William McQuown (abt. 1729 - 1757)

Born about 1729 in Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Helm) McQuown — married [date unknown] in Somerset, New Jersey

Descendants

Died 29 Oct 1757 at about age 28 in Quebec Prison, Quebec, Canada

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Biography

1720

William McQuown was born about 1729 and was a son of James and Isabella (Stewart) McQuown. He was born in Ballybay, Monaghan, Ireland.

His father James was the son of William McQuown and lived in Ballybay, Monaghan Co., Ireland. He was the grandson of John McEoughain who paid the 1665 Hearth Tax in Donagh, Monaghan Co., Ireland. The nearest village being Ballybay. The family attended church in Ballybay which was in the Parish of Tulleycorbet.

1730

William came with his parents, brother Henry and sisters Jane and Margaret to Bedminster Twp., Somerset County, New Jersey in 1736, landed in New Castle, Delaware and proceeded to the Peapack Patent in Bedminster Twp., Somerset Co., NJ. His sister Elizabeth was born after their arrival in New Jersey. ^{[1] [2]}

His father carried a note from his minister in Tulleycorbet which mentions William and his relationship in the family:

“Tullycorbet, [Monaghan Co., No. Ireland] May the 19th 1736 The bearer, James McKeun with his wife Isabel and their children, William, Joan, Henry and Margaret McKeun have been orderly members of this congregation, he from his infancy and she from her marriage, still free from all public scandal or church censure and in good repute and now designing to transport themselves with Divine concurrence into some of the Protestant colonies of America, we heartily recommend them to the care and Christian fellowship of any religious society where God’s providence shall order their lot. Certified by H. Thompson, minister.”^[3][4]

[Note: Erma Stevenson and her researchers sent a letter to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and confirmed that H. Thompson was, in fact, the minister to the Ballybay congregation at period of time.]

In 1745 at age 16 William was required to join the local militia and attend periodic training. These events were a gathering place where the young men met the local young women who attended with their brothers. Other that church and very local contact, these broadened the horizon for young people. As we will see from the record there were a number of women married to members of the Jersey Blues as they were called. Militia members included men from the McQuown, Stewart, Hacket, Redman and Fleming families.

William married Sarah Helm in Somerset County, NJ on ________ and they had 4 children: William born in ____, John was born in 1745, Henry was born in 1753 and James was born in 1755.

When the French and Indian War began, the New Jersey Blues were called up to defend the frontiers of the English colonies from the French and their Indian allies. He served under Captain May in Col. Parker’s regiment and they marched to Fort William Henry located at the southern end of Seneca Lake in New York.

William was serving with the New Jersey Blues Militia and was captured by the French and Indians at the Battle of Sabbath Day Point on Lake Seneca, NY. He was taken to Quebec where he died in prison in 1757. His wages were collected by his brother-in-law, Robert Helm.

Recv’d by Virtue of An Order given to me by Rob’t Helms Admininst. Also recorded by an Affadavit Recv’d by Robert Helm the pay Due to William McCowen Dec’d is 3m. 23d. [Note: Spelling as written in the record.]^[5]

William's wife, Sarah (Helm) McQuown, died in 1760 with her brother Robert Helm as administrator of her estate. May 29, 1760. Sarah (Helm) MACOWEN (MCQUOWN, MCEOWEN), of Somerset Co., NJ widow of William. Int. Bond of Robert HELM only brother as adm’r. Hugh CAMPBELL fellow bondsman, both of said county, yeomen. Lib. G, p.222. May 20, 1760 - inventory, L28.14.2 by John MACCOLLUM and Joseph GASTON. Jan. 26, 1763 Account by Robert HELM of “Barnerds,” Somerset Co., the Adm’r. ^[6]

Apparently, William and Sarah's children were taken in by their grandfather, except for Henry, who was raised by his uncle Henry and Elizabeth (Caldwell) McQuown. When Henry matured he married Elizabeth Gregg. "Henry the Younger" was mentioned in his uncle's will.

James and William were raised by their grandparents, James and Isabella (Stewart) McQuown. James married Mary Ann Denison and lived in Bucks Co., PA. William married Elizabeth Lamb and went to Hagerstown, MD. His family later moved to Nelson Co., KY. William claimed that he was raised on "Yellow Breeches Creek" which runs through Middleton Twp., Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania where James and Isabella (Stewart) McEwen lived.

John was raised by his uncle , William and Rebecca (Bruce ) McQuown in Mount Bethel Twp., Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. John married Margaret Herrin.

Sources

1. ↑ “James and Isabella Stewart McEwen ascendancy” prepared by Erma Stevenson and Robert L. McEwen and provided to me by Bonnie Carl
2. ↑ "Our McEwen Heritage: the James McEwen family in America since 1736... by Erma J. Stevenson. Available for down load from Ancestry Library. Has 5 generation of McEwen biographies and 10 generations of descendants. Related families include" Caldwell, Gregg, Lamb, Pettit, Stuart, Petrikin and others. Pub. 2001 Salem, OR. 130 pages with maps and illustrations.
3. ↑ A copy of the note is printed in "Genealogy and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley" Vol. II; pg. 522
4. ↑ "Our McEwen Heritage" Appendix B also has a copy of this note.
5. ↑ “Colonial Tribulations – The Survival Story of William Casterline and His comrades of the New Jersey Blues Regiment – French and Indian War – 1755 – 1757” by Greg Casterline * 2007 – published by Lulu on-line publishing – www.lulu.com
6. ↑ “New Jersey Archives”, 1st series, volume 32, Calendar of Wills 1751 - 1760 page 213

• Some McEwen Family Roots Author not mentioned. Information from Lillian McEwen Summerfield, author's aunt, and a professional genealogist Mrs. Jeanne Waters Strong of Los Altos Hills, CA. 13 pages covers McEwen history and descendants of William, son Henry McEwen. Copied by Karen McEwen Farthinng from LDS Library in Salt Lake City, UT.

• History of the King Family in Centre Co., PA by Robert King, Pullman, WA 1980 - 2 Vols. MCEWEN APPENDIX - The McEwen Family of Centre Co., PA - pages I 482 thru I 493. provided to Bruce E. McEwen by David Gunsallus.

• “Some McEwen Family Roots” by Robert L. McEwen and Jeanne Waters Strong; 1993 LDS Library: US/CAN 929.273 H1 no. 7947, pages 3 and 4:

• “History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania” 1883 by John Blair Linn page 456, the following certificate was in the possession of Mrs. Charles McBride who was Ann, daughter of Anna and William PETTIT. Anna MCEWEN [MCQUOWN] PETITT was the sister to Francis MCEWEN [MCQUOWN], Senior.