Person:George Ewing (9)

http://www.clanewing.org/books/EwingInEarlyAmerica/Fife_Book_Sections/Fife_Ch29.pdf

CHAPTER XXIX GEORGE EWING (c1715-1798) GEORGE EWING, (ca1715-1798), wife CATHERINE LAWSON Lived in Amelia/Prince Edward Co. VA Mecklenburg/Lincoln Co. NC and died in Spartanbaurg Co. SC, half-brother to Nathaniel

We have mentioned before that we purchased about 65 Deeds in Amelia/Prince Edward Counties in Virginia and in surrounding areas. The repetition of names was a challenge as were the terms Jr. & Sr. We think we have it worked out and will prove that this George Ewing is, indeed, brother to the others and half-brother to Nathaniel Ewing (1693-1748) of Cecil Co. MD. In Chapter V see page 20 the “COURIER JOURNAL” article is quoted indicating that William, Joshua and James and “some others whose names were not recollected” also came to America. One of the some others is, surely, George Ewing above who lived in Amelia/Prince Edward Co. until about 1763/4 when he sold his 1749 Grant of land, wife, Catherine released her dower. Hugh Lawson's will, September of 1764 and probated in November 1772 in Rowan Co. NC, names' son Roger (who Worth Ray said married Hannah Thompson and came to Georgia): daughter Mary (who married General James White); son-in-law George Ewing (who married Catherine Lawson); son-in-law James Henderson (who married Violet Lawson); son-in-law Hugh Barry (who married Cynthia Lawson); and son-in-law Thomas Erwin (whose wife's name has not been located). Worth Ray writer of many Articles/Genealogies indicates that Hugh Lawson had a son, “Hugh Lawson, Jr. who came to Georgia. We have not found him. The information below is in chronological order and we have I searched far and wide for the supporting facts to prove who this man is. Henry C. Peden's INHABITANTS OF CECIL CO. MD (1649-1774) page 50 the following dated the same year re: “The Colonial Militia of Cecil Co. Md in 1740.” -Foot Company under Command of Capt. Edward Jackson 1740, -William Ewing, Sergeant, surely brother to Nathaniel. John Caldwell and Samuell Calwell (sic), Nathaniel Ewing, Private -Troopers under Command of Capt. Thomas Johnson in 1740, James Alexander (from whom James Ewing bought land in 1746 in Amelia Co. VA.) Hugh Lawson (believed to be father to Catherine et al) -Foot Company under Command of Capt. Zebulon Hollingsworth in 1740, ( incl ): Andrew Barry, Lieutenant-Father to Hugh Barry who married a daughter of Hugh Lawson. -Foot Company in 1740: Officers Unknown (Original Defective) Private; Joshua Ewing

• 1747, 20 Nov Amelia Co. VA will Book 1 page 27 “George Ewing was one of the securities for the estate of Andrew Hamilton of Amelia Co. VA. Alexander Hamilton was one of the Administrators. (Andrew Hamilton was in Little Britain twp Lancaster Co. PA on the Jury for the last time in 1742 before moving to Amelia Co. VA),

• 1749, 21 July -Amelia Co. VA Deed Book 3 page 245 “George Ewing of Nottaway Parish Amelia Co. VA sells to Hugh Challes of the same, 287 acres of land for £23 described as being on the upper side of Buffalo River at [Caleb] Baker's Corner, thence to [Edward] Brifwate's (sic) corner etc. thence to [Samuel] Wallace's line etc. thence to [Robert] Gallaspie's line etc. to the place of beginning.” /signed/ George Ewing /witnesses/ George Walker Alexander Hamilton [Alex. son of Andrew of the 1747 Will] No wife signed away a dower right so George not married? We have not yet determined when nor how George Ewing acquired these 287 acres of land.

• 1749, 15 December -Amelia Co. VA Grant Book (1742-1750) pages 494-495. This is a very imposing document. It reads in part: “George, King of Britain etc. grants to George Ewing 400 acres in Amelia Co. in Virginia on both sides of Vaughan's Creek by Wingfield's line and by Elam's (Euans or Ewing's) line.” William Ewing was already there.

