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Note: From: William Irving Gardner(Uncle Bill) and Ruth Gardner Sandner interview:
Bill: Aunt Agnes was born in Northern England. Mercedes (his wife) and I were there some years ago. I went down to the little town of Cleator on the Northwest coast of England, which is the town where Grandma and Grandpa were married --just a little village. It's about 30 miles south of Carlisle. That's where they have relatives, in Carlisle. Very close up near Scotland, Carlisle was the western anchor of the old Roman wall that ran across England. Aunt Agnes' birth certificate shows her being born in some other little village up there, not Cleator. (This would be Hensingham, Cumberland County). Grandpa as a young man worked in an iron mine there. He had an uncle who was superintendent of one of the iron mines. He was working there when he married Grandma. Her last name was Alison.
Ruth: She came over from Northern Ireland (Belfast), and she came to the area and she was a schoolteacher, and she taught grandfather and he was very fond of poetry and I have a poem of Tennyson's there in the living room that was one of his favorites and she taught him and he wrote beautifully. He corresponded with his relatives in Carlisle and received letters.
Bill: When Mercedes and I got to London I went around to government office to get information on Grandpa and Grandma. I got their marriage certificate and a copy of Aunt Agnes' birth certificate and on the wedding certificate it's signed with "their mark". I tried to get information in Carlisle and went around to _____. He said it was very difficult tracing people because the spelling of the name would change depending on who is the recorder. They make up their own spelling. They assume these people are illiterate, these are country folk.
Ruth: he would start his letters "Dear so and so, I take my pen in hand..."
Bill: When he died Jennie was given his little writing cabinet. I have it now, 12 inches long 6 inches high and 8-10 inches wide.
Note from family Bible: James and Mary Ann emigrated to America with a baby (Agnes) in 1852 and lived in Pennsylvania. A boy, Paul was born on March 26, 1853 in Pennsylvania. He died on July 28, 1854. (Buried in St. Clair)
Bill: Grandpa Ewing came over (to California) because of the discovery of gold. He was about the same age as Grandpa Gardner. He came out west to mine. Grandma didn't come right away--she stayed in Philadelphia with some relatives. She took a ship to Panama, then went by muleback across Panama. She had a baby, Aunt Agnes...a woman was sick and Grandma didn't want to nurse her because of putting the baby at risk.
Grandpa (James Davidson Ewing) had gone down to San Francisco to meet her. He had to guess when the ship would be coming in. while he was in San Francisco he had a narrow escape from being shanghaied. He had gone into a saloon for a free lunch, he had a drink and after he had taken the drink he felt woozy and close to passing out (the first stage of being shanghaied). Fortunately someone had come in who recognized him and saw what was happening and this acquaintance took him back to where he was staying. If it hadn't been for this acquaintance coming in the nick of time, grandpa probably would have been dropped through a trap door and into a boat and rowed out to a ship. That was a common way of getting a crew for sailing vessels in those days. San Francisco was known for that sort of thing--the famous or infamous Barbary Coast which is now North Beach, Broadway and Pacific. When I was little I remember them speaking..."don't go down into the Barbary Coast area..."
Ruth: She came up through the Isthmus of Panama, to San Francisco to meet her husband. They did go to the mountains (Nevada City, CA). He was a mining man and he must have had a partner. And they were mining, but the partner I think wanted to back out. And that mine that my grandfather wanted to have turned out to be one of the richest-very, very, very big, but of course, he lost it because he hadn't been able to complete it. I think that might be when they then came to Napa."
Notes from videotape Family History gathering in Napa:
"Two Irish relatives owned a mine in Grass Valley" and "shored up the Eureka Mine."
From After the Gold Rush, Society in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California:
In 1853 Quartz mine openings attracted fewer speculators and more wage earners. The long term prospects for the mine means the miners can bring their families. The two largest groups of European immigrants were the Irish and the Cornish (from Southern England) who did not arrive in number until large scale mining was well under way. Spurred on by a mining depression at home, the Cornwall English create what some called "Cornwall of California" in the area. While there was some friction between "nativists" and foreign-born, the Cornish were the most similar in appearance and culture to the "native" Californians and with their skills in hard-rock mining, the most vital to economic development. Anti-Irish sentiment (from Whigs and Know-nothings) was kept in check by the large number of Irish, which gave them political clout. One of the more successful mines was the Allison Ranch, begun in 1854 by two Irishmen. They employed mostly Irish workers.
