"Northern Ireland, or Ulster as it is called, has a unique bond with the United States. Many who came to be known as Scotch Irish in America came from this region. One of these people was Ephraim McDowell, great-grandfather of Dr. Ephraim McDowell. He was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1673 and married his first cousin, Margaret Irvin who was the daughter of Robert and Margaret Wylie Irvin. Margaret died and is buried in a church yard in Raloo, Ireland.
At the age of 62, Ephraim migrated from Ulster to America with sons John and James and daughters Mary and Margaret. They sailed in May 1729 on the ship "George and Anne" and reached Philadelphia in September. They joined Ephraim's brother, 'Andrew, who had migrated in 1725'.
In 1737, Ephraim moved to Rockbridge Co, VA. He is credited with having built the first road across the Blue Ridge. He is buried near Fairfield, VA on the road from Staunton to Lexington, VA. Son, John, married Magdalene Woods, daughter of Michael Woods and Margaret Campbell. John was a surveyor, he also received a military commission from Governor Gooch. He was killed with eight of his men in a fight with the Indians on Christmas day, 1742. The common grave in which all were buried may still be seen enclosed by a brick wall, a short distance from Lexington, Va.
Ephraim fought at Londonderry on December 9, 1688, at the age of 16, when McDonnell of Antrim approached the walls of Londonderry. He fought at the Boyne River, as well (Battle of the Boyne, 12 Jul 1690). Met John Borden who offered a 1,000 acres of land to anyone who would conduct him to his land grant. Offer accepted by John McDowell. Ephraim, John Greelee (son-in-law), and grandson James Greenlee were the first three settlers in that part of the valley. Buried in an enclosed cemetery between Lexington and Staunton, VA.
All the McDowells of Raloo are descended from Ephraim 'through his eldest son THOMAS who remained in Glencoe'. His brother-in-law Alexander Irvine was one of the 'Apprentice Boys' who closed the gates of Derry in the face of King James' Army. An old man at the time of the Revolutionary War, he was one of the first to raise the sword of freedom for the Colonies. His grandson James McDowell was the 26th Governor of VA. His portrait hangs with the other past Governor's portraits in the Old State House in Richmond, VA. The County of McDowell in the southwest corner of West Virginia is named after him and in the City of Richmond one of the most common names is that of McDowell.
Ephraim's father, Abraham McDowal [1648] left Scotland with his father, Joseph "the Calvinist" and with his family during the period of the English Civil Wars (c.1650). In Ireland, young Ephraim became a blacksmith in Glencoe, near Larne in Antrim. It is there that he married his first cousin, Margaret Irvine, the great granddaughter of the 10th Laird of Drum Castle in Scotland.
After an extraordinary 118 day arduous voyage (May 29 to September 4, 1729), they finally arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that seven of his wife's (Margaret Irvine) brothers also came to America at the same time.
Ephraim first settled in Lancaster County, PA for a time, then on down the Great Wagon Road in Virginia to Borden's Grant in Augusta and Rockbridge Co, VA, becoming the first settlers there. They are believed to have settled for a while near Carlisle, PA where his daughter Mary Elizabeth married James Greenlee. In Virginia, letters were sent to their kindred and co-religionists in Pennsylvania, Ireland, and Scotland. Soon Borden's Grant was filled with Scots Presbyterians. Their efforts resulted in bringing to this section other Scots and Scots-Irish families: McClungs, McCues, McCouns, McElroys, McCampbells, Campbells, McKees, Caruthers, Paxtons, Lyles, Irvins, Caldwell, Calhouns, Stuarts - names which have since illustrated every page of Southern and Western history.
Ephraim, although already an old man in his sixties, was credited with building the first road through the Blue Ridge Mountains to connect the Shenandoah valley with the tidewater country. He was nearly 7 feet tall and of stalwart frame, and it is said, of a terrible countenance. Even in his old age, he busied himself in shrewd business dealings accumulating great land wealth and establishing schools and churches.
The date of his death is probably 1770 as family tradition has it that he died at age 98. Ephraim died NOT until the break of the American Revolution and NOT until he had heard the praises bestowed on his grandchildren for their bravery, at the Battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. Ephraim died in Timber Ridge on the Borden Tract, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
A staunch Scots-Irish Presbyterian, Ephraim is buried at the site of Maryland Tavern owned by his son, Capt John. A monument erected in the mid 1800's, by the children of his great-grandson, Governor James McDowell of VA, shows that he died 'about 1780'.
See photo: On the marker at the McDowell burial ground near Fairfield, VA, Ephraim's inscription reads:
"Near this spot repose the remains of Ephraim McDowell, the first of his name in America who died about 1730..."...?
