John Ewing, of Carnashannagh

One of the six "Battle of the Boyne" Ewing brothers. Married in 1701 in Burt, County Donegal, not Virginia.

General

Birth Notes: His birth year, 1648, is estimated based on his age at death. And, the birth year could easily be 1649 since his death date is six months, March 25 to Sept 23, into the year.

"John Ewing, the first ancestor known of this family, born about 1650, went from Scotland to North of Ireland...." [Epler, p124]

"'Genealogical record of the descendants of John Ewing, senior, of Scotch descent, born in the north of Ireland about the year 1660;....'" [Jamison]

In the "Correspondence" note below, John Gillespie says in his March 11, 1919 letter, "You run back to John Ewing of Carnshanagh in the parish of Fahan, co Donegal, Ireland who was born about 1650."

In a letter (1914), to my grandfather from Mrs. R.A. Alexander who says she is a great granddaughter of sister of Ann Ewing, the statement is made that John Ewing was born in Scotland cir. 1648, went to Ireland while young, and according to another letter was in siege of Londonderry 1689. (Rasmussen)

In the February 1995 Journal of Clan Ewing is an article, "John Ewing of Carnshanagh" by William S. Ewing that discusses when John came to Pennsylvania, his death and age at death. You can read the article, but you need to use the Back button on the toolbar to return here

Go to Article

[Comment: After looking at the sources for John's birth year, it appears to me that the Jamison information may have a typo. It would be interesting to see the handwritten correspondence.]

Death Notes: "Confession of Faith" book, printed in 1700, supposedly brought to this country by John Ewing in 1729. On page 94 of that book is recorded "John Ewing has departed this life September 23rd 1745 in his 97th year of his age. That would make him born about 1648. [See file: John Ewing (1648-1745)]

"Our John Ewing probably died in Chester County, Pennsylvania." [Frederick Co.]

[Comment: Son, William moved to Virginia in 1737 which was eight years before John the father died. It appears to be safe to assume John went on to Virginia with his family. He crossed the ocean when he was 81 and he lives 16 more years. Jim McMichael]

General Notes: of "Carnashannagh" is based on the current day spelling of a townland in Fahan-Upper Parish.

In the Jamison information, four children are listed for John by his first wife; and five children are listed for John by his second wife.

Fife p. 77: "This information from Elizabeth Ewing Jamison in 1821 and from Sallie Jamison in 1875."

The Burt Congregation register gives us additional names of children for John Ewing. Several children died young. But, one key for placing the children with the first wife or second wife is that generally the different sources have five children listed for John by his second wife. If that is the case, Thomas would be a child of John's by his first wife. Also, in one source, Thomas' birth, based on his age at death, can be estimated to be about 1699 and that year appears to put him in the proper sequence of the birth of the children of John. In the church register there is a baptism, 2 March 1712/13, of a son, Thomas, of John Ewing of Inch. [Comment: I am inclined to believe that this Thomas is a son of a different John Ewing. Jim McMichael]

Research Notes: Several sources have been used to document this family:

Records that have been extracted from the Ireland Church records. Some were published in Clan Ewing of Scotland by Elbert William R. Ewing, supplemented by research in Ireeland.

Descendants of John Ewing of Carnshannagh, Parish of Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland the Jamison Information

History and Genealogy of the Epler, Oldwiler, Huckleberry, Carr and Ewing Families by Mrs. Emma Epler Knudson

Ewing in Early America by Margaret Ewing Fife

Noted events in his life were:

1. Burgess: 1689-1700, Londonderry, Ireland. "In Hampton's Siege and History of Londonderry, 1861, p 361, is the statement 'The first meeting of the Corporation of Londonderry after the exclusion of the 'Irish' from the city, was held 2nd January 1689[/90]-Present, John Campsie, Mayor; ----, Aldermen; John M'Kinney, chaberlain; ----- sheriffs; ----- John Ewing, ---- burgesses.' This is probably the John Ewing of Carnshanagh, but I have no certainty of it. [From Jamison information.]

