Robert Ewing of Inch Island

One of the six Ewing brothers who fought in Battle of the Boyne. Lived in several places, the last of which was Inch Island.

Life

Robert Ewing was born between 1646 to 1655 (estimation based on him being between the age of 22 and 31 years old when his first child was born). Some sources have indicated that he was born in Scotland. Robert apparently died in Ireland since no record has been found that would put him in America. The name of his wife has never been found.

Known children of Robert are:

1. Margaret Ewing, christened 26 Mar 1678 in Burt, Donegal, Ireland
2. Elizabeth Ewing, christened 17 Nov 1678 in Burt, Donegal, Ireland
3. Alexander Ewing, christened 18 Jan 1679/80, born about 1676/7

Note: there are quite a number of other children of Robert mentioned in the baptism records of the Burt Congregation, but they may have been overlooked because Robert seemingly moved a couple of times. These are below.

1. Mary Ewing, born Inch Island, baptized Burt, May 17, 1693
2. James Ewing, born Inch Island, baptized Burt, June 22, 1701
3. Janet Ewing, born Inch Island, baptized Burt, April 27, 1704
4. Sarah Ewing, born Inch Island, baptized Burt, May 15, 1709

Robert may have been a brother to William Ewing, and son of a William Ewing of Stirling who was born in the early 1600's in Scotland.

Naming

Many of the families from Scotland named their children in the following manner:

• the first son is named after the father's father
• the second son is named after the mother's father
• the third son is named after the father
• the fourth son is named after the father's oldest brother
• the first daughter is named after the mother's mother
• the second daughter is named after the father's mother
• the third daughter is named after the mother
• the fourth daughter is named after the mother's oldest sister

Another child for Robert Ewing might be Elinor Ewing born in 1672 and died in 1765 at the age of 93 years in America.

Robert Ewing is identified as being from the community of Elaghbeg (sic), as shown on current maps of Ireland. Elaghbeg is a short distance (maybe 8 to 10 kilometers or 5 to 6 miles) northwest from Londonderry.

References:

• http://oursoutherncousins.com/ROBERT%20EWING.pdf
• http://jimmcmcl.home.att.net/Chapter3.htm

Historical context

Robert Ewing's brothers and other family may have immigrated to America in the historical context of Roman Catholic war against protestant English:

“In 1641, the Roman Catholic church was the mainstay of organizing a rebellion which was meant to drive out or kill the English, but allow the Scots to remain. However, religious influence was strong and a massacre of thousands of Protestants, both English and Scots was the result. The Scottish army sent over to quell the rebellion actually started the first regular Presbytery and meeting. Unfortunately, although your areas of interest have very early Presbyterian congregations, no records were kept at first and many have been destroyed since. However, for centuries afterwards, it was still advantageous for Presbyterians to be baptised into the Established Church and married there, to maintain rights of inheritance. And often this is the only place we find them recorded. Presbyterians were, at a latter period sometimes baptised at home, but where they were following Established Church rules, as here, it would have been in the church. In this period of time, baptism would have been quite soon after birth, due to high rates of infant mortality.”(Deirdre Speer, “Report Ewing”, Part 1, p. 3)

“As civilians and in the military ranks several of the ancestors of the American Ewings participated in this defense of Londonderry. . . Tradition, however, is corroborated by an old poem written shortly after that battle by a native of Ireland in which we find this stanza:

“Londonderry was but the beginning of the war, short but sharp and bloody, which terminated in the triumph of the Protestant cause at the battle of the Boyne on July 1, 1690. . . A conspicuous instance was Finlay Ewing, closely related to the ancestor of the Virginia and Maryland families. Finlay was presented with a sword for his distinguished bravery in that epochal battle. It is said that he was an officer of artillery. There are creditable traditions that others of the family were by his side. This Finlay, it is said, was a son of James Ewing, who was born in Glasgow about 1650, and who is said to have married a Jane Porter.” (Ibid., pp. 129-130.)