The Descendants of Alexander Ewing
Alexander1 Ewing (Robert A)
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1. Alexander Ewing {66} was born about 1676/7 in Ulster, Ireland, and was christened 18 Jan 1679/1680 in Ulster, Ireland. He was the son of Robert Ewing {74} Alexander died 7 May 1738 in Cecil County, Maryland. He married Rebeckah [———?———] {68}. It is believe that Rebeckah died about 1771 or 1772. This is discussed more in Chapter 10 for their son John.
Known children of Alexander are:
i. Eleanor Ewing {72}, born about 1721, died before 1745. To Chapter 8.
ii. James Ewing {69}, born 8 Aug 1723 in Ulster, Ireland, died about 1791 in Wythe County, Virginia. To Chapter 7.
iii. John Ewing {61}, born about 1725 in Ulster, Ireland, died about 1788. To Chapter 10.
iv. William Ewing {70}, born 8 Jan 1728/1729. He married Jane Ewing {3779}. She was the daughter of Samuel Ewing {84} and Margaret [———?———] {3776}. To Chapter 7.
v. Margaret Ewing {73}, born about 1732. To Chapter 9.
vi. Samuel Ewing {71}, born 10 Mar 1736/7 in Cecil County, Maryland. He married Mary Porter {3888} about 1770. To Chapter 7.
In various publications information has been published about this family that is incorrect. There is enough evidence available to properly identify all of the members of this family and the families of each of the children of Alexander that married. First, we want to look at an article that was published in 1939 and then the will of Alexander Ewing. Those two articles will identify the children of Alexander except the daughter that is married to Andrew Porter is not named.
Newspaper Article
Southwest Virginia Enterprise, Wytheville, Virginia
Published Tuesday, February 7, 1939
OLD BIBLE PROVES TO BE OF MOST INTERESTING 'FIND'
“It is the day of old things being found and one of the most interesting finds that has come to our notice is an old Bible which Mr. John Davis has been good enough to bring to the office that we may see it.
“The original binding is gone (except in spots) but evidently was of leather. Another cover, ancient looking, too, has been sewed on and is of leather. Pasted on the inside cover is a card bearing the name of ‘B. Frank Porter, Ivanhoe, Va.’ and Mr. Davis tells us, Mr. Porter is the grandfather of Mrs. Davis. The original owner, however, evidently is James Ewing, as among the numerous writing on blank spaces and margins we find ‘Jas' Ewing his Book, Ye 21 January 1746/7.’
"James Ewing his bible, Bought in the year 1727. Bought by Alexander Ewing in Ir[e]land. He departed this life aged sixty one, May ye 7, 1738.
“_____sanna Porter was born _________ December 25, 1737. ____liam Porter was born _____ 27, 1733 (or 23). _______ew Porter was born 1741.
“__________ is 37 years old on March the 19th day 1742. His book.
"On the page marking the New Testament was ‘Printed in the year M.D.C.C. (1700).’ On the same page is written ‘James Ewing’ ‘Mary Porter was born November the 29, 1743.’ On the next page, which had been written all over, can still be deciphered the following:
"James Ewing was born the 8 of Aug., 1728. John Ewing was born on the 28 of _____ 1725. William Ewing was born the 8th of Jan'y 1728/9 and was baptized by John _______ Feb. 28, 1728. Margaret Ewing daughter to Alexander Ewing ________ the 8th day ___ (torn) ____ born the 12 of March, 1734. _________ was born 10 of March, 1729. Samuel Ewing was born 10 March, 1738.
“On another page: ‘Alexander Ewing deces't in May ye 1 day 1737/8. . . .’”
Something is incorrect about the above date for Alexander that is presented in the article. The year written 1737/8 would normally be associated with a date in January, February, or March to help the reader to know the exact year due to the change in the calendar. But written with month of May, it could be they were trying to indicate 1737 or 1738. Also, the calendar did not change until 1752 and the date written above was not a practice until the calendar changed.
