Stewartry

Stewartry, the name which was given in Scotland to a district governed by a steward, an officer appointed by the king with jurisdiction over crown-lands, and powers similar to those of a lord of regality. While the civil jurisdiction of a steward was equivalent to that of a sheriff, his criminal jurisdiction was much more extensive. The only remaining trace of this jurisdiction exists in the term Stewartry, which in place of county is applied to the district of Kirkcudbright (q.v.; and see GALLOWAY).