Philemon Ewer
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There were a number of Philemon Ewers who were shipbuilders and shipwrights in Bursledon and Hamble in the Hamble Valley area in Hampshire, England (just to the east of Southampton) in the 18th century.
They also had a shipyard in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
The main 'master' shipbuilder was Philemon Ewer (1702 - 1750). He was a timber merchant and builder of small boats but gained an opportunity through the outbreak of the War of Jenkins' Ear to build men of war for the British government in 1739.
He has an elaborate memorial in Bursledon church which records:
In Memory of MR PHILEMON EWER, who died the 13th day of December A.D. 1750 aged 49 Years. During the late war with France & Spain He build Seven large Ships of war for His Majesty's Service. In the Execution of that important Trust He gained, and deserved, the Reputation of an ingenious Artist and excellent workman and an honest Man. All his Undertakings were crowned with Success, And all his Industry justly rewarded With a fair Character & a plentiful Fortune; The first of which he left for ye Imitation The second for the Support & Enjoyment Of his numerous Family; who in Gratitude erected This Monument A:D: 1754
The seven ships were:
| HMS Falkland 48-gun | 1744 | Bursledon (this was a rebuild ... possibly that of the first ever ship built in North America in 1690) |
| HMS Lizard 14-gun sloop | 1744 | Bursledon |
| HMS Ruby 50-gun | 1745 | Bursledon |
| HMS Salisbury 44-gun | 1746 | East Cowes (It was on this ship in 1747 that James Lind carried out his famous experiments on scurvy) |
| HMS Fox 24-gun | 1746 | Bursledon |
| HMS Anson 60-gun | 1747 | Bursledon |
| HMS Vanguard 70-gun | 1748 | East Cowes (Took part in the captures of Louisburg, Quebec and Martinique) |
