Maria Ewing

Birth Name: Maria Louise Ewing

Date of Birth: March 27, 1950

Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Date of Death: January 9, 2022

Place of Death: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – African-American, likely English
*mother – Dutch, small amount of German

Maria Ewing was an American opera singer and actress. She sung both soprano and mezzo-soprano.

Maria’s father, Norman Isaac Ewing, was American. He was African-American, with European (likely English) ancestry. Maria’s mother, Hermina Maria (Veraar), was Dutch, and was born in Amsterdam; she also had a small amount of German ancestry. She was white. Maria was the mother of actress Rebecca Hall, with her former husband, English director, of theatre, opera, and film Peter Hall. A picture of Maria with Peter and Rebecca can be seen here.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2022) stated that Maria’s daughter Rebecca’s genetic ancestry is:

*91% European
*9% African

Maria’s father Norman was born, c. 1892-1894 (most likely in 1894), probably in Falls Church, Fairfax, Virginia. Norman was the son of John William Ewing and Hattie/Harriet Norman, who married on July 16, 1885 in Washington, D.C. Both of Norman’s parents were of at least part African ancestry.

Maria’s paternal grandfather John was born into slavery in Lincoln County, Tennessee, the son of Violet Ewing, and of a father who was likely white. John worked for the Treasury Department in D.C., and was prominent in its African-American community.

Maria’s paternal grandmother Harriet was born in Marietta, Washington, Ohio, the daughter of Isaac Franklin Norman and Amanda Jane Myers. She was from a long line of free black people. Her own great-grandfather, Bazabeel “Basil” Norman, a black/mixed-race man, was born, c. 1760, likely in Maryland, and fought in the American Revolution. Isaac was the son of Aquilla Norman and Mary Ann Fisher. Amanda was the daughter of Jeremiah Wilkes Myers and Mary Ann Harper.

During part of his lifetime, Maria’s father Norman I. Ewing was said to have been a Sioux Native American, and was a musician, who gave lectures and performances centered around his would-be Native American ancestry. The DNA test taken by Finding Your Roots found that Maria’s daughter Rebecca has no Native American genetic ancestry.

On the 1910 U.S. Census, Maria’s father Norman’s “race” is listed as “Mulatto” (mixed race), and so is the “race” of both of his parents. At this time, Norman’s birth place is listed as Virginia, and his residence place is listed as Washington, D.C., with his father’s birthplace listed as Tennessee and his mother’s as Ohio. On the 1915 South Dakota State Census, Norman’s race is listed as “Indian” (Native American), and on the 1920 U.S. Census, his “race” is again listed as “Indian.” On the 1920 U.S. Census, his birthplace is listed as Washington, D.C., while his father’s birthplace is listed as Oregon and his mother’s birthplace is listed as Washington, D.C. It is perhaps notable that the woman he was married to at this time, Margaret “Maggie” Culbertson (who was not Maria’s mother), is listed as “Indian” on the 1920 Census also. Some African-Americans told census takers that their race was “Indian.”

Maria’s maternal grandfather was Robertus Veraar (the son of Robertus Veraar and Jannetje van der Steen). Maria’s grandfather Robertus was born in Sloten, North Holland. Maria’s great-grandfather Robertus was the son of Jan Veraar and Maria van Leersum. Jannetje was the daughter of Hijmen van der Steen and Maria Elisabeth van ‘t Kruijs.

Maria’s maternal grandmother was Hermina Maria Vermeulen (the daughter of Willem Vermeulen and Hermina Maria Schoemaker). Maria’s grandmother Hermina was born in Amsterdam. Willem was the son of Johannes Jacobus Vermeulen, who was of part German descent, and of Petronella Wilhelmina Jubels. Maria’s great-grandmother Hermina was the daughter of Hendrik Schoemaker, who was of part German descent, and of Adriana Blekkenhorst.

Maria’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her fifth great-grandmother, Antje Roos.

Sources: Genealogy of Maria Ewing – https://www.geni.com

Maria’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Maria’s father on the 1915 South Dakota State Census – https://familysearch.org
Maria’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s paternal grandparents, John William Ewing and Hattie/Harriet Norman, in the District of Columbia, Marriages, 1830-1921 – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Maria Ewing (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Marriage records of Maria’s maternal grandparents, Robertus Veraar and Hermina Maria Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal grandfather, Robertus Veraar – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-grandparents, Robertus Veraar and Jannetje van der Steen – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-grandfather, Robertus Veraar – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Jan Veraar and Maria van Leersum – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Jan Veraar – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Maria van Leersum – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-grandmother, Jannetje van der Steen – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Hijmen van der Steen and Maria Elisabeth van ‘t Kruijs – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Hijmen van der Steen – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Maria Elisabeth van ‘t Kruijs – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal mother, Hermina Maria Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-grandparents, Willem Vermeulen and Hermina Maria Schoemaker – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-grandfather, Willem Vermeulen – https://archief.amsterdam

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Johannes Jacobus Vermeulen and Petronella Wilhelmina Jubels – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Johannes Jacobus Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Petronella Wilhelmina Jubels – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-grandmother, Hermina Maria Schoemaker – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Hendrik Schoemaker and Adriana Blekkenhorst – https://www.openarch.nl

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Hendrik Schoemaker – https://www.familysearch.org

Birth record of Maria’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Adriana Blekkenhorst – https://www.familysearch.org