MacEwan Family of Dundee, Scotland
Index for Ward and Associated Families of Sassafras Neck, Cecil County, Maryland
Peter MacEwan, who was a son of the late Mr. John M. MacEwan, Lochee, and a brother of Mr. Robert Adam MacEwan (of Lammerton Terrace, Dundee), was born at Lochee, Forfarshire, on May 29th, 1856. He was educated locally, and was apprenticed to pharmacy with Mr. John Peebles (now Judge Peebles, of Kirkcaldy), and afterwards became an assistant in his uncle's business at Dundee. His instruction in chemistry was obtained under Mr. Frank Young at the Dundee Science Schools, now the Technical College. Peter MacEwan was the son of John MacEwan and Agnes Watt, who married Feb. 2, 1851. He is the grandson of Peter MacEwan and Isabella Bryson.
The children of John MacEwan and Agnes Watt are:
Mr. MacEwan was not only a brilliant chemist; he had literary abilities of a high order. During his residence in Edinburgh he published a considerable number of original papers, the result of research on chemical and pharmaceutical subjects, and he was elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society in 1886.
Note from Vivienne Clyde: The 1881 census in Scotland lists a James Hardie of 4 Laurel Bank, Dundee born abt 1828 in Leslie, Fife. Occupation: Pharmaceutical Chemist. His son James M Hardie born 1856 is also listed as one and another son John as a pharmacy student. I wonder if he is a brother of Margaret Hardie [born Leslie, Fife abt 1827], Euphemia Thomson's mother? Could a work connection be the reason why he ended up as a lodger at Margaret's boarding house?
My response back to her: I have several articles written after Peter MacEwan's death concerning his life - he was a "brilliant chemist and journalist". One article says" No name is more widely known in the British drug trade, if the popularity of his books may be taken as a criterion. Mr MacEwan served his apprenticeship in pharmacy with Mr. John Peebles, Lochee. Afterwards for more than seven years he was an assistant to Mr. James Hardie, High Street, Dundee, and during the greater part of the time was Mr. Hardie's principal assistant, passing at this stage the minor and major examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain."
It looks as if Peter MacEwan came to live at Margaret Thomson's Boarding House, 5 South Tay St, Dundee, through his work association with James Hardie. Here he met Margaret's daughter, Euphemia, who was working as a housekeeping assistant.
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Peter MacEwan married Euphemia Thomson, daughter of Robert T. Thomson (8/29/1824 - ?). She was the granddaughter of David Thomson (b. Nov. 11, 1765) and Euphan Ireland (b. Dec. 17, 1781; d. Nov. 16, 1847) who were married Dec. 27, 1805.
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Peter MacEwan died May 16th, 1917 and was survived by his widow, Euphemia Thomson MacEwan, and their children.
The children of Peter MacEwan and Euphemia Thomson MacEwan are:
- Agnes Margaret MacEwan; died at age 19 years.
- Harry Camden MacEwan (1885-1963). Married Melek McCracken and had children, Stella Audrey MacEwan and Peter MacEwan.
- Ian Peter MacEwan (1887-1965; m. Janet Black and had children: Euphemia Patricia, Peter and Donald.
- Gerald Thomson MacEwan (1891-1982; m. Winifred Jackson and had Pamela
- Euphemia Sheila MacEwan (1895-1982)
- Janet Mona MacEwan (1899-1951); from whom I descend; m. Eric Morrell and had children: Barbara Mona [my mother], Sheila Moihra [my aunt] and Ian MacEwan [deceased].
Back row, left to right: Uncle Bob MacEwan (Robert Adam), Harry Camden MacEwan, Peter MacEwan, unidentified but must be a brother of Peter MacEwan (he and Bob look so much like him; he could also be Mr. Gardner), Gerald Thomson MacEwan.
Not sure who the people are in the center row.
Front row, left to right: Sheila (Euphemia Sheila) and Mona (Janet Mona) MacEwan.
Memories by Euphemia Sheila MacEwan; written July 1979 (Microsoft Word document).
Lochee has long been incorporated into Dundee. Liff is usually known as Liff and Benvie. It is a village just outside Dundee. Kinnoull is next to Perth as is Errol. Markinch and Leslie are next to each other in Fife. Online map of the Angus Parish and the areas surrounding it. Very helpful! Information about Dundee and genealogy:Tay Valley Family History Society, 179 Princes St., Dundee DD4 6DQ (phone (0)1382-461845 e-mail tayvalleyfhs@sol.co.uk) Dundee Central (Wellgate) Library GENUKI - U.K. and Ireland Genealogy |
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Thanks go to Sheila (MacEwan) Hicks and Chuck Hicks (my aunt and uncle living here in the U.S.) for the initial research on the MacEwan, Morrell and Thomson families. Thank you also to Gordon and Vivienne Clyde (in the U.K.) for information on the MacEwan and Thom families. Many, many thanks go to Robert Douglas Bruce (descendant of Robert Adam MacEwan) for finding us and adding his research to ours! We have now found more cousins in the U.S., Mollie, George, and Georgia and their father, George, all descendants of Peter MacEwan, son of John and Mary (McDermid) MacEwan, and Elizabeth Smith, and are now sharing all sorts of information between our families. We are also in touch with Tony Kingston who lives in the U.K. and is a descendant of Peter and Euphemia (Thomson) MacEwan.
Last Updated: May 9, 2003.