Timeline of William Swain Sr. and his Family
Just so I can keep everything sorted out and have one place I can look at all the records for the family of William Swain and Rebecca Williamson Swain. If you can add to this timeline, please email me.
1783: Biography: Born in South Carolina, of Irish descent.
Census says North Carolina
1788: Biography: Rebecca Williamson born in Georgia
1796: Biography: Moved to Georgia
1808: Biography: Married Rebecca Williamson in Franklin County, Geargia Marriage Record of William and Rebecca
1809: Birth of Lucinda Swain in Georgia (listed in Will. Age approximation from 1860 Census) 1860 Census of Lucinda & Absalom Brown in Randolph, AK
1811: Birth of Patsy Swain in Georgia (listed in Will, used birth date already in familysearch. Not sourced)
1812: Biography: Moved to Lincoln County, TN
1814: Birth of Sylvania Swain (Listed in Will. Estimation based on census records. I don't have sources)
1816: Birth of Edwin Swain (Listed in will as E.C. Age approximation from 1850 Census in McNairy, TN) 1850 Census of Edward & Francis Riggs in McNairy, TN
1818: Birth of Vernetta Swain (Listed in Will) (according to 1850 Census of William and Burnetta Brown in McNairy, TN) 1850 Census of William Brown in McNairy, TN
1820: Biography: Birth of R.P. Swain
1820: Census: Lincoln County, TN 1820 Census, Lincoln, TN
Family summary: William, age 37. Rebecca, age 32. Daughter b. 1804-1810 [Lucinda 1809]; Daughter b. 1810-1820 [Patsy b1811] ; Daughter b. 1810-1820 [Sylvania??]; Daughter 1810-1820; Daughter 1810-1820 [Vernetta 1818]; Son 1810-1820 [Edwin 1816] ; Son 1810-1820 [R.P.1820].
1824: Birth of Matilda Swain
1826: Birth of William W. Swain in Lincoln, TN.
1828: Biography: Moved to Henderson, TN 1850 Census, McNairy, TN (Listed in will. Age based on census records)
1830: Census: Henderson, TN 1830 Census, Henderson, TN
Family summary: William, age 47; Rebecca, age 42. Male b. 1800-1810; Daughter 1810-1815 [Lucinda 1809]; Daughter 1810-1815 [Patsy 1811] ; Son 1815-1820 [E C 1816] ; Daughter 1815-1820 [Vernetta 1818] ; Daughter 1815-1820 [Sylvania??]; Son 1820-1825 [R.P. 1820]; Male 1820-1825; Daughter 1820-1825 [Matilda 1824]; Son 1825-1830 [William Jr. 1828] .
1840: Census: McNairy, TN 1840 Census, McNairy, TN
Family summary: William, age 57; Rebecca, age 52. Male b. 1810-1820 [Edward 1816]; Daughter 1815-1820 [Vernetta 1818] ; Son 1820-1825 [R.P. 1820] ; Son 1825-1830 [William Jr. 1828].
1842: Mortgage in McNairy, John Melton to William Swain Mortgage Transcription
1846: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain marries Melissia Merrell in McNairy
1846: Son, W W Swain marries Mary M.C. Alexander in McNairy (from information in familysearch, unsourced)
1848: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain moves to Mississippi
1850: Census: McNairy, TN 1850 Census, McNairy, TN
Family Summary: Household 1510: William Swain Sr. 69; Rebecca 64; Martha Brown 17 Household 1511: William Swain Jr. 24; Mary 23; Rebecca 2; Caroline 1m; Hiram Brown 17.
1858: Nettie moves to Randolph, Ark Goodspeed biography on Ephraim Brown, son of Nettie Swain
1860: Census: McNairy, TN 1860 Census, McNairy, TN
Family Summary: Household 1802: William Swain Sr. 78; Rebecca 74; Household 1801: William Swain 34; Martha M 35; Permetlas A. 12; Sarah P. 10; Nancy L. 5; Milus F 3.
