The earliest Chief of whom we have any record flourished about the thirteenth century. He was succeeded by Severn II of Otter. About 1315 Gillespie V of Otter assumed the Chiefship. From this date there were four Chiefs - Ewen VI, John VII, Walter VIII and Swene IX, the last of the Otter Chiefs.
In 1431-2 this Swene granted a charter of certain lands of Otter to Duncan, son of Alexander Campbell. In 1432 he resigned the Barony of Otter to James I, but received it anew from the King, with the remainder to Celestine Campbell, son and heir of Duncan Campbell of Lochow. After Swenes death, King James in 1493 confirmed the grant to Archibald, Earl of Argyll, as heir to his father, Colin. In 1575 another Archibald Campbell appears in a charter as of the Otter, and in the Act of 1587 a Campbell is entered as the Laird of Otter.
After the middle of the fifteenth century the Barony and estates of Otter passed and gave title to a branch of the Campbells and the MacEwens became a scattered clan. Some appear to have followed MacLachlan of MacLachlan, and others sought protection as men of the Earl of Argyll. Some joined the Campbells of Craignish, while colonies were formed in the Lennox country in Dumbartonshire, and in Galloway. The MacEwens were hereditary bards to the Campbells.
Probably few places in Scotland were more deeply touched by this movement than Perthshire. Many in the humble cottages here came into an experience of religion so real and vital that the influence of it is being felt in the lives of their descendants after a lapse of more than one hundred years. Among these were the progenitors of this branch of the MacEwen family, Mr. and Mrs. John MacEwen.
John MacEwen was born in the Loch Tay district, Perthshire. He was a weaver.
Dr. Alexander Whyte, the famous Scottish preacher has left a picture of these days in the following words:
Here were rows of weavers shops where I was brought up; generally comprised of a but and ben the but being the kitchen, with maybe a little room as a bed-room or sitting-room. Then at the other end there were four weaving rooms. The father might make twelve or fourteen shillings a week, and with a little extra work he would perhaps make sixteen shillings (about $3.50 in 1935) while the others would make perhaps only five, six, or seven shillings. It is amazing to think of the way they turned out, and always had a little to give to a good cause, and sometimes - who would believe it? - were able to send their sons to college.
John MacEwen and his wife were both brought up in simple and godly homes. The sect to which they belonged was not popular. Mrs. MacEwen used to tell of remembering of sometimes being persecuted, and having to worship in stables. They were married somewhere about 1817 or 1818. With one or two children they set sail for Canada in the year 1822.
After a long and tedious voyage in a sailing vessel they arrived in Cornwall. The country north of this was a dense forest. Packing up and shouldering their baggage and children who were unable to walk - heroic determination, they faced the journey ahead of them, and made their way to the Indian Lands (Kenyon Township, Glengarry County) a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles. Here they settled and commenced life in Canada. All the hardships of pioneer life were theirs. Their nearest house of worship was a Presbyterian Church at Martintown, twelve miles distant. To this they used to walk constantly, and returning Mrs. MacEwen would be able to repeat every word of the sermon she had heard.
Wolves infested the forest. Her eldest son, many years after this, used to tell of how coming home from town on one occasion, he was followed by wolves and had to fight them off with stakes of the sleigh.
A vivid picture of the life of these early days in Glengarry can be found in Glengarry School Days, by Ralph Connor. Their bodies lie with those of the other pioneers of this section in the cemetery at Maxville.
Their family consisted of: