William
Ewens
(Ewen, Evans, Ewins) Family
England &
Virginia
"Capt."
William Ewen/Ewens
b. probably about 1579-1580 [Hashaw 2016]
(early researchers use the christened date of 18 Feb 1595 St
Botolph, London, Middlesex, England
which we believe belonged to a nephews family by the same
name)
d. prior to August 1650 Greenwich, St. Alphage, Kent Co.,
England
1m. Margaret
Clement 10 Feb 1612/13 Stepney, St. Dunstan,
London, England [McCartney 286]
christened: 8 Feb
1595 St Andrew by the Wardrobe, London, Eng.
d. ............... perhaps James City, VA
probably first married (John
Clement abt 1569 London, Eng.)
and recorded herself as "a widow" at her marriage to William
Ewens
(apparently she had a son, John Clement Jr., of this
marriage who died at age 20) [Hashaw 2016]
her father: unknown
mother: ?
only known child | |||
---|---|---|---|
Mary Ewens |
b. 1641 possibly Greenwich, Kent, England |
d.
|
m. Andrew Barron 1670 in James City,
Virginia |
unknown daughter |
m. Thomas Stevens |
There were two William Ewens in Jamestown, one was servant,
coming over in 1619, who apparently had no heirs and William
Ewens who was a ship captain who arrived in August 1619 and
had a wife and daughter named Mary. A good deal is known
about William Ewens the sea captain.
There is a mystery
about the baptismal date of 1595 that some researchers have
used as the birth date for William. While it is typical
or traditional that a baptism would take place shortly after
the birth this doesn't seem to fit with this particular William
Ewen. It could be the date for the baptism of his brother's
son or William's nephew also named William Ewen. Another
theory that I have is based on historical problems at the time
of Capt. William Ewen whose life over laps with Henry
VIII. When Henry VIII took over the Catholic churches in
England he established the Anglican Church as a
replacement. I believe this caused a major problem to
Capt. William for advancement due to the fact that his family
seems to have roots in Ireland which was a strongly Catholic
country. I think he could have taken the action of having
himself re-baptized in the Anglican religion. This would have
eliminated the potential discrimination for religious and
cultural differences in English society. The practice of
re-baptism was done in Spanish controlled Louisiana Territory
which required American colonists to be re-baptized in the
Catholic religion when they became residents of the territory
after the American Revolution.
To quote extensively from McCartney's "Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635"
"In late August 1619 William Ewen (Ewens,
Ewins, Evans) a sea captain, went to Old Point Comfort with
Lieutenant William Peirce and John Rolfe to meet the ship Treasurer, which had
brought some Africans to Virginia. In July 1621 Ewen was
identified as captain of the George, when the Virginia Company hired him
to take 80 people from Isle of Wight to Virginia. One of
his passengers was incoming governor, Sir Francis
Wyatt. William Ewen owned the ship Charles. Which he leased
to the Virginia Company. In July 1622 he brought three
men to Virginia on the James.
On April 20, 1623, when William Ewen refuted the claims that
Captain Nathaniel Butler had made about conditions in
the colony, he said that he had made four trips to Virginia as
the master of ships and had lived there for a year. In
July 1623 he promised Virginia Company officials that he would
send surplus supplies to Virginia. In May 1625 William
Wen was credited with a 1000 - acre plantation on the lower
side of the James River, opposite Jamestown, property that
already had been seated. On May 23, 1625, The General
Court's justices noted that when the men from the College in
Henrico were evacuated to safety after the March 22, 1622,
Indian attack, they had been placed on Mr. Ewen's plantation,
He also took custody of the supplies sent to the people who
intended to establish the East India School. On May 26,
1634, William Ewen, who was then in England, was among those
claiming that they had had families in Virginia for several
years and feared for their well-being if Morris Thompson
became the colony's sole supplier. In March 1640 Ewen was
described as a merchant by colonist George Read. On
April 2, 1649, when William Ewen made his will, which was
proved in August 1650, he indicated that he was a mariner and
native of Greenwich, in Kent, England. He named as heirs
his wife and his daughter, both of whom were named Mary, and
indicated that he still owned some land in Virginia, the
property he had acquired during the 1620's. " [McCartney p286]
1619, late August -
The first Africans arrived at Point Comfort, on the James
River. There were "20 and odd Negroes" from the English ship
the "White Lion" sold
in exchange for food. They are later sold in Jamestown.
