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1. SUBJECT:

"The Grove".

2. LOCATION:

Three miles northwest of Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

1742 and 1822.

4. OWNER:

William Ewing, the immigrant, by patent, 1742.

John Ewing, son of William, by inheritance, 1796.

William Ewing, son of John Ewing, by inheritance, June 1822.

Mary Elizabeth Ewing, by inheritance and division, 1890 and 1894.

W.N. Deputy, by deed from H.W. Wyant Special Commissioner, November 1, 1919.

William C. Wampler, by deed from W.N. Deputy, November 24, 1919.

The New York Life Insurance company of New York city, New York from Trustee, May 1, 1933.

5. DESCRIPTION:

The house is colonial with a two column double portico. The present house is of brick. The hall is rather narrow with stairway at the rear. Originally there were eleven rooms and now there are twelve.

See form 3686, attached.

6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

William Ewing, the emigrant, (1694-1796), youngest son of Baron William Ewing of Tellichewan Castle, Loch Lomend, Scotland, was born in Scotland and came to America about 1718, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania then a small village, and settled in Buck county, where he remained for sometime, going to school and later marrying his teacher, Ann Shannon. At an early date he owned property in Philadelphia.

Some of his living descendants have a tradition that he came to America direct from Scotland in 1713, at the age of thirteen years. There is another tradition, which seems the more reliable, that he came from Ulster, Ireland, where he at least paused after leaving Scotland.

William undoubtedly had close relatives in Ulster, and at that day much of the immigrant movement was from Scotland to the Province of Ulster; and out of Ulster, Londonderry being an important port to America. It seems evident that this young man came direct to America from some point in North Ireland, and that 1718 is the generally accepted date of his arrival. The statement by some that this William was a strong Calvinist is misleading. In common with the Clan from which he descended, it seems certain that he was a Comenanter Presbyterian. There was almost a continuous quarrel between the Presbyterians and the Catholics during the era in which this Ewing left Scotland. He "fled" evidently in the broader sense of seeking opportunity to worship God after Presbyterian teaching, in greater peace. More, it is tradition that his father said to him "My lad, your brother inherits the patrimony and the title. Go to America and seek an honest fortune in the greater opportunities of the new country. Aye, remember lad, you are a worthy son of a worthy Scotch baron". Another tradition has it this way; "My son you know your eldest brother will inherit the title and the estate. I am but a poor baron and can give you only three hundred and twenty pounds sterling. Take it and go to the New World to seek your fortune". William took the suggestions, came to America; prospered, and became one of the early pioneers in the building of an empire.

It seems certain that William Ewing came to the Valley of Virginia in 1742, and in that year made his first land purchase of a tract of two hundred acres, locating about three miles northwest of Harrisonburg, the home place, and now known at "The Grove". Just why it was so called is not known. To this place was subsequently added many more acres until it became one of the many larger estates of this section,

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embracing something like a thousand acres. The place was in the Ewing family for one hundred and seventy-seven years.

The first home built on this place was of logs, of the early pioneer type, cut from large trees, hewn on two sides, and seems to have been of rather larger size than many of the early pioneer houses. Portholes were provided, so that it was in effect, an outpost blockhouse, one of the old blockhouse forts of that day. Near by, and probably built sometime later, was a smaller stone structure, having it is said a subterraneous connection with the spring, and used as a retreat for the women and children when the frequent Indian alarms spread along the frontier and more than once besieged by them.

The records of Augusta County disclose that the first deed to William for land was recorded November 17, 1761, conveying, in consideration of one hundred and forty-eight pounds, seven hundred and eight acres on "easternmost branch of Linville’s Creek, conveyed by Hite, et al, 3^rd October, 1769, Delivered: Andrew Ewin 1769. (Andrew was his son).

William Ewing was strong in his convictions, both political and religious, as well as in habits and costume. He wore a long queue, tied at the end with black ribbon; short breeches, fastened at the knees with knee-buckles; silk stockings and dress. He was strong in his Presbyerianism and yet withal, one of several witnesses against "Alexander Miller, M.A. formerly a Presbyterian Minister", charged with, "siding and giving intelligence to the enemy". Yet he would not vote for President, resisting all efforts of persuasion, saying "God made Kings and Queens but never made a President".

William, as said before, married Ann Shannon about 1733, and while hers seems to have been the dominating spirit, they lived happily together, and both lie buried in the church yard of the New Erection Church on Cooks Creek, he in 1796 and she in 1801 at the age of ninety years. To their union were born: Henry, Andrew, John, Elizabeth and Nancy.

Upon the formation of Rockingham County in 1778, Henry became one of its first justices and its second clerk, succeeding Peter Hogg, who was the first clerk. Henry served as clerk of the court until 1792.

John Ewing son of William Ewing the immigrant and inheritor of the homeplace married Phoebe Davison, granddaughter of Daniel and Phoebe Davison, nee Harrison, in 1768. It was to her that her mother handed the old water bottle, the trophy of her great grandfather’s voyage to America, which is now in the possession of Mr. I.S. Ewing of Harrisonburg.

In 1786 during his father’s term as clerk, he took oath of deputy clerk, and soon afterwards qualified as a "Gentleman Justice" which office he held continuously until his death in 1822.

William Ewing, second (1780-1857) was son of John Ewing and wife need Davison and inheritor of the someplace from his father, was the builder of the present brick house about 1822 or a little later. In 1807 he married Elizabeth Bryan. Th original log house stood about two hundred yards from the present house, south and a little to the east, and the old stone structure spoken of was immediately in front and just outside the present yard fence.

Like his father and grandfather, William was closely identified with the interest and affairs of the community, both civil, business and military. He was a Captain of one of the cavalry companies in the 116^th Regiment, Virginia Militia, in 1812. He was a successful farmer, with a large plantation of many acres of excellent land, both farming, meadow and grazing. Slight changes have been made in recent years to the present house; the original two column, double portico, has been replaced with a more modern porch,

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running full length with the rooms. Otherwise the house stands today as it was when built, about one hundred and fourteen years ago, and no doubt will continue to stand a many more unless purposely torn away by some succeeding owner.

7. ART:

Photograph.

8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: