Notes
Note for: Robert EWING, BEF 15 JAN 1692/93 - Index
Christening:
Date: 15 JAN 1692/93
Place: Burt Congregation, Londonderry, Ireland
Note: [McNutt7.FTW]
ROBERT EWING was a man of distinguished ability, evidently a leader in
his community, of determined character resolute purpose in the execution
of his plans and designs. He settled close to his brother, CHARLES, in
what is now Bedford County, VA. He qualified on 22 June, 1754, under
commission from KING GEORGE II, as one of the Justices of the County
Court for Bedford County, which was a court of general jurisdiction, with
records and a clerk, having chancery powers besides other jurisdiction,
and in that capacity, he served for a number of years, the records
showing that he was serving on 22 July, 1754, and on May 24, 1756, and on
June 25, 1771. ROBERT was appointed and presided as one of the Judges of
the "Court of Oyer and Terminer" to try for murder, one HAMPTON, who was
convicted and hanged. Robert was a member of Captain Thomas Buford's
volunteer company, raised in Bedford County, which constituted a part of
the army under GENERAL ANDREW LEWIS (in the battle with the Indians at
Point Pleasant on 10 October, 1774. It appears that Robert Ewing made a
payment to the County in 1756 for provisions for the Militia. On 27
August, 1770, he received a grant of 194 acres.
RELIGION: Robert was a Presbyterian and an elder in that church. He was
the first signer (probably the author) of a remarkable petition, full of
point and vigor, from Peaks of Otter Presbyterian Church in Bedford
County during May of 1774, to the General Assembly of Virginia, asking
the elders thereof be enabled to take and hold land and slaves to the use
of the minister under proper regulations. The petition was granted.
As indicative of Robert Ewing's public spirit, we note that on 24 Mar,
1783, he wrote to the Governor of Virginia, informing him that the
Sheriff had refused to give security for collection of taxes, and
intimating very strongly that under the situation, the people of Bedford
County, though it was one of the first inland counties of the State, were
not inclined to pay as demanded.
The WILL of ROBERT EWING disposed of considerable land, both in Virginia
and Kentucky, the ownership in Kentucky being explained by the fact that
at least much of Kentucky was carved out of Augusta County, Virginia.
(Source: FTM Genealogy Site--www
.familytreemaker.com/users/e/r/i/Gayle--Erickson/GENE14-00017.htm)
His Will found in "Abstracts of Bedford County, Virginia 1754-1787" dated
25 Jun 1787 in Bedford County, VA. There eight sons and three daughters
named in this will. Known children and grandchildren of Robert and Mary
Ewing are named.
Notes
Note for: Mary EWING, BEF 24 FEB 1694/95 - Index
Christening:
Date: 24 FEB 1694/95
Place: Burt Congregation, Londonderry, Ireland
Notes
Note for: John ["Indian John"] EWING, 27 DEC 1747 - 23 DEC 1825 Index
Burial:
Place: Glenn Cemetery [aka "Indian John Cemetery"], Vinton, Gallia County, Ohio
Note: [McNutt7.FTW]
"Indian" John Ewing, my 5G-grandfather, was b. 27 Dec 1747 in Orange Co.
NC. At the age of 26 he was taken captive by the Shawnee
Indians, led by Chief Cornstalk, in what is known as the Celendennin
Massacre, in a raid on a Greenbrier settlement near Lewisburg, W.Va. The
Indians brought him through Gallia Co. Oh to the Indian towns near
Chillicothe. John was a captive for 22 months until his relase, by
treaty in May 1765. John was the son of James Ewing b. 1720 - s/o
William Ewing b. 1660. On 22 Apr 1774 he married Ann Smith and they
had ten children: William, John, Susannah, Sarah, Jeanet, Ann, Andrew,
Elizabeth, Lydia, and Samuel. John died 23 Dec 1747 in Vinton, Oh. and
is bu. in Glenn Cemetery there.
Indian John Ewing was visiting his sisters cabin when it was attacked by
Shawnees in 1763. He was captured and taken to Ohio, where he lived with
the Indians in the vicinity of present day Xinia until he was released as
a result of a 1765 treaty.
John was in company of two Negro Slaves who was out hoeing corn in a
field on the mountain side some distance from and out of sight of the
Clendenin house. About noon they heard a rifle shot in that direction.
They were surprised but not really frightened as Clendenin was a hunter
and might be shooting wild turkeys or other game. On arriving at the top
of the hill, they saw several Indians near the house but even this did
not alarm them as it was common for friendly Indians to visit the
settlements. On arriving at the house Ewing saw his sister bound to a
horse in the yard her two children clinging to her in terrror, while one
of the Indians swung a helpless infant in the air.
He was given the Indian name "Petercob".
John became conversant in the Shawnee language and customs. He became a
great admirer of White Otter and of the Chief Thobqueb, who Ewing
reckoned to be almost 100 years old. The chief asked Ewing to explain a
strange book the Shawnees had found. It was a bible and the story of
Noah's ark fascinated the him.
During a small pox epidemic that killed hundreds in the village, Ewing
went off to the field where corn and squash grew. He cut down a large
shell bark hickory tree and set fire to it. With buffalo robes and
blankets as a bed he subsisted on squash and spring water. He later
claimed that to be the best cure he knew for small pox.
In later years, Indian John Ewing has been said to have gotten very tired
of being asked about Indians.