1861: Biography: Rebecca Williamson Swain dies
1861: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain, moves back to McNairy
1861: Claim: Fall 1861, son W. W. enlists with Union Army Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p27
1861/63: Claim: son, Edwin, killed in Civil War in Arkansas. Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p33
1864: Claim: Son, W.W. killed in Mississippi. Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p27
1870: Census: McNairy, TN 1870 Census, McNairy, TN Family Summary: Household 154: William Swain 88
1871: Daughter, Nettie Swain Brown, dies in Arkansas Goodspeed biography on Ephraim Brown, son of Nettie Swain
1871: Biography: William W. Swain Sr. Dies, McNairy, TN Will of William Swain Sr.
Unlinked Sources:
Biography: "R. P. SWAIN, a well known farmer of the Fourth District, son of William and Rebecca (WILLIAMSON) SWAIN, was born In Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1820 The father was of Irish descent, born in South Carolina in 1783; when about thirteen years of age be went to Georgia, where he married at the age of twenty-six. He moved to Lincoln County in 1812, and in 1828 went to Henderson, Chester County and remained until 1840, when he settled In McNairy County, resuming his farming and so continuing up to a year previous to his death which occurred in 1871. The mother was born In Georgia about 1788; died in 1861; she and her husband were both faithful members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Our subject spent his early life at home, receiving his education from the common country schools. April, 1846, he married Miss Melissia MERRELL, of McNairy County. They became the parents of six children, all living but one: Aurelius; Martha, wife of John MCCOY; William; Mary, wife of Elihu Blasingain, and Elma. Mr. SWAIN first located in McNairy County, in 1848 moved to Mississippi, in 1861 returned to the county and in 1874 settled on the farm which he now occupies and owns, a place of seventy acres, one and a half miles east from Ramer. He is a life-long Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Jas. K. POLK. Mr. and Mrs. SWAIN are interested and active members of the Missionary Baptist Church and are esteemed by the community." From Goodspeed's History of McNairy, TN
Will of William Swain Sr.
This day the will of William Swain Sen. was presented in open court and sworn by the subscribing witnesses in common form of law which was examined and ordered (illegible 2 words) which was done in the words & figures following.
To wit
In the Name of God Amen
I William Swain Sen. of the county of McNairy & state of Tennessee being of sound mind and disposing memory do make & publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking & making void all other & former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid as soon as possible out of any monies that I may be possessed of as which may first come into the hands of my executor hereinafter named.
Secondly I will & bequeath to my daughters Patsy Melton Lucinda Brown Sylvania Page & Vernetta Brown & Matilda Graves for their sole and separate use free from the debts of their husbands all the real estate of which I may be possessed of to be equally divided between them to have and to hold said lands for and during their natural lives and at their deaths to go to their children.
Thirdly I will and direct that all the personal property which I may be possessed of shall be sold and the proceeds divided as follows. To each of my said daughters named in the 2nd clause of this will I give the sum of two hundred dollars if living or if any of them are dead then the children of such as are dead to have the share to which their mother would have been entitled if living. The balance to be divided amongst all my children except that the share of my son E. C. Swain shall be chargeable with the sum of fifty dollars (which sum I have already paid as security for him) and the share of my son Wm W Swain shall be chargeable with the sum of forty dollars for a wagon which sums shall be deducted from the respective shares of said E C and W W Swain and the fifty dollars to go to Patsy Melton and the forty dollars to be divided amongst all my said daughters.
Fourthly ---- I have heretofore given to my sons W W Swain E C Swain & R P Swain in land and other property what I considered an equal share of my estate and direct that they have nothing more except as above. In the 3Rd clause of this will & considering what they have already acquired an equal share with my said daughters.
Lastly
I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Wm W & R P Swain executors of this my last will & testament given under my hand & seal the 19th September 1871.
his
William Swain
mark
Signed sealed & published in our presence and we have hereunto set our hands as witnesses in the presence of the Testator and at his bequest day (illegible) above written
Witnesses names __________
Transcribed by: Jeff Kemp
1783: Biography: Born in South Carolina, of Irish descent.
