Ref Y4
Our only known link to the London area derives from Margaret Steward, Mike’s 2 x great-grandmother, who married James Cotter, a former private soldier of the 14th Regiment of Foot (See Ref. Y3) at a place and time as yet not established. She said she was born in Shadwell, Middlesex, and a search of the St Paul’s, Shadwell, baptism registers 1775-1809 duly produced an entry for Margaret Steward, born 15.1.1801 but not baptised until 25.12.1801, the daughter of Peter Steward, grocer, and his wife Margaret, living at Foxes Lane.
We also found a like entry for an older sister, Elizabeth Sarah, born 27 2. 1798, baptised 25.3.1798.
The Land Tax registers show Peter Steward paying (in most years) £1.17s.4d in each year 1799 to 1808 for premises on the west side of Foxes Lane.
St Paul’s, Shadwell, built in 1669 on land formerly owned by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, was known as the Church of the Sea Captains. For instance Captain James Cook was a parishioner late 18C and his eldest son was baptised there. In 1790 the ageing John Wesley preached what turned out to be his last sermon at St Paul’s. The building was replaced in 1820.
Foxes Lane (or Fox’s Lane) ran south from Upper Shadwell (now The Highway) right down to what is now Wapping Wall on the bank of the Thames. When Shadwell New Basin was dug out Foxes Lane was breached.
In August and September 1807 three successive fortnightly editions of the Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser carried an advertisement by Peter Steward inviting relatives or next-of-kin of John Wilson otherwise Johan Überg [possibly Oberg] late a seaman belonging to the merchantman Luna, Captain Brown deceased, to contact him at 2 Fox’s Lane, Shadwell, to hear of something to their advantage. This strongly suggests that Peter Steward had a reputation for being reliable and honest, and was therefore a point of contact for seamen, particularly those who did not have family locally, so that before setting out on a possibly long and hazardous voyage, they would entrust to him such worldly possessions as they might have for safe keeping until their return or, alternatively, for passing on to their families and heirs if they did not survive, including any outstanding wages or bounty due from the ship’s owners. Such a practice is mentioned in the 2014 book London’s Sailortown 1600-1800 by the authors Derek Morris and Ken Cozens, at page 61, where a number of cases in Wapping and Shadwell are mentioned of seamen making Wills in favour of a local victuallers, this mechanism ensuring that the latter could recover any debts owed to them by the testators, perhaps for lodgings, as well as food and necessaries supplied.
We have not found a suitable marriage for Peter and Margaret Steward and, as to Peter’s origins, the only possible baptism we have come across is one at St Giles, Cripplegate, for Peter Steward, son of Peter and Christian 25.9.1767. Again, we do not have any death entries.
The London section of The Universal British Directory 1793-98 (seen at SOG) has, at Shadwell High Street, James Stewart, Dealer in Tea, China and Foreign Spirits.
Margaret Cotter, nee Steward, was widowed 18.1.1845 and died of old age 16.10.1877, aged 76, at Hull.
June 2019
See map of the distribution of the surname Steward in 1881
See map of the distribution of the surname Stewart in 1881
Young Family History 