(www.mcdowellhouse.com)
The Battle of Point Pleasant-known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts-was the only major action of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes.
(Wikipedia.org)
At the age of 62, Ephraim migrated from Ulster to America with sons John and James and daughters Mary and Margaret. They sailed in May 1729 on the ship "George and Anne" and reached Philadelphia in September. They joined Ephraim's brother, 'Andrew, who had migrated in 1725'.
In 1737, Ephraim moved to Rockbridge Co, VA. He is credited with having built the first road across the Blue Ridge. He is buried near Fairfield, VA on the road from Staunton to Lexington, VA. Son, John, married Magdalene Woods, daughter of Michael Woods and Margaret Campbell. John was a surveyor, he also received a military commission from Governor Gooch. He was killed with eight of his men in a fight with the Indians on Christmas day, 1742. The common grave in which all were buried may still be seen enclosed by a brick wall, a short distance from Lexington, Va.
Ephraim fought at Londonderry on December 9, 1688, at the age of 16, when McDonnell of Antrim approached the walls of Londonderry. He fought at the Boyne River, as well (Battle of the Boyne, 12 Jul 1690). Met John Borden who offered a 1,000 acres of land to anyone who would conduct him to his land grant. Offer accepted by John McDowell. Ephraim, John Greelee (son-in-law), and grandson James Greenlee were the first three settlers in that part of the valley. Buried in an enclosed cemetery between Lexington and Staunton, VA.
All the McDowells of Raloo are descended from Ephraim 'through his eldest son THOMAS who remained in Glencoe'. His brother-in-law Alexander Irvine was one of the 'Apprentice Boys' who closed the gates of Derry in the face of King James' Army. An old man at the time of the Revolutionary War, he was one of the first to raise the sword of freedom for the Colonies. His grandson James McDowell was the 26th Governor of VA. His portrait hangs with the other past Governor's portraits in the Old State House in Richmond, VA. The County of McDowell in the southwest corner of West Virginia is named after him and in the City of Richmond one of the most common names is that of McDowell.
Ephraim's father, Abraham McDowal [1648] left Scotland with his father, Joseph "the Calvinist" and with his family during the period of the English Civil Wars (c.1650). In Ireland, young Ephraim became a blacksmith in Glencoe, near Larne in Antrim. It is there that he married his first cousin, Margaret Irvine, the great granddaughter of the 10th Laird of Drum Castle in Scotland.
After an extraordinary 118 day arduous voyage (May 29 to September 4, 1729), they finally arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that seven of his wife's (Margaret Irvine) brothers also came to America at the same time.
Ephraim first settled in Lancaster County, PA for a time, then on down the Great Wagon Road in Virginia to Borden's Grant in Augusta and Rockbridge Co, VA, becoming the first settlers there. They are believed to have settled for a while near Carlisle, PA where his daughter Mary Elizabeth married James Greenlee. In Virginia, letters were sent to their kindred and co-religionists in Pennsylvania, Ireland, and Scotland. Soon Borden's Grant was filled with Scots Presbyterians. Their efforts resulted in bringing to this section other Scots and Scots-Irish families: McClungs, McCues, McCouns, McElroys, McCampbells, Campbells, McKees, Caruthers, Paxtons, Lyles, Irvins, Caldwell, Calhouns, Stuarts - names which have since illustrated every page of Southern and Western history.
Ephraim, although already an old man in his sixties, was credited with building the first road through the Blue Ridge Mountains to connect the Shenandoah valley with the tidewater country. He was nearly 7 feet tall and of stalwart frame, and it is said, of a terrible countenance. Even in his old age, he busied himself in shrewd business dealings accumulating great land wealth and establishing schools and churches.
The date of his death is probably 1770 as family tradition has it that he died at age 98. Ephraim died NOT until the break of the American Revolution and NOT until he had heard the praises bestowed on his grandchildren for their bravery, at the Battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. Ephraim died in Timber Ridge on the Borden Tract, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
A staunch Scots-Irish Presbyterian, Ephraim is buried at the site of Maryland Tavern owned by his son, Capt John. A monument erected in the mid 1800's, by the children of his great-grandson, Governor James McDowell of VA, shows that he died 'about 1780'.
See photo: On the marker at the McDowell burial ground near Fairfield, VA, Ephraim's inscription reads:
"Near this spot repose the remains of Ephraim McDowell, the first of his name in America who died about 1730..."...?
(www.mcdowellhouse.com)
The Battle of Point Pleasant-known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts-was the only major action of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes.
(Wikipedia.org)
"Northern Ireland, or Ulster as it is called, has a unique bond with the United States. Many who came to be known as Scotch Irish in America came from this region. One of these people was Ephraim McDowell, great-grandfather of Dr. Ephraim McDowell. He was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1673 and married his first cousin, Margaret Irvin who was the daughter of Robert and Margaret Wylie Irvin. Margaret died and is buried in a church yard in Raloo, Ireland.
