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Correction to Ewing Lineage :

          Samuel Ewing (c1740-1817)

            Wife: name is unknown

            Parents: Joshua Ewing (c1704-1753) & Jane Patton

In The Ewing Family compiled about 1897 by Col. Wm. A. Ewing, he names the five children of the above Samuel Ewing but he incorrectly has them as the children of another Ewing.

In 1922 when Elbert William R. Ewing published his research in Clan Ewing of Scotland, he repeated the same error made by Col. Wm. A. Ewing.

Below is the correct lineage compared to the incorrect lineage with proof of the correct linage following:

In 1971, an article was published in The Colonial Genealogist, Volume VI #1, Winter 1971 that included the will of Samuel Ewing and some additional comments based on deed records. One page from that publication is presented below:

“Russell County, Virginia

Wills Book 3, p. 208

Will of Samuel Ewing, dated 20 February 1815, probated 11 March 1817.

[Emphasis has been added to help identify the children of Samuel Ewing.]

“I Samuel Ewing of the county of Russell in the state of Virginia being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in the manner following. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Ewing the sum of one thousand dollars to be paid to her by my executors in three equal annual installments the first of which is to be paid one year after my decease. I give and bequeath to my son Joshua Ewing one hundred and fifty four acres of land adjoining the tract this day conveyed by me to him in Elk Garden, and also a negro boy between the age of twelve and fifteen years which is to be purchased by my executors out of the proceeds of my estate for him. I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane the tract of land on which I now live in the County of Russell containing about two hundred acres during her life after the death of her husband Oliver Hughes should she survive him, and not before, and after her decease, I give and bequeath the same to my grand daughter Sally Ewing Hughes.

“During the life of the said Oliver Hughes and previous to the death of his present wife, I further direct that the said tract of land be rented out by my executors and that the profits thereof be equally divided between the said Sally Ewing Hughes and my grand daughter Sally Ewing daughter of my son Samuel Ewing - I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Hays my tract of land in the County of Russell which I purchased of Drury Woods an also my two slaves Ben & Dine. I also direct that my executors purchase a horse and furnish the said slaves with money enough to bear their expenses to the State of Kentucky to the residence of my said daughter - the horse so to be purchased to be of the value of fifty dollars.

‘I give and bequeath to my son Samuel One dollar only to be paid to him by my executors, and recommend him to the bounty of my other devises as his necessities may require. I direct that my slave Calo be sold by my executors, but not without permitting him to make choice of a master. I direct that 7291 acres of land or thereabouts conveyed to me by Joseph Scott, Marshall of the district of Virginia by seven separate deeds of conveyance be equally divided between my children aforesaid except my son Samuel whose children is to have the portion of one of my other children and he is excluded. I direct that all my personal estate of every description be sold by my executors on the usual credit and after the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses. I further direct that all the residue of my estate not herein specifically divided be equally divided between my children above named, except my son Samuel who is excluded from any part of the residuum of my estate.

“I hereby constitute ordain and appoint my friend Robert Craig Sen'r of the County of Washington, Andrew Russell of the same County and Col. John Tate of the County of Russell executors of this my last Will and testament revoking all former wills and declaring this only to be my last Will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twentieth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen .

                                                                                    Sam'l Ewing   (Seal)

Test

 Henry Parrott

 John Mitchell

Andrew Russia [Russell]        April 2 1822               Virginia

[This date of 1822 appears in the article as shown above, but it does not appear the date is in the correct place since the will was probated in 1817.]

“As we can see this establishes without a doubt the children of SAMUEL EWING and verifies the errors made by E. W. R. Ewing.

“The marriage record of Samuel and Mary (Polly) (Davis) 29 May 1806, shows him as Samuel Ewing, Jr. Reg. #1, p. 132, Washington Co., VA.

“Russell Co. DB XIII. 342, shows that Margaret Jordon and Christopher Jordon deeded an interest in property received by will of Samuel Ewing, her grandfather: also, records showing he was the grandfather of Rebecca who married Skidmore Munsey.

“Sally Ewing Hughes, daughter of Jane Ewing and Oliver Hughes, married William Frick and had two children: Oliver Hughes Frick and Christopher Frick. There are many records in Russell Co. regarding these children showing that they were grandchildren of SAMUEL EWING.

“For some unknown reason researchers working on various lines in the southwest part of Virginia completely overlook the fact that Russell Co., VA was formed from Washington Co., in 1786, and fail to check these Court Records. They go from Washington to Lee, Wythe, Scott and so on and skip over Russell Co. That is apparently what E.W.R. Ewing did.

“In 1793, [Cecil Co.] DB XVIII, 110, 123, Deed explains the immigrants Nathaniel and Joshua having purchased in equal partnership a tract of 600 acres in Cecil Co. MD. called "The DIVIDING" from Edward Nicholas, in 1728.

“We will now go back to Item #6 in the will of Joshua Ewing probated 1753, Cecil Co., MD, to establish proof of lineage of Samuel Ewing 1817. As was noted in the will he named his wife Jane and four sons and one daughter.

“Catherine (Katherine) d ca1794, m. William Ewing, son of the immigrant Nathaniel who m Rachel Porter. By this marriage there was one son, Nathaniel, who m. Jane Elinor Ewing.”

Four sources that names the five children of Samuel Ewing follows:

If Samuel Ewing had actually been a son of Joshua Ewing born 25 September 1763, he would have been born about 1790 or later. Based on the will and other information presented in the article above, it is not very likely that is the case since Samuel Ewing had married children in 1815 when he wrote his will. The will of Samuel Ewing identifies his children and a couple of grandchildren.

All of the sources above agree on the names of the five children. The will would be, in my opinion, the best source for the name of the father of the five children which is Samuel Ewing. This appears to be a case where the original source had put the five children, listed above, in the wrong family. When the information appeared in The Colonial Genealogist, it was new information to some researchers and it allowed the more recent genealogist to properly identify the correct lineage.

In 1995, the information from The Colonial Genealogist was available to Margaret Fife and with that information she was able to correctly identify the father of the five children. We have used information in Chapters XXV & XXVI from the book, Ewing in Early America by Margaret Ewing Fife, for this family.

Also, in the Fife book, she lists Rebecca Ewing married to Skidmore Munsey and Margaret Ewing married to Christopher Jordan. Rebecca and Margaret are daughters of Samuel Ewing [Jr.] who was disinherited by his father. The will states: “I give and bequeath to my son Samuel One dollar . . . except my son Samuel whose children is to have the portion of one of my other children and he is excluded.”

The book Ewing in Early America is posted on this web site. Go to the Reading Room for a link. The additional information in her book contains some of the other names mentioned in The Colonial Genealogist article.

Editor Note: If you have copies of any of the deeds mentioned above or the will, we would be interested in receiving a copy. If you have additional information or corrections for this family, please contact Jim McMichael.

jimcmcl at gmail dot com

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