James, 5th High Steward, Stewart

December 20, 2013 — James Stewart, Robert the Bruce, Scotland, Steward of Scotland

James Stewart

James Stewart (d 1309), high steward of Scotland, was the son of Alexander, high steward, by Jean, daughter and heiress of James, son of Angus Macrory or Roderick, lord of Bute. He succeeded his father in 1283, and the same year was present in the assembly which acknowledged the maid of Norway as heir to the throne. After the death of Alexander III on 9 March 1286, he was on 11 April chose one of the six guardians of the kingdom under Queen Margaret. The same year he signed the band of Robert Bruce and other nobles for mutual defence. In the war which followed between Balliol and Bruce he took part on the side of Bruce. He attended in 1290 the parliament at Brigham at which a marriage was arranged between Prince Edward of England and the Maid of Norway; but her death in Orkney in October of the same year completely altered the political outlook. Being continued one of the guardians of the kingdom after her death, he agreed with the other guardians to submit the rival claimes of the competitors for the Scottish throne to the arbitration of Edward I of England; but he afterwards joined with the party who resolved at all hazards to break with Edward, and his seal as a baron is appended to the ratification of the treaty with France in 1295. On 7 July 1297 he, however, came to terms with Edward, and, having on 9 July confessd his rebellion and placed himself at Edward’s disposal, he became a guarantor for the loyalty of the Earl of Carrick, until he delivered up his daughter Marjory as hostage. The service he had rendered Edward, in inducing many barons to submit, caused Edward to place considerable confidence in his loyalty; but this confidence was soon belied. On the outbreak shortly afterwards of the rebelion under Wallace, he pretended to side with the English, and before the battle of Stirling was, along with the Earl Of Lennox, sent by Surrey, the English commander, to treat with Wallace; but probably his main purpose was rather to supply Wallace with information than induce him to make submission. At any rate the negotiations failed, and as soon as the tide of battle turned in favour of the Scots he joined in the pursuit. Consequently, on 31 Aug 1298, he was deprived of his lands, which were granted by Edward to Alexander De Lindsay. In 1302 he was, with six other commissioners, sent to Paris to endeavour to secure that the interests of Scotland would be respected in the proposed treaty between England and France, but the mission was unsuccessful. On 17 Feb 1303-4 he had a safe-conduct to go to England to treat of peace; and having submitted himself absolutely to the king’s will in November 1305, he on 23 Oct 1306 subscribed an oath of submission and fealty. Nevertheless he was one of the Scots barons who on 16 March 1309 wrote to Philip, king of France, recognising Bruce’s right to the Scottish throne. He died on 16 July 1309, and was buried at Paisley.

Source:  Dictionary of National Biography (XVIII:1181-1182).

James 5th high steward Stewart (1243 – 1309)
is my 21st great grandfather
Walter the High Steward Stewart (1293 – 1326)
son of James 5th high steward Stewart
Robert II, King of Scotland, Stewart (1316 – 1390)
son of Walter the High Steward Stewart
Robert Scotland Stewart (1337 – 1406)
son of Robert II, King of Scotland, Stewart
James I Scotland Stewart (1394 – 1434)
son of Robert Scotland Stewart
Joan Stewart (1428 – 1486)
daughter of James I Scotland Stewart
John Gordon (1450 – 1517)
son of Joan Stewart
Robert Lord Gordon (1475 – 1525)
son of John Gordon
Catherine Gordon (1497 – 1537)
daughter of Robert Lord Gordon
Lady Elizabeth Ashton (1524 – 1588)
daughter of Catherine Gordon
Capt Roger Dudley (1535 – 1585)
son of Lady Elizabeth Ashton
Gov Thomas Dudley (1576 – 1653)
son of Capt Roger Dudley
Anne Dudley (1612 – 1672)
daughter of Gov Thomas Dudley
John Bradstreet (1652 – 1718)
son of Anne Dudley
Mercy Bradstreet (1689 – 1725)
daughter of John Bradstreet
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of Mercy Bradstreet
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse