My grandfather William Stewart was born in Carrington in 1882 and emigrated to Canada through Halifax about 1905 and ended up in Vancouver by the end of the 1920s. In investigating his roots I have learned that many of my ancestors have ties to the Carrington/Temple area. William's greatgrandfather Richard Stewart was born in Temple in 1787 to James Stewart and Marrion Baillie who where then residing at Toxside Hill. Richard married a Lillias Tait. Willaim's father James Stewart was born James Drysdale in Carrington in 1846. James Stewart/Drsydale was a forester and dIed at Braidwood Farm in 1924. He is buried in the Carrington church in an unmarked grave with his mother Lillias Stewart and his aunt Margaret. James' father Alexander Drsydale was likely born in Temple about 1818. His name appears on a well preserved gravestone in the Old Temple Churchyard together with that of his grandfather Alexander Drysdale, his grandmother Isabella Miller, his aunt Isabella Drysdale, his wife Margaret Young Richardson and a son who died in infancy. Alexander and Margaret where living on the main street of Temple in the 1880's and had about eight children. Alexander's father, my GGG Grandfather James Drysdale married Mary Brown, born in Temple. Mary's father (wife's maiden names Pringle) was a grocer and feed wholesaler in Temple in the early 1800's. When he died Mary and James seemed to have inherited about 500 pounds and may have used this to buy or set up a mill at Carrington Mills. When James died in Temple in about in 1877 he was farming at Fountainside and operating a limeburning business. James and Mary had about 12 children born in Temple and Carrington.

I was lucky enough to visit Temple in May 2007 and find the tombstone with four generations of my ancestors listed on it in the Temple Churchyard (in a jog corner of the backwall). I missed reading the inscription on the bottom. Such insciription is covered in moss but may say who erected the tombstone.

Anyway I would would greatly appreciate if someone could check that and let me know. It is a surprise the stone does not include mention of James as it includes his father, mother, sister and eldest and son (Alexanders).

I would greatly appreciate any information on the Stewarts, Drysdales, Browns, Pringles, Taits and Baillies during the span of at least 1787 through 1924 in the Temple/Carrington area.

Best Regards,
Dave Stewart