 1853. The Glen Morris area of old Dumfries Township is rather south of Galt, but in fair weather was probably not an unreasonable distant to travel by horse and buggy from the Stewart family's residence to Galt. Certainly, baptism evidence found in First Church records indicate that the family attended. Rev. Strang did not begin his baptism book until July of 1833. Son Andrew, born in 1830, and daughter Hannah, born in 1832, are not recorded in the book, but the rest of the children are recorded there. (See United Church of Canada Archives microfilm LCM-30.) It's a guess, but Andrew and Hannah were likely baptized there as well, but these baptisms would surely have occurred before the book was begun. A Thomas Stewart appears in the 1832 census of Dumfries Township east of the Grand River. The concession number is faint, but the property appears to be lot 14 on the 5th concession. If correct, this would later have been in South Dumfries Township, Brant County. Concession 5, lot 14 on the 1832 census may be correct, but the digital library at McGill University county map project shows a map of South Dumfries from an 1875 atlas. This places Charles Stewart, Thomas' son on lot 16 of the 5th with 100 acres. The 1851 census, enumerated in South Dumfries in January of 1852, shows Thomas and Hannah Stewart, both born Scotland, with quite a large family. Their religious affiliation isn't entirely legible, but doesn't appear to be Presbyterian. The 1851 agricultural portion of this census shows Thomas on lot 16 of the 5th concession. (The 1851 census shows them with nine children. It's entirely possible that there were more and that one or two of them are already away from home.) The 1861 census still shows them in South Dumfries and does record them as being of the Church of Scotland. The Brant County branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society printed a booklet (undated) for baptisms, deaths, marriages and the communion rolls for the Glen Morris United Church. At the time Thomas and Hannah affiliated themselves with this church, from at least 29th November, 1876, this was a Presbyterian church. It's evident that by this date at least two or three of their children were also affiliated with the church. (Though Glen Morris is in South Dumfries, it is not so very far south of the town of Galt - now a part of Cambridge - on the Grand River.) The church records the death of Thomas Stewart on 24 October, 1890. Mrs. Thomas Stewart is recorded on the 1894 communion roll, but simply records that she died without providing the date. Death reg. 001319-90 South Dumfries, Brant Co. Thomas Stewart died 24th October, 1890. Age 82. Farmer. Born Scotland. Presbyterian. Physician Dr. Wardlaw. Informant Charles Stewart, farmer, South Dumfries. Dr. Wardlaw was a Galt doctor. Thomas and Hannah are buried in the Glen Morris church's cemetery. The Brant County branch of the OGS provides a transcription of this cemetery and the inscription on their gravestone reads: Hannah Smith wife of Thomas Stewart died Dec. 12, 1894 aged 85y's. Thomas Stewart died Oct. 24, 1890 aged 82y's 6 m's 25 d's. |
Children of Thomas Stewart and Hannah Smith |
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| Last Edited | 29 Jul 2019 |