• 1750, 15 June -Amelia Co. VA Deed Book 3 page 371 “James Ewing of Amelia Co. Va grants power of Attorney to 'friend' Joshua Ewing of Cecil Co. MD to sell his ½ acre of land in Cecil Co. MD. Anne Ewing, wife of James Ewing consented to the Power of Attorney.” /witnesses/ George Ewing /signed/ Anne Ewing Samuel Wallace [married Esther Baker] Edward Johnston [married Ruth Baker] Esther and Ruth were sisters of Martha and Mary Baker all daughters of Caleb and Martha Baker of, first, Little Britain twp. Lancaster Co. PA then of Amelia Co. VA.

• 1754, 22 March -A Poll taken for the House of Burgesses by Mr. John Nash includes: George Ewing, Alexander Hamilton, Pat. Gillespie, Samuel Ewing, Andrew Porter, Robert Gillespie, and John Morrow, who is the son-in-law of William Ewing. A second George Ewing is near to Samuel Ewing and is his eldest son. Also nearby is Alexander Ewing the second son of Samuel Ewing. There are a total of 119 names on the list.

• 1755, 8 December -A Poll taken by Colonel Charles Anderson of those living near the Buffalo River included: George Ewing still near William Ewing and John Morrow. The second George Ewing is also on this list and a Thomas Ewing (who proves to be eldest son of William Ewing) appears for the first time.

• 1759, 12 December -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 2 page 17 Prince Edward created from Amelia Co. 1753-4. George Ewing, Sr. was a witness to the Power of Attorney being given to Andrew Porter of Prince Edward Co. VA by William Ewing, Jr. “of Cecil Co. MD.” William, Jr. was a son of Alexander Ewing of Chapter XXIII and was married to Jane Ewing a daughter of Samuel Ewing who had died 1758. Andrew Porter had married Margaret Ewing a sister of William Ewing, Jr.

• 1763, 19 May -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 2 page 207 George Ewing, Sr. and Catherine, his wife, sold to Malcolm Allen, 400 acres of land on both sides of Cedar Creek of Vaughan's Creek granted to George Ewing on 15 Dec 1749.

• 1763, 18 July -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 2 page 164 Thomas Ewing and wife, Sarah, sell to William Mills 200 acres on Vaughan's Creek that William Ewing sold him 14 Jan 1755 and went to Mecklenburg, Co., N C to 1ive. Thomas-nephew of George Ewing, SR., - we believe we proved in Chapter XXVII.

• 1764, September -Rowan Co. N.C. (created from Mecklenburg Co.). “Hugh Lawson wrote his will there and it was probated in November of 1772. He mentions the following children and others: “son, Roger Lawson, daughter Mary, son-in-law George Ewing, Hugh Berry, James Henderson and Thomas Irvin.” Mary Lawson had married General James White and Bible Records indicate she was born 1742. Catherine Lawson married George, Ewing about 1752/3 so she was born ca 1737. We are unsure of the name and marriage date of the others. See page 251.

• 1767, 29 May -Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 4 pages 417-420 “George Ewing leased 200 acres on the South Fork of the Catawba from Thomas McKnight of Rowan Co., NC. The sale was completed by George Ewing paying £49. The witness was Beaty Glen. It was proved and recorded in 1768.

