Lady Octavia

Lady Octavia Grosvenor (1829-1921) was, as her name suggests, the eighth child of Richard Grosvenor (1795-1869), 2^nd Marquess of Westminster and his wife Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, younger daughter of George Leveson-Gower, 2^nd Marquess of Stafford who would later become the 1^st Duke of Sutherland.

Source - Greenock Burns Club

Born in 1829, Lady Octavia was one of 13 children all of whom married into the British aristocracy. On 28 December 1852 she married Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart (1826-1903), 7^th Bart of Ardgowan at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London.  Of her seven bridesmaids, three were her sisters - Agnes, Jane and Theodora.  The bridegroom’s best man was his brother Stewart Nicholson.  Later that evening, Sir Michael’s aunt, the Duchess of Somerset held a reception for some of the guests at Somerset House (Park Lane, not the main Somerset House) in London. 

Gossip columns of the time remarked on the marriage celebrations: “The crowd in the church was great, but this only served to render the general meagreness of the demonstration more apparent.  There was no wedding dejeuner; the chimneys of Grosvenor House were cold even on the occasion of the betrothment of one of its fairest daughters.  What was wanting in the hospitalities of the morning was however amply made up in the evening by a magnificent entertainment given to the relatives of both families by the Duchess of Somerset, the aunt of the bridegroom.”

The bride's dress of satin and Brussels lace was fully described in the newspapers.

In early January 1853, Sir Michael and Lady Octavia travelled from London to Glasgow and from there by a coach drawn by four horses to Port Glasgow where they were received at the town buildings by the magistrates and councillors of the town.  They then proceeded towards Greenock where they were met by members of the Caledonian Railway Lodge of Freemasons in their insignia accompanied by a band, flags and banners.  Sir Michael was the Provincial Grand Master.  The procession marched in front of the carriage through Cartsdyke where there were various gun salutes from batteries at the works along the route.  All the way into the town crowds had gathered, cheering as the procession passed.  At various places in Greenock, flags were flown and the harbours decked with bunting.  The banners of the crafts and trades were also on display in the town.  

Source - Greenock Burns Club

The procession proceeded to Brachelston Toll (where the Cemetery Gates are now).  An elaborate evergreen arch had been constructed by townsman Robert Thorne of Greenbank.  After this, the bridal carriage continued to Ardgowan.  People gathered at various points along the way to welcome the happy couple.  

Ardgowan House, Inverkip

At Ardgowan the tenants had gathered and the church bells at Inverkip rang out in welcome.  The couple appeared on the roof of the portico of Ardgowan House, and it was noted that the bride was wearing a large shawl in the Stewart tartan.  It was reported that Lady Octavia: “notwithstanding the fatigue of travel looked remarkably well and beautiful".  Refreshments were served to the crowd and the young couple again appeared and were addressed by several of the local dignitaries, congratulating them on their marriage and welcoming Lady Octavia to Ardgowan.  The official ceremonies over, the couple retired indoors.

One of the new bride’s first “official duties” locally was the naming of the ship Atrato which was launched from Caird & Co’s yard in April 1853.  Atrato, a paddle wheel steamer was built for the Royal West India Mail Steam Navigation Company. 

Launch of the "Atrato"

Throughout their lives, Sir Michael and Lady Octavia spent time at Ardgowan and took an active part in local affairs.  They also had homes in London and at Fonthill in Wiltshire.  They had several children.  Sir Michael died in 1903 and was succeeded by his eldest son Michael Hugh Shaw Stewart (1854-1942).  He was known as Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart.

After the death of Sir Michael, Lady Octavia’s preferred home was Fonthill which had been bought by her father, the Duke of Westminster in 1825 and bequeathed to Sir Michael.  Fonthill’s previous owner had been William Beckford.  On Lady Octavia's death in 1921, her son Walter Richard Shaw Stewart had to sell some of the Fonthill estate to pay death duties.  He died in 1934 and left Fonthill to his widow Mary Beatrice Sydney Lane.  Their son, Walter Guy Shaw Stewart became the 9^th baronet of Ardgowan.

Children of Sir Michael and Lady Octavia -

Michael Hugh Shaw Stewart (1854-1942) married Lady Alice Emma, daughter of the Marquis of Bath.  Succeeded Sir Michael, his father (became 8^th Bart).
Charles Robert Shaw Stewart (1856-1932) married Ida Fannie Caroline Alfken.  Became a Church of England clergyman.
Helen Shaw Stewart (1859-1939) married Charles Pierrepont, 4^th Earl Manvers (later, Lord Newark).
Walter Richard Shaw Stewart (1861-1834) married Mary Beatrice Sydney Lane.  Captain Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
Agnes Caroline Shaw Stewart (1862-1935)
Archibald William Shaw Stewart (1865-1927)
Houston Michael Shaw Stewart (1871-1901) DSO, Captain 17^th Lancers, drowned on way home from Boer War.
Two daughters died in infancy - Evelyn Margaret Shaw Stewart born 1859 and Eliza Mary Shaw Stewart (1856-1875). 

There is a plaque commemorating Houston Michael Shaw Stewart in St John's Episcopal Church in Greenock.  He was Captain 17th Lancers, known as the "Death or Glory Boys" and died in 1901 after falling overboard from the transport ship Canada on his way home from the Boer War in South Africa.