Two dates of death for Alexander were noted. Either day could be correct. I have accepted and used May 7, 1738 as the correct date of death. If this is the correct date of death for Alexander, we do not have an explanation for the several months that elapsed before the will was recorded in the court records.
Will of Alexander Ewing
Recorded Cecil County, Maryland Will Book B22 page 52
(The will was typed from a copy of the original will and each word was typed as close to the original word as possible. Based on the signature it appears that someone else wrote the will for Alexander and he signed the will.)
In the Name of god Amen. I Alexr Ewing being sick of body at present, butt perfit of mind and Memory. Blised be god therefore Calling to mind that it is Appointed for all Men to Die Doeth make this My last Will & Testament in the Method and Manner as followeth.
1st I Recommend My Soull to God who gave it & My Body to the dust to be buried in a Christian Like & Decent Manner at the discretion of my Exattr and touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased god to bless Me with I Bequeath in the Meathoud followeth:
2dly I Appoint All My Just & Lawfull Debts to be Discharged & paid as Soon as it is possible as my Exattr shall see Caus.
3dly My well beloved Wife to have the one third of all My Movables After the Debts is paid with her proportion of the plantation as the Law Dericts. 4ly I appoint that My Son James shall have the half of the plantation with the house and Orchard and all Improvements belonging to that half and the Other half to my sons John and Willm Equally. Willm Husbands to Make the lines betwixt them. 5ly I appoint that my son James Shall pay twinty pounds More or Less to My daughter Margrett at the Discretion of my Exattr when She Arives to the age of Sixteen & that John & Willm shall pay Unto My Son Samuel when he Arrives at the Age of Sixteen years the Sume of Twenty pounds More or less at the Discretion of my Exattr.
6ly I appoint that my Son in Law Andw Porter Shall have given him by my Exattr the first Day of Novembr Next the old Brown Horse & Six Sheep together with what he hath Already Gotten. 7ly If any of My Sons Incline to Sell their part of the land it Shall be to their Brother or Brothers he or they paying As Much for the Same as a Stranger is willing to give. 8ly I positively Appoint that my Sons James and John Shall be bound to traids [trades] at or Against nixt fall at the likes of my Exattr and that Willm & Margrett be Likewise Bound Out at the Exattr discretion. 9ly I appoint Andr Barry Esq., James Porter, Saml Ewing & Nathl Ewing to be My Exattr & Lastly I Doe here by Revoke Disallow and Disanull all formar wills & Testaments Made by me in any ways and Doth only Confirm Ordain & appoint this to be My last will & Testament. As witness My hand & Seall 18 day of Aprill 1738.
Witness Presentt William Mitchell Alexr Ewing (seal)
Rachel Ewing [signed with her mark]
The will was probated and entered into the Cecil County, Maryland records on 10th March 1738 with the following recorded after the will:
On the back of the foregoing will was thus written Viz.
Cecil County --- March Ye 10th 1738. William Mitchell & Robert Gillespie two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will being duly & solemnly Sworn of the Holy Evangels of Almighty God depose & Say they Saw the Testator Alexander Ewing Sign the foregoing will & heard him Publish & declare the same to be his last Will and Testament. That at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their Apprehension of sound & disposing mind & memory and that they Subscribed their respective names & Rachel Ewing set her mark as Witness to the same will in the Presence of the said Testator & at his request Which Oath was taken by the said Witnesses in the Presence of James Ewing Eldest son of the deceased who made no Objection to the probate of said will.
Sworn before me
NOTE: 10th March 1738 recorded date of will is year 1739 based on today’s calendar.
Please spend a little time looking at the inventory of Alexander Ewing listed later in this chapter. When you consider the items listed, hopefully, you will get a feeling for what possessions a family was able to accumulate. The grain listed gives an indication of some of the items that were planted and harvested on the farm.
The newspaper article names five of the six known children and the will of Alexander Ewing names the same five children, James, John, William, Margaret, and Samuel. The will does name a son-in-law, Andrew Porter. He is married to a daughter, Eleanor, of Alexander Ewing. The wills of the brothers of Eleanor will identify her by name. William Ewing {70}, a son of Alexander, says in his will "I also give unto my sister Elanor Porter's grandson Andrew Porter my negro girl Peg forever." The complete text of the brothers wills will be presented in a later chapter.
The words son-in-law in the early eighteenth century did have a meaning of step-son, but, it also meant the same as we know son-in-law today. The will does name all of the children with the exception of Eleanor, but she is indirectly named through Andrew Porter. It is possible and most likely for Eleanor to be the oldest child based on the fact that she was married when Alexander wrote his will. However, in those days, some of the girls got married at a very early age.
Who are the people that witnessed the will, the executors of the will of Alexander Ewing, and the individuals named in the inventory for Alexander. This will also address the comments published by Mr. Ray.
From the will:
William Mitchell nothing is known.
Robert Gillespie married Franke (Frances) daughter of Mary Ewing owner of the
tavern in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They can be found in
Amelia (the part that became Prince Edward) County, Virginia by
1745.
Rachel Ewing she is the wife of Nathaniel Ewing and a niece of Alexander Ewing {66}. She used her mark when she witnessed the will.
Andrew Barry nothing is known.
James Porter is a brother to Rachel (Porter) Ewing. He is also a nephew of the testator.
Samuel Ewing is probably the half-brother of Nathaniel Ewing.
Nathaniel Ewing is the husband of Rachel (Porter) Ewing and the testator would be an uncle based on Rachel being a niece of Alexander Ewing.
From the inventory:
Patrick Ewing He is marked "Kin" on the inventory. He may be a brother to
Alexander Ewing and may be the 1729 Constable in Drumore
township, which became Little Britain township in Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Porter He is marked "Kin" on the inventory. He is a son-in-law.
James Porter He is marked a creditor. He is a nephew, as indicated above.
Wm. Husbands is a neighbor. He also purchased land that is part of the 900 acres called the LEVELL.
Marguerite and Vernon Brown in their book Ewing - McCulloch - Buchanan Genealogy gives information from the 1939 article mentioned above. They state, "One of the most valuable finds in clearing up the family records of Alexander Ewing (son of Robert), who died in 1738 in Cecil County, Maryland, was the Bible records published Tuesday, February 7, 1939, in the Southwestern Virginia Enterprise, Wytheville, Virginia, which reads "Old Bible proves to be of most interesting 'find'."
In 1939, the James Ewing Bible was in the possession of Mrs. Davis who is Pauline Porter6 Johnson (Ida5 Porter, Benjamin4, Robert3, Robert2, Andrew1) who married John Wampler Davis, Jr. on 2 August 1930.
It is important to keep in mind, the author of the article said the written information "can be deciphered". That tells me that in some cases the dates and/or names could
Cecil County, Maryland Inventories, Book 3, page 74
Inventory of Sundry belonging to Alexander Ewing deceased~
One Mare and Colt 09.00.0
Do two mares 05.00.0
One horse 02.00.0
Two yearling calves 01.10.0
Two Heifers 03.10.0
3 Cows 11.00.0
1 Cow 03.10.0
14 Sheep at 7/ 04.12.0
11 Hogg 03.10.0
1 Looking glass 01.00.0
13 Cows sold for 27.19.0
Currency appraised 10.12.0
An old feather bed &
bedg. 03.00.0
Two old chest 01.00.0
little old table 00.01.6
An old side saddle 01.15.0
A Coat & vest 02.10.2
A great coat 00.15.0
An old pair of britches and
old pair of boots 00.06.0
An old bed sted & bedding 02.05.0
An old spining wheel & Reel 00.12.0
An old saddle 00.06.0
Iron Potts 01.00.0
An iron bound can 00.02.0
An old Bible 00.02.0
A plough & Tackling 01.10.0
80 Bus. of wheat 12.00.0
30.11.2
50 shillings pensy curr appraised
to 3.6.7 Maryld Curry 03.06.7
2.10 in money 02.10.0
20 D of old peauter 00.10.0
To Spoons Moles 00.10.0
2 Bills 00.02.0
One Auger 00.01.0
2 Maul Bings & 2 ___ 00.03.0
2 Axes 00.11.0
One Crok & tongs 00.07.6
An old saddle hide grind stone 00.07.6
One wheel 00.03.0
One old Sheep Shears 00.00.6
One old heir cloth 00.10.0
One X cut saw 00.10.0
One hand saw 00.03.0
A broken whip saw 00.01.6
2 Mataks 00.07.6
11 old harrow teeth 00.03.0
Totottel 90.03.9½
Approved by Patr Ewing }
Andrew Porter} Kin
James Porter Credr
Patt Reach
Appraised by William Husbands
John Has App
Cecil County _______ August 31, 1739
