John Stewart

• Death Notes
  • Death:   August 9, 1892, Philadelphia, PA.  The Registration of Death reads: John Stewart, W, M, age 6?, married, died of apoplexy, August 9, 1892, born in Ireland, attending physician:[ Percival].E. Loder, Address: Ward 4, 613 S. 8th St., buried Aug. 12th at Odd Fellows.  No occupation is given.
    The Undertaker's Certificate in relation to Deceased reads: Occupation, Grocery Store, Place of Birth, Ireland; Ward 4; 613 S. 8th St. {Dr. Loder lived at 517 S. 8th St. and was a professor in the Pennsylvania Dental College}
    
    Burial:  August 12, 1892, Odd Fellows Cemetery, 23rd & Diamond Sts., Philadelphia, PA. Signed by Thomas K. Grabeau(?) Undertaker; Residence 1123 Lombard St.
    
    Death Notice: The following obituary appeared in the Philadelphia Public Ledger for Thursday, August 11, 1892, page 4:  STEWART-on the 9th inst. "The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend funeral services on Friday afternoon, at 2'oclock, at his late residence, No. 613 South Eighth Street.  Interment private."
    

• General Notes
  • Immigration: John Stewart arrived between 1845 and Oct. 12, 1848 ( his admittance to Union Presbyterian Church) in Philadelphia, Pa.  Because he filed both of his naturalization papers(1854 and 1856)  he was not under the age of 18  when he came to America.  He was an adult.  Minors, by law, only had to file the second paper after 1850, stating they were under 18 years of age when they arrived.  Ship Passenger Lists, Index,arriving at Philadelphia:  The following are the most likely:  J.S., age NG,occ. NG, Ireland, Ship Agenora, 7-3-1845 J.S., age NG, occ. NG, Nat. NG, Dublin 5-21-1846 J.S., age 20, laborer, Ire, trav. with family (Hugh & Eliza), Ship Wyoming, 4-13-1848 J.S., age 21, laborer, Gt. Brit, Bark Agitator, 5-31-1848 J.S., age NG, occ. NG, Nat. NG, Ship Kalamazoo, 9-11-1848 (illegible-ship manifest film appears to be overexposed) J.S., age 20, occ. Laborer, Ire, Bark John Kerr, May 26, 1848 
    
    Marriage: MARTHA LOWRY daughter of Alexander and Sarah Stevenson Lowry of Ireland, probably before April 29, 1851 which is when  "Mrs. Martha Stewart" was admitted as member on profession of faith to the Union Presbyterian Church.  No record of their marriage has been found. (See Lowrys)(No Civil marriage records before 1860 in Philly)
    
    Naturalization: Naturalization was generally a two part process.  The declaration of intent or "first papers" could be filed as soon as 2 years after arrival.  John Stewart filed a declaration of intent to become naturalized on October 9, 1854, District Court, Philadelphia, Pa.  He was described as a native of Ireland, "age 27, and the document includes his signature (very distinctive) which matches his on James Stewart's petition for naturalization.  There is no information on when he immigrated or present address in Philadelphia. The petition for naturalization or "second papers" were filed two years after the "first papers" in Philadelphia courts.  John Stewart, #508, became a naturalized citizen, October 13, 1856, witnessed by John Mitchell, in the Philadelphia District Court. (Note:  This second document, however, is preceded by another document in the file appearing to be another "first papers" stating an "intent" to become naturalized was also filed in May 1852, in the Quarter Sessions Court, Phila. There are several reasons why he may have filed his first papers twice.) 
    
