William McEwen, Pioneer to Ohio
In 1823 William McEwen of Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania packed up his entire family and migrated to Ohio.
McEwen is a Scots-Irish name. The parents of William McEwen, the pioneer to Ohio, were John and Margaret Herin McEwen. Their name was also spelled McQuown in several old family Bibles. John McQuown was born Apr 15, 1745. He married Margaret Herin on Dec 3, 1771. Margaret was born Nov 29, 1755 and died May 21, 1826. John died Dec 22,1815.
The McEwen family came to the United States prior to the Revolutionary War. John McQuown was living in Northampton Co., PA in the township of Lower Mt. Bethel at the time of the Revolutionary War. Read more about John McQuown who was a soldier from Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania from 1776 - 1781.
The family, like so many other Scots -Irish, were people who lived on the outer edge of the settled areas of the time. They relocated many times between Northampton Co. and Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania. John's son, William McEwen, the pioneer to Ohio, was born at Berwick, Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania on Nov. 8, 1775.When a young man William came to Easton, Pennsylvania in Northampton Co. to learn the trade of blacksmith, which became his life's work. He married Sarah Johnson and together they had a family of 21 children. William and Sarah bought and sold property in both Berwick, Columbia, Co. Pennsylvania and Mt. Bethel, Northampton, Co., Pennsylvania.
In 1823 William and Sarah McEwen pioneered west to Seneca Co., Ohio where they were one of the first families to open up this territory for settlement. Read an account of the family's pioneer trip from Columbia Co., Pennsylvania to Seneca Co., Ohio. Their son John returned to Mt. Bethel to marry his sweetheart, Anna Houck. John's descendents continue to live in Northampton Co. Pennsylvania.
A very good book has been published by Marjory McEwen Gerold, "The Descendents of Thomas Clark and Maria Disinger McEwen" which traces the McEwens in Ohio. It was through her research and mine that the connection of our John in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania to his father William in Seneca Co., Ohio was made.
Sarah Johnson, who married William McEwen, was the daughter of John Johnson and Jerusha Kitchen of Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. Her family was part of the Presbyterian Scotch Irish settlement at Martins Creek, Pennsylvania known as the Hunter Settlement. Birth records for the Presbyterians in this area at this time have not been located. Sarah is mentioned in her father's will and we are able to connect the generations through that document.
William McEwen, with his large family homesteaded the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven, in Clinton township, Seneca Co. They built a cabin for the family and a blacksmith shop where William carried out his trade. William & Sarah Johnson McEwen are buried at Rock Run Cemetery, Sect.4, Eden Twp., Seneca Co., Ohio. The Cemetery is not far from the place where they lived.
The Children of William McEwen I (8 Nov 1775 - 7 Aug 1840) & Sarah Johnson (1 Jan 1785 - 17 Sep 1842) were:
John McEwen (26 May 1806 - 23 Apr 1832) & Anna Houck (10 Feb 1807 - Circa 1871/1880)
Margaret McEwen | Mary (Polly) McEwen (19 Sep 1807 - )
Henry McEwen (13 Feb 1809 - 28 Feb 1896)
William McEwen (29 Apr 1810 - )
Elizabeth (Betsy) McEwen (9 Aug 1811 - 13 Oct 1843)
Sarah McEwen (1813 - 12 May 1899)
Robert McEwen (1817 - 1876)
James McEwen (14 Feb 1818 - ) Read his account of the family's pioneer trip from Columbia Co., PA to Seneca Co., Ohio.
Elmira Rebecca McEwen (1819 - )
George W. McEwen (22 Feb 1819 - 1 Dec 1856)
Samuel McEwen (1821 - )
Permelia (Milly) McEwen (1823 - )
Rachel McEwen (1824 - )
Anna McEwen (1826 - )
Martha McEwen (10 Jun 1827 - 17 Aug 1899)
The linage of William and Sarah McEwen.
1. William McEwen I (8 Nov 1775 - 7 Aug 1840) & Sarah Johnson (1 Jan 1785 - 17 Sep 1842)
2. John McEwen (26 May 1806 - 23 Apr 1832)&Anna Houck (10 Feb 1807 - About 1871/1880)
3. William McEwen (9 Jul 1832 - 21 Apr 1902) & Sarah Rasley (24 Jan 1829 - 12 Jan 1919)
4. Henry McEwen (14 May 1856 - 19 Aug 1946) & Clara Illick (15 Sep 1859 - 20 Feb 1942)
5. Wm. "Homer" McEwen (10 Oct 1895 - 21 Oct 1977) & Sarah "Eliza" Long (24 Mar 1898 - 9 May 1987)
More about John McEwen, his son.
More about William McEwen, the son of John.
More about Henry McEwen , the son of William and the father of Homer.
More about Homer and Eliza McEwen.
For more about other family history pages researched and created by me, please see Cynthia's Family Lines .
Visit Clan McEwen to learn more about the ancient history of the family name of the McEwen Clan.
For more about other family history pages researched and created by me, please see Cynthia's Family Lines. I am also writing a blog called Who's Your Grammie. Each entry tells the story of a grandmother in our family tree. Look around. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Additional documentation is available. I have not posted my references and sources here, but can provide them to interested persons. Additions and corrections are welcome. Please email me at the address below.