At the age of 62, Ephraim migrated from Ulster to America with sons John and James and daughters Mary and Margaret. They sailed in May 1729 on the ship "George and Anne" and reached Philadelphia in September. They joined Ephraim's brother, 'Andrew, who had migrated in 1725'.
In 1737, Ephraim moved to Rockbridge Co, VA. He is credited with having built the first road across the Blue Ridge. He is buried near Fairfield, VA on the road from Staunton to Lexington, VA. Son, John, married Magdalene Woods, daughter of Michael Woods and Margaret Campbell. John was a surveyor, he also received a military commission from Governor Gooch. He was killed with eight of his men in a fight with the Indians on Christmas day, 1742. The common grave in which all were buried may still be seen enclosed by a brick wall, a short distance from Lexington, Va.
Ephraim fought at Londonderry on December 9, 1688, at the age of 16, when McDonnell of Antrim approached the walls of Londonderry. He fought at the Boyne River, as well (Battle of the Boyne, 12 Jul 1690). Met John Borden who offered a 1,000 acres of land to anyone who would conduct him to his land grant. Offer accepted by John McDowell. Ephraim, John Greelee (son-in-law), and grandson James Greenlee were the first three settlers in that part of the valley. Buried in an enclosed cemetery between Lexington and Staunton, VA.
All the McDowells of Raloo are descended from Ephraim 'through his eldest son THOMAS who remained in Glencoe'. His brother-in-law Alexander Irvine was one of the 'Apprentice Boys' who closed the gates of Derry in the face of King James' Army. An old man at the time of the Revolutionary War, he was one of the first to raise the sword of freedom for the Colonies. His grandson James McDowell was the 26th Governor of VA. His portrait hangs with the other past Governor's portraits in the Old State House in Richmond, VA. The County of McDowell in the southwest corner of West Virginia is named after him and in the City of Richmond one of the most common names is that of McDowell.
Ephraim's father, Abraham McDowal [1648] left Scotland with his father, Joseph "the Calvinist" and with his family during the period of the English Civil Wars (c.1650). In Ireland, young Ephraim became a blacksmith in Glencoe, near Larne in Antrim. It is there that he married his first cousin, Margaret Irvine, the great granddaughter of the 10th Laird of Drum Castle in Scotland.
After an extraordinary 118 day arduous voyage (May 29 to September 4, 1729), they finally arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that seven of his wife's (Margaret Irvine) brothers also came to America at the same time.
Ephraim first settled in Lancaster County, PA for a time, then on down the Great Wagon Road in Virginia to Borden's Grant in Augusta and Rockbridge Co, VA, becoming the first settlers there. They are believed to have settled for a while near Carlisle, PA where his daughter Mary Elizabeth married James Greenlee. In Virginia, letters were sent to their kindred and co-religionists in Pennsylvania, Ireland, and Scotland. Soon Borden's Grant was filled with Scots Presbyterians. Their efforts resulted in bringing to this section other Scots and Scots-Irish families: McClungs, McCues, McCouns, McElroys, McCampbells, Campbells, McKees, Caruthers, Paxtons, Lyles, Irvins, Caldwell, Calhouns, Stuarts - names which have since illustrated every page of Southern and Western history.
Ephraim, although already an old man in his sixties, was credited with building the first road through the Blue Ridge Mountains to connect the Shenandoah valley with the tidewater country. He was nearly 7 feet tall and of stalwart frame, and it is said, of a terrible countenance. Even in his old age, he busied himself in shrewd business dealings accumulating great land wealth and establishing schools and churches.
The date of his death is probably 1770 as family tradition has it that he died at age 98. Ephraim died NOT until the break of the American Revolution and NOT until he had heard the praises bestowed on his grandchildren for their bravery, at the Battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. Ephraim died in Timber Ridge on the Borden Tract, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
A staunch Scots-Irish Presbyterian, Ephraim is buried at the site of Maryland Tavern owned by his son, Capt John. A monument erected in the mid 1800's, by the children of his great-grandson, Governor James McDowell of VA, shows that he died 'about 1780'.
See photo: On the marker at the McDowell burial ground near Fairfield, VA, Ephraim's inscription reads:
"Near this spot repose the remains of Ephraim McDowell, the first of his name in America who died about 1730..."...?
(www.mcdowellhouse.com)
The Battle of Point Pleasant-known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts-was the only major action of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes.
(Wikipedia.org)
At the age of 62, Ephraim migrated from Ulster to America with sons John and James and daughters Mary and Margaret. They sailed in May 1729 on the ship "George and Anne" and reached Philadelphia in September. They joined Ephraim's brother, 'Andrew, who had migrated in 1725'.