Nathaniel Ewing & James Porter makes oath that this is a Just & perfect Inventory of all & singular the Goods & Chattels which were of the Deced that came to their hands & at the time of the making _____and that what path since or shall hereafter come to their hands or possession they will return in an addl Inventory or _____ that they know of no commitment of any part or _____ thereof by any _____ whatsoever and that if they shall discover any Concealment or suspect any to be they will acquaint the ______ General for the time being or his Deputy with such Discovery or Cause of Suspicion that it may be inquired into & that they will _____ today given ansr of all & every part of the Decds personal estate that shall hereafter come to their hand possession or knowledge. Sworn before me. Wm Rumsey
~~~~~~~~~~
have been difficult to read. As we look at the date of births, we will prove that some
must be in error as recorded in the article. The error being how the date was deciphered.
James Ewing's birth is printed as 8 Aug. 1728. The birth year for James has to be 1723. First, we know that James was identified as the "Eldest son of the deceased" when the will of Alexander Ewing {66} was recorded in the Cecil County records. John is the second son, his birth being after James, and John was born in 1725 based on the article above.
The article is not the only place that we can put John being born in 1725. In a book by Peden, Maryland Deponents 1634-1799, on page 62, we find the following extract:
"Ewing, John of Cecil County, farmer age 37 in 1763 (DD#J:380)."
The information in the parenthesis is apparently the reference to the original document in Cecil County. Based on the age of 37 in 1763, John would have been born in 1726 if he had his birthday in 1763. And, if he has not had his birthday, he would have been born in 1725.
In a Cecil County, Maryland Chancery Court Record, Book 10 page 380, about 1762, we find the following:
"John Ewing of Cecil County Farmer aged about thirty seven."
Based on the age of 37 in 1762, John would have been born in 1725 if he had had his birthday in 1762, and if he has not had his birthday, he would have been born in 1724.
Based on the newspaper article, the deposition information, and the Chancery Court information, it appears that we could safely say that John was born in 1725.
William is the next child after John and his birth date appears to be complete in the newspaper article. The fact that William was born in January 1727/28 appears to help support the fact that John was born in 1725. A child being born about every two years, give or take a month or two.
Margaret is the next child that lives to maturity. It appears that possibly a child might have been born to Rebeckah and Alexander Ewing on 10 Mar 1729/30 and 12 Mar 1734. Those dates are recorded in the Bible but without names. I have given Margaret a birth year of about 1732. It is possible, she was born in 1731. Margaret was born on the 8th day of a month according to the article, the month and year was not given since it apparently was not legible. Since a record for Margaret's birth is found in the article, we have assumed that the dates 10 Mar 1729/30 and 12 Mar 1734 do not apply or refer to Margaret.
The Bible article gives the birth of Samuel as 10 Mar 1738 and I have assumed that is the date that was read as actually written in the Bible. Based on the old calendar the year would be 1738/39. With that being the case, the year 1738 has to be wrong. Again, I mention the author had to decipher some of the information. Alexander Ewing, the father of Samuel, wrote his will and signed it on 18 April 1738. The date March 10, 1738 lacks eight days being eleven months after Alexander signed his will. I contend that Alexander Ewing would not have named a son in his will when his wife was not even pregnant with a child. Also, March 10, 1738 is the date the will of Alexander Ewing was presented to the court. Was Rebeckah, the wife of Alexander, present when the will of her husband was presented to the court? With this analysis, I am convinced that Samuel was born in 1736 and not 1738. That would be 10 Mar 1736/7.