• 1790- Census of North Carolina, Morgan District, Lincoln Co., N.C. “page 115 shows: George Ewing with 1 male over 16 (himself); and 4 females. History books of the Revolutionary War say that” General Morgan crossed the Catawaba River at the North Border of Lincoln Co., N.C.” Page 115 shows that William Colwell was between George and Hugh Ewing. Bible Records of this family state that Hugh Ewing was born 2 March 1762. Marriage Records of the State of North Carolina show that Hugh Ewing married Sarah Armstrong on 27 January 1786. Census also shows Hugh Ewing with one male over 16, 1 male under 16 and 1 female. We have entered the 1790 Census Records to prove that Hugh Ewing survived the Revolutionary War. Part of its History needs to be quoted here. From Draper's 1881 KING'S MOUNTAIN AND ITS HEROES pages 364-367, we learn what Hugh Ewing and Andrew Barry did. Grandsons of Hugh Lawson, their mother's being sisters and they were cousins!. “page 364 “Tarleton, whose troops slaughtered many at the Waxhaws, informed Lord Conwallis about 1780 that the County of Mecklenburg, in which Charlotte was situated, adjoining the County of Rowan, were more hostile to England than any other portion of America”...Robert Henry who provided the narrative “was conveyed to his home on the South Fork (of the Catawaba) by Hugh Ewing and Andrew Barry.” History Books tell us that “In October of 1780, the Frontiersmen of North Carolina and Tennessee won a valuable victory over the British at King's Mountain. In a short time the British again met defeat at Cowpens Nathaniel Greene was now in command and nearly all the territory taken from the Americans by the British was regained.” The narrative of Robert Henry continues: “[Robert Henry] who was so painfully transfixed in a British Charge...On Monday his two friends, Ewing and Barry, came to see him...while there several neutrals, as they termed themselves, but really Tories in disguise, called to learn the news of the battle when the lengthy dialogue between them and Ewin(g) and Barry took place. The two talked with them until 2 hours before sunrise on the 9 October 1780 giving them misleading information which they hastened to give to Lord Conwallis of Ferguson' s Defeat.” They really defeated Ferguson at King's Mountain, killed him, and took Chapter XXIX George Ewing (c1715 - 1798) survivors prisoners. The manuscript by Henry was made possible by an interview with David Knox, a kinsman of President Polk, at the time a prisoner, page 367. In Prince Edward Co., VA the eldest daughter of George Ewing and Catherine Lawson Ewing, Mary, had married Richard Davidson.

A Mary Davidson along with a John Davidson and a William Davidson witnessed Deed Book #6 page 354 when James Ewing, Sr. sold 150acres to Samuel Ewing (we believe his eldest son. See Chapter XXVIII). Richard Davidson was, probably, a son of a John Davidson who died in Prince Edward Co. VA and left a will dated 13 March 1754. He names sons, William, Richard, Joshua, Daniel, George, Ambrous and daughter Elizabeth. Richard Davidson was in The Revolutionary War and died on the way home to Prince Edward Co., VA in 1783. This information is from Vol. #25 of The VIRGINIA GENEALOGIST page 183 titled “British Mercantile Claims, or Claims of Spiers, Bowman & Co. at their Prince Edward Store in 1802.” Page 183 has numerous statements re indebtedness and one reads “Richard Davidson, dec £.6.10.3½ died d before 1783 and his family removed to Kentucky with sufficient estate. Information re James Ewing, Sr. quoted in the previous chapter is also in that page. Daniel Davidson’s “Claim to be withdrawn. Removed before 1776 with his property.” Possible brother to Richard?

Joshua Davidson, possible brother to Richard applied and received a Pension #S1182, Cont & VA Line. Name appeared on a list of Applicants for invalid Pensions returned to the House of Representatives on 28 Feb 1795. He served as a Dragoon in Lee's Legion in the VA Line and disabled at Guilford, NC 15 Mar 1781. He lived in Prince Edward Co. VA in 1795 and had lived there at enlistment. In 1823 was a resident of Franklin Co. KY and in 1833 was a resident of Nicholas County KY. Richard Davidson of Prince Edward Co. VA purchased of one William Crockett, Deed Book 3 page 28 dated about 1765 land in the County. Richard also purchased of. a John Crockett, Deed Book 4 page 21 dated about 1770 more land there in P.E. Co. Richard Davidson of Prince Edward Co. VA sold to Venable Nathan and Co. 300 acres, Deed Book 3 page 468, in about 1765.

• 1787 Tax Records of Virginia are very revealing and have proven what happened to Mary Davidson and son when they left Prince Edward Co. VA and shows Mary Davidson as head of household with 1 male 16-21. This is her son, John Davidson, not the John Davidson who witnessed the 1777 sale of James Ewing, Sr. to Samuel Ewing, and her son was born between 1766 and 1771. Mary Davidson is shown as living in Prince Edward Co. VA on the 1787 Tax-or Census as it was called- on April 10 that year. She is listed as “not tithable” and in addition to John has 1 black above 16, 3 horses and 4 cattle. Fayette Co. KY. Tax-or Census Record-shows Mary Davison, still not tithable, alone, and with 2 cattle. The date of the Census was June 9 that year, 1787. She had moved between April and t June! We note here that Kentucky spells the name Davison and P.E. Co. always adds the “d”.