There is some argument about their origin. Some have
argued that they came from the Caribbean while Spanish records
indicate that they had been captured in Angola, which had been
a Portuguese colony in West Central Africa. The Spanish
slave ship Sao Joao
Bautista had been tasked to carry them to Mexico when
confronted by the White
Lion and the Treasurer,
another English ship. They were in effect stolen by the
English and then resold. These ships have not proved to be
ones of the William Ewens fleet, however, he was in Jamestown
when the ships arrived and was requested by the Governor Sir
Edwin Sandy to go
down and see about the ships. Before he could meet with the
captain of the Treasurer
she bolted out of the bay. It seems that the Treasurer has sold its
share of 14 slaves in Bermuda before arriving in Jamestown.
Court proceeding lay out the whole story. [Encyclopedia of
Virginia, Library of Virginia]
According the latest research, Jamestown refused to sell the ship supplies because the captain and ships owners were thought to be pirates and presented the colony with legal complications. "John Rolfe, William Peirce and Mr. Ewins (sometimes spelled Ewens or Evans)" arrived in Jamestown after Captain Elfrith and the ship's owners had gone while a remaining member of the Treasurer was taken to Jamestown to be interrogated under penalty of death about the cargo and events. "Captain Elfrith arrived in the English colony of Bermuda with twenty-five Africans he still had on board. The were taken into custody and detained by deputy governor Miles Kendal until the incoming governor, Nathaniel Butler, arrived. Butler later told a superior that if not for the Africans he would not have been able to rayse one pound of Tobacco this year" to generate revenue. He added that 'These Slave are the most proper and cheape instruments for this plantation.' " [Encyclopedia of Virginia, Library of Virginia]
As far as Andrew
Barron, I have no record for his arrival but there was a Henry
Barrone in Jamestown in 1623 who left Martin's Hundred.
[McCartney 116]
1619, September - William Ewen's
Plantation (13)
"In September 1619 William Ewen received a patent for 400 acres of land located on the lower side of the James River. His property abutted northwest upon the land of Edward Grindon (Grindon's Hill), which later became part of the Treasurer's Plantation (11. In January 1621 Ewen received a patent for an additional 1,000 acres fronting upon Cobham Bay and located upon the west side of a stream that became known as the Sunken Marsh or College Run. Refugees from the College land (66) in Henrico were taken to the Ewens property in the wake of the March 1622 Indian attack. The people sent to establish the East India School were placed there, too. By the mid-1630s the Ewen plantation had become known as the College. In 1648 it came in to hands of William Edwards and Rice Davis. [McCartney 42]
1620, June - The following document states that he was 40
years old in 1620. This corresponds better with ownership
of a ship "George" and captain of some experience.
1620 - June 22-
William Euans is paid 87 L 10 shillings for work done for the
Virginia Company.
Richard
Euans
receives
50
L
Hugh
Euans
receives
50L.
[The Records of the Virginia Company of London, Vol. 3.
p. 323]
1621, July - 256
William Ewens.
Covenant on part of Wm. Ewens for 480L to see that the Ship George 150 tun is staunch and strong and fitted out with furniture and with mariners and seamen, to take on passenges and goods and to bring back tobacco from the plantation, with forfeit of 1000L. B.M. [The Records of the Virginia Company of London, Vol. 1. p. 149]
257 William Ewens
Covenant by Wm. Ewens to fit out the Ship Charles, 80 tun and take same with fraight and passengers to Virginia for certain (blank) sum. Forfeit of 1000L for not returning ship with freight.