The year that Alexander Ewing and his family came to America is not definite. Based on a statement in Clan Ewing, several families came to America together. The immigration of Nathaniel Ewing was discussed in Chapter 5. According to the newspaper article above, we think that this family came to America in 1727. As indicated in Clan Ewing of Scotland, a group of Ewing, Porter, Gillespie, and other families came to America in 1727.
Based on an immigration date of 1727, Eleanor, James, and John would have been born in Ireland with William, the next child, most likely being born in America. He was possibly born in Pennsylvania. Margaret and Samuel were probably born in Cecil County, Maryland.
The Browns make an interesting statement on page 5 of their book regarding the leaders of the migration. They say, "Since Alexander Ewing was considerably older than Nathaniel and his half-brothers, he is believed to have been one of the leaders of this group of Ewings, Caldwells, Porters, and Gillespies, and possibly others in their migration to America."
In Ireland, between the years 1720 and 1730, the harvests were very poor. Crop failures, no doubt contributed to the causes that turned our ancestors toward America. "We can readily understand why, therefore, with the few earthly goods left to them, some embarked, say traditions, upon the good old Eagle Wing, others on the staunch Rising Sun, to seek in America what their fathers had vainly sought first in Scotland and then in Ulster.
"It is not true, as some think, that most of our ancestors came at the same time, or that all came in
the same ship. Some came in the one barque and others in another. Yet how prophetic that many
Scotch and Scotch-Irish, with a contribution by the Ewings, should come, among others, in The
Eagle Wing and in The Rising Sun. But for the Scotch, Scotch-Irish and Irish, who would have
unfettered the American eagle wings which drove the clouds of misrule from the hill-top over
which came the rising sun of American Liberty?"
The above statement would indicate that the group came on two ships. We can most likely assume that they did not all leave or arrive on the same date. Most likely one or more people were involved as the leaders of the families leaving Ireland for America.
“Most of the ancestors of the Virginia and Maryland families were born in or near Londonderry,
the capital of County Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland. Others were born in Coleraine, or near there,
the important seaport of Londonderry County. . . .”
From our research, we know that the Ewings, Porters, and Caldwells intermarried a number of times.
In correspondence with the Caldwell family regarding when that family came to America and how they traveled, the following reply was received:
"Yes, "The Eagle Wing," or just "Eagle Wing," was the name of the ship that in 1727 the
Caldwells and their relatives took from somewhere in the north of Ireland, or "Ulster." ". . . this
Caldwell bunch to build a church on Cub Creek, Lunenburg Co., Virginia, and it took place about
1737, or about ten years after they landed at New Castle, Delaware."
"About the year 1735 my grandfather James McAfee, married Jane McMichael in Ireland, and his
father dying soon after, in 1739 leaving a large family who had married off . . . and after a tedious
passage landed at New Castle on the Delaware River on the 10th of June in that year . . . his
resources being limited his wife and himself were compelled to reserving his small stock of money
to purchase land which he accomplished that fall in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on Octoraro
creek. . . . Malcolm McMichael was the father of Jane. Also, Malcolm was the father of
Margaret McMichael who married Samuel Ewing."
Samuel is the son of John Ewing of
Carnshanaugh.
What all of this seems to say is that ships with passengers from Ireland, maybe certain ports in
Ireland, came to the port of New Castle over a period of several years. Based on the location of
Cecil County, it appears to make sense that a number of immigrants that settled in that general
area might have landed at New Castle. Get your atlas out and look at how much traveling is
involved if the ship goes up the Delaware River rather than going south around the tip of Virginia
and then going back north to stop some where on the Chesapeake Bay. No doubt the ship went
on to Philadelphia after stopping at New Castle. It would sure be nice to find some evidence to
prove it. Which brings me back to the Caldwell information. They do not have any proof that it
was 1727 or New Castle except tradition. In this case tradition is fact until someone finds proof.
