Hugh Stewart b around 1770, died 25 November 1858. He built a large portion of Holywood town as it existed in the mid 19th centurt, including The Crescent. The original house in the Crescent began as a farmhouse, and may have been the family farm as it is known as Ballystewart house, and there is no townland of that name. Hugh was a shipowner, commissioner of the 1st Presbyterian Church, the town's first postmaster, and a landowner. He also ran the coach service between Holywood and Ann Street in Belfast, and opened the first sea baths in the town. All in all he was quite a significant character. He gets quite a few mentions in the book 'The Buildings of Holywood'. He mentions three siblings in his will John Stewart, Thomas Stewart (who I believe to be my ancestor) and his sister Deborah (McCully). He also mentions two daughters, Harriet Kennedy and Susan Greenfield. Grateful for any information on Hugh or the Stewart family.
