Revision as of 22:07, 21 November 2023

Samuel McEwen, Sr. (b. 1877 NYC, New York; m. 1899 @ Matoaca; d. 1944 Petersburg, VA) was a traveling open brethren evangelist.

Parents

• William R.H. McEwen (b. Dromore, Ireland)
• Martha Donelly McEwen (b. Belfast, Ireland).

Marriage

In 1899, he married Annie Bell Johnson McEwen (b. 1877 Clover Hill, Chesterfield, VA - d. 1963 Petersburg, VA), daughter of Henry Johnson (b. 1839 Southampton Co., VA - d. 1894 Portsmouth, VA) & Sarah F. Patron Johnson (b. 1844 VA). The wedding was held at Matoaca Gospel Hall in Virginia, and officiated by William Daniel Best. The ceremony was preceded by a Gospel meeting by Henry Turner of Richmond, who was returning from Africa as a missionary.

Children

• Ruth Virginia McEwen 1901-1964 (b. 1901 Ettrick, VA - d. 1988 Longport, NJ). Husband (1964): William Waverly Elder (b. 1894 Petersburg, VA - d. 1976 Louisville, KY), a widowed printer of Louisville, KY by Ray McEwen Zander (PB evangelist from Boca Raton, FL), and the couple removed to Louisville. Elder retired in 1956 as safety director @ Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. Later in life, Wm. and Ruth were in fellowship @ Louisville Bible Fellowship. They had three sons and one daughter.
• Samuel Moody McEwen, Jr. 1903-1976 (b. 1903 Matoaca, VA - d. 1976 Petersburg, VA) retired "Southside Candy Co." Wife: Myrtle Bolling Williams +1947 (1909-1947). Sam was lifelong at Matoaca Gospel Hall.
  • Samuel W. McEwen +1947+
  • Philip L. McEwen +1947+
  • Charles N. McEwen +1947+
  • Esther A McEwen Ellison 1905-1931+, +1976-1980+ (b. 1905 Matoaca, VA - d. 1996 Longport, NJ). Husband (@ Petersburg): Samuel McCracken Ellison @ Petersburg +1924-1931+, 1976-1980+ (b. 1895 Belfast, Ireland - d. 1982 Longport, NJ); by 1934, they were living in Washington, D.C., where Samuel was employed as a painter, and in 1940 as a meter reader.
• John William McEwen 1908-1936? (b. 1908 VA - d. 1994 Petersburg?, VA), salesman. Wife (1936): Frances Evelyn Partin (b. 1910 Berwyn, MD - d. 1983 Petersburg, VA), dau. of Lester & Virgie Kitchen Partin; The wedding was officiated by W.C.L. Correll in his home in Ettricks, VA, a Methodist pastor.
• Naomi Daisy McEwen Moon 1911-1926+ (b. 1911 VA). Husband (1947 @ Newport News, VA): William Moon II (b. 1894 Belfast, Ireland; div.; d. 1965?); Supt. of Western Union in Atlantic City, NJ); wedding performed by John Millar, Sr. of Newport News Gospel Hall (now Bethany Gospel Chapel). By 1954, Wm. and Naomi resided in Atlantic City. Need to research whether this Wm. Moon is any relation to an elder Wm. Moon from England who developed a ministry among the blind. William's father was the founder of Longport Gospel Hall Home, NJ.
• James Charles McEwen 1915-1930+ (b. 1915 VA - d. 2006 Virginia Beach, VA) Chief Master Sergeant WWII; employed by the American Tobacco Company, starting in Petersburg until 1974, then retired with them in VA Beach. One dau.: Rachel Ann McEwen Cummings of Atlanta, GA; Wife (@ Baptist Church, Richmond, VA): Rachel Etta Smith (b. 1919 Mataoca, VA - d. 2009 Virginia Beach, VA); dental asst. @ Fort Lee, VA during WWII, then homemaker;
• Dr. Philip Joseph McEwen 1920-1935+ (b. 1920 VA - d. 2004 Petersburg, VA); Sgt. Army Air Corps WWII Pacific; grad. Geo. Wash. Univ. and Doctorate @ Illinois College of Optometry. Wife (1947): Jane Elizabeth Collett (1922-2008) @ Rockbridge Methodist; Three sons; Philip & Jane were in fellowship @ First Baptist Church of Petersburg;

Assemblies

• 1899-1944 @ Matoaca Gospel Hall, Chesterfield, VA

Occupation

In his early years, he was self-employed as a tailor. In 1910, he managed a poultry farm in Namozine, Dinwiddie, VA.

Death

After Sam's death in 1944, his widow remained at Matoaca Gospel Hall for the remainder of her days, she was raised in that assembly.

Ministry

1912

• WiS 1912-12: Ardmore, PA: "S. McEwen has had three week's meetings in Ardmore. Attendance good and some fruit."

1915

Maryland history: The assembly now meeting at New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel, Silver Spring began in April 1916 at F. G. Ruebsam’s house at 5224 Illinois Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC. The assembly moved in January 1917 to N. Fillmann’s home, 1422-22nd Street, SE, Washington, where it remained for a time.

Bible Readings were held each Lord’s Day at the homes of C.W. Birkett and F.G. Ruebsam alternately, previous to the Breaking of Bread, which was the outcome of Gospel tent meetings for two consecutive summers (1915 and 1916) by Evangelists Benjamin Bradford and Samuel McEwen. Their ministry was followed by F.B. Hanle in the fall of 1916 and the spring of 1917."

1924

• North Carolina history: "At about the same time that the work in Asheville began, a similar interest was stirring in Raleigh in the north-central part of the state, the so-called Piedmont area. The work at Raleigh dates to before 1924, when James C. Chappell returned from World War I. He had heard about the New Testament church meetings through a fellow soldier. He discussed what he had learned with his friend David Allen. They invited Sam McEwen and W.G. Smith to come to Raleigh for a Gospel effort, and these evangelists held a tent campaign in September 1924. After the campaign, a hall was rented on Gaston Street, and the first Remembrance meeting in the Raleigh Gospel Hall was held in November 1924, attended only by David Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Chappell, and the two preachers. About a month later four other Christians had joined the circle around the table. Records of the assembly show a continuous growth in numbers.

The two evangelists returned each year for five years. Souls were saved each year. By 1931, there was an assembly with 40 in fellowship, meeting in a former church building. James Chappell, a pharmacist, carried on an extensive pastoral and visitation ministry. Lester Wilson wrote for LOI in 1940, “In 1931, I came south from Canada with Brother Fred Nugent. We arrived in Canton, NC and after about three months we went to Raleigh where there was a hearty little assembly of around twenty; the fruit of the labors of Mr. Sam McEwen and W.G. Smith."

1940

• WiS 1940-1: Phil., PA: "James McCullough had several weeks meetings for Christians in the Olney Hall. Sam McEwen began meetings in the Bryn Mawr Hall, and H.K. Downie had meetings on the Feast of the Lord in the West Philadelphia Hall."

Sources

• Words in Season: 1912-12; 1940-7
• Letters of Interest: 1943
• Ancestry.com