General Notes

[coosa1.ged]
"At present we are not as sure of the inclusion of John and John, Jr. at
the beginning of the family tree as we are other parts of the tree. We do
however have family members that have done some research and have
evidence seemingly pointing in that direction. All of the data presented
has come from courthouse records, family Bibles, family correspondence,
newspaper clippings and personal interviews." (1)
(1)  "Coosa County and Shelby County Alabama McEwen Roots 1665 to 1999"
by Frances Nail, Joan Kelley, Jim Holman. Taken from the cover page of
said book.
"Clan McEwen
There are a number of ways to spell McEwen, but according to Egle, a
noted genealogist, the above is correct and interchangeable with an 'a'.
What I am about to write comes from Egle's history, Ian Grible's
(Scottish Clan's & Tartans), Mrs. Frances Nail of Hanover (Coosa Co.),
Mrs. Wendell (Sara) McEwen of Wilsonville (Shelby Co.), Mr. J. E. McEwen
(Jacksonville, Al.). All these agree that the records are true and
correct back to Thomas McEwen who was born early in 1700 and moved to
Mecklenburg County, N. C. in 1742.
They believe, as I do, that the following account is more than likely
true back to 1679. I have spent many hours and miles trying to disprove
it, but find only evidence that substantiates. However we must remember
that records are scarce and not always exact.
The earliest historical forbear is Ewen of Otter, which is on the
shores of Lock Fyne in Argyll, about 45 miles west of Glasgow, Scotland.
They lost their lands and clan chiefs by forfeiture to the Cambells in
about 1600 and were scattered throughout Scotland afterwards. There was a
Rev. John McEwen, a Presbyterian pastor, who probably was from Dundee,
Scotland, and who was persuasion a Covenanter. In 1679 at the "Battle of
Bothwell Bridge" just outside Glasgow, he was captured by the British,
imprisoned and later sold in 1686 as a servient slave to Virginia
planters. Providently, before they reached the Virginia shores a severe
storm came up and forced their ship to land at Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
They were housed and fed by a local Presbyterian Church and later carried
into Pennsylvania by William Penn or his followers and placed as an
overseer of Penns lands.
They moved around that area in Lanchester and Chester counties. John
McEwen had a son, John, Jr. (born ?, died July 1750). Among his children
was a Thomas McEwen who died in 1770. It is believed that Thomas arrived
in Mecklenburg County, N. C. March 25, 1752 and received a grant of 640
acres lying on Rocky River and Coddle Creek. Other McEwens arrived later,
some directly from Scotland, but it is this Thomas who is in our direct
lintage.
Thomas had a son, Alexander (born 1758+/-, died 1825+/-) who migrated
to Oglethorpe County, Georgia and died there. Alexander had a son,
Robert, who was born in 1777 and died in 1830+/- in Gwinnett Co., Ga.
Robert had a son Kirkham McEwen (born March 19, 1802 - died Nov. 19, 1865
and is buried somewhere between Morton, Miss. and northern Miss. (place
unknown). Kirkham who is our great, great grandfather had a number of
children, one being George W. McEwen of Rockford fame. But his son
Francis Marion is our relative and our great grandfather. He was born
April 14, 1831 and died March 22, 1914 and is buried in Wilsonville,
Shelby Co., Alabama. As you know, Francis Marion had a number of
children, Jesse Kirkham McEwen being our grand daddy and who married
Janie Bazemore, our grandmother.
Page 2        Clan McEwen
Our mothers and fathers were their children being:
Jack               Sadie
Oresta            Carl
Etta               Edna
Charles          Olive
Our family tree using just the direst male linage would look like
this up to the children of Jesse and Janie McEwen, our grandparents:
Rev. John McEwen     (Scotland)        1650+/- - 1700+/-
John McEwen, Jr.