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Lorong Stewart or Stewart Lane (SL hereafter) is a narrow street located within the Core Heritage Zone. It is behind the famous Kwan Yin Temple, the Goddess of Mercy. Therefore, the local Chinese folks labeled it kuan-im-teng-au (觀音亭後) (behind the Kwan Yin Temple).
Most streets in Penang were built and named during the colonial era. SL was named after Charles C. Stewart (1880-1985). The known history of SL states that it was named after a Serani (Eurasian) Stewart family who lived there. Historically, the Eurasian community established themselves in the enclave of China Street and Bishop Street.
My search on Charles Stewart was uneventful. I was able to find a Charles Campbell Stewart listed as a “Qualified Jurors” in Penang in 1904. The list states:
“Charles Campbell Stewart, 5th clerk, District Office, Butterworth, Penang”
Assuming that Butterworth was his address at the time of his qualification as a juror does not discount the possibility of him moving to Stewart Lane later in life. After all, he lived to be 105. However, whether or not it’s the same person remains to be determined.
Who was Charles Stewart? Was he born in Penang? What was his connection to Penang? Was he a product of European-Asian intermarriage? Or did he marry a local girl, hence his family being known as Eurasian? What was his profession? Why was the street named after him? Why aren’t there records of him?
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Great article. I plan to be in Penang in a couple of months to look for a shophouse to buy. Currently I’m in Perak and have been for 15 years. I started the my2home.info website to act as an info centre for folks wishing to apply by doing it themselves.
regards, Scott
Hi Chris,
my organisation: ARTS-ED has done some research on a Stewart family (eurasian)
in Balik Pulau and very high possibility that this Stewart Family is the Stewart that you are mentioning.
Charles Campbell Stewart is the father of Stanley Stewart who was the District Officer in Balik Pulau. If you would like to know more, we have Stanley’s memoir and also family contact who are currently staying in Singapore.
Hi Yoke Pin,
Great information. I found some information about Stanley Toft Stewart online as well. This website has some information about him.
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1448_2009-02-16.html
I am a granddaughter of Frederick Wright Stewart, who is a cousin of Stanley Toft Stewart from Penang.
I would like to know if FWS and STS both have the same ancestor or from different branches of Stewarts not related to each other in Scotland.
hello Theresa.
Frederick Wright Stewart is a decendant of my partner .The information we have is the Stewart Family came from Stewart s Town in Northern Ireland about 1700
History written by Samuel Stewarts Daughter Anna Wright states Samuel or possibly his parents emigrated from Norther ireland on to Nova Scotia and then possibly California.
Samuel became a Merchant Sea Captian , his children William, Bernard, Sam Frederick Anne Sarah and Emily. Anna’s Grave is in good condition in Western road cemetery Penang her husbands in poor condition in Northern Road Penang i visited them both Aug 2011. they had no children.hope this helps
Sue
Stanley Toft Stewart was my grand-uncle.
My grandfather Denis Cornally Stewart was his brother.
Both Stanley and Denis were sons of Charles Campbell Stewart (i.e. my great grandfather).
Charles Campbell Stewart was born 29 Apr 1881 in Penang to Walter Wilbert Stewart (that makes him is my great great grandfather) and Philomina Rozells.
From what I know, my great grandfather has a house on Stewart Lane. Hope this helps.
Thanks for this link Theresa
My name is Charles Stewart Lee.
Stanley Toft Stewart is my grandfather.
I was born in Singapore in 1974 and lived with him for 10 yrs after he retired , up until emigrating to Australia in 1984. His sixth (out of 7) daughter Pamela is my mother.
His #5 daughter Olivia lives in Singapore with Therese Stewart – Stanley’s wife.
Nan just celebrated her 97th birthday
Adrian- Conolly was not Stanley ‘s brother.
But is Denis Conolly ………..Uncle Dan? Had more than 10 kids.
Is Patricia, Margeret Mary, Colin etc your Aunties and Uncle? This makes you and I third cousins I believe?
From what Aunty Olivia has tracked…………Charles Campbell and Conolly are sons of Wilbert .
Conolly Stewart , born ?, died ~1930 married Zelie Bacon born 23.10.1880 . One of their daughters Isabella married Jocelyn de Souza. They had 11 children.
Therese Stewart was their 9th child- born 26.9.1914
Isabella Stewart and Charles Campbell are 1st cousins.
Scott…………….that is the My second home program you are referring to?
My grandfather, Frederick Wright Stewart, was the Chief of Road Transport of Penang (today’s JPJ) somewhere in the 1930s.
He patented the rickshaw design which is now still being used in Penang. Due to his contribution to the Transport Department, Stewart Lane was named after him. Which is why I question the authenticity and the source of the brief overview posted above by Azza and Chris on the actual person the lane was named after.
Every Chinese New Year, Penang rickshaw riders would come to his house on Aboo Siti Lane bearing gift hampers with the hope that their license would be renewed for another year. Grandpa would not accept these ‘gifts’ and would distribute them to the poor and needy.
If a rickshaw rider realized that his passenger/s had been grandpa’s children, they would be sent home without charge.
Such was the fear and respect these riders had for grandpa for he had the power to renew or revoke their license.
During the Japanese Occupation, grandpa was taken to Padang Brown by the Japanese soldiers to choose any car he wanted. He chose an Austin.
I’m unfortunate to have not had the opportunity to know my grandpa as he passed away when I was very little.
Dear Lisa(Theresa),
Thank You So Much for highlighting our roots, thanks to the world wide web also and i shall pass this down to my children Stanley Gerard Chow, Walter Frederick Chow & Samantha Iris Chow. Great Grand Children of Walter Frederick Stewart & Iris Baptist, Grand Children of Therese Clare Leonie Stewart & Bernard Chow,
Anthony Chow
Great Grandson of Frederick Wright Stewart & Clementine Leonie Jeremiah