JohnMcEwen

John McEwen, Sr., was born 26 May 1806, most likely in Northampton Co., PA. and died 23 April 1832. These events are recorded in his Family Bible.
"John McQuown was born May the 26 th A. D. 1806" At that time the family name was spelled McQuown.

He was the son of William and Sarah Johnson McEwen and the earliest known ancestor of the McEwen family in Lower Mt. Bethel twp., Northampton Co., PA.. This relationship was proven by the court records on file in Tiffin, Seneca Co. Ohio. In 1823 the McEwen family moved west, from Northampton Co. , Pennsylvania to Seneca Co. , Ohio. When I began to do family research in the early 1970's I questioned by grandparents about what they knew of the family history. My grandfather, Homer McEwen, whom we called Pap said, "There were 21 McEwen's and they all went west except ours." All I had to do was figure out how far west the family had migrated. Through my research I discovered that Pap was right! Oral history told to him by his parents and grandfather proved to be the link that connected the Pennsylvania branch with their cousins in Ohio. It has been learned that the family of our John did include "21" family members, all of whom traveled to Ohio in 1823. It is believed that our John returned to Northampton Co. , Lower Mt. Bethel Twp. , Pennsylvania to marry his sweetheart.

John Mc Ewen , Sr. married Anna Houck on November 6, 1828. This was also recorded in their Bible, which I found in my grandparent's attic. Prior to John's marriage, William and Sarah McEwen, granted their son six acres of land in Lower Mt. Bethel twp. , Northampton Co. , Pennsylvania on February 28, 1828. Court records show that John and Anna McEwen sold their property in Lower Mt. Bethel Twp. Northampton Co. Pennsylvania on March 11,1831. They may have been planning to join the rest of the McEwen's in Ohio. Many persons from the Mt. Bethels had migrated to the west, including a pastor from their church, the German Reformed Church, who was called to serve a church in Tiffin, Ohio. However, a series of tragic events struck the young family before they could follow through with their plans. Their baby, John Jr., who was born that spring on March 28, 1831, died that summer on August 18, 1831. The following spring, on April 23, 1832, John McEwen, Sr. also died. He was only 25 years of age. When he died he left a daughter, Sallie Ann and a wife who was pregnant. Three months after his death, on July 9, 1832, William McEwen, John's only surviving heir was born. Anna was left alone with a 3 year old daughter and an infant son. Her plans for the future were forever changed.

From the inventory of his estate which was filed in the courthouse in Belvidere, New Jersey, " John McGowan, Estate Insolvent" on December 25, 1834, I learned that John had practiced the trade of sash maker (window panes). Belvidere New Jersey is just across the Delaware River from Lower Mt. Bethel. It is most likely that he is buried in the Reformed Cemetery in Upper Mt. Bethel, Centerville, Pennsylvania in the plot where his wife Anna is buried which is marked on the cemetery map as the John McEwen plot.

Anna Houck McEwen, was born February 10, 1807 in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. and died sometime around 1874. Anna was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Miller Houck. Her baptismal record is recorded in the Church Record of the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Congregation at Mount Bethel Township in Northampton Co., PA. page 89 and in the Family Bible.

Anna Houck McEwen was a regular participant of the sacrament of Holy Communion at the Reformed Church in Stone Church. She is listed as a communicant through Nov. 8, 1874. After that date she is no longer listed and it can be assumed that she was either too sick to attend church or had passed away. She is not listed on the 1880 Census. It can be determined that Anna died between the ages of 66 and 72. Anna McEwen is buried in the Reformed Cemetery in Stone Church, Pennsylvania . The plot map of the Reformed Cemetery in Upper Mt. Bethel, Centerville, Pennsylvania shows that the plot where Anna is buried is a 5 person block. The block is listed under the name, John McEwen. This confirms that this burial plot is for the family of John McEwen and that he and the 2 children are very likely buried here as well.

Baptismal records for the children of John and Anna Houck McEwen are also recorded in the Church Record of the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Congregation at Mount Bethel Township in Northampton Co., PA.

p. 224 Sallie Ann born July 2, 1829 baptized Aug. 16, 1829
parents John Mc Conard and Anna
sponsors John Houck and Elizabeth

p. 236 John, Jr. born March 28, 1831 baptized May 21, 1831
parents John McKawan and Anna
sponsors John Miller and Margaret

p. 242 * William born July 3, 1832 baptized Aug.4, 1832
parents John M.Gauer and Anna
sponsors Fred. Weber and Susan

Please notice that each record gives a different spelling for the name McEwen. These records are confirmed by the inscriptions in the McEwen Family Bible, now in the possession of Cynthia Hughes Smith. The copyright date on this Bible is 1827, which was just prior to John's marriage to Anna Houck. It is likely that the Bible was a wedding gift to them, a custom at that time.
This Bible must have been kept by Anna until she gave it to her son Billy on April 13, 1851 , when he has written in the Bible : " William McEwen, his Bible April the 13th the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty one."
After John's death in 1831, Anna McEwen must have returned to the home of her parents, John and Elizabeth Houck of Lower Mt. Bethel twp. Northampton Co., Pennsylvania for help with raising her two children. Her daughter Sally Ann died at the age of nine years leaving Anna alone with her young son, Billy. Census records show that Anna lived with her parents until their deaths. She is listed with them on the 1850 and 1860 censuses. I believe that she is also with them in 1840 as there is a woman matching her age on the record. There is also a young boy who matches William's age in 1840. I have dedicated all of my family research to the memory of my Great, Great, Great Grandmother Anna McEwen.

 

 

 

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)

 

 

LINKS to Additional Information

More about William McEwen I, the father of John, Sr.

More about William McEwen, the son of John, Sr.

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. 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.