McEwen Notes

The name Ewen is derived from Gaelic Eoghan which
means "kind natured", and comes from the Latin, 
Eugenius.  The name McEwen, (also spelled MacEwan, 
MacEwen, MacEwing, MacEuen and MacEwin) means 
"son of Ewen."  It is a Scottish surname but the roots 
preceed Scotland.

McEwen is an Irish derivitive and this is where this 
ancestral line begins.  These ancesters were most 
likely Scots, which is a Gaelic branch of the Irish 
Celts.  About 350 B.C., the Gaels, a Celtic people 
from France migrated to Erin, which is now 
Northern Ireland (the Romans called the island 
Scotia).  Early in the fifth century when the 
Romans withdrew from the Southern Uplands 
of what is now Scotland, these Scots migrated 
from northwest Ireland to the coastal region, 
northwest of the Firth of Clyde.  They established 
a kingdom called  Dalriada, now known as Argyll.

Excerpts from "Clan Ewen: Some Records Of Its 
History" by R.S.T. MacEwen (Glasgow, 1904) 
are noted with quote marks.  

"I.  The ancient Clan Ewen or MacEwen of 
Otter, (Eoghan na h-Oitrich) which once 
possessed a stronghold of its own, was one of 
the earliest of the western clans sprung from 
the Dalriada Scots.  These Scots were among 
the assailants of the Roman province in Britain, 
but they did not finally settle in Argyllshire till 
the beginning of the 6th century.  The year 503 
is usually said to to mark the commencement of 
the reign of their first King in Argyllshire.  
Little of their history is known prior to the 
foundation of the Scotish monarchy in the 
middle of the 9th century.  They probably came 
more as colonists rather than invaders.  The 
first leaders were the three sons of Ere; Lorn, 
Fergus and Angus and these tribes were at 
least partly subject to the Picts from 736-800."

"II.  Up to the 13th century these Scots were 
divided into a few great tribes.  Gallgael was 
four clans from which sprang five smaller clans. 
From the Siol Gillevray, the 2nd of the great 
clans, came the clans Neill, Lachlan and Ewen.  
Clan Lamond sprang from Siol Eachern, 
although elsewhere it would appear that 
Ferchard and Ewen, the ancestors of the 
Lamonds and MacEwens, were brothers."

"The Maclachlans, MacEwens and Lamonds 
are sprung from Aodha Alain (d. about 1047), 
termed Buirche, called by Keltie De Dalan.  
He was the son of Anradan, and grandson of 
Aodha Allamuin, the head of the great family 
of Oneils, kings of Ireland, descended from 
Niall Glundbh (850-900)."

Niall Glundbh (850-900)
          l
Aodha Allamuin
          l
Anradan
          l
Aodha Alain (d. 1047)
l----------- Gillachrist
l----------Lachlan (ancestor of Maclachlan clan)
            Neill (ancestor of MacNeill clan)
            Dunslebhe 
  l---------- Ferchard (ancestor of Lamond clan)
               Ewen (ancestor of MacEwen clan)

"These clans were in possession in the 12th 
century of the greater part of the District of 
Cowal, from Toward Point to Strachur.  The 
Lamonds were separated from the MacEwens 
by the river Kilfinnan, and the MacEwens from 
the Maclachlans by the stream which divides 
the parishes of Kilfinnan and Strath Lachlan.  
The MacNeills were in possession of the 
islands of Barra and Gigha."

"The MacEwens possessed a tract of land 
about 25 square miles and could probably bring 
about 200 fighting men.  On the conquest of 
Argyll by Alexander II, 1222, they suffered severely 
and were involved in the ruin which overtook all 
the adherants of Somerled, except the MacNeills 
who consented to hold their lands of the Crown, 
and the Maclachlans who gained their former 
consequence by means of marriage with the 
heiress of the Lamonds.  Although the MacEwens 
suffered severely at this time a remnant survived 
under their own Chief at Otter, on the shores of 
Loch Fyne, where the last chief died 2 1/2 
centuries later."

"MacEwen I of Otter, the earliest chief of 
the clan flourished about 1200.  He was 
suceeded by Severan II of Otter 1222.  III and IV 
are unknown and Gillespie V of Otter 1315.  From 
this date there were four chiefs; Ewen VI, John VII, 
Walter VIII and Sufnee or Swene IX (d. about 1432), 
the last of the Otter chiefs.  So as late as 1750 
it is recorded in the "Old Statistical Account of 
the Parish of Kilfinnan: - On a rocky point on the 
Loch fyne there stood in 1700 the ruins of Castle 
MacEwen (Caisteal MhicEoghain), the stronghold 
of the earlier Lords of the Otter."

