Biography of DW Stewart, author of 'Old and Rare Scottish Tartans' (1893)

[ThistleDown]

I'm sorry, David. I have a first edition of DW Stewart's 'Old and Rare..." but have little or no biographical information on him. You have, however, stirred a research interest and, if this develops anything, I'll certainly let you know in this thread or by PM. Perhaps figheadair can contribute regarding the writings of all these various tartan-interested Stewarts, but I think you might just be back to pure genealogical searching and discovery. Best wishes to you -- please keep us abreast of your efforts.

[figheadair]

I'm sorry, David. I have a first edition of DW Stewart's 'Old and Rare..." but have little or no biographical information on him. You have, however, stirred a research interest and, if this develops anything, I'll certainly let you know in this thread or by PM. Perhaps figheadair can contribute regarding the writings of all these various tartan-interested Stewarts, but I think you might just be back to pure genealogical searching and discovery. Best wishes to you -- please keep us abreast of your efforts.

David and I have been corresponding on this via the STA. As I said through that forum, I'm not aware of 'DW' having moved to Australia but then again, there seems to be little information available about him.

As an aside, I did have the pleasure of meeting his son 'DC', he of the Setts of the Scottish Tartans, in my youth.

[Stewart of Galloway]

Thanks Peter, I just dropped you a line per email.
What a terrific thing to meet DC Stewart. I wonder if he kept in contact with his father?
Cheers!

David and I have been corresponding on this via the STA. As I said through that forum, I'm not aware of 'DW' having moved to Australia but then again, there seems to be little information available about him.

As an aside, I did have the pleasure of meeting his son 'DC', he of the Setts of the Scottish Tartans, in my youth.

[neloon]

Since David Stuart of Garth was mentioned, you might be interested in these transcriptions of his letters. They are very revealing of life in Scotland in the early 1800s.
http://jamesirvinerobertson.co.uk/Da...espondence.pdf

Alan

[Stewart of Galloway]

Sorry I haven't posted to this thread for a wee while.
I feel 99% certain that I read the biography of D.W.Stewart (author of 'Old and Rare Tartans' 1893) on the STA website and feel sure that I will be able to reaccess that original article soon enough.
What really struck me, when I read that article about either DW or his famous son DC Stewart, was that the author stated that Donald William Stewart migrated to Australia after his life went a bit sideways in Scotland.
So as an Australian I of course thought "Maybe I can track the man down in records here".
I found this website (below) and I feel that this DW Stewart could well be our man.
There were only two other DW Stewart's registered as having graves here and both were too young to have written Old and Rare.
So now I am going to attempt to dig up more info on this gentleman.
Given that Western Australia was our very own Wild West I need some luck
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...illiam-stewart

[figheadair]

Sorry I haven't posted to this thread for a wee while.
I feel 99% certain that I read the biography of D.W.Stewart (author of 'Old and Rare Tartans' 1893) on the STA website and feel sure that I will be able to reaccess that original article soon enough.
What really struck me, when I read that article about either DW or his famous son DC Stewart, was that the author stated that Donald William Stewart migrated to Australia after his life went a bit sideways in Scotland.
So as an Australian I of course thought "Maybe I can track the man down in records here".
I found this website (below) and I feel that this DW Stewart could well be our man.
There were only two other DW Stewart's registered as having graves here and both were too young to have written Old and Rare.
So now I am going to attempt to dig up more info on this gentleman.
Given that Western Australia was our very own Wild West I need some luck
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...illiam-stewart

Dave, it would be fantastic if you could close the circle on DW. That would be one more piece of the jig-saw sorted.

[Stewart of Galloway]

It's an interesting mystery and getting more interesting Peter!
see below my reply to Bruce Scott.
I dont know if it would help much but if you had someone there who could access your websites main files on the server ( the back end of the website) the article I am after might just be named 'stewart' or 'dwstewart' .html or .xhtml or something of that nature.
Might be a clue there. All I recall is that DW's business failed and I think he broke up with his wife and left the family and went to Australia. Looks like he might have had a son here! Could be totally wrong but...
Cheers!

Dave, it would be fantastic if you could close the circle on DW. That would be one more piece of the jig-saw sorted.

[Bruce Scott]

Sorry I haven't posted to this thread for a wee while.
I feel 99% certain that I read the biography of D.W.Stewart (author of 'Old and Rare Tartans' 1893) on the STA website and feel sure that I will be able to reaccess that original article soon enough.
What really struck me, when I read that article about either DW or his famous son DC Stewart, was that the author stated that Donald William Stewart migrated to Australia after his life went a bit sideways in Scotland.
So as an Australian I of course thought "Maybe I can track the man down in records here".
I found this website (below) and I feel that this DW Stewart could well be our man.
There were only two other DW Stewart's registered as having graves here and both were too young to have written Old and Rare.
So now I am going to attempt to dig up more info on this gentleman.
Given that Western Australia was our very own Wild West I need some luck
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...illiam-stewart

The entry on this site for Donald William Stewart includes his age, which was 35 years: http://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com....?record_id=884

[Stewart of Galloway]

Well spotted and great find Bruce. So Donald William couldnt be our man as he was too young however the Donald Stewart (61 yrs) on the line above appears to be buried in the plot right beside him! (Grave No 933 and 932). Father and son perhaps?
This Donald would have been early 40's when Old and Rare was published and maybe (just maybe) the poor lad buried beside him was his lad born in W.A? The father dying two years later sounds like death by broken heart to me.
Tough life there back then.
All conjecture.

The entry on this site for Donald William Stewart includes his age, which was 35 years: http://www.outbackfamilyhistory.com....?record_id=884