| Notes |
- "James Ewings was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1749. Alexander Ewings, his father, was a Scotsman by birth, and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh. [Alexander] entered the British army soon after his graduation and received an adjutant's commission (an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer) in a regiment located at Cork, Ireland. There he married a Miss Sullivan and remained at that post with his regiment some years, and there a number of his children were born, including James and Alexander". "James was six years of age at the time he was embarked with his father s family on board a vessel bound for America. They landed in Boston, and after the father obtained his discharge from the army, they resided some years in Greenwich, Hampshire Co, Mass. James married Naomi, daughter of Benjamin Cooley4 of that town, in 1775. Their eldest son, Benjamin, was born in May, 1776. The following year Mr. Ewings came to Pittsford and bought of Darius Crippen fifty acres of land lying south of said Crippen's home farm". We find in the "Pay Roll of Capt. [Benjamin 5] Cooley's company in Col. Warren's Regiment of militia in the service of this, and the United States commencing Nov. 8, 1778, and ending the 13th, both days included...James Ewings, 6 [days], 2-10 [wages per month], 0-10 [total]". Early in October 1780, during the Revolutionary War, a British battalion of about 1000 men under the command of Maj. Carlton, came north beside Lake George, took Fort Ann, with its garrison of about fifty men, and then proceeded to Fort George which was also compelled to surrender. On their way to Fort George they had laid waste the country; and they now kept up indications of making further advances. This invasion created great alarm, and the militia of Vermont were called out and ordered to rendezvous at Castleton, under the command of Ethan Allen. Capt. Cooley of Pittsford received this order on the 11th, and the next day he was at Castleton with his men. The following is a copy of the "Pay Roll of that part of Capt. Benjamin Cooley's Company in Col. Ebenezer Allen's Regiment of Militia, called out on the alarm of the 12th of October 1780, and commencing the 12th, and ending the 18th inclusive, the money being due from the State of Vermont: Capt. Benjamin Cooley, Oct. 12. Oct. 18. 7 [days], 8-0-0 [wages per month], 1-17-4 [amount of wages] 0-9-4 [amount of subsistence] 2-6-8 [Total]; Lieut. James Ewings, 7[days] 5-8-0 [days], 1-5-1 [wages per month] 0-4-8 [amount of subsistence], 1-9-9 [Total].
There is an interesting story in History of Pittsford on page 61 about James' father, Adjutant Alexander Ewings, and his deployment to New England under the command of British General Braddock.
A cenotaph in Fairview Cemetery, Northumberland Co, Ontario, Canada reads as follows:
In memory of
James & Naomi Ewing.
James Ewing Esq
Died Sept 4th 1828
Aged 84 years
Naomi Ewing
Died May 4th 1841
Aged 86 years [1]
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Abt 1749 - 1828 (~ 79 years)
[1, 2] 