In 1737, Ephraim moved to Rockbridge Co, VA. He is credited with having built the first road across the Blue Ridge. He is buried near Fairfield, VA on the road from Staunton to Lexington, VA. Son, John, married Magdalene Woods, daughter of Michael Woods and Margaret Campbell. John was a surveyor, he also received a military commission from Governor Gooch. He was killed with eight of his men in a fight with the Indians on Christmas day, 1742. The common grave in which all were buried may still be seen enclosed by a brick wall, a short distance from Lexington, Va.
Ephraim fought at Londonderry on December 9, 1688, at the age of 16, when McDonnell of Antrim approached the walls of Londonderry. He fought at the Boyne River, as well (Battle of the Boyne, 12 Jul 1690). Met John Borden who offered a 1,000 acres of land to anyone who would conduct him to his land grant. Offer accepted by John McDowell. Ephraim, John Greelee (son-in-law), and grandson James Greenlee were the first three settlers in that part of the valley. Buried in an enclosed cemetery between Lexington and Staunton, VA.
All the McDowells of Raloo are descended from Ephraim 'through his eldest son THOMAS who remained in Glencoe'. His brother-in-law Alexander Irvine was one of the 'Apprentice Boys' who closed the gates of Derry in the face of King James' Army. An old man at the time of the Revolutionary War, he was one of the first to raise the sword of freedom for the Colonies. His grandson James McDowell was the 26th Governor of VA. His portrait hangs with the other past Governor's portraits in the Old State House in Richmond, VA. The County of McDowell in the southwest corner of West Virginia is named after him and in the City of Richmond one of the most common names is that of McDowell.
Ephraim's father, Abraham McDowal [1648] left Scotland with his father, Joseph "the Calvinist" and with his family during the period of the English Civil Wars (c.1650). In Ireland, young Ephraim became a blacksmith in Glencoe, near Larne in Antrim. It is there that he married his first cousin, Margaret Irvine, the great granddaughter of the 10th Laird of Drum Castle in Scotland.
After an extraordinary 118 day arduous voyage (May 29 to September 4, 1729), they finally arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that seven of his wife's (Margaret Irvine) brothers also came to America at the same time.
Ephraim first settled in Lancaster County, PA for a time, then on down the Great Wagon Road in Virginia to Borden's Grant in Augusta and Rockbridge Co, VA, becoming the first settlers there. They are believed to have settled for a while near Carlisle, PA where his daughter Mary Elizabeth married James Greenlee. In Virginia, letters were sent to their kindred and co-religionists in Pennsylvania, Ireland, and Scotland. Soon Borden's Grant was filled with Scots Presbyterians. Their efforts resulted in bringing to this section other Scots and Scots-Irish families: McClungs, McCues, McCouns, McElroys, McCampbells, Campbells, McKees, Caruthers, Paxtons, Lyles, Irvins, Caldwell, Calhouns, Stuarts - names which have since illustrated every page of Southern and Western history.
Ephraim, although already an old man in his sixties, was credited with building the first road through the Blue Ridge Mountains to connect the Shenandoah valley with the tidewater country. He was nearly 7 feet tall and of stalwart frame, and it is said, of a terrible countenance. Even in his old age, he busied himself in shrewd business dealings accumulating great land wealth and establishing schools and churches.
The date of his death is probably 1770 as family tradition has it that he died at age 98. Ephraim died NOT until the break of the American Revolution and NOT until he had heard the praises bestowed on his grandchildren for their bravery, at the Battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. Ephraim died in Timber Ridge on the Borden Tract, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
A staunch Scots-Irish Presbyterian, Ephraim is buried at the site of Maryland Tavern owned by his son, Capt John. A monument erected in the mid 1800's, by the children of his great-grandson, Governor James McDowell of VA, shows that he died 'about 1780'.
See photo: On the marker at the McDowell burial ground near Fairfield, VA, Ephraim's inscription reads:
"Near this spot repose the remains of Ephraim McDowell, the first of his name in America who died about 1730..."...?
(www.mcdowellhouse.com)
The Battle of Point Pleasant-known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts-was the only major action of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes.
(Wikipedia.org)
Inscription
"Near this spot repose the remains of EPHRAIM McDOWELL, the first of his name in America, who died about 1730 - {this date has to be WRONG according to the Bio information].
JOHN McDOWELL, his son, Who was killed by the Indians in 1742:
JAMES McDOWELL, his son, born 1739. died 1772:
And ELIZABETH his wife, Who died about 1810:
Also their Daughter, ELIZABETH McGAVOCK, Who died 1803."