[The Records of the Virginia Company of London, Vol. 1. p. 149]
CLXXVII. William Ewens. Covenant with the Company for Virginia.. July, 1621
Additional manuscripts, 14285, Folios 78a-79a
Document in British Museum, London
List of Records No. 256[78d]To all to whome these presente shall come greetinge Knowe yee that I Wm Ewens Mr of the good Ship the George of 150 tun burden nowe resident in the Riuer of Thames for and in consideracon of the Sume of 480L of good lawfull money of England to mee in hand paide and deliured by the Treasuror and Companie of Aduenturors and Planters of the Cittie of London for the first Colonie in Virginia before the insealinge and deliuery hereof and for and in consideracon of certaine couenante between them and mee agreed I the said Wm Ewens do promise and couenant in manner and forme following Imprimis that the good Shipp the George before her departure out of the Riuer of Thames shalbe stronge and staunch and in all thinge well fitted and prouided as well with furniture belonging to a Shippe as also Marriners and Sea fitt and sufficient for the safe and good pformance of the voyage now intended and couenanted
[79] Item I doe couenant and promise with the first oppertunity of wynde and weather to sett sayle wth the first Shippe for the Porte of Cowes neare the Ile of Wight and there to receaue and take into the said Shippe such Passenger and goode as the said Treasuror and Company shall direct and appointe and no other and I do further couenante and promise after the passengers and goode shalbe receaued into the said Shipe to departe from thence the directist course for the Port of James Citty in James Riuer in the Kyng Kingdome of Virginia and during the time of the said voyage to giue and make such allowance of victuall to the Passengers as by the Shedull herevnto affixed is specified. And I doe promise and couenant to deliuer the said Passenger and goode (mortallity and dangers of the Seas onely excepted) safe and well condiconed at James Cittie in Virginia accordinge as the said Treasuror and Company shall direct and appointe.
And I do further promise and couenant to take and receaue into the said Shippe the George such Tobacco as the Gouernor and officers residinge in Virginia shall lade aboord here duringe the time that the said Shippe shall [79d] abide in Virginia for the Account of the said Treasuror and Company here in England & the said Tobacco and their goode to deliuer and consigne safe and well condiconed (the danger of the Seas excepted) to such ffactors in England or Holland aor Ireland and at such Porte as the said Treasuror and Companie shall appointe and ordaine.
And to the pformance of all the singular the Couenante aboue recited to be well and truely holden kept and pformed in all thinge by mee I the said Wm Ewens binde my self my executors and Administrators and goode and namely the Shippe aforesaid wth the fraight tackle boale and apparell of th same vnto th saide Treauror and Companie and their Successors in the Sume or penaltie of 1000L of lawfull money of England well and truely to be paide by these presente: In Wittnesse whereof I haue herevnto sett my hand and Seale this [blank] day of July 1621 And in the years of the riagne of or soueraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland Defendor of the faith ct that is to say of England france and Ireland the 19th and of Scotland the fower and fiftith.
[The Records of the Virginia Company of London, Vol. 3. p. 465-466]
I William Ewens have gone Mr of Ships to Virginia 4 seuerall times & lived one wholl year ther or ther aboutes, and affirme all the answers aboue except that of the Ordinance and Pallisadoes. William Ewens. [278]1624 - "William Ewen of Limehouse, mariner, on 17 Dec., 1624, bought a messuage and wharf on the south side of the Thames at East Greenwich in Kent from Martha, widow of Thomas Raynborowe for L600. He appears to have lived in Limehouse in Stepney until 1637 when he moved to Greenwich, for he was chosen a vestryman of Stepney Parish in 1627 and elected a churchwarden in 1632. In 1637 he presented an account of his wardenship and from that date onward appears in the records of Greenwich, Kent. This known because William Ewen prospered and became the owner of a fleet of ships sailing to Virginia, Turkey, and the East Indies. in consequence of his enterprises he was often involved in chancery and maritime suits." [Bobbie 43]
[The Records of the Virginia Company of London, Vol. 2. p. 385]
1626 - Patents
Granted to Settlers in Virginia in the Corporation of James
City Published in 1626 the The Territory of Tappahanna over
against James City.
In Hog Island, Mary Baily, 500 acres
planted by patent.
In Hog Island, Captain Ralph Hamor, by claim 250 A. planted
Upon easterly side of Chippokes Creek is appointed 500 acres
belonging to ye place of ---------? .
1643- The following record indicates that Capt. Wm. Ewens owned "The George" that transported Pocahontas and her husband John Rolfe. Actually Pocahontas and John Rolfe and their son were transported first to England on the ship "Treasurer" in 1619 although Ewens may have been part of this earlier event. John Rolfe had married in 1614. They were about to return with their son on "The George" when Pocahontas became ill and died in 1622. She is buried at Gravesend's St George's Church in an unmarked grave. John Rolfe had been awarded about 1000 acres of land near Capt. Ewens on the opposite bank from Jamestown although he never lived there. [Wikipedia] | Pocahontas in
1616,
engraving by Simon de Passe, 1616 [courtesy of
wikipedia common]
|
John B. Boddie in Colonial Surry states that the largest land owner in Surry in 1626 was Captain William Ewen. He had 1,000 acres planted and 400 acres not yet cleared. Another 1100 acres were patented in 1643.