"The Eureka, the Osborne Hill, and the Lafayette Hill mines, all of which had been worked since 1852, closed down at various times. Only the Empire, the Scadden and the Allison Ranch mines enjoyed relatively uninterrupted profits in the late 1850's. After floods and fires of early 1860s, several mines continued to be developed despite disruptions, most spectacularly the Allison Ranch mine, which proved not only that with competent management a mine could be expanded right through the worst of the depression but also that poor men might still find stupendous success. In 1854, a party of Irish prospectors who had spent two years working a placer site on Wolf Creek three miles below Grass Valley uncovered a quartz lead. Only after finding no buyer for the claim at $1,000 did they attempt to open the vein. The man they hired, fellow countryman Con Reilly, proved exceptionally able and the mine exceptionally rich; by 1860 the mine, popularly thought inoperable, was acknowledged to be the most valuable mining property in the state."
"During the second half of the 1860's, the long process of the industrialization of both quartz and hydraulic mining came to a fruition in the two towns�1866 was the pivotal year in completing this process. It was a good year for most of the major quartz concerns, although the Allison Ranch, troubled by management problems and obsolete mining techniques, had halted production. Probably the most important technical advance was the construction, supervised by G. F. Deetken, of an improved chlorination works for the Eureka. But while 1866 was a productive year for the major concerns, it was a time of thinning out among the small quartz operations. The quartz business in both towns had been "overdone." In 1867 the majority of the owners of the North Star, the Eureka, and the closed Allison Ranch lived in the Bay area"
A son, James Allison Ewing, was born August 9, 1856.
A daughter, Mary Jane Ewing, was born June 9, 1858.
Another son, Samuel Ewing, was born December 15, 1860.
Bill: Grandma Ewing, living in Napa, had a story about when the Ewings lived in Nevada City (before Jennie Ewing was born) and Grandpa was working in a gold mine according to Uncle Sam. This gold mine was near the center of town, I believe, and it would have been very shortly after they came to this country from Northern England.
Ruth: The little girl (Mary Jane Ewing) had gone into town to the stores and there were Indians around in the neighborhood, and one of the white men told the little girl that the Indians would get her and she better run home, so she ran home and she collapsed and before she died she was ill and when she was dying she said to her mother "it's very beautiful" and she just looked so happy as she was passing away...and grandma was always sorry she had not asked the girl what she saw because the little girl was so pleased and so happy when she died (on October 7, 1862)
Bill: I remember mother speaking about how her mother was always sorry. You thought the girl had been frightened to death?
Ruth: That's the way we were told, she was frightened and I think she stumbled on the way home. I think they had wooden sidewalks and she stumbled running to get home, yes they said that she was frightened to death.
A daughter, Mary Ann, was born November 16, 1863. (Nevada Co.)
Agnes marries Ira Van Tilberg Nov. 5, 1867, Nevada Co., CA.
From Bean's Directory: Nevada Township 1867:
Ewing, J. D., miner, Selby Flat Allison, Samuel fanner Bourbon Hill From After the Gold Rush, Society in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California: Nisenan Indians, the local tribe, had a simple material culture. The only violent conflict between settlers with the Indians was in 1850, a result of white raid/revenge raid. After peace negotiations the Indian camps and reservation were objects of curiousity and pity, not fear. Chinese, Blacks, & Indians worked together in mines but lived apart. European miners intending to become citizens were allowed to take up claims, but no colored race could be naturalized, therefore no colored race could own a claim.
Nevada City became the county seat and took on more professionals, lawyers, judges, etc. Grass Valley remained more predominantly a miner town. Most miners were single men living as boarders or in camps & cabins. The growing middle class struggled to introduce "moral character" to the towns through churches, schools, editorial pages. In 1855 there was some temperance agitation, closing of the gambling halls. It didn't last.
