Chiefly Sc. [See STEWARD sb. 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 is still 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 April, 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 McLelane of Garrochcragow wythin the steuardry of Kirkcowbrycht.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4434/1. The Barons, Freeholders 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. Ibid. (1563), 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.
