Margaret (Stewart) Sandeman (1801)

Born 19 Dec 1801 in Bonskeid, Perthshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Wife of Glas Sandeman — married 18 Sep 1820 in Scone, Perthshire, Scotland.

Descendants

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Biography

Margaret Stewart was born on 19 December 1801. She is the daughter of Alexander Stewart and Jean Bisset.

Her Memoirs

Her memoirs were published in 1883 by her daughter and were reviewed in the Dundee Courier on 1st Jan 1884 ^[1]

LITERATURE. Memoir of Mrs Stewart Sandeman of Bonskeid and Springland. By Her Daughter. London : James Nisbet & Co. This is an interesting and enjoyable volume. We perused it with great satisfaction, and, we hope, with a considerable measure profit. Memoirs of saints of such decided piety and devotedness to the cause of Christ as Mrs Sandeman have the tendency, under the Divine blessing, to stir up and emulate others to the like piety and exertions in advancing the Redeemer's cause in the world. " She being dead yet speaketh." The pictorial illustrations are of great artistic merit. There is a portrait Mrs Sandeman while three years old carrying a lamb. There are sketches of Bonakeid, the Falls of Tummel, and Springlands. We have excellent portraits of Mrs Margaret of Strowan, the wife of Laurence "Oliphant of Gask ; Marjory A. M Oliphant., wife Dr Stewart of Springland ; of the Rev. David Sandeman, the missionary ; and of Mrs Stewart Sandeman. She was the daughter of Dr Alexander Stewart of Bonskeid, and succeeded him in the possession of the estates, and representing the old line of the 44 Stewarts," which for 500 years had passed from father to son. Her mother, Marjory Anne Mary Oliphant of Gask (Mrs Stewart, was the eldest sister of Caroline, afterwards Baroness Nairne. Mrs Sandeman was a clever girl, and diligent in her studies. Before she was eight years old she had perused the twelve volumes of Rolliu's Ancient History. Miss Clarke was her governess. In 18i8 she had read through Leighton's works, Milner's Church History, and Redemption, a poem by Walworth. At twelve years old she wrote poetry on the victory of Waterloo. She attended school at Newcastle. She was early brought under deep religious convictions and brought to the Saviour. At the early age of 17, Miss Stewart was married to Mr Glas Sandeman great grandson of John Glas, the founder of the sect of Glassites or Sandemanians), by whom she had a family of six sons and three daughters. Her father was opposed to the marriage, thinking that Mr wished to marry her for her money. She in consequence resigned her legal claim to her father's prsperty. Mr Sandeman died 27 years ago at Montpelier, France, and was interred at Greyfriars, Perth. Three sons survive her, also Mrs Barbour, of Bonskeid, the authoress of the " Way Home," and other works. Her eldest son, Alexander, died a judge in India, while her second son, the Rev. David Sandeman, missionary, and associate of the late Rev. W. C. Burns, died in the midst of his duties in China. The deaths of these two sons were of a sad and melancholy nature, and were heavy trials to Mrs Sandeman. In her were displayed many the characteristics of the old Jacobite family she represented, and her mind was richly stored with the traditions and memories of a bygone age, contrasting and connecting them with those of the present day. great literary taste, she was gifted with true poetical genius, inherited, as it were, from her aunt, who wrote "The Land o' the Leal," and many other national songs of pathos. Few, however, lived an intenser life than she in the present. Having an early age been powerfully impressed with spiritual religion, she was intimately associated with many the foremost promoters of the evangelical revival in the first half of the present century, and entered with keen interest into the various evangelistic enterprises of more recent times. We have notices of revivals under the auspices of the late Rev. William Burns (at that time assistant to the late Rev. R. M. M'Cheyne, of St Peter's Church, Dundee, and of ministers of the City of Perth, who co-operated with him in the work of revival in the city and other places in the county of Perth. Mrs Sandeman joined the Free Church in 1843, and was a zealous member. She was earnest and indefatigable in her private intercourse with others, in endeavouring in private intercourse with them to lead them to Jesus, and in fervent Jacob-like wrestling prayer for the conversion of those with whom she met individually, and she effected much good by her personal intercourse in stirring up many of both sexes to enter upon the religious and spiritual life. She took a deep interest in the Christian conferences annually held at Perth, and the leading persons who conducted them partook largely of her hospitality. Many useful lessons may be learned from this memoir of the godly upbringing of children, and of conducting family affairs in a manner becoming the Gospel, and with the wisdom which is profitable to direct. For many years weekly meetings for the young were held in Springfield Tower, and during later years within the house Mrs Sandeman conducted such herself, but often enlisted the services of friends who happened to visiting her. ' When it is mentioned that the register of attendances included above 2000, and that she never forgot her boys and girls' " welfare in after life, some idea may be formed of the extent of the labour of love continually being carried on for her Master, and how many must truly lament her loss. The beautiful grounds belonging to Mrs Sandeman on the banks of the Tay, marching with those of Scone, were for many years a resort of those who came to Perth in connection with the evangelical revival, and the religious conferences held in the city owed much to her enthusiasm and energy. Her very original character and strikingly personal appearance made her unique figure in the minds of her friends, by whom her departure is no doubt felt to a blank which can never be supplied. During the last forty years of her life Mrs Sandeman kept a diary, entitled "Pro and Con," in which passing events of public and religious interest were chronicled, with the opinions of the day noted side by side with her own criticism and remarks, often in verse. Mrs Sandeman was a frequent contributor to religions magazines, and all through her writings, whether in prose or poetry, there could seen and felt the motto which she always bore to the forefront in everything, "Jesus only." Mrs Barbour, her daughter, has executed her labour of love in this memoir in a very creditable and judicious manner ; and trust that it will speedily receive that which it so well merits—a large circulation.

Sources

• Birth. "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X1KV-R27 : 2 January 2015), Margaret Stewart, 19 Dec 1801; citing REDGORTON,PERTH,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,135.

• Census. "Scotland Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBHS-2V2 : 11 December 2017), Margaret Stewart, Little Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland; from "1861 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012.); citing p. 2, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,894.

• Census. "Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB5J-8K8 : 8 December 2017), Margaret Stewart, Little Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 9, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 104,076.

1. ↑ Dundee Courier, Tues 1st Jan 1884, page 8, accessed from British Newspaper Archives, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000162/18840101/136/0008 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 15 sept 2018]]