Genealogy

Parents

To begin the McEwen search, I had only the birth date of my father and the date of his marriage to my mother.  His name was Alexander James McEwen*, born February 23, 1904 in Glasgow, Scotland.

My father attended Willowbank (Public) School in Glasgow, and graduated from North Kelvinside (high school) in Glasgow.  He then attended the Royal Technical College in Glasgow, majoring in mathematics, chemistry and drawing.  My father was a bacteriologist/chemist who, after emigrating to Canada in 1929, worked with Frederick Banting and Charles Best, first at Connaught Laboratories in Toronto and then at the Banting Institute in Toronto.  However, his great love was photography and he won numerous awards, particularly for his nature photographs.  In 1941 he became an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS).  In the mid-1940’s he left the Banting Institute to work with one of the first colour developing labs in Toronto.  From there he went to Canadian Kodak as a technical representative travelling throughout Ontario, and in 1950 was transferred to Winnipeg to become Kodak’s representative for the Prairie Provinces.

My mother, Elsie Dorothy (most often shown as Doris) Mitchell*, was born November 14, 1906 in Poplar, London, England.  She attended Hay Curie Elementary School in Poplar and at 13 years of age obtained a Junior County Scholarship for admission to High School and a permission granted to King’s College at half-fee admission.  Due to financial circumstances she was unable to accept this and obtained a trade scholarship, attending Shorditch Technical Institute studying Upholstery for two years.

My father and mother were married December 30, 1932 in Toronto.

I was born on my parents’ first wedding anniversary (December 30, 1933).  My sister, Gwendolyn Margaret (she later added an ‘a’ to the surname, making it MacEwen) was born September 1, 1941.

My father *died of a heart attack (brought on in part due to alcoholism) on July 24, 1960.

My mother* died of heart failure September 4, 1982.

My sister* died as a result of asthmatic complications on November 30, 1987.

From the records received of my father’s birth and marriage, I was able to work backwards ordering copies of birth and marriage certificates and other documentation, from which I found names of grandparents, dates of events, etc.  As well, I referred to the traditional manner of naming children in Scotland and slowly began to piece together a family tree.
 

Grandparents

My grandfather, Alexander McEwen, was born in New York State approximately 1870 (no records have been found).

My grandmother, Agnes McKenna*, was born May 16, 1865 at High Church, Lanark, Glasgow, Scotland.

The two were married on September 25, 1891* at South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.  Alexander was 21 and Agnes was 26.  Alexander was a warehouseman/storeman and Agnes a shopkeeper.

Alexander had a sister Mary born approx. 1873 in New York, a sister Jeannie born approx. 1879 in Ohio and a brother Thomas born approx. 1880 in Lanark, Scotland.

Agnes had a twin sister Frances*, a brother James William born April 11, 1867 at High Church, Lanark and a stepsister Catherine Howard born approx. 1876
 

Great Grandparents

The big stumbling block was my great grandparents.  My paternal great grandfather, Thomas McEwan (a dealer in fine art) was born June 5, 1828* at Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland.  His wife, Susan Smith possibly born 1851 at Arbroath, Angus Scotland.  The 1881 Scottish Census shows the family of Thomas McEwan and his wife, Susan, residing at Helenvale St., Barony, Lanark, Scotland with Alexander, Mary and Jeannie born in the United States in the 1870’s and Thomas born in Glasgow in 1880-81.  This information coincided with a childhood memory of the family ‘black sheep’ who ran off to American with the kitchen maid.  I have been unable to locate any record of marriage for Thomas and Susan, nor birth records for their children.  I believe it’s possible Thomas and Susan never married and therefore did not properly register the births of their children.

My maternal great grandparents were James McKenna (musician) and Margaret Johnston (dressmaker).  They married April 23, 1861* at St. Mary’s Chapel, Bridgeton, Lanark, Glasgow, Scotland.  James either died (or divorced Margaret) in 1873.  Margaret remarried Thomas Howard on April 6, 1874 at Bridgeton, Lanark.  The 1881 Scottish Census shows the family of Thomas Howard residing at 51 Marlborough Street, Barony, Lanark, Scotland with wife Margaret, stepdaughters Agnes and Frances and daughter Catherine.  No mention is made of James (died in infancy??).  Thomas Howard was born in Ireland (probably January 15, 1844 at Cookstown, Co. Tyrone).
 

