History of the Stewarts | Famous Stewarts
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James was a son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland; the identity of Alexander´s wife is unknown. The date of his birth is not certain and some sources have placed it, as early as 1243. This is now thought to be unlikely. Firstly, James´s father is known to have planned a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint James of Compostella in 1252 or after, so that James would probably have been born after this. Secondly, James´s name was an unusual one, not common in Scotland in the 13th century and not a traditional name in the Stewart family where Walter and Alan were the most common. It is therefore quite possible that he was not Alexander´s eldest son, but rather the eldest surviving son. For these reasons, and also the fact of his son and successor Walter Stewart being described as a "beardless lad" around 1314 in John Barbour´s The Brus therefore it seems likely that James was born around 1260
In 1302, with six other ambassadors including John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, he was sent to ask for the aid of the French king against Edward, to whom he was once again compelled to swear fealty at Lanercost on 23 October 1306.
On 16 March 1309 his name was included amongst several other barons in a letter to Philip of France stating that they had recognised Robert de Bruce as their King. He is likely to have died on 16 July 1309.
James, 5th High Steward, was either married to Cecilia, daughter of Patrick de Dunbar, 7th Earl of Dunbar & March, or Gilles {Egidia} de Burgh, daughter of Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster. By Egidia he had
Walter, 6th High Steward (1293–1326) who married King Robert I´s daughter, Marjorie Bruce.
Sir John, killed 14 October 1318 at the battle of Dundalk.
Andrew Stewart, was given up as a hostage to Edward I. and was placed under the care of the Bishop of St. Andrews. he appears to have disappeared soon after this.
Sir James Stewart of Durisdeer, Tutor to his nephew, the future King Robert II of Scotland, in 1327.
Egidia Stewart, who married Sir Alexander de Menzies, of Durisdeer.
Reference: Heraldry of the Stewarts