Richard Ewen (?-1660)
MSA SC 3520-422
Biography:
Date of birth unknown; probably born in England. Literate. Married Sophia. Children: Richard, John, Ann, Sophia, Elizabeth, and Susanna. Died in 1660.
Richard Ewen immigrated to Maryland in 1649 during the Puritan migration from Virginia. In Virginia, he acquired 150 acres in Upper Norfold County in 1638. He was a Protestant whose family had close Quaker ties. A planter, Ewen and his family resided in Calvert County before moving to Anne Arundel County by 1659.
In 1654, Richard Ewen became one of ten parliamentary commissioners appointed by Richard Bennett and William Claiborne, with authorization from the Puritan government in England, to govern the Maryland colony. The commissioners surrended their powers to the restored proprietary government on March 24, 1657/58. During this time, Ewen represented Calvert County in the Assembly (1654 and 1657), and served as a justice on the Provincial Court (1654-1657/58). In 1658, Richard Ewen was appointed a justice in Anne Arundel County, however, he refused to sit due to military duties. In 1659, he represented Anne Arundel County in the Lower House, and served as speaker.
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