If you go to the Ewing Family Tree page you will note that the maiden names of Maria of Madagascar's two daughters were "Robinson", i.e., Cherry Robinson Lawson and Fredrica Robinson Ewing. (As most of us know Fredrica became the mother of Willie Ewing, Sr., Samuel E. Ewing, Sr., Anna "Mama" Brown, Fredrica "Freddie" Ewing, and Thomas J. Ewing.) Thus it appears that Maria's last name was "Robinson" (purely coincidental BTW). 

 

I have attached a copy of Fredrica Ewing's death certificate dated 4/07/1951. She died on 4/04/1951, apparently at home in Houston, TX. It also appears that her son, Samuel, was by her side during the last few months of her life. She died of heart disease at the age of 81. Her DOB was 12/06/1869, i.e., 6 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and only 3 years after the original "Juneteenth." She was born in Rose Hill, TX, a short distance from Houston. 

 

Importantly, her father and mother are listed as Joshua Robinson and Maria Robinson. Maria's place of birth is listed as unknown ("DK" = Don't Know). This is of course no surprise since Maria was born in Africa. While both names are surely slave names, there is a chance that she met and/or married Joshua Robinson post-emancipation. Recall that Fredrica was not born until 1869. I have not uncovered anything to date to reveal Maria's (slave) maiden name.

 

This is the first documentation of Maria's existence I have seen beyond word of mouth from elders ("Roots").  

 

I will see  what more I can learn.