Introduction

In Scotland, the Stewarts of Appin are the West Highland branch of the Stewart family and have been considered a distinct clan since the fifteenth century. They are descended from Sir James Stewart of Perston, who was himself the grandson of Alexander Stewart, the fourth hereditary High Stewart of Scotland. Appin is a coast district of Argyllshire, Scotland, bounded W. by Loch Linnhe, S. by Loch Creran, E. by the districts of Bender-loch and Lorne, and N. by Loch Leven. ... Stewart is a common surname and male first name. ...

Geography

Appin is located in the western Highlands of Scotland between Oban and Fort William. It is a region in North Lorn running along Loch Linnhe from Loch Creran in the south to Ballachulish on the shores of Loch Leven in the north. Appin is a coast district of Argyllshire, Scotland, bounded W. by Loch Linnhe, S. by Loch Creran, E. by the districts of Bender-loch and Lorne, and N. by Loch Leven. ...

History

The Stewarts of Appin were traditional allies of the MacLarens of Balquhidder, the Camerons of Lochiel and the MacDonalds (or MacIans) of Glencoe. They were inveterate enemies of the Campbells of Argyll and Breadalbane. They served with the Marquis of Montrose and participated in the massacre of the Campbell army led by the Earl of Argyll at Inverlochy in February, 1645. After King James II was deposed in 1688, the Stewarts of Appin supported the deposed Stuart dynasty and sent men to fight for the Jacobite cause in the 1715 and 1745 Rebellions. At Culloden in 1746, the Stewarts of Appin suffered appalling casualties breaking the ranks of Barrell's and Munro's Regiments of Foot of the Hanoverian Army. Balquhidder (Scottish Gaelic: Both Chuidir pronounced bal-hw-idder) is a small village in Perthshire, Scotland. ... Glencoe is the name of a number of places in the world: Glencoe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Glencoe, Scotland, United Kingdom Glencoe, Alabama, United States of America Glencoe, Kentucky, United States of America Glencoe, Illinois, United States of America Glencoe, Minnesota, United States of America Glencoe, Missouri, United... James II can refer to: James II of Scotland James II of England James II of Aragon James II of Cyprus This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... // Events July 24 - Spanish treasure fleet of ten ships under admiral Ubilla leave Havana, Cuba for Spain. ... // Events May 11 - War of Austrian Succession: Battle of Fontenoy - At Fontenoy, French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army including the Black Watch June 4 – Frederick the Great destroys Austrian army at Hohenfriedberg August 19 - Beginning of the 45 Jacobite Rising at Glenfinnan September 12 - Francis I is elected... For the famous 18th century battle in Scottish history see Battle of Culloden and Culloden, Scotland. ...

Most of the Stewarts of Appin did not use the surname "Stewart". The leadership of the Clan was held by the Chief and his many cousins, who were tacksmen who held minor estates in Appin as cadets of the chief. Many of the clansmen were descended from families which had lived in Appin long before the Stewarts arrived, including McColls, Livingstones, McQuorquodales and Carmichaels.

The most important cadet family of Appin were the Stewarts of Ardsheal. Traditionally, Ardsheal was the tutor to the minor Appin Chiefs. During the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, Charles Stewart of Ardsheal led regiment raised by the Stewarts of Appin. After Culloden, he fled to exile in France and his lands were forfeited to the Crown. His son succeeded in having the lands restored later in the eighteenth century and the Stewarts of Ardsheal succeeded to the chiefdom of Appin upon the extinction of the Appin family.

The Appin Murder

Appin was the site of the infamous Appin Murder of 1752, when Colin Campbell of Glenure - a factor of the Stewart lands in Appin - was shot by an anonymous gunman while riding along the shore of Loch Leven at Ballachulish. Whoever the assassin may have been, a cadet named James Stewart of Glen Duror was charged with the murder, tried by a Campbell jury in the Campbell stronghold of Inverary, and hanged on the shore of Loch Leven at Ballachulish. The consensus at the time and the general opinion of historians has been that James Stewart of Glen Duror had nothing to do with the murder. The incident was made famous by Robert Louis Stephenson, the plot of whose novel Kidnapped incorporated the murder. Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis (Balfour) Stevenson (November 13, 1850 – December 3, 1894), was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer. ...

Castle Stalker

The stronghold of the Stewarts of Appin was a castle located at the mouth of Loch Laich calledCastle Stalker. This Castle was built in the fifteenth century and was held by the Stewarts and the Campbells of Airds until the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, when it was occupied by a small Hanoverian garrison. The Castle fell into disrepair by the end of the eighteenth century, but was restored by the Allward family in the 1960s. Today, it is one of the most photographed and photogenic castles in Scotland. Castle Stalker is a four storey tower house or keep picturesquely set on a small islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. ...

The Chief

The current chief of the Stewarts of Appin is Andrew Francis Stewart of Lorn, Appin and Ardsheal (born 9 July, 1949), who is the 17th Chief of Appin and the 12th Cadet of Ardsheal.

Chief's Arms: A unicorn's head, crined and armed, or

Chief's Motto: Quhidder Well Zie (Wither Will Ye)

Clan Plant Badge: Oak

Clan War Cry: "The Cormorant's Rock" (English) "Creag an Sgaraibh" (Gaelic)

Gaelic Name (Singular): Stuibhart

Gaelic Name (Collective): nan Stuibhartach