By: Peter Doolan9th Apr 2023 11:14PMThis is a lot of misinformation regarding on webpages, family trees and in articles which is often merely inferred from sketchy hearsay sources, and One needs to look at primary sources.

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Stewart MONTEITH's death registration gives his parents as William MONTEITH & Martha PATTRICK.

Stewart's sister Matilda Jane WALLACE nee MONTEITH's death registration (she lived in Melbourne) gives her parents as William MONTEITH & Martha FITZPATRICK. Stewart named his third child Matilda Jane MONTEITH after his sister.
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This is probably Stewart's father.

https://www.cotyroneireland.com/tithe/ardstraw.html
Ardstraw Parish Tithe Applotment Book 1833
William MONTEITH, Lurgybeg

https://cotyrone.com/tithe/ardstraw2.html
Ardstraw Parish Tithe Applotment Book 1834n
Wm MONTEITH, Lurgybeg

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There are not many MONTEITH in the whole of Ardstraw civil parish, which includes many townlands including Largybeg, and only one Stewart MONTEITH is of relevance. Stewart MONTEITH is a fairly rare name in the whole of Ireland.

GRIFFITHS VALUATION
Valuation of Tenements, Union of Strabane
County of Tyrone
Barony of Lower Strabane
Union of Strabane
Published 22 November 1858
Ardstraw Civil Parish
//
Largybeg Townland - Griffiths Valuation 22 Nov 1858 - Tenants
[ all plots owned by the Marquis of Abercorn]
1 Marquis of Abercorn
2 James GIVEN
3 Edward CALDWELL, HOL, 62 acres + 14 perches (valuation 34 pounds)
4 Stewart MONTEITH, HOL, 44 acres+3 roods+ 10 perches (valuation 25 pounds+5 shillings)
5 Joseph BARTON
6 Patrick GALLAGHER
7 Margaret EARLY
8 Robert BOYD
9 Patrick EARLY
10 Samuel O'BRIEN

It is interesting that Stewart called one of his sons Charles Caldwell MONTEITH - does the name Caldwell come from Stewart's neighbour at Largybeg, Edward CALDWELL, i.e., was there a family connection?
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Valuation Revision Book - Largybeg 1860-64 - Tenants
plot 4 Stewart MONTEITH - his name is struck through and replaced by Marquis of Abercorn

Most of the Largybeg tenants had their names struck through and replaced by that of the Marquis of Abercorn. The date annotation covering all the changes was 1862 - that's when the changes were made in the Valuation Revision Book, not the date of the actual events which will have occurred somewhat earlier. Stewart MONTEITH had already sailed from Liverpool 27 Aug 1861 on the ship COMMODORE PERRY arriving Melbourne 7 Dec 1861, and subsequently departed just over two weeks later 23 Dec 1861 on the barque ALMA arriving at Port Chalmers after a voyage of 8 days on 30 Dec 1861. One of his obituaries says that his stay in Victoria was indeed short.
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Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923
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https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/1635/images/30796_125456__196-00457
Passenger List
Ship: COMMODORE PERRY
Departed Liverpool bound for Melbourne, arrived December 1861.
Master: WILLIAMS
Tons: 2017
"I hereby certify, that the Provisions actually laden on board this Ship, are sufficient according to the requirements of the Passengers Act for _______ Statute Adults for a Voyage of ______ Days.
W. WILLIAMS
Date 27 August 1861"
//
https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/1635/images/30796_125456__196-00463
Port of Embarkation Liverpool, passenger # 8729, Stewart MONTEITH, age 17, Single, Lab, Scotch adult, contracted to land at Melbourne.


https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5706732
The Argus, Mon 9 Dec 1861, Page 4
Shipping Intelligence
Hobson's Bay
Arrived Dec 7
Commodore Perry, Blackball ship, 2617 tons, Wm WILLIAMS, from Liverpool 27 August, Passengers--Saloon: Miss Mackay, Miss Johnson, Miss Rasser, Miss Whitfield, Mrs Hemming, Messrs Wihitfield, Brownley, Kennedy, Ingram, Hill, Clarke, McKenzie, Manly, Nige, Proudfoot,; and 500 in the steerage. Bright Brothers and Co., Agents.

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https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/explore-topic/passenger-records-and-immigration/outwards-passenger-lists
Index to Outward Passengers to Interstate, UK, NZ and Foreign Ports 1852-1923
Stewart MONTEITH, age 22, Ship ALMA, departed Dec 1861, destination Otago
//
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/239241F5-F7F0-11E9-AE98-EF4F9E13EFA1?image=275
Passengers List
Ship ALMA, Master Capt KROSS, 548 tons, departed Melbourne bound for Otago.
"I hereby certify, that the Provisions actually laden on board this Ship are sufficient. according to the requirements of the Passengers Act for 263 Statute Adults for a Voyage of 28 Days.
Date December 20th 1861, A. A. KROSS, Master."
//
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/239241F5-F7F0-11E9-AE98-EF4F9E13EFA1?image=276
Stewart MONTEITH, age 22, Single, Miner, Scotch, embarked Melbourne, contracted to land at Port Chalmers.


https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18620101.2.4
Otago Daily Times 1 January 1862 Page 2
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Port Chalmers.
Arrivals.
At 7 p.m.--the ALMA, barque, KROSS, master, from Melbourne, 23rd instant, with 90 passengers and general cargo. The barque was towed up by the rainbow.
//
"The Alma, with 250 passengers, arrived here on the 30th inst.,after a quick passage from Melbourne of eight days. She made the run to Stewart's Island in six days, but has been detained with head winds since; the passengers express high satisfaction with the treatment they have received during the passage. The Alma is consigned to Messrs. Thos. Norton & Co."

