The Reverend, the Knight and the Bombardier
(a talk by Mark Jodoin)

September 24, 2011

Our speaker was Mark Jodoin, a historian from Ottawa. Mark had titled his talk “The Reverend, the Knight and the Bombardier” — referring to three members of the Stuart family. But before discussing them, Mark summarized some of the other stories in his book Shadow Soldiers of the American Revolution: Loyalist Tales from New York to Canada (Charleston and London: History Press, 2009, ISBN 978.1.59629.726.5). Mark spoke briefly about Joel Stone, Edward Jessup, Henry Simmons, George Smyth, Justus Sherwood, John Deserontyon and Molly Brant.

In 1730 Andrew Stuart emigrated from Ulster, Ireland to Paxton County, New York. He married a daughter of Robert Dinwoodie, governor of Virginia Colony. One son was Jeb Stuart, well known in the US as a cavalry officer. Another was John, born 1740, educated in Philadelphia and London. In 1770, after obtaining a Doctor of Divinity, he was sent to Fort Hunter, near the holdings of Sir William Johnson. As most Loyalists know, he came to Canada with the Loyalists, first to Montreal and then settling in Kingston where he established St. George’s Church. Rev. John married Jane Okill (a distant connection to Camilla, the present Duchess of Cornwall). Their great-grandson, Sir Campbell Stuart, is the Knight mentioned by Mark: he moved in the highest social and financial circles, eventually becoming managing director of the Times of London. Campbell’s nephew, Okill Stuart, is a member of our branch and a war hero in his own right from his service in World War II. Mark is presently working on a new book on the Stuart family.

Mark pointed out that some of John Stuart’s artifacts, such as a tankard which was a wedding gift from Jane Okill’s parents, as well as books and other items, may be seen in the Stuart Room at St. George’s Cathedral, Kingston.