Thomas Stewart shipowner in Perth burried at Greyfriars

[kiwi jeanie]

Hi all
Just wondering if anyone can tell me how difficult it would be to find a grave at Greyfriars - we are going to be visiting at Christmas and I would love to find it. I'm assuming he will have a headstone as he was quite well to do - I see Greyfriars don't have any online records or information about any burials pre 1867.
I am looking for the following - perhaps there is a family vault?
Reference PE1/20/1
Thomas STEWART Occupation Shipmaster Date Died 11 March 1803 Age 64y Cause of Death Decline Burial Date 14 March 1803 Cemetery Greyfriars
Also his daughter in law (my ggggg grandmother)
STEWART Address North William Street Date Died 11 Jan 1847 Age 72y  Burial Date 16 Jan 1847 Cemetery Greyfriars Relative Patrick STEWART Relationship Deceased spouse Kin Occupation Merchant Notes Large covered coffin 9/6
I would be grateful for any advice   

[buckhyne]

Hi jeanie,
There is a sticky at the top of the Perthshire list - Perth Cemeteries
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=732409.0

It will give you an idea of what Greyfriars burial ground looks like.
It used to be in a deplorable state but in the late 90's the burying ground was repaired and renovated.
Unfortunately a lot of headstones were removed.
Of course there are still plenty of gravestones and perhaps there still is a headstone to Thomas Stewart & family.
The local library has two books on Monumental Iinscriptions from Greyfriars.
The library is closed on a Monday but I will endeavour to access the books in the next few days.

[kiwi jeanie]

thankyou 

[buckhyne]

Hi jeanie,
I went to the library and checked the two books relevant to Greyfriars Burying Ground.
There are lots of Stewarts (it’s a common name here).
I found nothing for Thomas Stewart, shipmaster, but in the Pre-1855 MI’s for North Perthshire 1975 (Greyfriars) I found this.
Block F: 2: Lair 255: Patrick Stewart merchant New York, widow Mary Stewart died here 12.1.1847, age 72.
In the Greyfriars Monumental Inscription book of 1895 I found nothing regarding Thomas Stewart but I found this for Patrick Stewart.
PATRICK STEWART:
Erected in memory of Mary Stewart, widow of Patrick Stewart, merchant, New York, U.S. who died at Perth, 2nd January, 1847, aged 72 years.

If you check the map of Greyfriars in my previous post you will see where Block F is.
The book states that the headstone (2) is the second one in from the West in a row of 1-16.
Bear in mind these directions were given in 1975 but since then headstones have broken, gone missing or been defaced.

[kiwi jeanie]

Thankyou very much! You look as though you have done a lot of work on the Perthshire Graveyards - many thanks from afar  Your map makes the graveyard look quite small - is that the case? We are still firming up our itinerary - I'm just wondering what the chances are of the gravestone being there still. I don't think the family will be impressed if we can't find it 

[buckhyne]

Hi Jeanie,
you can book your flight as I've found the headstone of Mary Stewart.

That's it, the first one on the right

Erected in memory of
MARY STEWART
Widow of
PATRICK STEWART
Merchant, New York, US
Who died at Perth, 12 Jan.1847
Aged 72 years

My walking stick on the back of Mary Stewart headstone

[kiwi jeanie]

Wow you are fabulous - once again thankyou so much - tickets booked!!
A stop at Greyfriars will be definitely happeniing for a famiily photo with the matriarch - incredible to think if it wasn't for her we wouldn't be here 
I would like to add for anyone else reading this post that I emailed the records office (same time I posted on rootschat) and they said there was nothing in the books 

[Rosinish]

Buckhyne......

What a nice thing to do (on both occasions) & I'm sure will be most appreciated 

Annie

[kiwi jeanie]

yes Annie - it is appreciated very much - we are very much looking forward to spending some time in Scotland