stewartry, stewardry Chiefly Sc.
(ˈstjuːətrɪ, ˈstjuːədrɪ)
[See steward n. and -ry.]
1. A former territorial division of Scotland under the jurisdiction of a steward: see steward 5 d.
Two of the stewartries, that of Orkney and Shetland and that of Kirkcudbright, were identical with the present counties, and the term was used instead of county as the official designation of these districts. Elsewhere the stewartry was of smaller extent than the county. As an administrative division, the stewartry was abolished in 1748.
| α 1473–4 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 5 His landis of Barnagehane within the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrith. 1491 in Acta Dom. Concil. (1839) 199/2 Landis..liand in the stewartry of straitherne. 1685 Sc. Procl. 28 Apr. in Lond. Gaz. No. 2032/2 All the Heretors, Liferenters, Feuars and Wodsetters in the Shires of Air, Renfrew, Clidsdale, Wigtoun, Dumfreis, and Stewartries and Bailliaries within the same. 1747 Act 20 Geo. II, c. 43 §4 All Stewartries not hereby before taken away and extinguished. 1806 Gazetteer Scot. (ed. 2) 140 Dumfries-shire..comprehends 3 districts or stewartries, viz. Annandale, Eskdale or Wauchopedale, and Nithsdale. 1837 Act 7 Will. IV & 1 Vict. c. 39 The Words..‘Shire’, ‘Sheriffdom’, and ‘County’ [shall be deemed] to comprehend and apply to any Stewartry in Scotland. 1884 Manch. Exam. 9 Dec. 5/6 Sir John proposes to..add to it.. the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. |
| attrib. 1792 Copper-Plate Mag. No. ix, The stewartry (or county) courts are held at this place [Kirkcudbright]. |
| β 1495–6 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 219 Vmquhill M{supc}Lelane of Garrochcragow wythin the steuardry of Kirkcowbrycht. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4434/1 The Barons, Free⁓holders and Gentlemen of the Stewardry of Kirkcudbright. 1862 J. Grant Capt. Guard xix, Sir Herbert Herries..had large possessions in the stewardry. |
2. The office of steward in such a territory.
| 1483 in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875) XII. 33/1 Þe office of the steuartry of Kirkcwbrich with þe keping of þe castel of þe treif. 1563 Ibid. 44/2 Þe said office of stewartrie of Menteith with all feis and dewities pertening thairto. 1711 in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874) 142 To use and exerce the said office of steuartrie. 1746–7 Act 20 Geo. II, c. 43 §2 The possessors of the seid heretable baillieries, stewartries, or constabularies. |
3. = stewardship 3.
| a 1763 Byrom Poet. Version Let. Earl of Essex 37 You have them [sc. Talents], not as Things your own..; But as an human Stewartry, or Trust, Of which Account is to be giv'n, and just. 1877 Blackie Wise Men 341 The statesman..skilled by faithful stewartry to give Increase to money wisely husbanded. |