William Ewen was captain and owner of the ship "George" which made numerous trips to Virginia, bringing two of Virginia's governors among its many passengers. Lady Pocahontas and her husband, John Rolfe, were also transported by the "George". William Ewen evidently quit the sea, made his home in England, and became a prosperous merchant and the owner of a fleet of ships sailing to Virginia, Turkey, and the East Indies. His will provided for Mary his wife, and Mary, his daughter.
[Boddie, John B., Colonial Surry (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1966), pp.41-44.]
1629, May 6 -
"William Dunn, a 29 -year-old sailor from Limehouse in
Middlesex, testified that when the Saker arrived in
Virginia in 1627, it delivered one passenger, an African, to
William Ewen's plantation." [McCartney 269]
1649, April 2 -
William Ewens Will.
1649 - William
Ewens of Greenwich, county Kent, mariner. Will 2
April 1649; proved 12 August 1650. To Mary L100 out of my lands
and tenements in England. The Ballast wharfe and 4
tenements in Greenwich to my
daughter Mary; if she died befrioe 21, then to Thomas Ewens the elder
during life and at his decease on hald to William and Thomas Ewens his two
sons and their issue, failing them or their issue to
my kinsmen Ewen Johnson
and Ewen Peters, the
other half to Ewen Johnson,
Margaret Johnson, Ewen Peters, Mary Noble, and her daughter.
My executors to take a friendly care of my cousin Mary Noble and
her daughter. To Mary my wife one third of all my
shipping debts oweing by bill bond or from the Parliament in
any wise, the other two thirds I give to my daughter
Mary. To Mary my daughter the two shares of land I have
in Sommer Islands, being 60 acres not or lante in the
occupation of one William Farmer. To Thomas Ewens the
elder the North Mill standing upon the Deanes at Yarmouth now
in occupation of John Broome. To William Stevens my son
in law L100. To
Thomas Ewens the elder and to his four children, William,
Thomas, Thomazine, and Martha Ewens 20s each. To Margaret Johnson, Ewen Johnson,
Ewen Peters, Susan Pigott, Mary Noble, and her daughter
20s each to be raised out of my shiping and the sale of my
land in Virginia.
Executors: Wife and
Daughter, Thomas Stevens and Arnold Browne.
Witnesses: Frances Cordwell, William Denmay,
Paul Paine, John Weeks, John Wardall. Codicil
30 April 1650. Mentions L30 in my hands for Ewen Peters when 21 given
unto him by his grandfather John Ewen.
Witnesses:
William Ewen, Mathew Walker.
Pembroke, 132
1660- June 30 - Mrs
Mary Ewen gave of attorney to Mr. Francis Newton, planter, to
handle her affairs in Virginia, as a substitute for her well
beloved brother Nicholas Newton since deceased and Richard
Hopkins his attorney, 6 Dec. 1659. Mrs Ewen held 1400 acres of
land, 7 negroes, 50 head of cattle, 15 hogs, etc. [Boddie, 44]
1704- Andrew Barron
is living in Essex Co., Virginia and show up in the rent
rolls.
Barron Andrew Essex County, 1704
Barber James King & Queen County, 1704
Barber Tho. York County, 1704
Camp Thomas King & Queen County, 1704
Camp Wm. Glocester, Abbington Parish
Glascock Richd. Glocester, Kingston Parish
undated ( but abt.
1717)
- Andrew Barron, (transfers) to Henry Jonejan, son of
Henry ye
Elder, of Nansemond Co., VA. 235 acres known as Cobb's pond,
at
Meherrin. Test, Andrew Barant, Benj. Weston, William
Speight.
[Hathaway p. 9]
1704 - "A True
and Perfect Rent Roll of all the Lands held in Essex County
this
present year 1704.
Barron,
Andrew
50
"
[Wertenberg.
p. 236]
1720 - Andrew
Barron. Book III, page 6, April 5, 1720; 266 acres on
Poplar Run.
[Hathaway p. 12]
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