2. Burt Sessions: 1700, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland.7 "June 16 1700

"Wm Ramsay was appointed by the sess: to desire Wm Ewing to come to the sess: if he had any thing to say to it, because Sam: Elder did report to ye sess: that Wm Ewing & his uncle Jo: Ewings wife in derry desired him to speake to ye sess: that the sd Wm should get a new hearing of his business before the sess:"

[Comment: Based on the above, I am inclined to believe that we might have another John in Derry. First, we need to find out what burgess means. (Jim McMichael)]

3. Residence: : Ireland, America.1 "Genealogical record of the descendants of John Ewing, senior, of Scotch descent, born in the north of Ireland about the year 1660 ... fought the Irish armies of James II within the walls of Londonderry the 105 days of the year 1690."

When he came to America he settled in Nottingham tp. Chester Co., Pa. near Octoraro Creek. [Jamison]

From the Ireland Burt church records, we can place John in Ireland and being identified as being from the townland Carnashannagh. In 1691, John's daughter, Martha, was buried and a daughter, Mary, was baptized in 1705/6.

[Comment: It appears that we could assume John continued to live on his farm in Carnashannagh until the time the family left for the American Colonies. But, we do not have anything to know when John got to Ireland or where he was born.]

The article in the February 1995 Clan Ewing journal places John in the colonies in 1729.

The 1730 Tax Record of London Britain Twp., Chester County, PA shows a John Ewing. He is single. This could be the son, John, or the father, John. [Fife, p.64]

4. Correspondence: 1919.8 "So far as I know our lines do not come together. You run back to John Ewing of Carnshanagh in the parish of Fahan, co. Donegal, Ireland who was born about 1650. I go back to Finlay Ewing of the same parish of Fahan, Co Donegal, who was born about 1660. Whether they were of kin it is difficult to say. I have so far gotten no tract of Finlay's brothers or sisters or his ancestors.

"The family tradition that he came from county Dumbarton, is most credible, as he came from Scotland and Ewings of Scotland did all hark back to 'The Lennon'-the counties of Dumbarton, Stirling, with parts of Perth, Renfrew and Lanark. In Dumbarton prior to 1689 there are many Finlay Ewings found, though the name of Finlay Ewing does not appear in after times. The oldest will in this region was of Finlay Ewing of Ladystoun, parish of Bonhill, co Dumbarton in 1585." [From a letter John Gillespie Ewing wrote to Ben F. Ewing, Louisville, Ky., dated March 11, 1919. File: John Ewing 1648-1745]

John Ewing, of Carnashannagh-[1] 1 2 was born about 1648 3 and died on 23 Sep 1745 4 5 6 about age 97.

Birth Notes: His birth year, 1648, is estimated based on his age at death. And, the birth year could easily be 1649 since his death date is six months, March 25 to Sept 23, into the year.

"John Ewing, the first ancestor known of this family, born about 1650, went from Scotland to North of Ireland...." [Epler, p124]

"'Genealogical record of the descendants of John Ewing, seniror, of Scotch descent, born in the north of Ireland about the year 1660;....'" [Jamison]

In the "Correspondence" note below, John Gillespie says in his March 11, 1919 letter, "You run back to John Ewing of Carnshanagh in the parish of Fahan, co Donegal, Ireland who was born about 1650."

In a letter (1914), to my grandfather from Mrs. R.A. Alexander who says she is a great granddaughter of sister of Ann Ewing, the statement is made that John Ewing was born in Scotland cir. 1648, went to Ireland while young, and according to another letter was in seige of Londonderry 1689. (Rasmussen)

In the February 1995 Journal of Clan Ewing is an article, "John Ewing of Carnshanagh" by William S. Ewing that discusses when John came to Pennsylvania, his death and age at death. You can read the article, but you need to use the Back button on the toolbar to return here Go to Article

[Comment: After looking at the sources for John's birth year, it appears to me that the Jamison information may have a typo. It would be interesting to see the handwritten correspondence.]

Death Notes: "Confession of Faith" book, printed in 1700, supposedly brought to this country by John Ewing in 1729. On page 94 of that book is recorded "John Ewing has departed this life September 23rd 1745 in his 97th year of his age. That would make him born about 1648. [See file: John Ewing (1648-1745)]

"Our John Ewing probably died in Chester County, Pennsylvania." [Frederick Co.] [Comment: Son, William moved to Virginia in 1737 which was eight years before John the father died. It appears to be safe to assume John went on to Virginia with his family. He crossed the ocean when he was 81 and he lives 16 more years. Jim McMichael]

General Notes: of "Carnashannagh" is based on the current day spelling of a townland in Fahan-Upper Parish.