For 200 years leading up to 1314, Scotland 
was composed of sub kingdoms under the rule 
of Barons, who had soverign authority over their 
territories.  Scotlands King John de Baliol aligned 
himself with King Philip of France, who was at war 
with England and had agreed to aid Scotland 
should King Edward of England invade.  He did 
invade in 1298, marching into the west of 
Scotland, seizing the castle of Robert Bruce, 
Earl of Carrick.  Bruce was protecting the 
castle of Ayr against Edward but at his 
approach, Bruce burned the castle and 
retreated.  Edward then seized Bruce's castle 
of Lochmaben in Dumphries, wherein were 
confined hostages given in 1297 as pledges for 
the loyalty of Galloway.  Here is found the 
earliest record of Andrew MacEwen MacGill 
Rory, who with ten other hostages died by 
1300, due to their suffering and ill treatment.

"In 1431-2 Swene MacEwen IX granted a 
charter of certain lands of Otter to Duncan, 
son of Alexander Campbell.  He resigned it to 
James I in 1432, who passed it to Archibald, 
Earl of Argyll in 1493.  He passed it to his 
son, Earl Colin in 1513, to his son Archibald 
in 1526, to his son Archibald in 1575."

"So after the middle of the 15th century the 
barony and estates of Otter passed and gave 
title to a branch of the Campbells, and the 
MacEwens became more than ever, "children 
of the mist."  Some remained  in the vicinity 
and joined the Campbells.  In 1602 proof is 
allowed to Colquhoun of Luss to show that 
a number of Maclachlans, MacEwens and 
MacNeills were "men" of the Earl of Argyll.  
Others joined MacDougal Campbell of Craignish 
in Lorne.  Some of these settled in Lochaber.  
Some allied with other westrn clans as the 
name was common in the Western Highlands 
and Islands, especially in Skye.  Other colonies 
were formed in the Lennox country, in 
Dumbarshire and in Galloway."

In the following centuries, the Scottish and 
British thrones, and their respective religions 
(British episcopal and Scots presbyterians) 
were the cause of considerable fighting for 
dominance.  People aiding their Presbyterian 
leaders were subjected to fines, imprisonment, 
banishment, sold as slaves, or tortured.  
Reference is made of a Samuel McEwen of 
Glencairn parish who was sentenced and 
suffered at Edinburgh on August 15, 1684.  
This lead up to the 1700's when migration 
resulted from religious discontent and religious 
settlements known as presbyteries, began in the 
American colonies around 1739.  One such 
settlement known as the Presbytery of Orange 
located in North Carolina, at the Eno River or 
Sandy Creek was established around 1780. 
This is the next reference found of McEwen 
as a member of this settlement.  Family 
records state that RObert's father immigrated 
from Scotland in 1777, settling in  North Carolina.

--------------------

On June 1, 1773, Sir James Wright, the 
Governor of Georgia appointed by King George II, 
secured land by treaty from the Creek Indians.  
This land now comprises the counties of Wilkes, 
Lincoln, Elbert, and parts of Madison, Oglethorpe, 
Greene, Taliaferro, Warren and McDuffie.  A fort 
named Ft. James was built at the Broad and 
Savannah Rivers and became the gateway into 
Georgia for settlers from Virginia and the 
Carolina's.  Settlers registered there for 
tracts of land.  On February 3, 1804, a 
Headright Land Lottery was conducted for 
Revolutionary War soldiers and an Alexander 
McEwen (who it is believed but not proven to 
be Robert's father) received 2 unsuccessful 
draws in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.  
It is recorded that Robert married Rachel 
Hawkins in that county.  At this point in time 
it is believed that Robert and Rachel continued 
their migration towards Gwinnett County, 
Ga., as they marrried in 1801 and Kirkham 
was born in 1802 in Gwinnett County.  
It has been recorded (The Descendants of 
George Evans) that Robert received a land 
grant for his service as a private in the 
Georgia Militia.

The northeast territory of Georgia includes 
Gwinnett Co, which was ceded in 1818. This 
action resulted in a migration of citizens 
and Robert and Rachel McEwen were a part 
of this movement.  This part of Georgia was 
considered frontier country complete with 
a rudimentary network of roads. During the 
War of 1812 with Great Britain, Roberts only 
brother, James, was a Corporal.  While going 
to war was not a popular view in New England, 
the South and Western territory Congressional 
"War Hawks" favored this action as a way to 
gain the land including Canada and Florida.  
It is not known where James served, although 
further research may uncover some information.

