James Stewart and Margaret McCowan
Husband James Stewart 1 2
AKA: John Stewart 3 Born: 25 Apr 1754 - Dauphin Co, PA 1 2 Christened: Died: 21 Jul 1821 - ? Allegheny Co, PA 1 Buried: - Raccoon Cemetery
Father: John Stewart ( -1777) 2 Mother: Janet [Unk] ( -1797) 2
Marriage: 25 Aug 1779 - Dauphin Co, PA 1 2
Wife Margaret McCowan 4
AKA: Margaret McCowen,1 Margaret McCune 5 Born: 19 Feb 1759 - Dauphin Co, PA 1 4 Christened: Died: 5 Jul 1816 1 Buried: - Raccoon Cemetery
Father: John McCowan ( -1789) 4 Mother: Eleanor [Unk] ( -1816) 4
Children
1 M John Stewart 1 6 7 8
Born: 4 Jun 1780 - ? Dauphin Co, PA 8 9 10 Christened: Died: 9 Jan 1843 or 1846 - Allegheny Co, PA 10 11 Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth Glass (Abt 1789-1869) 8 10 12 Marr: 15 Mar 1808 8
2 F Jane Stewart 6 10 13
Born: 19 Jun 1782 13 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Matthew McCoy ( - ) 10 13 Marr: 16 Mar 1808 13
3 F Eleanor Stewart 10 15
AKA: Ellen Stewart 6 14 Born: 19 Sep 1784 - ? Washington Co, PA 15 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: James Simpson ( -1839) 15 16 Marr: 5 Oct 1813 15
4 M James Stewart 1 6 17
Born: 1 Jan 1787 - Findlay Twp, Allegheny Co, PA 17 Christened: Died: 10 Oct 1872 17 Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth Dickson ( -1815) 1 17 Marr: 15 Aug 1811 17Spouse: Isabella Gladden (1792-1857) 1 17 Marr: 9 May 1816 17
5 F Margaret "Peggie" Stewart 5 6 10
Born: 15 Jan 1789 - Findlay Twp, Allegheny Co, PA 18 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Josiah Guy (1786/1786-1873) 5 10 18 Marr: 17 Mar 1814 5 18
6 F Mary "Polly" Stewart 6 10
Born: 15 Mar 1791 19 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: James Moore ( - ) 10 19 Marr: 4 Jun 1816 19
7 M Joseph Patterson Stewart 3 6 10 20
Born: 15 Feb 1795 - Allegheny Co, PA 3 20 Christened: Died: 21 Feb 1864 3 Buried:Spouse: Mary Ewing (1798-1864) 10 20 21 Marr: 8 Jan 1819 - Allegheny Co, PA 20
8 F Anne Stewart 6 10 22 23
Born: 27 Feb 1795 23 Christened: Died: 11 Feb 1858 22 23 Buried:Spouse: William Guy (1795-1874) 10 22 23 Marr: 21 Oct 1817 23
9 M Richard Stewart 1 6 24
Born: 14 Aug 1797 24 Christened: Died: 2 Jan 1860 6 Buried:Spouse: Mary Stuart (1799-1872) 25 Marr: 12 Apr 1821 6 24
10 M Thomas Stewart 6 10 26
Born: 23 May 1799 26 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Isabella Brown ( -1824) 10 Marr: 11 Apr 1822 26Spouse: Eleanor Cherry (1805-1872) 26 27 Marr: 20 Jan 1825 26 28
11 F Sarah A. Stewart 10 29 30
Born: 11 Apr 1801 30 Christened: Died: - Greene Twp, Beaver Co, PA Buried:Spouse: Henry Cowan ( - ) 10 30 31 Marr: 19 Sep 1822 30
General Notes: Husband - James Stewart
The record reads: "Removed from Dauphin County to Washington County, Pennsylvania." No specific date of their removal is given, but tradition says they had two children at the time; consequently it must have been about 1783.
They located on land bordering on Potato Garden Run. It was known as the "Leeom" tract, and adjoining the "Hopewell" tract, which later became the property of the Burnses. The title from the Commonwealth for this tract bears date December 31, 1774, and contained 400 acres. But it is asserted by some, that he at one time owned 800 acres located on both sides of Potato Garden Run; and later sold 400 acres located on the west side of the run, for the same price he paid for it, which was one dollar per acre. But when we compare this price with that paid for other lands, we must conclude that this transaction occurred a good many years after they settled there. Be that as it may, their first cabin was located on the farm later owned by George Miller, commonly known as the Thomas Stewart farm. Their nearest neighbors lived some two miles distant. This farm being located in Findlay Township, Allegheny County, leads to some confusion as to their locating in Washington County. But Allegheny County had not yet been formed when they came to that section.
From the best evidence obtainable it would seem that James Stewart came to that section, made his location, and built his cabin soon after procuring the land. A comparison of dates shows that something like nine years elapsed between the date of his title (1774) and the time he moved his family here, (1783). Some have wondered at this delay in coming. But we are constrained to believe that the fearful depredations of the Indians had much to do with this delay; and by the time they came these hostilities had to some extent abated. But in better answer to this it might be well to take a glance at the conditions as they then existed in western Pennsylvania. Near the close of 1781 the independence of the United States had been sealed. The winter of 1782-83 had been spent in comparative quiet by the settlement; the Indians being convinced by this time that the cause of the British, who had instigated and supported them, was hopelessly lost. And the conclusion of the war with Great Britain gave new impulse to the settlements, and weakened the confidence of the Indians, and a new era may be said to have dawned upon western Pennsylvania, so long accustomed to the alarms of war. But, notwithstanding this, the Indians were still loath to permit their vast hunting grounds to become the farms of their enemies, and they continued to pay them unfriendly visits, sparing neither age nor sex, while the torch laid waste the rude homes of the frontiersmen. From this brief statement we can get but a slight glimpse of the hardships which confronted the "initial subjects" of this history.
