Family History - Stewart’s of Killymoon Co.Tyrone
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My 6 x Great-Grandmother was Isabella Stewart, daughter of Col. William Stewart (b.1710) of Killymoon Castle in Cookstown Co.Tyrone, and Eleanor King (b.1722 Rockingham). She married John Hamilton of the Brownhall estate in Co. Donegal.
The Stewarts of Killymoon were a branch of the Athenree Stewarts (Debretts Peerage) and were involved from the 1600’s in the early plantation of Ulster. Killymoon Castle was constructed in 1671, with a newer Killymoon Castle being rebuilt in 1802 by the architect John Nash. William Stewart began a rebuilding of Cookstown, south of the old village, in 1734 and by 1740 much of the town’s design, as seen today, had taken shape. Beyond this, the following generations of the Stewart family did not extend on the towns development.
Isabella Stewart married into the Hamilton family of Brownhall Co. Donegal, her father William, and her husband John’s father, James, being connected through military service. Their son, James, married Lady Helen Pakenham (daughter of the Earl of Longford) and sister-in-law of the Ist Duke of Wellington.
Unfortunately, James and Helen died relatively young and their children, including the heir to Brownhall, John, were placed under the guardianship of the Duke and Duchess of Wellington until they reached adulthood.
Isabella’s brother, James Stewart (1741-1821), was heir to the Castle at Killymoon. Much is documented about this man as he was famous for his letter-writing and extensive travels. His ‘Grand Tour’ being his best known adventure.
A portrait of James Stewart, www.artfund.org/artwork/7013/portrait-of-james-stewart-of-killymoon, is exhibited in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. It was the focus of an exhibition on James at the museum in 1999 and is well worth a visit.
A portrait of Isabella Stewart and John Hamilton exists and was auctioned by Christie’s in London several years ago.
Today, Killymoon Castle is under private ownership and is not open to the public. A shame really.
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