John Stewart of Bonkyll

Sir John Stewart of Bonkyll (died 22 July 1298) was a son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland. He was a military commander during the First Scottish War of Independence and during the Battle of Falkirk, he commanded the Scottish archers, and was killed during the battle. Stewart is interred in the churchyard of the Falkirk Old Parish Church.^[1]

Royal descendants

He is the direct paternal ancestor of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, the second husband of his brother's descendant, Mary, Queen of Scots. Thus, he is a direct agnatic ancestor of James VI of Scotland, who later became James I of England in 1603. This accession of James I united the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Marriage and children

John married Margaret de Bonkyl (Bonkill), the heiress daughter of Sir Alexander de Bonkyl of that Ilk, so placed "on a bend Sable three buckles Or" for difference upon the coat of arms of his paternal line, "Or a bend chequey Argent and Azure". They had issue:

• Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyll died in 1319. He had issue: John Stewart, 1st Earl of Angus
• Sir Alan Stewart of Dreghorn died on 19 July 1333 during the battle of Halidon Hill. Ancestor of the Earls of Lennox, James VI and I and through him the present royal family of the United Kingdom.
• Sir Walter Stewart of Garlies and Dalswinton. His great-granddaughter, Marion Stewart, married a Stewart of Jedworth. They were the ancestors of the Stewarts of Garlies — later Earls of Galloway and Lords Blantyre
• Sir James Stewart of Pearston died on 19 July 1333 during the battle of Halidon Hill. Ancestor of the Stewart Lords of Lorne, Earls of Atholl, Earls of Buchan, Earls of Traquair and Clan Stewart of Appin.
• Sir John Stewart of Daldon died on 19 July 1333 during the battle of Halidon Hill.
• Isabella Stewart, married Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, son of Sir Thomas Randolph. She died sometime after 15 July 1351.
• Sir Robert Stewart of Daldowie, ancestor of Sir James Steuart, 2nd Baronet of Coltness.
• Sir Hugh Stewart.

Lady Margaret appears to have remarried, as she is named as wife to Sir David de Brechin in 1304.^[2]

DNA genealogy

In a study released in February 2014 Sir John was identified to be the ancestor of all men with the Y chromosome SNP mutation S781, the defining mutation for the Y-DNA haplogroup R1b1a2a1a2c1i1a1.^[3]

See also

Bonkyl Kirk

Notes

Sources

• Calendar of documents relating to Scotland preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office. V vols., ed Bain. London 1881.
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p514.htm