My great grandfather Thomas had an older brother, Alexander, christened November 18, 1824 at Alloa, Clackmannan and sister Catherine christened September 17, 1826 also at Alloa.  Their surname was correctly written in the Parish Records as McQueen but when Thomas was born his name was listed as McEwan.  The pronunciation of McQueen and McEwan is the same, and it has been explained to me that often the registry clerk would list the names as they sounded rather than ask the individual for correct spelling, partly because many people were unable to read and/or write.

Therefore the correct family name is McQueen.

The origin of the name McQueen (Gaelic MacShuibhne) is ‘son of the good going’.  The McQueens were originally from the Isle of Skye.  The McQueen motto is “Constant and Faithful”.
 

Great, Great Grandparents

My great, great grandparents were Alexander McQueen and Jean Carmichael.  Alexander was born May 1, 1799* at Alloa, Clackmannan,Scotland.  Jean Carmichael was christened June 30, 1798 at Alloa, Clackmannan.  They married June 20, 1823* at Alloa, Clackmannan.  Alexander had a brother Robert born August 12, 1801 Alloa, brother James christened August 18, 1803 Alloa and sister Margaret born July 20, 1805 Alloa.

Maternal great, great grandparents were Francis McKenna and Hannah Doherty, married June 19, 1831* at Barony, Lanark, Glasgow, Scotland.  Francis McKenna was probably born in Ireland and Hannah was christened July 25, 1801 at Killarney, Co.Kerry, Ireland.  Her parents were Timothy Doherty and Mary Kerrisk.

James Johnston and Anna Maria Margaret Edwards (still searching).

James Smith and Jean Swan married about 1843 at Arbroath, Angus Scotland.

Great, Great, Great Grandparents

Great, great, great grandparents Alexander McQueen and Mary Henry married November 4, 1798* at Alloa.  Mary Henry was born about 1775 at Alloa to Robert Henry and Christian Marshall, and christened at Alloa on May 4, 1777.  Alexander McQueen was born on February 15, 1767 at Arbroath, Angus, Scotland.  His parents were John McQueen and Elizabeth Milne.

Thomas Carmichael and Mary Campbell married November 29, 1789 at Alloa.  Mary Campbell was (possibly) christened April 20, 1746 at Glenmuick, Aberdeen.

Timothy Doherty and Catherine Kerrisk

Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents

John McQueen and Elizabeth Milne were married December 28, 1759 at Arbroath, Angus.  John McQueen was born approx. 1734 in Arbroath.

Robert Henry and Christine Marshall

John Campbell and Elizabeth Milne??  Is it possible John Campbell died and Elizabeth Milne remarried to John McQueen?  Elizabeth Milne maybe born October 19, 1715 – father’s name Alexander which may have been the beginning of the Alexanders in this line.
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It is very difficult to trace ancestry in Ireland as virtually all records up until 1864 were destroyed in the 1922 uprising.  Roman Catholic records are still available through the individual parishes and the National Library, however, it is necessary to be in Ireland to search these records.

July 8/00 – Through a contact at the LDS in Utah I was put in touch with Jan Willsher in Calgary.  Her g.g.grandfather was Robert McQueen – the brother of my g.g.grandfather Alexander.  A long lost cousin!
 
 

When visiting Ireland in June, 2000 I looked into the McKenna family background.  The outstanding characteristics of the McKenna’s are (1) literary talent and (2) acting.  I found reference to a Stephen McKenna (born 1872, died 1934) who may or may not be a cousin of James or Agnes.  He was a scholar, author and also fought for the Greeks.  His major work was the translation of Plotinus’ Enneads from Greek to English; he was also responsible for other translations from Greek.  Is the similarity to Gwen and her work merely coincidence or is there a family connection?  Although I’ve found a great deal written about Stephen McKenna, I’ve been unable to trace his parentage and therefore his possible connection to our family.

*** asterisks (*) indicate confirming document of the event