The two towns survive a series of disasters:
1856 Fire destroyed much of Nevada City
1857-too much rain interfered with mining&
a dam upriver on Deer Creek burst, flooding Nevada City 1861-drought
1862-floods
1863-another fire
Things start to look up when the Comstock miners return with improved mining methods. But the owners of the mines were now rich enough to move to San Francisco and enjoy spending their wealth. The new technology introduced was more hazardous. Miners complained about lack of concern for safety. Incompetent cheap labor-more accidents. In 1866 this industrialization competition puts the Allison Ranch out of production for part of the year. Many smaller mines go under.
Ruth: Jennie Ewing was born 1868 in Rutherford or in the hills. Yountville? I remember my grandfather (James Davidson Ewing) would come into town for various things and I don't think his wife, my grandmother (Mary Allison) was brought in very often. You know the retiring Englishman and the bossy Englishman. And I have a feeling that she wasn't catered to a lot like, well, I think it was the mining idea.
Later, Grandfather Ewing was living with Aunt Mary (Costella) and Uncle Sam on Brown Street. And he being English, had a beautiful garden. And he'd have raspberries and things like that.
Bill: We paid lots of visits to Grandma and Grandpa Ewing. Napa had saloons on every corner of every block in those days. Ruth had a drunk thrown out at her feet on her way home from grandma Ewing's. Neither Dad (James Buchanan Gardner) nor mother (Jennie Ewing) drank except port wine as a tonic for mother. Berkeley was a dry town because of the University.
Ruth: And my grandmother (Mary Ann Alison) before she died, she was trying to tell Mother (Jennie Ewing) something. And I think it was that she had saved up pennies or nickels and things like that and what she wanted done with it and she couldn't. Couldn't tell her.
EXISTING RECORDS:
England Census 1841: St. Mary Parish, Carlisle, Cumberland, England.
Samuel Ewing, age 50 b. 1791 in Scotland. He is an iron miner.
Agnes Unknown, 40 b. 1801 in Cumberland, England.
Peter Ewing, 16 b. abt 1825 in Cumberland, England
James Ewing, 13 b. abt 1828 in Cumberland, England
Jane Ewing, 10 b. abt 1831 in Cumberland, England
Christian Ewing, 8 b. abt 1833 in Cumberland, England
Samuel Ewing, 4 b. abt 1838 in St. Mary's Parish, Cumberland
England Census 1851-- Hensingham Parish, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England
James Ewing, 22 Iron Miner b. abt 1829 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Mary Ann Ewing, 21 b. Ireland
Agnes Ewing, 1 mo. b. Hensingham, Cumberland, England
Ann Thompson, visitor b. Workington, England
1864 - Oct 15, 1861 or 1864
James Davidson Ewing is Naturalized in District Court of Nevada Co., California
1864 according to the GREAT REGISTER of NAPA CO. Jan 18, 1888
1861 according to the GREAT REGISTER of NAPA CO. 1892
1870 US Federal Census -- August 13, 1870, Yount Township, Napa, California
Post office: Napa City
James Ewing 41 Laboror $250
Mary Ann 41 Keeping house
James 13
Samuel 9
Mary Ann 6
Jennie 2
1880 US Federal Census --Knox section, Napa, California
Ewing, J. D., 51 working 2 silver mines (1 mo w/o work)
born England, parents born England Mary A., 50 keeping house born Ireland, parents born Ireland Samuel, 19 works in mine, born California Jennie, 11 at home, attends school, born California Martha, 9 at home, attends school, born California Irving, 4 at home, born California Van Tilburg, (Agnes) 29 visiting parents, was ill this last year chills & fever/disabled
GREAT REGISTER OF NAPA COUNTY
Apr 28, 1886 Samuel Ewing, age 25, b. CA -- Laborer
Jan 18, 1888 James Davidson Ewing, age 59, b. England -- Miner
Feb 28, 1888 Samuel Ewing, age 27 - Attendent
Napa Register, July 18, 1890 GARDNER/EWING
At two o'clock this afternoon, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr.& Mrs. James Davidson Ewing, on Brown Street, Mr. James Buchanan Gardner and Miss Jennie Ewing were united in marriage. Rev. Richard Wylie performed the ceremony. Miss Martha Ewing and Mr. Willie Ewing acted as bridesmaid and groomsman. Mr. & Mrs. Gardner took the afternoon train for San Francisco and will visit Santa Cruz and San Jose before their return Tuesday evening. They will then at once go into housekeeping. Both bride and groom are among Napa's best known and popular young people. They are respectively prominent in Native Daughters of the Golden West and Native Sons of the Golden West orders, each having served as President of the Napa Parlors of these orders.