    Religion:  Presbyterian.  Moneydig Presbyterian Church, Records, Moneydig, Desertoghill Parish, Co. Londonderry, Ireland:  John Stewart had a certificate from this church when admitted to the Union Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.  There are marriage records in Moneydig church for four of his brothers and one sister which give the name of their father as John Stewart of Gorton, Aghadowey Parish.  They are the only Stewart family in this church at that time.
    Union Presbyterian Church Records, 13th and Budd Sts., Philadelphia, PA: Session Records:  October 12, 1848,  Mr. John Stewart was admitted as a member to the Union Presbyterian Church on certificate from the Moneydig Presbyterian Church, Moneydig, [Desertoghill Parish, Londonderry], Ireland.  "Mrs. Martha Stewart" admitted on April 29, 1851. Baptism Records:  The baptisms of five of their children ranging from Sept.1860-June 1873.
    
    Death Records:  The death of a son John in July 1868.  There is no record of John Stewart's death in this church as the death records stop too early. Marriage Records:  The marriage of his daughter Sarah Jane to James Stewart on Jan. 26, 1871 by Rev. J.B. McCorkell. Pew Rents Records, 1872-:   John Stewart is listed in the Pew Rents record with quarterly payments of $6 for pew #30 from July 1872-Dec. 1878  at  which time it is "given up" to a James Stewart (Pew #47) and Eliza Lowry who continued payments from Jan. 1879 until 1881.   When James  quit payment in Jan.1881 Eliza Lowry continued until 1889.   (Note: By 1872 Sarah Jane and James were already members of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Southwark where their oldest four were baptized.  It is possible James was helping pay the rent in Union Presbyterian Church for John and Robert Stewart and the Lowry sisters.  There is no mention of Robert Stewart, Sarah Jane's brother,  in the Pew Rents records.) 
    
    U.S. Census and Philadelphia City Directory Records:
    1850 AIS Index to Census Names: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Co. lists 28 John Stewarts. 
    1850 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, Pa:  Possibilities are: 1.  South Ward, 390, 411, John Stewart, age 25, laborer, born in Ireland who is boarding with the Archibald Semple/Orr family of Ireland. 2.  High Street Ward, , 313, John Stewart, age 23, clerk, born in Ireland who is living at the same address as a James S. Mason, 38, portrait painter, born in Massachusetts.(questionable) 3. Richmond District, 651, 718, John Stewart, age 23, laborer, born in Ireland, who is  living with William McGlauclin(?) family and others.   One boarder is Mary Stewart, age 6.  (questionable) Note:  South Ward, between Walnut and Chestnut west of Seventh, is nearer the Union Presbyterian Church (13th and Budd-above Pine) which John joined in 1848.  None are listed as married.  All appear to be boarders.
    1857 City Directory he was a clerk/laborer. Richmond District was north of the City of Philadelphia.  The surnames of Semple and Orr are found in the church records of Aghadowey parish.  He was  about 23 years old.
    1850 Philadelphia City Directory ( compiled in last mos. of 1849): no John Stewart, labourer. 1851 Philadelphia City Directory:   John Stewart, laborer, Brown at Andeside.  Andeside Street ran parallel to Front between Front and 2nd and was in Northern Liberties Ward.
    1852 Philadelphia City Directory: No John Stewart listed as a laborer.
    1853 Philadelphia City Directory: John Stewart, laborer, at Sch 4th (18th) and Hamilton.  This is the Spring Garden Ward and in 1854, Ward 15. (In 1856 the entire city was renumbered to take effect in 1857)
    1857 Philadelphia City Directory: John Stewart, laborer, resides at Cumberland n Canal (Ward 11-Canal is near Brown), South bel 21st (Ward 7 or 1), Hamilton W 23rd (Ward 15), Shippen ab 13th (no longer a street name) 1858 Philadelphia City Directory:  
    1859 Philadelphia City Directory:   John Stewart is listed as a laborer, home- 613 S. 8th , Ward 4; and as a clerk, work 114 S. Front, home-613 S. 8th. His work address is H. & H.W. Catherwood, Wines & Liquors.
    1860 Census:   Philadelphia, Pa., Ward 4, Western Division, 613 S. 8th St., head of house, age - 3?, born in Ireland, Occupation-laborer. 1861 Philadelphia City Directory: John Stewart, laborer, 114 S. Front, H. 613 S. 8th St. 1863 Philadelphia City Directory: John Steward, liquors, h. 613 S. 8th St.
    1870 Census:   Philadelphia, Pa., Ward 4 , 12th District, (613 S. 8th St.) head of house, age 45, born in Ireland, Occupation- grocer, eligible to vote (which means he was a naturalized citizen), parents -"foreign born".
    1880 Census:  Philadelphia, PA, Ward 4, 79 E.D., 613 S. 8th St., head of house, age 52, born in Ireland, Occupation-retail grocer, mother and father born in Ireland.
    1890 Census: Destroyed
    1890 Philadelphia City Directory:   John Stewart is listed as a grocer at 613 S. 8th St., Philadelphia, PA
    Index to 1900 Census: John Stewart not listed with above address.
    1900 Census: Not listed 
    
