Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name9G GM Sophia 
My Comments notes for 9G GM Sophia
Richard Ewen’s wife was named Sophia. I have seen it said she was Sophia Scarborough but I have also seen it said her name was Sophia Ewell. I have seen that confusion explained by some who say Sophia, who married second William Burgess, married third Mr. Scarborough while others say no it was Sophia’s daughter Sophia who married Scarborough.
No matter, I’ll just call her Sophia. But the fact of her second marriage, after the death of Richard Ewen, is noteworthy. William Burgess was a close friend and associate of her first husband. He too acquired a military title (in his case Lieutenant) during the Puritan’s dispute with Lord Baltimore and he also served in the revolutionary assembly with Richard Ewen. But after Lord Baltimore regained control of Maryland, William Burgess petitioned for pardon and it was granted. He then continued to serve in the General Assembly representing Anne Arundel County and he continued to serve in a military capacity. By the later 1660’s, the problem was not internal civil war in Maryland, it was Indian troubles. Lieutenant Burgess was promoted first to Captain, then later Colonel. He died in 1686.
No matter, I’ll just call her Sophia. But the fact of her second marriage, after the death of Richard Ewen, is noteworthy. William Burgess was a close friend and associate of her first husband. He too acquired a military title (in his case Lieutenant) during the Puritan’s dispute with Lord Baltimore and he also served in the revolutionary assembly with Richard Ewen. But after Lord Baltimore regained control of Maryland, William Burgess petitioned for pardon and it was granted. He then continued to serve in the General Assembly representing Anne Arundel County and he continued to serve in a military capacity. By the later 1660’s, the problem was not internal civil war in Maryland, it was Indian troubles. Lieutenant Burgess was promoted first to Captain, then later Colonel. He died in 1686.
Relocated notes for Richard (Spouse 1)
IMMIGRANT. In 1650, Richard Ewen laid claim to 1000 acres of land due him since he had transported himself and nine others into the Province of Maryland. They may have come from Virginia but that would still qualify him for that claim.
My Comments notes for Richard (Spouse 1)
Richard Ewen came to Maryland by 1650 probably from Virginia. A group of Puritans had settled in Virginia in the 1630’s and 1640’s, but when it was demanded that they join the Church of England, they chose instead to move to Maryland and settled in the West River area. It is believed that Richard Ewen was part of this group.
Richard Ewen became Major Richard Ewen due to his involvement in the dispute between the Puritans of Maryland and Lord Baltimore over which group should rightfully be in charge of the government. This dispute -- a small war really -- was carried out in Maryland but was a direct consequence of a similar thing happening in England, where Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, briefly defeated the forces of the British crown and established a new government, one without a Monarch, in about 1653. Cromwell died in 1658 and the the British Monarchy was restored by 1660.
In Maryland, during the military dispute there, Richard Ewen was appointed Major and was in charge of all the Puritan forces in his region. In 1658 and 1659, after Oliver Cromwell had died and things were settling back to normal in England, the dispute in Maryland became more political than military and Richard Ewen was Speaker of the House of Burgesses of Maryland, still a revolutionary assembly in opposition to Lord Baltimore. He seems to have died in this period. Eventually, peace was established and Lord Baltimore once again was placed firmly in charge.
Richard Ewen became Major Richard Ewen due to his involvement in the dispute between the Puritans of Maryland and Lord Baltimore over which group should rightfully be in charge of the government. This dispute -- a small war really -- was carried out in Maryland but was a direct consequence of a similar thing happening in England, where Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, briefly defeated the forces of the British crown and established a new government, one without a Monarch, in about 1653. Cromwell died in 1658 and the the British Monarchy was restored by 1660.
In Maryland, during the military dispute there, Richard Ewen was appointed Major and was in charge of all the Puritan forces in his region. In 1658 and 1659, after Oliver Cromwell had died and things were settling back to normal in England, the dispute in Maryland became more political than military and Richard Ewen was Speaker of the House of Burgesses of Maryland, still a revolutionary assembly in opposition to Lord Baltimore. He seems to have died in this period. Eventually, peace was established and Lord Baltimore once again was placed firmly in charge.