Probable kinship between the Traills of New Hampshire and Boston and Charles Stewart of Norfolk County, Virginia

[Johnny Brananas]

Tyler's _Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography_ traces the family of Stewart of Norfolk, Virginia, whose "revolutionary ancestor was Charles Stewart, born about 1730 ... [had Revolutionary service] ... died in February, 1801."

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Virginia_Biography/2PIsnKun_mUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22ence+for+those+of+his+ancestors+who%22&pg=PA265&printsec=frontcover

Most of his children mention in this sketch were born in 1780 or later, which makes us wonder if there could have been two Charles Stewarts in succession, rather than one born ca. 1730, and died 1801.

This Charles Stewart, or the elder one at least, is given an entry in Wikipedia as an actor in the Somersett Case which ended slavery in Great Britain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_(customs_official)

The Wikipedia sketch implies Charles Stewart was in America, probably at Norfolk, Va, in 1749.

The Ezekiel Goldthwaite notarial records from Massachusetts mention Charles Stewart of Norfolk in 1749 as a nephew of John Traill, deceased, merchant of Boston:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044100184233&view=1up&seq=281&skin=2021&q1=crailia

He is acting with his brother James Stewart of Edinburgh, writer, sister Cecilia Stewart of Edinburgh, spinster, and Isobel Traill (apparently an aunt, sister to the siblings' mother Marjorie Traill).

The previous entry in the Goldthwaite records gives fuller information on the family grouping:

"Mrs Marjory Traill Daughter to the said William Traill and Barbara Balfour was married to Charles Stewart, Steward Clerk of Bukney [? poss. Orkney] who are both now deceased and left Issue. James the eldest writer in Edinburgh, the second [son, unnamed] merchant in Virginia and Mrs Crailia [sic; Cecilia] Stewart Spinster at Edinburgh yet on life ..."

John Traill, merchant of Boston, was another son of William Traill and Barbara Balfour, according to _Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants_, which mainly traces the descendants of another immigrating nephew, Robert Traill of New Hampshire, ancestor of the famous Traill- Spence- Lowells of New England.

I noticed the baptismal record for the sister Cecilia:

Name Cicillia Stewart
Sex Female
Christening Date Sep 1721
Christening Place Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
Christening Place (Original) Kirkwall and St Ola, Orkney, Scotland
Father's Name Charles Stewart
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Merjory Traill

and for Charles Stewart himself:

Name Charles Stewart
Sex Male
Christening Date 26 May 1725
Christening Place Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
Christening Place (Original) Kirkwall and St Ola, Orkney, Scotland
Father's Name Charles Stewart
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Marjorie Traill

John Traill of Boston shared the same RD as his nephew Robert Traill of New Hampshire (from King James V via Lord Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney, and the illegitimate Stewarts of Graemsay).

[Johnny Brananas]

B.H. Hossack, _Kirkwall in the Orkneys_ (Kirkwall, 1900), p. 314:

"Mr. Ker and his spouse, Elizabeth Ker, disponed their house to Charles Stewart, Stewart-Clerk. This gentleman had for a time lived in the house built by William Orem, next Bishop Reid's Tower, liferented to Jean Black, Orem's widow, whom Charles Stewart had married, 1704. Now that he comes to occupy Mr. Ker's manse, he brings his wife, Marjorie Traill, daughter of William Traill of Westness, married 25th April 1715. On her death, "Clerk Stewart" married Sibilla, youngest daughter of William Mackenzie, Commissary of Orkney, 13th February 1731. Poor man, he did not long enjoy the companionship of the third Mrs. Stewart, for in three weeks from the marriage he left her a widow, liferented in the house to which he had so lately brought her as a bride."

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044081266371&view=1up&seq=356&skin=2021&q1=%22poor%20man%22

[Johnny Brananas]

Oops, the theory given in the first posting seems to be quite wrong:

"CHARLES STEUART was younger son of Charles Steuart, Stewart Clerk of Orkney (d. 1731) by his second wife Marjorie, daughter of William Traill of Westness, and his wife Barbara Balfour of Pharay. He was born at Kirkwall in 1725, and early went out to America and the West Indies, and at last became Surveyor-General of Customs in British North America, a high position before the War of Independence. He died unmarried at Edinburgh, 27th November, 1797, when a very laudatory obituary appeared in the _Gentleman's Magazine_."

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b757113&view=1up&seq=61&skin=2021&q1=%22and%20his%20wife%20barbara%20balfour%22

Scanning through, I see he does make some mentions of America and at least one reference to Boston.

Oddly the same volume of _Old Lore Miscellany ..._ has another piece quoting a letter from Charles' brother, James Stewart, writer, of Edinburgh, which mentions Charles, Boston, and Uncle Traill.

"[April 1748, to Andrew Young]. Some days ago I had a long Epistle from my Brother with the enclosed letter for you. He has been lately at Boston negotiating bussines for your Uncle and returns there again very soon in order to join in Trade with his Uncle Mr. Traill who requested it and promises him a stock with the half profits of his Bussines."

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b757113&view=1up&seq=177&skin=2021&q1=%22boston%20negotiating%22

Could the Charles who died at Norfolk in 1801, leaving descendants, be an illegitimate son of one of these brothers? Also, who was the uncle of Andrew Young who was at Boston in 1748?

[Johnny Brananas]

"Isobel [Traill] now [1750] at Boston," a daughter of William Traill and Isobel Fea, and sister of Robert Traill of Spence- Lowell fame, may be the "Isabella Trayle" who married in Feb. 1754 in Boston to William Thomas (marriage intentions) ...

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Records_Relating_to_the_Early_History_of/8oA1AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1754+%22william+thomas%22+boston&pg=PA10&printsec=frontcover

The actual marriage record from March 1754 (Trinity Church, Boston) gives her surname as "Trail" not "Trayle."

https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/1104