• 1789, 9 June -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 8 page 176 states: “I John Davidson of the county of Fayette, District of KY appoint William Ewing of P.E. Co. VA my lawful Attorney to sell a parcel of land which descended to me as heir at law to my father, Richard Davidson, containing 300 acres, to William Biggar etc.” /witnesses/ /signed/ John Davison (Seal) Pugh Price Frances Haskins Katy Price Added is: “At a Court for P.E. Co. VA 20 July 1789 the Power of Attorney from Davison to Ewing was proved by the two witnesses on 20 Sept 1790. On 20 Sept 1790 came Francis Haskins who proved the Deed.”

• 1790, 17 July -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 8 page 216 states: “Indenture between William Ewing, Attorney in fact for John Davidson of Kentucky and John Crockett of P.E. Co., VA of one part and William Biggar of King William Co., VA that the said William Ewing by Power of Attorney from John Davidson of the District of Kentucky bearing date 9 June 1789 do sell and confirm to William Biggars a parcel of land of 300 acres lying on North Side of Ft. Creek bounded by...etc... William Ewing and Frances Gillespie (widow of Robert Gillespie) witnesses /signed/ William Ewing William Porter Attorney for John Davidson . Saml Ewing /signed/ John Crockett Robert Porter Andrew Porter “Ordered to be Recorded 20 Sept, 1790"

• 1790, 10 October -Prince Edward Co. VA Deed Book 8 page 255 “Mary Davidson of Fayette Co. KY. gives Power of Atty to William Ewing for the land held by her late husband, Richard Davidson, his lands on Fort Creek.” Chapter XXIX George Ewing (c1715 - 1798) 253 /signed/ Mary Davidson “X” her mark John Davidson was, possibly, not 21 years of age in 1789 or 1790 and his mother was required to approve. This she did and John's year of birth must be 1769. Deeds in Fayette Co. have failed to prove any more about this family.

• 1797, 20 August -Deed Book F pages 197-198 Spartanburg, SC (not in WILLS} “Will of George Ewing” The SC Archivist who did not find it; finally wrote me: “Carefully noting this difference will spare your (i e- .those descended from George) descendants untold aggravation. Thanks for your patience. B.F. McK. Is this why little has been proven on this man? He may have had a son, George Ewing, who was in the Revolutionary War in N.C. 1780-81 and who may have been killed. I have been unable to find more about him. The will reads:

“In the name of God, Amen, I George Ewing of the State of south Carolina and County of Spartanburg being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory calling to mind the one Father of all flesh and that it is appointed for all men once to dye I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, that is to say all my just debts and Funeral charges first to be settled and further depose(sic) of my Estate in the following manner Item, I give unto my well beloved wife, Catherine, one sorrell horse together will all other stock now in my possession of cattle, Furniture or otherwise also the Mansion Houses and improvements farming tools or otherwise during her widowhood and to be disposed of her at her death as she think proper. If the said widow should alter life by marriage then in that case to have one third of a Dividend of the personal Property Item, I give unto my well beloved son, Hugh, $10 Item, I give unto my daughter, Mary, $10 Item, I give to my daughter, Catherine, one young horse called Bob (illegible). Item, I give to my two daughters, Ann and Margaret the whole of lands where I now live containing 200 acres and 40acres be the same more or less to Ann also one mare called Sal with one bed and furniture also to Margaret, one young horse called Hercules with one bed and furniture. Constituting and appointing this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of August 1797.” /witnesses/ David Alexander /signed/ George Ewing [seal] Mary Logan Jas. Logan “N.B. I appoint my wife Catherine and my son, Hugh, exrs. of this my last will and testament.” 1798, 1 November The will of George Ewing was filed for probate.