I wonder if the Porters and/or Gillespies have any information on when and where their families
came and landed in America? How about the Breading family, Anne "Sea Gull" Ewing "married
her cousin, James Breading."
It has been indicated by some that the Ewing group of 140 people chartered the ship Eagle Wing for their voyage to America. Based on the above statement about our ancestors making the voyage in two ships, it does not seem reasonable to think that 140 traveled as one group. One day, I tried to jot down some of the families that have been indicated as traveling together to America and I was no where close to a hundred people much less 140.
When we located Mrs. Lillian Forster editor for the Eagle Wing a newsletter for the Caldwell family, we corresponded with her about the migration of the Caldwell family. In her letter of March 8, 1994, she writes, "Yes, "The Eagle Wing," or just "Eagle Wing," was the name of the ship that in 1727 the Caldwells and their relatives took from somewhere in the north of Ireland, or "Ulster." John Caldwell (1683-1750) was "Captain," and it was he who spurred them on and who eventually was credited with being leader of the group who established the first Presbyterian settlement and church in the Crown Colony of Virginia. The "established church" there was Anglican, being Church of England over here. John, who we call "Cub Creek John," had to obtain permission from the governor of Virginia, who had to get permission, himself, from England, for this Caldwell bunch to build a church on Cub Creek, Lunenburg Co., Virginia, and it took place about 1737, or about ten years after they landed at New Castle, Delaware. Whether they owned this Eagle Wing ship, I don't know."
The name "Finley" and other spellings is a name that has been used for naming Ewing sons for over three hundred years. It is not known how or when that name was first used in the Ewing family. The following is interesting in light of the name of the ship and port used in America:
"Maryland and Pennsylvania because of their guarantee of religious freedom were attractive to the Celts and to these colonies, the tide of Scotch-Irish immigration quickly turned. To the rising effects of this immigration many ships were built for the purpose of carrying passengers and goods to America.
"Among the ships built for this purpose was the brig Eagle Wing launched at Belfast, Ireland, in
the year 1714 and constant service for more than thirty-five years between that port and the ports
of Newcastle, Delaware, or Philadelphia. It was a fast sailing vessel, modern for the times,
making the trip to America, if all went well, in seven to ten weeks.
The ship described above, may be a second ship by the name Eagle Wing or it is replacing the
original ship. "In New England, a group of 140 Irish Calvinists had arrived from Belfast as early
as the year 1636, on board an immigrant ship nicely named Eagle's Wing.
In the first half of the eighteenth century, a number of ships stopped at New Castle, Delaware. That could very well be the place where the Ewing families landed. From New Castle to the east boundary of Cecil County, Maryland, which is also the state line, is about fifteen miles. It would have been very easy for any emigrants that landed in New Castle to travel to Cecil County, Maryland.
Apparently, Alexander Ewing was in America for a few years before he purchased land in Cecil County, Maryland. Margaret Fife reports in her book on page 147, "an Alexander Ewing (Sr) is shown paying tax in 1729 in East Nottingham township, Chester County, Pennsylvania next to one Alexander Ewing , Jr. Not necessarily son and father as, in that day Jr. and Sr. were used also to designate a younger and older person by the same name."
In Chester County, Pennsylvania, a document was found recorded in the Quarter Sessions Bound Volume (Petitions) for an Alexander Ewing. The document is dated 28 May 1728, petitions the court to recover the expenses for locating a servant. The petition reads in part:
“That whereof your petitioner ---- ---- age having transported himself and famelley with servant from the Kingdom of Irland into this province whereby one Andrew Nilley a servant to ye petitioner for four years from the time of his landing . . . .”
I received correspondence that indicated that Alexander may have been in America by 1724 based on the above document. But, what appears to have happened is that sometime after arriving in America the servant left and Alexander had him traced down. Apparently, the servant was to have worked for Alexander for four years to pay off the expense of his transportation to America.
