McManus 168

The surname for James McEwen was occasionally written as ‘McEwan’ but ‘McEwen’ appears to have been the more consistent spelling.

James McEwen was born to David McEwen, a writer, and Elizabeth Crichton.^[1] Having been apprenticed in his father’s law firm, he continued to engage in  his chosen profession for the remainder of his shortened life. Prior to removing to the more salubrious surroundings of Broughty Ferry, James resided at Westfield House (lying between Perth Road and Magdalen Yard Road). It was described as having been located ‘on the west side of Greenfield Place and near the south end of Westfield Avenue: a neatly built house, two storeys high and having attached a vegetable garden and a small tract of mutual ground.’^[13]

It is stated in a typed and handwritten note in the ‘Lamb Collection’ called ‘Notes on McEwen Family,’ that James had at least three siblings who died in infancy. James himself had one son, who died aged five, on 31-08-47^[4][8]. Records of burials at the Howff show that James and Christina had a stillborn daughter, interred there on 07-08-1843, and that their son David died, aged five, of ‘water in head’ and was interred there on 04-09-1847.^[14][8]

James had at least one sister, Ellen, who survived into adulthood and married Lewis Chalmers. They had at least two sons. She predeceased James who left his gold watch to her second son William.^[1]

James himself died at home of typhus fever after an illness of about four days^[1] and was survived by his wife Christina and his 17 year old daughter Alexandrina.^[15] He was described as having been of a ‘free, affable disposition and kindliness of heart.’^[16]

It may be deduced from the inventory of his estate and from the list of creditors and claims contained within box GD/CM/5 (Dundee City Archives) that before his death in 1865, James McEwen had already entered straitened times.

Shortly after James’ death, the firm of Messrs Pattullo and Thornton placed a newspaper notice on 16-09-1865, requiring all of James McEwen’s debtors to make payment, and for creditors to lodge claims, with them within 14 days. The available list of debtors shows several marked ‘not known,’ ‘gone, left no address’ and ‘dead and gone.’ The claims of creditors are an interesting mix of accounts from Edinburgh firms of lawyers/Messengers at Arms who acted for James McEwen in connection with his business and local tradesmen such as painters and decorators/furniture restorers/seedsmen.^[1]

The bundle of claims against James McEwen demonstrates fascinating evidence. There were many accounts which, apparently, had remained outstanding for years, e.g. his office at 6 High St had been extensively refurbished at least 3 years before his death, although the account of the painter/decorator lay unpaid. Had he been exceptionally poor at paying his bills, or was this state of affairs not uncommon?

A complete inventory and valuation of the household furniture and effects in ‘Ellenville’ was drawn up on the same date. The house was advertised to be sold by roup on 30-10-1865, unless previously sold by private bargain.^[1] In the event, this sale does not seem to have gone ahead, as Mrs McEwen and her daughter continued to live there.^[15] The Inventory and the Sale Advertisement gave the impression of a very large, comfortable home with extensive and well stocked gardens. Also, in the inventory for ‘Ellenville,’ only the upstairs ‘lobby’ (landing) had items of less value than the contents of the servant’s room.

However, the inventory of his estate (not recorded until 1874) stipulates the following – ‘The said James McEwen, previous to his death and upon 19 July 1864, being in embarrassed circumstances, conveyed his estate, heritable and moveable, to James Pattullo, writer in Dundee, as trustee for behoof of his creditors.’^[17] This would appear to confirm that James McEwen’s business affairs were not at all in order. Not long after having pledged his subscription towards the building of the Albert Institute, James McEwen’s circumstances may have prevented him from making his pledge a reality.

Having been survived by his wife and daughter, (the 1871 census described Mrs McEwen as ‘Annuitant’) Alexandrina died on 09-03-1884, at the age of 37 years – the cause of death given as ‘epilepsy 25 years,’^[18] while his spouse Christina continued to reside at ‘Ellenville’ until her death in 1900.