    Newspaper Records:   Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa-Articles from May 13, 1876 through August 3, 1878 document John Stewart as a supplier of whiskey to the Board of Guardians of the Poor for the Almshouse. (Articles in file)  Residences:    613 So. 8th St., Philadelphia from at least 1859-1890. It  housed a small grocery shop.   Martha Stevenson Stewart gives it as her address in 1884 in the church records.   Robert Stewart is living there in 1890 (listed as a bookkeeper). 
    
    Occupations:  Clerk- 1859; Laborer- 1859, 1860; Grocer- 1870-1892.
    NOTES: Church Records: Two of our "John Stewarts" in Ireland were members in very good standing in their Presbyterian Churches (Meeting Houses).  John Stewart, Sarah Jane's father, arrived in Philadelphia with a certificate (indicating a member in good standing and usually signed by the minister and the elders) from Moneydig Presbyterian Church.  John Stewart, James Stewart's father, was a ruling elder in his Tamlaght Church.  Neither church was a Seceder congregation. There is no record of John and Martha Lowry Stewart's marriage (abt. 1851) in the UPC.  There is a gap in these records between 1849 and 1854.  Civil registration was not required in Philadelphia until 1860. There is no record of Sarah Jane or Robert Stewart's baptisms in the Union Presbyterian Church records, Philadelphia (1842-1891).  In 1852 the baptisms are few and only recorded starting in May with one child baptized at that time but no name given. The records skip from 1856 to1860. A "child of the Stewarts" was baptized March 1870.  It could be another Stewart family.   There were a few other Stewart members of this church.  However, the John Stewarts are the only "Stewart" family at this time with regularly recorded births with names.  This child was not listed in the 1870 Census for John Stewarts and may be when Margaret Lowry Stewart died.  Another child, Elizabeth (Bessie) Stewart was baptized a few months later in September. These baptism records indicate in many instances "names not handed in" or just  "child of" and no name given.  In  several instances there are multiple baptisms on one day and no names are given. In the Death records (1842-48; 1865-1881- very sparse) of the Union Presbyterian Church a child died July, 1865, "child of Mr. Stewart's". This child could have died at birth or could be a child from another Stewart family.  Census Returns:  The 1860 Census returns show Elizabeth, Margaret and Sarah Lowry living with the John Stewarts.  The 1870 Census returns show Elizabeth and Margaret Lowry living with the John Stewarts.  See the Lowrys in the next section.  (Margaret Lowry later lived with the James Stewart family until Sarah Jane died in 1918) The 1880 Census shows Elizabeth Lowry living with the John Stewarts.  Naturalization Records: When James Stewart became a naturalized citizen in 1872, his father in law, John Stewart, vouched for him.  John Stewart's address was 613 So. 8th Street, Philadelphia.  Their signatures are on this document. Philadelphia City Directories:  These directories can prove helpful in locating people between census years although many people are not included.  The data was generally gathered between six months to a year (as the city grew) before the actual publication.  Our John Stewart is not clearly identifiable in these directories until 1859.     

Click here for details of John's family with Martha Lowry

¹ Union Presbyterian Church Communicants received

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