The actual date when Alexander purchased the 290 acres from William Vestall is not known since the deed was never recorded in the Cecil County records. From the Maryland Hall of Records a copy of page 335b from the Land Office (Rent Rolls), we find the following entries for land named the LEVELL:
Acres Date
900 December 15, 1714 Benjamin Allen from Ephraim Augustine Herman
450 January 13, 1719 Harman Hinkey from Benjamin Allen
160 May 4, 1726 John Hinkey from Benjamin Allen
290 September 10, 1729 William Vestall from Benjamin Allen
450 November 13, 1729 William Husbands from Harman Hinkey
290 October 26, 1731 Alexander Ewing from William Vestall
160 November 17, 1731 William Husbands from John Hinkey
7 April 23, 1740 William Husbands from James Ewing
145 March 7, 1750 George Gillespie from James Ewing
610 Resurveyed for William Husbands
145 October 29, 1759 William Gillespie from Ann and Samuel Gillespie
121 March 20, 1760 Richard Guy from William Ewing
Page 335a from the Land Office (Rent Rolls) the LEVELL, 900 acres, is described: "Levell Survd 2d May 1687 for Casparus Herman on the South side Canawango [Conowingo] Creek running into Susqu[e]hanna River, begin at a bounded Beech Tree on a hill near the Creek side." Mr. Herman paid one pound and 16 pence yearly rent.
From the rent rolls, we know that Alexander Ewing had 290 acres on October 26, 1731. When James sold his inheritance, 145 acres, it is recorded under the date of March 7, 1750. Based on the date of the deed where James sold his inheritance to William Husbands it being the same date shown on the rent rolls, I would think we could assume that Alexander Ewing purchased the 290 acres from William Vestall on October 26, 1731, the same date recorded on the rent rolls.
CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND, DEED BOOK 7, pp 181-183
James Ewing sells land to George Gillespie
This Indenture made the seventh day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty Between James Ewing of the County of Cecil in the Province of Maryland Planter of the one Part and George Gillespie of the same place Planter of the other Part Witness that of said James Ewing for and in Consideration of the sum of two hundred and forty one Pounds ten Shillings Lawfull money of the Province of Pennsylvania the said James Ewing in hand Paid by the sd George Gillespie the Receipt where of he the said James Ewing doth hereby Acknowledge Have Given Granted Bargained Sold --------- and Confirmed And by these Presents doth Give Grant Bargain Sell ------- and Confirm unto the said George Gillespie his heirs and Assigns forever a certain Piece or Parcel of Land being Part of a tract of Land which Alexander Ewing father of the said James Ewing purchased from a certain William Vestal the same Place also being Part of a Tract of Land called the Levell Lying in the said County of Cecil on the East side of Susquehana River Beginning on the East and by North Line of the said Tract called the Levell at the End of three hundred and forty Perches and running from thence North North West one hundred and twenty five Perches thence North Sixty five Degrees East one hundred and thirty six Perches Thence South South East one hundred and fifty five Perches thence West and by South one hundred and thirty six Perches to the Place of Beginning Containing one hundred and forty five Acres of Land more or Less only it is hereby Excepted the quantity of Seven Acres more or Less Lying within the limits aforesaid which said James Ewing Sold to a certain William Husbands lying in the South West Corner of the said Granted Premises anything herein mentioned to ye Contrary. Notwithstanding to have and to hold the said Granted Premises Except as before Excepted with all the Building, Improvements and Appurtenances Whatsoever to the same belonging with the Reversions Remainders Yearly Rents and Profits of the Premises unto the sd George Gillespie . . . In Witness whereof the parties to these Presents have Interchangeably set their hand & seals the day and year first above Written.
