At more than 180 members, the extended Stewart clan could certainly give others a run for their money.

It wasn’t until this year that many of them even found out about one another.

But on Friday, four generations of these relatives got together to celebrate their ancestry at Harraby Catholic Club.

For some history on those involved, turn back the clock more than 100 years to when Jessie and Joseph Stewart married at Holy Trinity Church, Caldewgate, on June 14, 1909.

The couple, who always lived in the city, had 16 children, with 13 who survived infancy.

They gave them 39 grandchildren – and the family line also led to 69 great grandchildren, 67 great, great grandchildren and eight great, great, great grandchildren.

But when Betty, the last surviving of Jessie and Joseph’s children, passed away earlier this year it prompted family members Karen Bainbridge and her cousin Alan Stewart to delve into some research about their family tree.

Another cousin, Nicola Schofield, who lives in Perth, Australia, set up the Facebook page, ‘Bringing The Stewarts Together’.

It quickly became apparent just how big the family was when it attracted more than 100 members.

After sharing memories and photos it was decided a family reunion was in order and the date was set.

Karen, who organised the reunion, said: “There are so many of us I would not have recognised many of them if I saw them in the street.

“Now we are in constant contact and sharing so many wonderful memories – it’s just such a shame we never got round to it before.

“My mother for one would have loved to see how we are all keeping their memories alive like this.”

Karen said recent contact with new family members has helped with the family tree. Before, she had about 100 people on it – but now she has traced about 630 family members over 12 generations, dating back to the early 1700s.

Sharon Bradshaw, of Thornton Road, Carlisle, is third generation.

Her grandmother was Janet Young Stewart, born in 1923, the eigth child of Joseph and Jessie.

“It’s just been bizarre,” said Sharon, 41.

“I’ve known ever since I was young that we had a big family but you can’t really comprehend just how massive it is.

“We’ve got over 100 on the [Facebook] page and I’ve worked it out, there’s 199 of us that have come from two people.”

Sharon even found out at her aunt Betty’s funeral that her friend, Emma Bailey, is actually a relation.

“It’s all a bit mad. We could be Carlisle’s biggest family,” Sharon added.

Joseph and Jessie lived in Wood Square, Hopes Court and Buchanan Street before moving to Blundell Road, Harraby, with their large family in the mid 1930s, where they remained until they died on April 21, 1949 and March 21, 1959, respectively.

Throughout the generations many have served in the forces, including with the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, or taken on roles with the NHS as nurses and care workers.

Fascinating tales, from life in Fusehill workhouse to lives lost at sea in World War Two have emerged since the family made contact.

Janet Stewart, Sharon’s grandmother, had a narrow escape while working at the munitions depot at Eastriggs, near Gretna, on the night her bunker blew up – but she had fortunately been sleeping in another.

Ronnie Stewart, the youngest of the 16 Stewart children, was adamant that he would only marry a girl who had the same name as his beloved mother, Jessie.

He kept to his word when he married his beloved wife Jess, the eldest surviving family member, aged 74, who will be at the reunion.

She and her late husband became proud grandparents and great grandparents, with baby Ronnie sharing her late great-grandfather’s name.

Most of the family still live in Carlisle, with the majority growing up in Harraby, though some live elsewhere in the UK.

One cousin, Nicola is visiting from Perth with her son Michael, 12, to be part of the celebration.

A mini-reunion was held at the Halston Hotel on Warwick Road on Saturday when 15 women across five generations enjoyed afternoon tea together.

Sharon added that she can’t take credit for organising the reunion and that Karen has been the one to pull everything together.

She said she is “beyond excited” to meet family members she has never met before and to catch up with those she is already acquainted with.