Census says North Carolina
1788: Biography: Rebecca Williamson born in Georgia
1796: Biography: Moved to Georgia
1808: Biography: Married Rebecca Williamson in Franklin County, Geargia Marriage Record of William and Rebecca
1809: Birth of Lucinda Swain in Georgia (listed in Will. Age approximation from 1860 Census) 1860 Census of Lucinda & Absalom Brown in Randolph, AK
1811: Birth of Patsy Swain in Georgia (listed in Will, used birth date already in familysearch. Not sourced)
1812: Biography: Moved to Lincoln County, TN
1814: Birth of Sylvania Swain (Listed in Will. Estimation based on census records. I don't have sources)
1816: Birth of Edwin Swain (Listed in will as E.C. Age approximation from 1850 Census in McNairy, TN) 1850 Census of Edward & Francis Riggs in McNairy, TN
1818: Birth of Vernetta Swain (Listed in Will) (according to 1850 Census of William and Burnetta Brown in McNairy, TN) 1850 Census of William Brown in McNairy, TN
1820: Biography: Birth of R.P. Swain
1820: Census: Lincoln County, TN 1820 Census, Lincoln, TN
Family summary: William, age 37. Rebecca, age 32. Daughter b. 1804-1810 [Lucinda 1809]; Daughter b. 1810-1820 [Patsy b1811] ; Daughter b. 1810-1820 [Sylvania??]; Daughter 1810-1820; Daughter 1810-1820 [Vernetta 1818]; Son 1810-1820 [Edwin 1816] ; Son 1810-1820 [R.P.1820].
1824: Birth of Matilda Swain
1826: Birth of William W. Swain in Lincoln, TN.
1828: Biography: Moved to Henderson, TN 1850 Census, McNairy, TN (Listed in will. Age based on census records)
1830: Census: Henderson, TN 1830 Census, Henderson, TN
Family summary: William, age 47; Rebecca, age 42. Male b. 1800-1810; Daughter 1810-1815 [Lucinda 1809]; Daughter 1810-1815 [Patsy 1811] ; Son 1815-1820 [E C 1816] ; Daughter 1815-1820 [Vernetta 1818] ; Daughter 1815-1820 [Sylvania??]; Son 1820-1825 [R.P. 1820]; Male 1820-1825; Daughter 1820-1825 [Matilda 1824]; Son 1825-1830 [William Jr. 1828] .
~1832: Estimation: Lucinda Swain marries Absalom Brown. Hiram and Martha are living with William
and Rebecca and William and Mary in 1860. They are 17.
1840: Census: McNairy, TN 1840 Census, McNairy, TN
Family summary: William, age 57; Rebecca, age 52. Male b. 1810-1820 [Edward 1816]; Daughter 1815-1820 [Vernetta 1818] ; Son 1820-1825 [R.P. 1820] ; Son 1825-1830 [William Jr. 1828].
1842: Mortgage in McNairy, John Melton to William Swain Mortgage Transcription
1846: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain marries Melissia Merrell in McNairy
1846: Son, W W Swain marries Mary M.C. Alexander in McNairy (from information in familysearch, unsourced)
1848: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain moves to Mississippi
1850: Census: McNairy, TN 1850 Census, McNairy, TN
Family Summary: Household 1510: William Swain Sr. 69; Rebecca 64; Martha Brown 17 Household 1511: William Swain Jr. 24; Mary 23; Rebecca 2; Caroline 1m; Hiram Brown 17.
1858: Nettie moves to Randolph, Ark Goodspeed biography on Ephraim Brown, son of Nettie Swain
1860: Census: McNairy, TN 1860 Census, McNairy, TN
Family Summary: Household 1802: William Swain Sr. 78; Rebecca 74; Household 1801: William Swain 34; Martha M 35; Permetlas A. 12; Sarah P. 10; Nancy L. 5; Milus F 3.
