User:CGMS

My name is Charles Graham MacLeod-Stuart. My Father was Ian Graham MacLeod-Stuart b 1911 (Ardler) d 1970 (London, UK) My Great Grandfather was Archibald Graham Stuart who was the second minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ardler. Archibald also had a daughter named Ann Bruce who I believe was born in Ardler around 1905. Archibald’s wife was Lorna Bruce Mackenzie, a writer of love stories and several years younger than Archie!

The church eventually moved them to Govan and took over a parish there, where they all lived until Archibald died in 1932. It was quite the funeral and made the front of the newspaper at the time (I have a copy somewhere!)That church is now demolished, as is New Street, where they all once lived in Glasgow.

I first visited Ardler when I was 4 years old back in 1959 and met a Ms.Bella Dargie who I believe was my father’s nanny. It was also the only time I ever met my aunt Anne who was still there, perhaps on a visit? I believe she re-married and moved to Australia. I again visited Ardler about 4 years ago (2001) and saw the old church, the manse and the village. It saddened me to see the church was now a private home and the graves so poorly cared for. I cannot tell you how many stories my late father shared with me about that church, my grandfather’s fiery sermons and the manse which was considered at the time to be quite an amazing home. Mr. Christopher Dingwall kindly sent me a copy of his book about Ardler some years ago, but I was unable to see him when I visited the village where I believe he still lives.

So, if ANYONE remembers my family or knows where the several brothers and sisters of Archibald went to, or know of cousins etc, please let me know.

This has been a long road to search for my family, whose name I carry with great pride. I am now 51 years young and have lived in England, Ireland, the Far East, the Middle East, America and now Canada.

I found and met my half brother’s John Graham MacLeod-Stuart and Hamish Graham MacLeod-Stuart in 1983, just before I left for America. We still write and talk on the phone, but I know there are so many more of us out there!

I have 4 sons, Andrew Robert MacLeod-Stuart, James Alexander MacLeod-Stuart, Robert Adam MacLeod-Stuart and Ryan Ian MacLeod-Stuart. My daughter Louise Ann Pyres (nee: MacLeod-Stuart) married in 2001 and I now have 5 grandchildren Katie Louise, Alex Dean and Jack Andrew MacLeod-Stuart, Bethany Ann MacLeod-Stuart and Eve Louise Stuart. so the name and blood line will carry on, but for them, more than myself, I would like to give them “their history” before I move on!

UPDATE

One of our original family homes was known as High Park, in Kintyre, Argyll which is now the property of Sir James Paul McCartney. He purchased the house and land from the Brown family in 1968.

Like most, I hit the proverbial “brick wall” with my research having gone back to 1680 and my last known relative John Stewart. (ref:Commons of Argyll 1685-1692 p.3 List of Rebels) and contacted the Stewart Society in Edinburgh (see: www.stewartsociety.com)for some additional advice and possible direction. From information I received, I took part in a yDNA test (see: www.FTDNA.com) to see if any additional information could be derived and after posting my initial 37 marker test results, I received two responses from England.

The first contact was from a doctor, who claims that my yDNA markers matched those of the Duke of St Albans, the Duke of Richmond and Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.

When I checked these possible connections, I discovered that these gentlemen were descendants from the illegitimate children of King Charles II.

The second call and probably the most interesting of all, came from an author who in partnership with another member of the British aristocracy, has written a number of books concerning the offspring of the Scottish and British monarchy. He inform me that my yDNA had matched a male line who directly descend from the late Duke of Monmouth. Monmouth was yet another line of illegitimate children from King Charles II. This I felt was enough proof for me to continue my own research.

What has both the doctor and the author “bemused”, is that I am from a direct line of Stuart/Stewart’s and both believe that I descend from a lesser brother, of either the Darnley Stuarts, or the Stewarts of Glentully and Rais all of whom claim their lineage from King Robert II.

IF you know something or someone that may be able to help me, I would be eternally grateful!

Yours aye,

Charles.

E-mail replycs@yahoo.ca UPDATED July, 2009