Sealed &c delivered in the Presence of }
James Porter ___ Ewing ____ Knox } James Ewing [Seal]
Be it Remembered that on the Seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and forty nine [note it is 1750 in the deed and when it is recorded] came the within named James Ewing before us the Subscribers two of his Lordships Justices of the Peace for Cecil County and did acknowledge the within Conveyance to be his Act and his Deed and the Land and Premises therein mentioned to be Bargainied and Sold to be the Estate Right Title Interest Properly Claim and demand of the within named George Gillespie his heirs and Assigns forever and at the same time John Ewing and William Ewing did acknowledge their Assent to the within Deed and was fully Satisfied for all their Rights Title claim and Demand of the within Deed them and their heirs forever and Likewise Rebeckah Ewing Mother of the said James Ewing John Ewing and William Ewing did at the same Time Acknowledge all her right of Dower to the within Land and Premises to the said Geo Gillespie his heirs and Assigns forever Acknowledged before us Benja C---- Nathan Baker
Recid 13th June 1750 of George Gillespie five Shillings and Ten pence Sterling for one Alienation fine for the within Land for the use of the Lord Property Reced --- Alexr Baird 7 1/2 Recorded this fourteenth day of June 1750 and Examined
M Bordley Clk
The above deed clearly identifies Rebeckah as being the mother of James, John, and William Ewing. Also, she acknowledges her dower rights and gives up those rights so James can sell the land he inherited from his father. If Rebeckah had not been married to Alexander Ewing {66} at the time he died, she would not have had a dower interest in the land owned by Alexander Ewing. From the deed:
"Likewise Rebeckah Ewing mother of the said James Ewing, John Ewing, and William Ewing did at the same time acknowledge all her right of Dower to the within land...."
From the time that the will of Alexander Ewing was recorded in the Cecil County, Maryland records it has been open for interpretation. In some cases the conclusion drawn by an individual has not been correct. Worth S. Ray wrote in The Mecklenburg Signers and Their Neighbors regarding the above will Alexander Ewing:
"The executors, Samuel and Nathaniel Ewing were Brothers of the testator. The witness Rachel Ewing was the wife of the testator, who had been Rachel Porter, the widow of a Porter. Andrew Porter was her son by her former marriage."
We do not have any evidence that Nathaniel, Samuel, and Alexander Ewing were brothers. Nathaniel and Samuel would be half-brothers. The closest kin Nathaniel and his half-brother can be to Alexander is first cousin and we have no proof of them being cousins.
Since we know that Rebeckah had a dower right in the land being sold by James, we can assume that she was married to Alexander Ewing when he died and the interpretation made by Worth S. Ray is incorrect. She states that she is the mother of James, John, and William. With Margaret and Samuel being the two youngest children, we know that Rebeckah is the mother of at least five of the six children. Most likely Rebeckah is the mother of Eleanor but we have no proof to make that claim.
The wife of Alexander Ewing was mentioned in his will but he did not name her. The above deed properly identifies the wife of Alexander as Rebeckah.
To date, from different sources, I have found or been told about four different names that were indicated as being the wife of Alexander Ewing {66}. They are Rebeckah, Jane Porter, Eleanor Porter, and Rachel Porter. In some cases, two wives have been given for Alexander Ewing. In each of those cases, Rebeckah has always been listed as the first wife. In one case she was shown as Rebeckah Porter and Jane Porter shown as his second wife. Accepting that as fact, Rebeckah, being the first wife; then, considering the information from the deed where James Ewing sold the land he inherited, it appears that we can safely say Rebeckah was the only wife of Alexander Ewing.
Does anyone believe Alexander Ewing {66} had four wives? Also, all four wives having the name of Porter. Not very likely. How do we eliminate some of the four? In my opinion the deed that James Ewing signed in 1750 and where Rebeckah was examined eliminates Jane, Eleanor, and Rachel as possible wives of Alexander Ewing.
From the church records presented earlier, we find:
1695 May 26 Patrick Ewing (Inch) had Rebekah [baptized].
In correspondence with Margaret Fife, it has been suggested that Rebekah the daughter of Patrick Ewing of Inch is the wife of Alexander Ewing {66}. There is no proof to support that suggestion but it is certainly a possibility. If Patrick was the father of Rebeckah, the wife of Alexander, that might be a connection between Rachel Porter and Nathaniel Ewing being cousins. On the inventory for Alexander Ewing, a Patrick Ewing was identified as being kin.
We continue to try to identify how Nathaniel Ewing married his cousin, Rachel Porter. We know she is a Ewing descendant through Margaret Ewing {76}, but we do not know Nathaniel's kin connection to her.