George Steuart Hume
Encyclopedia
Dr George Steuart Hume was a Maryland physician
and landowner who emigrated to Scotland
before the American Revolutionary War
. Born George Hume Steuart in Maryland
, he left for Scotland in 1758, where he studied Medicine, changing his name to his maternal name of Hume in order to inherit his family's substantial Scottish estates.
, in 1747, the eldest son of planter and physician George Hume Steuart
(1700–1784), and Anne Digges. As the eldest son he stood to inherit the family plantation of Dodon
in Maryland, but the coming of the Revolutionary War
forced his father to divided his property between his sons. Hume was eventually to inherit the Scottish estates, with the Maryland
lands being divided between his brothers, now loyal to the fledgling United States of America. These however were substantial; through his father he inherited the estates of Ballachallan, Argaty
and Annat
. These estates were held under entail
, and Steuart changed his name to Hume (also spelt "Home") in order to be able to inherit.
on February 9, 1777, in St. Ninians
, Stirlingshire
. Through Mary, he became possessed of the historic site of the battle of Bannockburn
. Mary died young, and the couple had no known children. After Mary's death, Hume married again, on November 20, 1785, in Kilmadock
, Perthshire
, to Jane Munro, daughter of John Munro of Auchenbowie. They had one daughter, Sophia Hume-Steuart, born on August 5, 1787.
, and he would never return to his Maryland
birthplace. However, according to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart
, Hume supported the ideals of the American rebels, and "was a staunch whig, and voted only for such members of parliament as went deadweight against the government and the war."
, Ballachallan and Annat
. His younger brother Charles Steuart unsuccessfully sued his niece Sophia for Hume's Scottish inheritance.
According to Alexander B Barty, in his book "Argaty, its Lairds and its Barony":
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and landowner who emigrated to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
before the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Born George Hume Steuart in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, he left for Scotland in 1758, where he studied Medicine, changing his name to his maternal name of Hume in order to inherit his family's substantial Scottish estates.
Early life
Hume was born in Anne Arundel County, MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, in 1747, the eldest son of planter and physician George Hume Steuart
George Hume Steuart
George Hume Steuart, was a physician, tobacco planter, and Loyalist politician in colonial Maryland. Born in Perthshire, Scotland, Steuart emigrated to Maryland in around 1721, where he benefited from proprietarial patronage and was appointed to a number of colonial offices, eventually becoming a...
(1700–1784), and Anne Digges. As the eldest son he stood to inherit the family plantation of Dodon
Dodon
Dodon, is a farm and former tobacco plantation in Maryland, located near the South River about south west of Annapolis. Purchased in around 1744 by the planter and politician Dr George H. Steuart, it remains the home of Steuart's descendants to this day...
in Maryland, but the coming of the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
forced his father to divided his property between his sons. Hume was eventually to inherit the Scottish estates, with the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
lands being divided between his brothers, now loyal to the fledgling United States of America. These however were substantial; through his father he inherited the estates of Ballachallan, Argaty
Argaty
Argaty , derives from the Gaelic aird, "height", and gaoth, "wind" and means "windy height". Argaty is a farm estate located just over a mile northeast of Doune, Perthshire, Scotland...
and Annat
Annat
-In geography:* Annat, a settlement in the Highland region of Scotland* Annat, a settlement in the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland...
. These estates were held under entail
Entail
Entail may refer to:* Fee tail, a term of art in common law describing a limited form of succession....
, and Steuart changed his name to Hume (also spelt "Home") in order to be able to inherit.
Family
Hume married Mary Erskine of Powis, daughter of David Rollo of Powis, ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on February 9, 1777, in St. Ninians
St. Ninians
St. Ninians is a long-standing settlement which is now a district of the city of Stirling in central Scotland. It is located approximately one mile south of the city centre....
, Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
. Through Mary, he became possessed of the historic site of the battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
. Mary died young, and the couple had no known children. After Mary's death, Hume married again, on November 20, 1785, in Kilmadock
Kilmadock
Kilmadock parish, containing the settlements of Doune, Deanston, Buchany, Drumvaich, and Delvorich, is situated in Stirling council area, Scotland, and is on the southern border of the former county of Perthshire. Its length is , its breadth from , and with an area of .The River Forth runs along...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, to Jane Munro, daughter of John Munro of Auchenbowie. They had one daughter, Sophia Hume-Steuart, born on August 5, 1787.
Revolutionary War
Hume's family was divided by the Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and he would never return to his Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
birthplace. However, according to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart
Richard Sprigg Steuart
Dr. Richard Sprigg Steuart was a Maryland physician and an early pioneer of the treatment of mental illness. He was instrumental in the expansion and modernisation of The Maryland Hospital for the Insane, now known as the Spring Grove Hospital Center, which became his life's work...
, Hume supported the ideals of the American rebels, and "was a staunch whig, and voted only for such members of parliament as went deadweight against the government and the war."
Legacy
After Hume's death in c1788, his infant daughter Sophia inherited his estates of ArgatyArgaty
Argaty , derives from the Gaelic aird, "height", and gaoth, "wind" and means "windy height". Argaty is a farm estate located just over a mile northeast of Doune, Perthshire, Scotland...
, Ballachallan and Annat
Annat
-In geography:* Annat, a settlement in the Highland region of Scotland* Annat, a settlement in the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland...
. His younger brother Charles Steuart unsuccessfully sued his niece Sophia for Hume's Scottish inheritance.
According to Alexander B Barty, in his book "Argaty, its Lairds and its Barony":
- "At that time there was a doubt whether under the EntailEntailEntail may refer to:* Fee tail, a term of art in common law describing a limited form of succession....
Sophia Home was entitled to succeed her, or whether George Home's brothers, namely Charles Steuart, was now heir. Was decided in favour of the infant Sophia."