Napa Daily Journal, July 23, 1890: A PLEASANT TIME
Turner Hall was Tuesday evening the scene of a very enjoyable party, the occasion being a reception tendered to Mr. and Mrs. C L. James and Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gardner, who returned that evening from their wedding tour. The affair was gotten up on short notice and was a complete surprise to the two young couples.
Among those who enjoyed the party were the following:
Mr. and Mrs. Rolland S. Fay (Mary Ann Ewing & husband)
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hill (Nancy Adah Gardner & husband)
Miss Martha Ewing (Jennie's younger sister, age 19)
Mr. William Gardner (James' younger brother, age 31)
George Frank Gardner (James' older brother, age 35)
Napa County Register, November 13, 1891
GRIGSBY/GOUNOUDE
Sunday afternoon at two o'clock Mr. Fred Grigsby and Miss Mary Gounoude were united in marriage in the Catholic church, Rev. M. D. Slattery officiating. Miss Mary Costello acted as bridesmaid and Mr. Samuel Ewing as best man. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the Railroad House, on Main Street, between Third and Fourth, of which the groom is proprietor.
GREAT REGISTER OF NAPA COUNTY
Aug 4, 1892 James Davidson Ewing, age 63 - Miner
Height 5' 10�" Complexion: Light Eyes: Brown Hair: Gray
Aug 5, 1892 Samuel Ewing, age 31 - Attendent
Height: 5'10" Complexion: Light Eyes: Gray Hair: Light
Napa County Register October, 1892
EWING/COSTELLO
Thursday (the 19th) at 2 pm at the residence of the groom's father, James Davidson Ewing, Mrs. Samuel Ewing and Miss Mary Costello, both of Napa, were united in marriage by Rev. Father Slattery. Mr. Ewing is head attendant on H Ward and the bride an attendant on Ward No. 1 of the State Asylum.
1900 US Federal Census
Napa, Napa, California
James Ewing 71 b. August 1828, married 50 years,
Father b. Scotland; Mother b. England
Mary Allison 71 b. March 1829, 9 children, 7 living;
Father & Mother b. Ireland
Mary Ewing 32 daughter-in-law; b. Sept. 7 1867, married 8 years, b. Ireland
came over 1882, parents b. Ireland Edgar Fay 7 grandson, b. Oct 1892, b. CA, father born Vermont, mother b. CA
Samuel Ewing is not listed I this census. Edgar Fay is the younger Mary Ann Ewing Fay's son. He is living in the household as his mother is working and unable to keep him at the time. She will later take him back to live with her.
June 18, 1902
Martha Ewing, the youngest daughter, dies at age 31 of tuberculosis. She is interred in Tulocay Cemetery.
February 4, 1907
Mary Ann (Allison) Ewing dies in Oakland Hospital & interred in Tulocay Cemetery
Aug 10 1909
James Allison Ewing dies in Stockton, interred in Tulocay Cemetery
1910 US Federal Census
Ward 4, Napa, California
James D. Ewing 81 widowed; year of immigration 1852
Samuel Ewing 49 b. abt 1861, California
Mary Ewing 43 b. Sept. 7 1867, married 8 years. b. Ireland
Sept. 12, 1913
James Davidson Ewing dies, buried in Tulocay Cemetery
1916 NAPA CITY DIRECTORY
Irving Ewing conf. (occupation?) 17 Brown home: 14 Randolph
Samuel Ewing Uphlstr State Hosp home: 816 N. Main
1926-27 NAPA CITY DIRECTORY
Irving Ewing (Kate) Laborer home: Soscol Ave 3 s of 8th
Samuel Ewing (Mary) Attendt home: Soscol Ave 1st of 8th
1939
Kate Secord Ewing (Irving's wife) died, interred at Tulocay
May 17, 1941
Irving Ewing died, age 65-- interred Trans 115, lot 26, level 6
February 5, 1943
Samuel Ewing died. Interred in Tulocay
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