William Ewing (abt. 1711 - 1781)

Born about Dec 1711 in Carnshannagh, County Donegal, Ireland

Descendants

Died 27 Dec 1781 at about age 70 in Stephens City, Frederick County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

William Ewing performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

William Ewing was born in 1711 in Carnshannagh, Ireland to John Ewing and Janette McElvaney. He immigrated with his family to Pennsylvania in 1729 ^[1] According to his own testimony, William then came to Frederick County in April 1733. This testimony was in regards to a suit he brought against Jost Hite for selling him 1,210 acres of land that in actuality belonged to Lord Fairfax. When he applied to Lord Fairfax for his grant he was given only 625 acres, the rest being given away to others. He brought suit against Hite for damages. The survey for this 625 acres was finally made on January 16,1754. In addition, he had surveys for 400 acres on May 11, 1763 and 386 acres on May 10, 1763. ^[2]

During the French and Indian Wars from 1754-1766 he was named as part of the local militia, which was the community's only protection against the Indian raids. It was a particularly difficult time for the settlers, many of whom left for the safety of the coast. William was in the poll taken in Frederick County on July 24, 1758 ^[3] and again on May 18, 1761. ^[1]

William married Elizabeth Tharpe, probably around 1752-1754 based on the birth of their first born in 1754. Secondary sources for their marriage record don't state the year, just that he was born in 1711 and she was born in 1732. ^[4]

William and Elizabeth had 8 children. William names them in his will, which he wrote on February 29, 1773, but it excluded Thomas, who was born shortly before his will was written. The birth dates provided were given by Gerald E. Ewing in a letter dated April 27, 1983 to the Frederick County Historical Society. ^[2]

1. John b. April 10, 1754
2. William b. April 26, 1758
3. Robert b. February 28, 1761
4. Elizabeth b. March 2, 1763
5. Mary b. March 31, 1765
6. Samuel b. February 28, 1767 ^[5]
7. Jannet b. September 21, 1770
8. Thomas b. February 3, 1773

His will also named Jonathan Bakle, the son of Elizabeth from her first marriage. The will was never proved, perhaps because it did not name his youngest child, Thomas. However, his son John posted a bond after his death guaranteeing the distribution of land and names all 4 sons. ^[1]

William died on December 27, 1781 and is buried in the Ewing Family Cemetery near Stephens City, Frederick County, Virginia. ^[6] There is also an old, broken headstone which had been replaced, but his name and most of his date of death is still legible on the original ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Ewing, Evelyn and Jim, The Ewings of Frederick County, Virginia. 1986, published by the Ewing Family Association (https://www.ewingfamilyassociation.org/books/Document_WmofFrederickCo.html | accessed 27 Nov 2022)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Tharpe Dye, Shirley, William Ewing of Frederick County, VA. Published by the Ewing Family Association in October 2006. (https://www.ewingfamilyassociation.org/books/Document_WmEwingbyDye.html | accessed 27 Nov 2022)
3. ↑ From Ancestry.com: Virginia Militia Record, Poll taken in Frederick County, Virginia, 07/24/1758 includes the name William Ewings.
4. ↑ "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
   Source number: 1648.057; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1 Ancestry Record 7836 #394848 (accessed 27 November 2022)
   William Ewing marriage to Elizabeth Thorpe.
5. ↑ DAR Record https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A112527
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #135683821