1861: Biography: Rebecca Williamson Swain dies
1861: Biography: Son, R.P. Swain, moves back to McNairy
1861: Claim: Fall 1861, son W. W. enlists with Union Army Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p27
1861/63: Claim: son, Edwin, killed in Civil War in Arkansas. Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p33
1864: Claim: Son, W.W. killed in Mississippi. Claim of Mary M.C. Swain p27
1870: Census: McNairy, TN 1870 Census, McNairy, TN Family Summary: Household 154: William Swain 88
1871: Daughter, Nettie Swain Brown, dies in Arkansas Goodspeed biography on Ephraim Brown, son of Nettie Swain
1871: Biography: William W. Swain Sr. Dies, McNairy, TN Will of William Swain Sr.
Unlinked Sources:
Biography: "R. P. SWAIN, a well known farmer of the Fourth District, son of William and Rebecca (WILLIAMSON) SWAIN, was born In Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1820 The father was of Irish descent, born in South Carolina in 1783; when about thirteen years of age be went to Georgia, where he married at the age of twenty-six. He moved to Lincoln County in 1812, and in 1828 went to Henderson, Chester County and remained until 1840, when he settled In McNairy County, resuming his farming and so continuing up to a year previous to his death which occurred in 1871. The mother was born In Georgia about 1788; died in 1861; she and her husband were both faithful members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Our subject spent his early life at home, receiving his education from the common country schools. April, 1846, he married Miss Melissia MERRELL, of McNairy County. They became the parents of six children, all living but one: Aurelius; Martha, wife of John MCCOY; William; Mary, wife of Elihu Blasingain, and Elma. Mr. SWAIN first located in McNairy County, in 1848 moved to Mississippi, in 1861 returned to the county and in 1874 settled on the farm which he now occupies and owns, a place of seventy acres, one and a half miles east from Ramer. He is a life-long Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Jas. K. POLK. Mr. and Mrs. SWAIN are interested and active members of the Missionary Baptist Church and are esteemed by the community." From Goodspeed's History of McNairy, TN
Will of William Swain Sr.
This day the will of William Swain Sen. was presented in open court and sworn by the subscribing witnesses in common form of law which was examined and ordered (illegible 2 words) which was done in the words & figures following.
To wit
In the Name of God Amen
I William Swain Sen. of the county of McNairy & state of Tennessee being of sound mind and disposing memory do make & publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking & making void all other & former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid as soon as possible out of any monies that I may be possessed of as which may first come into the hands of my executor hereinafter named.
Secondly I will & bequeath to my daughters Patsy Melton Lucinda Brown Sylvania Page & Vernetta Brown & Matilda Graves for their sole and separate use free from the debts of their husbands all the real estate of which I may be possessed of to be equally divided between them to have and to hold said lands for and during their natural lives and at their deaths to go to their children.
Thirdly I will and direct that all the personal property which I may be possessed of shall be sold and the proceeds divided as follows. To each of my said daughters named in the 2nd clause of this will I give the sum of two hundred dollars if living or if any of them are dead then the children of such as are dead to have the share to which their mother would have been entitled if living. The balance to be divided amongst all my children except that the share of my son E. C. Swain shall be chargeable with the sum of fifty dollars (which sum I have already paid as security for him) and the share of my son Wm W Swain shall be chargeable with the sum of forty dollars for a wagon which sums shall be deducted from the respective shares of said E C and W W Swain and the fifty dollars to go to Patsy Melton and the forty dollars to be divided amongst all my said daughters.
Fourthly ---- I have heretofore given to my sons W W Swain E C Swain & R P Swain in land and other property what I considered an equal share of my estate and direct that they have nothing more except as above. In the 3Rd clause of this will & considering what they have already acquired an equal share with my said daughters.
Lastly
I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Wm W & R P Swain executors of this my last will & testament given under my hand & seal the 19th September 1871.
his
William Swain
mark
Signed sealed & published in our presence and we have hereunto set our hands as witnesses in the presence of the Testator and at his bequest day (illegible) above written
Witnesses names __________
Transcribed by: Jeff Kemp
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