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18620605.2.4.4
Otago Daily Times , Issue 173, 5 June 1862, Page 3
POST OFFICE, WETHERSTONE'S, OTAGO, N.Z.
LIST of Unclaimed Letters for the month of April, 1862.....
.....MONTEITH, Stewart.....

Weatherston's Gully was near Gabriel's Gully, part of the Tuapeka goldfield where the Otago rush started.

Stewart Monteith's obituaries in 1921 say "he was a native of Newtown Stewart, Co. Tyrone, Ireland, and left there when a youth of nineteen for Melbourne, whence after a short stay he proceeded to Otago, when the rush set in to the goldfields there." They also say he was at Wetherston's Gully. Stewart was born 1841 - leaving Ireland at 19 years old means he left at the start of the 1860s which agrees with him leaving Largybeg about then, departing for Melbourne and from there to Port Chalmers.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18630110.2.22
Otago Daily Times, 10 January 1863, Page 6
RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.
"An Illicit Still.— Important Seizure.— Stewart Monteith nnd Alexander Grant were placed at the bar....."

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18630114.2.27
Otago Daily Times, 14 January 1863, Page 6
RESIDENT MAGISTRATES'S COURT.
The Seizure of an Illicit Still.—The Magistrate gave his decision in the case of The Queen on the prosecution of Stewart Monteith, for keeping an illicit still....."

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/otago-daily-times/1865/09/09/3
Otago Daily Times , Issue 1151, 9 September 1865, Page 3
Unclaimed Letters.
"LIST OF UNCLAIMED LETTERS received at the Country Post Offices in Otago during July, and remaining undelivered on the 31st August, 1865.....
.....Mount Ida.....MONTEITH, Stuart....."

I have a ten year gap between the item above and the item below. His obituaries say he went to the start of the West Coast gold rush at Hokitika "and after following up most of the new finds finally settled down in Reefton."


https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18750607.2.9
Grey River Argus 7 June 1875 Page 2
THE FIRE AT REEFTON.
From the account of this disaster published by the Inangahua Herald, of Saturday, we take the following particulars ; — The second fire which has been attended with serious damage to property here broke out shortly after daybreak yesterday.....
.....We omitted to mention among those who rendered most valuable and persevering services, Messrs J. Ching, H. Bartlett J. M'Kay, S. MONTEITH, W. B. Archer, and many others whose faces we know, although their names are not familiar to us.....

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19210114.2.87
PRESS 14 JAN 1921, p.8
OBITUARY.
The death took place on Monday of Mr MONTEITH, the well-known brewer of Reefton. He was a native of Newtown Stewart, Co. Tyrone, Ireland, and left there when a youth of nineteen for Melbourne, whence after a short stay he proceeded to Otago, when the rush set in to the goldfields there. After working at Wetherstones and other well-known alluvial fields, he went to Hokitika on the outbreak of the rush, and after following up most of the new finds finally settled down in Reefton, where he eventually became proprietor of the Phoenix Brewery, which he successfully carried on for a number of years. He was 79 years of age. He leaves a widow and family— Mrs E. NAHR and Mrs MONSON, of Westport, Miss Marion MONTEITH, and two sons, William and Charles.

Innagahua Herald January 1921 [Black's Point Museum, Reefton - exact date not recorded]
"The death took place on Monday afternoon, of Stewart Monteith, at his residence, Lower Broadway. The deceased was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and was 79 years of age. He came to the colonies when a youth, first arriving in Victoria and later came to New Zealand, where he followed up various gold rushes in Otago and then came to Hokitika in the early sixties, and eventually settled in Reefton and with the late Charles Edwards founded the Phoenix Brewery, which he has carried on until a few years ago, when his eldest son took over the management of the Brewery. The late Mr Monteith leaves a widow, two sons and three daughters and grandchildren to mourn their loss. The funeral takes place today at 2pm leaving his late residence for the Town Cemetery."

By: Peter Doolan9th Apr 2023 9:37PMNewspaper articles make it clear that Samuel PIZZEY had the Phoenix Brewery at Hokitika first, and that he expanded his business by establishing a second brewery at Reefton circa 1873. Stewart MONTEITH was an employee from about 1875. PIZZEY put his Reefton brewery up for auction in 1881, the purchasers being Stewart MONTEITH & Charles Hingsland EDWARDS. Edwards had also been an employee of PIZZEY.

