Background
In the many histories written on his family, Colonel the Honorary Robert Stewart of Irry is always described as the third and youngest son of Andrew Stewart, 3rd Lord Ochiltree and afterwards the 1st Baron Castle Stewart by his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir John Kennedy of Blairquhan Castle, Ayrshire. According to R.G.S. King, the 1st Baron Castle Stewart was the eldest brother of the Colonel"s grandfather.
King puts forward plausible evidence that Colonel Stewart was in fact the son of William Stewart of Fiugh and Mary O"Neill (d1615), daughter of Sir Cormac O"Neill, son of Conn O"Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone.
He states that William of Fiugh was the son of Robert (brother of the 1st Baron Castle Stewart/3rd Lord Ochiltree) who was the fifth son of Andrew Stewart, 2nd Lord Ochiltree. His evidence is based on a pedigree drawn up by James Stewart for his father George Roe Stewart of Termon and also in Canon Grainger"s pedigree of the Edwards family of Castlegore.
Career
He died at Roughan Castle. lieutenant appears that he switched alliances during the Rebellion. he relieved the Fort of Dungannon, and that of Mountjoy Castle, when at point of surrender to the rebels. Attacking the besiegers with a very inferior force, he dispersed them and drove them back into the mountains of Altadesert and Slieugallen.
His early activities against the victorious English miraculously managed to escape their notice until twelve years later, by which time he had become a loyal servant of Parliament.
He was exonerated from having played any part in support of the Rebellion, and therefore retained both his land and his life. Following the Rebellion, Colonel Stewart was appointed Governor of the Castles of Antrim and Toome.
Robert and Jane Stewart were the parents of four children. The title remained dormant until Andrew"s grandson, Andrew Thomas Stewart (1725–1809), successfully petitioned George III and restored the family title in 1774, becoming the 9th Baron Castle Stewart.
Though the 9th Baron was unsuccessful in his attempt to establish his claim to the Barony of Ochiltree (created for his ancestor in 1543), in 1793 he was created 1st Viscount Castle Stuart, and then in 1800, the Earl Castle Stewart of Company
Views
A colonel in the army, he was a prominent figure in the and afterwards defended against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland as Governor of the Castles of Antrim and Toome. He defended both forts until the final settlement of Ireland under Oliver Cromwell in 1649, when he was forced to capitulate on honourable terms to General Robert Venables.