_"McCune Genealogy Page"
Our Family Genealogy - A Glance At The Past
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MacEwen Clan History |
Although of ancient origin there are few authentic records of Clan MacEwen. Skene quoting the MS. of 1450 shows that the Clan Ewen together with the Clan Neill and the Clan Lachlan formed the Siol Gillevray of the Gallgael. The genealogy in the MS. proved the Clan MacEwen existed long before 1450 and that they were known as the MacEwens of Otter. In 1794, the Rev. Alexander McFarlane wrote in his Statistical Account of the parish of Kilfinnan: "On a rocky point on the coast of Lochfyne about a mile below the church is to be seen the vestige of a building called Caesteal Mhic Eobhuin or MacEwen's castle ... this MacEwen was the chief of a clan, and proprieter of the northern division of the parish called Otter."
Eoghain na h-Oitrich (Ewen of Otter), who gives his name to the clan, lived at the beginning of the 13th century. Gillespic, 5th of Otter, flourished about a century later. Swene MacEwen, 9th and last of Otter, granted lands of Otter to Duncan Campbell in 1432 and resigned the barony of Otter to james I, but is was returned to him with reamined to Celestine, son and heir of Duncan Campbell of Lochow. In 1513 James V confirmed the barony of Otter to Colin, Earl of Argyll, and thereafter Otter remained in the possession of the Campbells.
Clan Ewen was now a "broken" clan, without a Chief, a single homeland, a stronghold or archives. A large number of MacEwens settled in the Lennox country, others went farther afield to Lochaber, Perth, Skye and the records. In 1576 two Cameron brothers were denounced for the murder of Donald Dow McKewin. An indictment was drawn up in 1598 against some 200 MacEwens, described as broken Highland men and trespassers, making a living by brigandage.
But like the MacGregors, the MacEwens also made a contribution to Highland civilization of which the Scottish government and universities knew nothing. They became bards to the Campbells of Argyll and of Breadalbane and to MacDougall of Dunollie. Amongst the relics of their art is the poem which Neil MacEwen composed in 1630 upon the death of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy; his autograph copy is preserved by the house of Breadalbane. John Campbell of Islay found in Cawdor Castle a genealogy dated 1779, which contained this explanation: "In the following account we have had regard to the genealogical tree done by Neil MacEwen, as he received the same from Eachann MacEwen his father, as he had the same from Arthur MacEwen his grandfather, and their ancestors and predecessors, shennachies and pensioners to great families who, for many ages were employed to make up and keep such records in their accustomed way."
Of the four MacEwens mentioned as having risen for Bonnie Prince Charlie in "The '45," two came from Stirling, one from Perth and one from Dundee. One of the most distinguished of their name in this century, Sir Alexander MacEwen, the Scottish Nationalist, was Provost of Inverness, the Highland capital.
Descendants of John McEwen
1734 - 1791
John McEwen is the founder of the Family in America, he was born between 1730 - 1734 in Edinboro, Scotland, and died April 1791 in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He married Eleanor Jane McCullough 1758 in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She was born 1738 in Scotland, and died 1801 in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Facts on John McEwen:
He came to this country in 1745 and settled near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
On January 01, 1747 received a Commission under the authority of the King of England, as Captain in the British army at Philadelphia. To receive such a Commission at that young age he must have known how to read and write.
He was conspicuous in the early History of this Country on the side of tbe Colonists, and served as Quarter Master for Washington's troops in the Revolution (procuring supplies and training recruits, because he had a "game leg').
Also He was thought to have been a member of the Paxtang Boys, a group of boys and old men who kept the Indians of the Wyoming Valley near Harrisburg under control. The British were constantly stirring them to create unrest. These Indians became very troublesone and history tells us they were completely wiped out of that valley.
An Indioan tomahawk now in my possession (John Allen McEwen son of John the 4th) supposed to have been taken in that raid, has been passed on down to the Johns in the family.
Children of John and Eleanor McCullough McEwen are:
Margaret McEwen was born 1760 in West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown. She married James Stewart August 25, 1779 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; born September 07, 1759 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown.
Margaret married James Stewart or Stuart who moved from Lancaster County to Allegheny County.
Margaret McEwen married James Stewart 25 August 1779. James Stewart Dec. 5 1730 warrant of land in Hanover Township, Lancaster County by the side of the Swahatatawro Creek by John Murray. Badge of Stewart Clan - The Thistle.