Advertisements thereafter give "EDWARDS & MONTEITH" as the proprietors. EDWARDS died in 1889 at Hokitika but in newspaper advertisements up to at least 1895, Stewart MONTEITH kept the names of the proprietors of the Phoenix Brewery at Reefton as "EDWARDS & MONTEITH".

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18890131.2.8
West Coast Times 31 January 1889 Page 2
The funeral of Mr C. H. Edwards
".....he went to Reefton to manage Mr Pizzey's brewery, which he subsequently acquired and was joined in partnership by Mr Monteith."

Did the deal below actually take place? It was advertised for some time.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/IT18900103.2.11.1
Inangahua Times 3 January 1890 Page 3
PROSPECTUS OF THE PHOENIX BREWERY COMPANY of Reefton Limited.
(To be Registered under " The Companies Act, 1882.")
....."The Brewery has been in active operation for a period of nearly 17 years, and is now returning and for a long time has returned a profit of fully 30 per cent, on capital invested.
The present proprietor has been connected with the business for about 15 years, and during that time has gained for the establishment a reputation for the excellence of its manufactures second to none in the Colony ; and as a convincing test of bona fides, Mr Monteith will hold a substantial interest in the new Company, and, if desired} continue to act as Brewer."

Stewart MONTEITH married Elizabeth MAHONY at Gilmer's Hotel at Mawhera Quay, Greymouth in 1880. Elizabeth was sister to my great-grandmother Annie MAHONY who married Samuel FURNESS at Reefton in 1886. Another sister who arrived with Elizabeth & Annie on the ship FERNGLEN at the start of 1879 was Ellen MAHONY who married Mathew LOUBERE at Reefton in 1885. A brother jeremiah went to the US where he married Mary O'ROURKE. Their parents were Michael MAHONY & Margaret KEATY who married 1848 at Hollyford Co. Tipperary and raised their family at Kilcommon in north Tipperary. Margaret KEATY was baptised 1827 to Timothy KEATY & Margaret MACKEY who lived at Glenoe in Co. Limerick. The Limerick/Tipperary county border runs between Glenoe and Kilcommon. The MACKEY ancestry goes back further generations to Old Pallas Green in Co. Limerick.

Stewart MONTEITH was born 1841 in County Tyrone, parents William MONTEITH and Martha PATTRICK or FITZPATRICK. Sources suggest that he was from Newtownstewart in Tyrone but he was probably born at Largybeg townland adjacent to Baron's Court townland not far from Newtownstewart. Griffiths Valuation 22 Nov 1858 has Stewart MONTEITH as the occupier of plot 4 at Largybeg, and a William MONTEITH was at Lurgybeg in the Tithe applotments of 1833 and 1834. A Stewart MONTEITH of Largybeg was probated in 1800.

Following Griffiths Valuation, the Valuation Revision Book 1860-64 has Stewart MONTEITH's name struck through, replaced as occupierby the owner, the Marquis of Abercorn who resided at Barons Court. In fact almost all the occupiers at Laregybeg had the same thing happen to them at the same time. The date 1862 is annotated, which is when the alteration was recorded in the book - the actual event would have occurred somewhat earlier. Stewart sailed from Liverpool for Melbourne 27 Aug 1861 on the ship COMMODORE PERRY, arriving Melbourne 7 Dec 1861. Stewart occupied more than 40 acres at Largybeg, which is a pretty good holding, so why did he leave it? Was he pushed or did he jump?

Stewart was in Victoria a very short time, because he sailed from Melbourne 23 Dec 1861 on the barque ALMA to the Otago goldrush arriving at Port Chalmers after an 8 day voyage. A plaintive letter from his sister in Melbourne a few months later reads as follows:

The Argus, Saturday 22 March 1862. page 1
Missing friends, Messages, &c.
STEWART MONTEITH, from Barronscourt, Ireland - your sister wishes to see you. 1 Cambridge street, Collingwood.

The place Barronscourt is the big giveaway as to Stewart's place of origin. Stewart's plot 4 at Largybeg townland overlooked the Marquis of Abercorn's lands at Barons Court townland including the latter's flash residence. MONTEITH is not a common name in Ardstraw civil parish which covers lot of townlands including Largybeg, and there is only one Stewart MONTEITH who can be relevant - i.e., the one at Largybeg.

An interesting fact needing further investigation, even though Stewart was definitely born in Ireland, is that in the passenger lists for both voyages Stewart described himself as Scotch, not Irish! Presumably his forbears were originally scottish, but how far back was that?

By: Lindsay Monteith12th Oct 2019 4:01PMrefer Stewart Monteith biography on https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Monteith-50 - shipping records indicate Stewart did not even arrive in NZ until 1866 and spent time on goldfields in Otago and NQ before getting to Reefton after 1875 where he joined Phoenix. The prospectus for the Phoenix Brewery share issue in 1890 says he was involved with Phoenix for around 15 years which corresponds roughly with this timeline. Not sure when he took up a financial interest in the brewery but it would appear he took over a management role from around 1878 so I \would suggest this is probably more correct date for the 'Monteith' name to be assigned to the brewing operation.