Allan McNab Stewart, a Lieutenant in No 5 Company 13th Battalion V.M.I was interred with military honours and this monument erected by his 'brother officers'. He enlisted around 1864 and though made it through the Fenian Raids of 1866, he was the first officer who died in connection with this Battalion in 1872, though I could not find out how or where this happened. The son of Alexander and Anna Maria, he came from a line of Stewarts that could trace their line back to James Stewart and Robert the Bruce. However, neither he nor his two brothers ever married or had children so the line ended with his generation. His mother was the younger sister of Allan Napier MacNab who was to become the Prime Minister of the Province of Canada (and who built Dundurn Castle which has been featured in this blog several times).
for a
Taphophile Tragics in Hamilton Cemetery
12 comments:
Quite a history here. Thanks for doing the research. Very interesting.
An intriguing life! What fascinates me too is how the cross dominates the whole grave and the horizontal element of the cross nearly bisects the vertical line 50:50 rather than being sited closer to one end.( Hope that makes sense!)
I have seen this one, but did not know any of this history. I figured he might be related to Allan Napier MacNab (and notice how the spelling changes from Mc to Mac. I have seen that far too often on gravestones. It is very frustrating!)
So sad that the family line ended with them. Great post.
yes, it does make sense. and I hadn't really though about that until you pointed it out. it was a challenge to get to the cemetery to get a good photo without too much shadow!
Interesting story and an unusual monument, never seen a cross like this before. The shadows must have been a challenge, it is almost a sundial!
i like his grave. the cross like that is indeed special...
Yep, I like that cross too. I also like the depth to which the writing has been carved. That should last quite a while. I did not know about any Fenian Raids in 1866, so gather them to be internal to Canada. In a cemetery close to me there is a massive memorial to a bunch of Irish revolutionaries. Must spotlight it when I can.
Will look up VMI
not Vendor Managed Inventory or
Virtual Medical Imaging aha
Virginia Military Institute
but that is from south of the border ...
yes, it took me a bit or researching, too. it is for Voluntary Militia infantry.
they are now the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (which is featured in the following post)
I can't recall ever seeing a flat horizontal cross on a grave like this before. I also can't recall hearing any Westerner bemoaning the end of a family line before; thought that was an Asian concern. The death of the last of my husband and his five siblings will also mark the end of that branch of the family. There are only nieces, no nephews. And it was long ago foretold.
PS. I meant to ask whether you are aware of the meme Sunday Bridges. Your two later posts would fit in well. :-)
perhaps with such a renewed interest in genealogy there will be more bemoaning of the end of familial lines among Westerners?
I will add my link to Sunday Bridges. thanks.
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