1800 Census of South Carolina, Spartanburg County page 180: Cataren Ewin 1 male 26-45; 2 females 16-26; 1 female over 45. This is Catherine head of Household; we calculate she is about 62 years old still going strong. Next to Cataren is: Hugh Ewin in Spartanburg Co. S C also page 180; 1 male under 10; 1 male 10-16; 1 male 26-45; 2 females under 10; 1 female 26-45. “The Family Bible” quoted to me indicates that Hugh Ewing was born 2 March 1762 and that he married Sarah Armstrong on 2 February 1786. The Book by Draper-KING'S MOUNTAIN AND ITS HEROES gives the children of Hugh Ewin. We have been unable to find who Catherine Ewing, Jr. married, for it seems that George Ewing left $10 to each of the married children. If she married in Prince Edward Co. VA it is not recorded there as Mary Ewing's marriage to Richard Davidson is not recorded there either. Although “naming patterns” are not totally reliable we can figure that Hugh was named for his grandfather, Hugh Lawson. Mary for her grandmother Lawson, Catherine, Jr. named for her mother, Anne for her aunt in Cecil Co. MD. Anne Ewing married George Gillespie half-sister to Nathaniel. Margaret's name is a duplicate of the Rachel-Margaret of Nathaniel; Margaret daughter of Joshua who died early; Margaret daughter of Samuel of Prince Edward Co. VA and Margaret only daughter of William Ewing of Prince Edward Co. VA. George Ewing lived in “Mecklenburg Co., NC which was created 1763 from Anson Co. NC which included all South of Rowan Co. and included SC counties of York, Chester, Lancaster, Spartanburq, Union, Chester, Kershaw, Laurens, Newberry and Greenville.” So maybe George never “moved” to Spartanburg, SC but was there all the time! We have yet to prove this. The history of Counties was found in Holcomb and Parker's HISTORY OF MECKLENBURG CO., NC. George Ewing half-brother to Nathaniel Ewing we think we have proved, was born about 1715-1717 one of the “some others” that (Chapter V) Nathaniel Ewing (1772-1846) could not remember. George Ewing died between 20 August 1797 and 1 November 1798 at the age of about 80. He had married Catherine Lawson, a daughter of Hugh Lawson in about 1752. Catherine was born about 1738 in, probably, Cecil Co. MD where her father was in the Militia. George Ewing may have come to Rowan Co., NC with Hugh Lawson before he went to live in Amelia/Prince Edward Co. VA. He and Catherine are not together in Deeds until he sells land in 1763 and they reappear in 1767 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. From Records made available to us by North Carolina Archives, South Carolina Archives, Amelia and Prince Edward Co., VA, we are convinced that George Ewing and Catherine (Lawson) Ewing had:

A. Mary Ewing b ca 1754 in Prince Edward Co. VA and that she married Richard Davidson about 1768. He fought in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR and died on the way home in 1783. We know they had one son: 1. John Davidson born about 1769 in Prince Edward Co. VA. He was there in Deeds indicating his father was, Richard Davidson, deceased, as early as 1789 but not yet 21 for his mother Mary Davidson, widow of Richard Davidson, also executed a Deed to the land left to John Davidson. Deeds in Fayette Co. KY do not give us information about John. There are several dated as early as 1797 but give us only the purchase.

2. B. Catherine Ewing b ca 1757 in Prince Edward Co. VA. We have been unable to find who she married. She was still alive as of her father's Will of 1797.

C. Hugh Ewing was “born 2 March 1762" in Prince Edward Co. VA just before his parents moved to Mecklenburg Co. NC. He was called “One of the Heroes of King's Mountain”. In the Book by Draper, the children of Hugh Ewing are listed. Hugh had married Sarah Armstrong on 2 February 1786 in Lincoln Co., NC according to Marriage Records there. They had: 1. Samuel Ewing b 1787 was age 10-16 in 1800 Census 2. Robert Ewing b 1790-91 was age -10 in 1800 Census 3. Hugh Ewing, Jr., born after 1800 4. Margaret Ewing married _____ Gingles (she was -10 in 1800) 5. Sallie Ewing married James Allison (she was also 10 in 1800) 6. Polly Ewing married _____ Davis (she was born 1800+)

D. Ann Ewing. We have no information on her except that she was in her father's 1797 will. She “seems” not to be married at the time but we have no proof of that. She would be a “late in life child if she is the 1800 female member 16-26. She received one half of her father's land.

E. Margaret Ewing. The same can be said of this youngest daughter of George and Catherine that has been said of Ann (above). It is possible that their mother, Catherine, had late in life daughters when she was 38 to 42 years of age. Chapter XXIX George Ewing (c1715 - 1798) 255