In the Jamison information, four children are listed for John by his first wife; and five children are listed for John by his second wife. Fife p. 77: "This information from Elizabeth Ewing Jamison in 1821 and from Sallie Jamison in 1875."

The Burt Congregation register gives us additional names of children for John Ewing. Several children died young. But, one key for placing the children with the first wife or second wife is that generally the different sources have five children listed for John by his second wife. If that is the case, Thomas would be a child of John's by his first wife. Also, in one source, Thomas' birth, based on his age at death, can be estimated to be about 1699 and that year appears to put him in the proper sequence of the birth of the children of John. In the church register there is a baptism, 2 March 1712/13, of a son, Thomas, of John Ewing of Inch. [Comment: I am inclined to believe that this Thomas is a son of a different John Ewing. Jim McMichael]

Research Notes: Several sources have been used to document this family:

Records that have been extracted from the Ireland Church records. Some were published in Clan Ewing of Scotland by Elbert William R. Ewing, supplemented by research in Ireeland. Descendants of John Ewing of Carnshannagh, Parish of Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland the Jamison Information History and Genealogy of the Epler, Oldwiler, Huckleberry, Carr and Ewing Families by Mrs. Emma Epler Knudson Ewing in Early America by Margaret Ewing Fife

Noted events in his life were:

1. Burgess: 1689-1700, Londonderry, Ireland. "In Hampton's Siege and History of Londonderry, 1861, p 361, is the statement 'The first meeting of the Corporation of Londonderry after the exclusion of the 'Irish' from the city, was held 2nd January 1689[/90]-Present, John Campsie, Mayor;

2. Burt Sessions: 1700, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland.7 "June 16 1700 "Wm Ramsay was appointed by the sess: to desire Wm Ewing to come to the sess: if he had any thing to say to it, because Sam: Elder did report to ye sess: that Wm Ewing & his uncle Jo: Ewings wife in derry desired him to speake to ye sess: that the sd Wm should get a new hearing of his business before the sess:" [Comment: Based on the above, I am inclined to believe that we might have another John in Derry. First, we need to find out what burgess means. (Jim McMichael)]

3. Residence: : Ireland, America.1 "Genealogical record of the descendants of John Ewing, senior, of Scotch descent, born in the north of Ireland about the year 1660 ... fought the Irish armies of James II within the walls of Londonderry the 105 days of the year 1690." When he came to America he settled in Nottingham tp. Chester Co., Pa. near Octoraro Creek. [Jamison]

From the Ireland Burt church records, we can place John in Ireland and being identified as being from the townland Carnashannagh. In 1691, John's daughter, Martha, was buried and a daughter, Mary, was baptized in 1705/6.

[Comment: It appears that we could assume John continued to live on his farm in Carnashannagh until the time the family left for the American Colonies. But, we do not have anything to know when John got to Ireland or where he was born.]

The article in the February 1995 Clan Ewing journal places John in the colonies in 1729.

The 1730 Tax Record of London Britain Twp., Chester County, PA shows a John Ewing. He is single. This could be the son, John, or the father, John. [Fife, p.64]

4. Correspondence: 1919.8 "So far as I know our lines do not come together. You run back to John Ewing of Carnshanagh in the parish of Fahan, co. Donegal, Ireland who was born about 1650. I go back to Finlay Ewing of the same parish of Fahan, Co Donegal, who was born about 1660. Whether they were of kin it is difficult to say. I have so far gotten no tract of Finlay's brothers or sisters or his ancestors. "The family tradition that he came from county Dumbarton, is most credible, as he came from Scotland and Ewings of Scotland did all hark back to 'The Lennon'-the counties of Dumbarton, Stirling, with parts of Perth, Renfrew and Lanark. In Dumbarton prior to 1689 there are many Finlay Ewings found, though the name of Finlay Ewing does not appear in after times. The oldest will in this region was of Finlay Ewing of Ladystoun, parish of Bonhill, co Dumbarton in 1585." [From a letter John Gillespie Ewing wrote to Ben F. Ewing, Louisville, Ky., dated March 11, 1919. File: John Ewing 1648-1745]