General Notes

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It is recorded that Robert married Rachel Hawkins in Oglethorpe County,
Georgia. At this point in time it is believed that Robert and Rachel
continued their migration towards Gwinnett County, Ga., as they married
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. However, on 3
May 2003, I was informed via e-mail that he did not receive a land grant
for his war service. An Alexander McEwen received a land grant of 10
acres in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Robert received two draws in the
1805 Georgia Land Lottery in Oglethorpe County because he was married and
for no other reason. Both his draws were blanks meaning he got no land.
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, Robert’s 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 households.  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. 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, & 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 was the
head a 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 North Carolina to Georgia, his brother James settled in Tennessee.
However, if James settled in Tennessee, records indicate he later return
to Cobb Co., GA and died there.
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.
Robert McEwen drew a Cherokee Land Lottery - Third District 4th section
#1142. He did not receive a land grant for his war service. An