We have no positive date as to their method of transportation, but tradition hands down the statement that some of their newly made neighbors remarked, "They mau be risch, they come in a wauggon." And again it is said that on their arrival there was no door in the cabin, and they lived in their wagon until an opening was sawed in the logs, and a door placed in the opening. The most common method of transportation at that age in that part of the state was by pack horses; and not until 1789 was the first load of merchandise brought over the mountains by wagon. The wagoner was John Hayden, who drove four horses and was nearly a month in making the trip. But it is quite possible that some of the emigrants used a wagon before any attempt was made to transport merchandise.
After the family were installed in their new home, the father began clearing the land, and in due time corn and potatoes were planted; and later wheat was sown; but when the wheat crop had grown and was reduced to flour and made into cakes it proved to be unfit for use, and they dubbed it "sick wheat" because after eating of its product, not only the family, but even the dog became sick. Some have claimed that the nature and condition of the soil had much to do with this unnatural quality of the crop. For a time the greater part of their supplies had to be brought from east of the mountains; and not infrequently they had to resort to herbs and wild fruits for subsistence.
On one occasion the father returned East for supplies and was detained longer than was expected. The scant supplies of the home became exhausted to the extent that the mother was obliged to "beat the sack" to secure sufficient flour to appease the hunger of the children. The sacks used in those days were made of tow. Their dimensions were sufficient to hold at least three bushels of grain, and their texture was such as would retain considerable quantities of flour after being emptied. By "beating the sack," as the saying went, sometimes quite a quantity of flour was secured.
Soon after they had settled in their humble home it so happened that the father was absent at milking time. The forest was their only pasture, and the cows, being supplied with bells, were at large in the great forest. The mother left her two children in the cabin and proceeded to hunt the cows. The luring toll of the bells led her on and on through the forest and finally she located them at or near where Hopewell church afterward stood, possibly three miles distant from their cabin. Think of the mother's solicitude for her children, left in a cabin not oversecure against the depredations of the wild animals with which the forests were infested at that time.
On December 31, 1784, James Stewart secured a warrant for another tract of land. The patent for this was long in existence, and in an excellent state of preservation. It was written on sheepskin parchment, and the penmanship was of a high order. It was issued from "The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;" and dated June 7, 1786, the tenth year of the Commonwealth. It conveys "a tract of land called 'Juan' located on Montour's Run, Robeson Township, Washington County," "containing Four Hundred Acres, and six percent allowance for roads." The consideration was One Pound, Five Shillings, and six pence. It was signed by Hon. Charles Biddle, Vice President of Supreme Executive Council, and bears the seal of the State of Pennsylvania; and was recorded in Patent Book No. 4, page 533.
This pioneer couple being Scotch-Irish, they were naturally allied to the Presbyterian faith. Churches were few and far between in those days. From the best authority obtainable they were members at Raccoon. From the history of that congregation we learn that he, among a number of others, signed a call for the Rev. Joseph Patterson, the first stated pastor the congregation ever had. This call was dated April 9, 1789, and was made in conjunction with Montours Church. But during this pastorate of more than 27 years there is no record of the officers or members of this congregation. However, it is asserted on good authority that James Stewart was a member of session. The last resting place of the pioneer couple was in the cemetery at Raccoon. There is no positive proof as to the time of their deaths, but those most intimate with them assert that he died in 1826 and his wife in 1844. The stones that mark their graves, being sand-stones, long ago crumbled, and the names and dates were obliterated.
He and his wife settled near Clinton, in Findlay township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, their nearest neighbors at the time being to the north, seven miles distant, to the south, four and one-half miles. He took up a large tract of land, where he passed the remainder of his days.
He settled on Potato Garden run, Findlay township, at an early date.
He came to Fort Pitt, where he was offered land at ten shillings per acre, but refused the offer and bought land near Clinton, Pennsylvania.
His widow died in 1842, aged 84 years (hence born about 1758) [HBC 1888, 893]
1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 554.
2 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 1.
3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 385.
4 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 2.
5 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 432.
6 —, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Chicago: A. Warner & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 893.
7 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 433, 502.
8 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 5.
9 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 433.
10 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 557.
11 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 6.
12 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 502.
13 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 16.
14 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 1099.
15 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 17.
16 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 557, 1099.
17 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 20.
18 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 25.
19 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 41.
20 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 48.
21 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 386.
22 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (SW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 295.
23 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 42.
24 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 54.
25 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 55.
26 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 63.
27 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 557, 723.
28 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 723.
29 —, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Chicago: A. Warner & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 839, 893.
30 J. S. Burns, Biographical and Chronological History of the Stewart Family of Western Pennsylvania 1754-1912 (No publication data available), Pg 65.
31
—, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Chicago: A. Warner & Co., Publishers, 1888), Pg 839.
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