During the first U.S. Census conducted in this 
territory in 1820, it was learned that Gwinnett 
County was made up of 693 housholds.  These 
households included 4589 inhabitants; 4050 
whites, 539 slaves and 1 free black.  Each home 
averaged 6.5 people and 23 percent  owned 
slaves.  Each home averaged 3.5 slaves, and 6 
of those heads of households that owned slaves 
were women.  The McEwen family were not slave 
owners.  Refer to the McEwen section of our 
ancestory to examine a photo copy of the 1820 
census page containing the McEwen household.

Robert was a farmer as well as a minister, and 
the 1850 census shows that he valued his real 
estate at $190, at the age of 73.

Research into the McEwen ancestral line has lead 
to the following observations which have yet to be 
confirmed.  Through family records, the earliest 
confirmation of the direct line begins with Kirkham 
(Jasper), who was born in Gwinnett Co., Georgia, 
in 1802.

Family records state that Kirkham's parents were 
Robert Bort McEwen and Rachel Hawkins.  The 
1820 census shows Robert as the head of a 
household in Gwinnett County that consisted 
of one white male between 16 and 26, and 
Kirkham was 18, at that time.  The census also 
show two white females between 0 and 10, 
and two between 10 and 16 years of age.

According to the 1820 U.S. census records, 
James H. McEwen (Robert's only brother) was 
the head a the household in Gwinnett County, 
Georgia.  It is currently believed that he is 
an uncle of Kirkham McEwen, although no 
positive proof has been obtained.  These 
family records indicate that while Robert 
relocated from Norht Carolina to Georgia, 
his brother James settled in Tennessee.

Research has uncovered the following 
information.  No McEwen grave markers exist 
in Gwinnett County, although records show 
that Robert and rachel are buried at the 
Stone Mountain village cemetery.  All 
marriage records prior to 1840 were destroyed 
in a courthouse fire in 1871.  The Athens, 
Georgia newspaper (The Athenian), reported 
a petition in the Court of Ordinary by Kirkham 
on September 28, 1827, that one John 
Butler, deceased, had sold 50 acres of land 
to Kirkham.  Kirkham also successfully 
participated in a land lottery in 1827 in 
Gwinnett County, Georgia.  This land was 
located in Maddux number 12, district 13, 
section 1; and Wallis number 117, district 2, 
section 2.

Further, the 1830 and 1840 census' did not 
include any McEwen surnames in Gwinnett 
County.  It was recorded by Eunice Nova 
(Jackson) Woods (relative), that Kirkham's 
son Francis married Lena Olive Melton, of 
Tallapoosa Co, Alabama, and their daughter Ida 
Lee was born in Weogufka, Coosa County, 
Alabama.  Kirkham McEwen relocated his 
family from Georgia, to Alabama, as Eunice 
Woods recorded that Kirkham McEwen settled 
about 14 miles south of Daleville, Tallapoosa 
County, Alabama, during 1836.  The 1850 census 
shows the Kirkham McEwen family resided in 
Coosa Co., and that all members through Minervia, 
15, were born in Georgia, and that Virginia aged 
13, was born in Alabama.  Kirkham's father 
and mother, Robert and Rachel however, do 
appear in the 1850 census, in 
Gwinnett Co, Ga.

This chronology fits with the settlement 
of Alabama.  The native Indian population 
was removed from the central part of 
Alabama by 1837, and this is the point in 
time that a great wave of settlers migrated 
to this territory from the Carolina and Georgia 
back country.  These settlers were mostly 
young families in their early twenties.  They 
were nearly all farmers or planters, planting 
corn and cotton and raising cows and hogs.  
The Federal Land Law of 1820 permitted a 
settler to purchase a minimum of 80 acres 
for $1.25 an acre or for $100 cash.

Research shows that Kirkham held several 
occupational interests.  He was a farmer as a 
young adult.  After settling in Alabama, 
Tallapoosa County records show that he 
officiated in at least seven weddings, serving as 
Justice of Peace. This included the marriage of 
Susan Cannida and William Porch on October 24, 
1842.  This is an interesting note because 
Kirkham's wife, Mary An's maiden name was 
Kanada, so Susan may very well have been a 
niece.  The 1850 census records Kirkham as a 
millwright.

In 1844, Kirkham's family moved to Coosa Co., 
AL., where they remained until 1855.  During 
that year KIrkham and Rachel re-settled in 
Calhoun Co., MS, where they remained until 
their deaths in 1865 and 1889, respectively.