The Silvy daybooks identify the sitter as 'Capt. Stewart of Ashcraig'. He was further identified as 'David J. Stewart' by his signature on a piece of paper pasted onto the album page beneath the portrait. The adjacent carte was a portrait of his wife, Anna D. Stewart.

The carte comes from an album that was probably compiled by Margaret Tootal. Various inscriptions in the album suggest she was the daughter of James and Jane Kennedy, and sister of Eliza Banff, only I can't find a Margaret Tootal on any census.