Person:George Ewing (13)

George Washington Ewing

George Washington Ewing, son of Charolotte Griffith, was born on River Raisin about 1810. George married to Harriet Bourie on December 10, 1828 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. G. W. died on December 27, 1865 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. George's brother was William G. Ewing, an Indiana Congressman

The Will of George W. Ewing

An Indiana Supreme Court case documents the 16th clause of the will of George Washington Ewing as follows:

"16. It is my desire, and I direct, that my executors purchase a piece of ground near the cathedral, in Fort Wayne, and erect thereon a building or buildings, at the expense of from five thousand dollars ($5,000) to six thousand dollars ($6,000), for the use of Desdemona Bourie, for and during the period of her natural life, provided she takes care of, and provides for the maintenance and education of Charlotte Smith, daughter of Mary Ann Smith, of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland; and upon the death of said Desdemona, leaving the said Charlotte surviving, the said Charlotte is to have the use of the same during her natural life; and upon her decease the same is to go to my heirs.^S1"

As directed in 16th clause of the will of George Washington Ewing, "lot six and the south 3 feet of lots seven and eight, Hamiltons' addition to the City of Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Ind., near the Cathedral in the city of Fort Wayne^S1" were purchased by the executor, William A. Ewing. The executors "erected buildings thereon, as provided by said will, and put the said Desdemona Bourie in posession thereof, on about the ___ day of ___, 1868.^S1" "That said Desdemona Bourie has taken care of and provided for the maintenance and education of said Charlotte Smith, ever since the death of said Geo. W. Ewing, and is still doing the same, the said Charlotte being now fifteen years of age.^S1"

The will stated that Charlotte Smith was the daughter of Mary Ann Smith of Baltimore, but does not state their relationship to George Ewing. It is assumed at this time, that Mary Ann Smith was the daughter of George W. Ewing, and that she had died before George. The last sentence of the will might however be interpreted that Charlotte is not an Heir of George in that no child of Charlotte would receive this property upon her death. Rather the property would then go to George's heirs?

1. ↑ Valley of the upper Maumee River: with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana; the story of its progress from savagery to civilization... (Madison, Wisconsin: Brant & Fuller, 1889).