Expert: Mark Smith - 10/23/2009

Question
My grandmother was a Stuart and claimed that her father (came from Scotland in 1890's) had official papers proving lineage to Mary Queen of Scots.  There was a house fire and the papers burned.  Is there any way I could find copies of "issued" proof of lineage from the royal house?  Do they keep records of what they issue in these matters?  And if so, who/what would I contact?

Answer
Hello Tiffany.
The best thing to do is to employ a professional genealogist giving them all the information you know about your great-grandfather Stuart. However it won't be cheap as they charge by the hour. The most likely scenario is that the descent is through an illegitimate line. The last male Stuart through the legitimate line died in 1807, all the descendents of Mary, Queen of Scots alive today are descended through the female line and therefore do not have the surname Stuart, or are descended through illegitimate ancestors where it is possible the name Stuart continues. Alternatively there may be an internet genealogy that gives you this information, but internet genealogies aren't always accurate.
Mark