Josiah Guy of Robinson Township married one of there daughters.
Dr. A.S. McCandless of Pittsburgh married one of Guy's daughters. Mather McCoy of Canton, Ohio married another of Stewart's daughters. Peggy was a remarkably large fat woman (no other information on this family).
Mary McEwen was born September 09, 1762 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin Co, Pennsylvania; died March 10, 1806 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin Co, Pennsylvania.
Elizabeth McEwen was born 1765 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died December 16, 1805 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She married John Gilchrist Unknown in Dauphin Co, Pennsylvania; born 1761 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died October 14, 1833 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
One of their children Thomas now lives near the old farm near Harrisburg.
A daughter of Gilchrist married a man named Cavitt. He had the first grist ill west of the mountains at a place called Cavitt's, now Stewart on the PA R.R.
On Saturday 25 March 1799 a large stone barn and house formerly the property of Major John Gilchrist were entirely consumed and all their contents. Loss supposedly high.
John Barnett Jr. and John Gilchrist Jr. in the same company Capt. James Cowdon's 4th Battalion of Lancaster County 13 March 1776 under Col. James Bard.
John Gilchrist though but 15 years of age served in company of Col. Baard's battalion in which his father John Gilchrist was 1st Lt. and among these captured at Fort Washington in November 1776. After the revolution he took great interest in military affairs and rose to the position of Major. Lt. John Gilchrist of Capt. Rood's Company in the Flying Camp was accidentally wounded in the right arm, near Elizabethwon, New Jersey 14 August 1776.
In 1808 the meeting house and the retiring house were put in thorough repair. The contributing members were John Gilchrist - one pound ten shillings.
John (Pa). 2d Lieutenant 1st Pennsylvania Battalion of the Flying Camp; wounded at Fort Washington, 16th November, 1776.
WATTS, William, of Boston, Mass.; from Ireland, cir. 1719; m. Margaret McLellan, of Casco (m. 2. Samuel Gilchrist); Children: John, Samuel, Elizabeth.-Eaton's Warren, p. 430, Eaton's Thomaston, p. 451, new ed., p. 639.
Both John and Elizabeth are bured in the Paxtang Cemetery.
Jean Jane McEwen was born August 01, 1767 in West Hanover, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; died December 05, 1818 in Hanover or Fairview Dauphin County or Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Eleanor McEwen was born September 12, 1769 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died February 01, 1834 in HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
John McEwen was born December 22, 1771 in West HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died July 05, 1852 in West HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. See more on John Jr. Descendant. Information Suppied by Roy McEwen
James McEwen was born 1773 in West HanoverTownship, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown. He married Frances Boal April 20, 1796 in East Hanover, by Rev. James Snodgrass. Frances being a entertainment, was provided on this occasion at which about 120 partook.
James is mentioned in his father's will in 1791. In hunting for the McEwen farm (I "Harriet V. Bryan") found an old house to the right of the location of the old Hanover Church as one faced the cemetery gate, the occupant of which said it was an old log house modernized, built by James McEwen in the late 1790,s.
Richard McEwen was born October 10, 1777 in West Hanover Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; died February 18, 1829 in Centerville, Mongomery County, Ohio. See more on my Direct Descendant.
Thomas McEwen was born 1779 in Hanover Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died Unknown. He married Polly Hunson.
Thomas was the youngest son of John, and came to Allegheny County and worked at the tanning and harness trade near Nobletown, where he lived and died. He worked for a Mr. Hunson, whose daughter, Polly, he married and eventually got the farm and the business. The many children and grandchildren now reside in that neighborhood. (no other information on this family).
Links on the McEwen-McCune Family Genealogy
The McCune Family Private Genealogy Site - Needs a Password
Fast link to my Direct Descendants 
Family Wedding Photos
Document & Newspaper Clipping of the McEwen/McCune Family
Information Pages on the McEwen/McCune
My Genealogy Book on the McEwen/McCune
The Descendants of Robert McCune Obituary's Generation One
The Descendants of Robert McCune Obituary's Generation Two
The Descendants of Robert McCune Obituary's All Other Generation
Source Site address On my Research.
Marriage Report
Historical Population of Dauphin County in 1790 was 18,177
The name is now spell MCCUNE for my Direct Descendants (only), my Great-grandfather Robert McEwen charged the spelling of the name sometime in his early adult life.
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