Page 170 - WPA Book
P. 170
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
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 Bucks 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 Ulste, 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 Covenanter
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. Moreover, 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 Scottish 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 as 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,
Page 169 of 482
HOUSES
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 Bucks 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 Ulste, 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 Covenanter
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. Moreover, 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 Scottish 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 as 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,
Page 169 of 482
