John Barent SWAIM (1748-1827) m. Anne Elizabeth VICKERY (1750-1833)
s/o Johannes Michael SWAIM (1715-1782) and Martha WORTHINGTON (1718-1756)
d/o Marmaduke VICKERY (1715-1787) and Elizabeth NATION (1719-1787)
p/o Martha Jane SWAIM (1779-1834)
Do not confuse my John Barent Swaim born 1748 in Frederick, VA with another John Barent Swaim born 1757 in Essex NJ, s/o Anthony Swaim and Abigail Sanders; or John SWAIM born 1758 in Rowan, NC and died 1832 in Wilkes, NC, s/o Johannes Swaim and Charity Teague
26 Apr 1748 John Barent SWAIM born at Frederick, Virginia [John was born in Frederick County, Virginia or in Surry County, North Carolina depending on which account one believes.] [Based on information from his grandson Lyndon Swaim, John was a farmer in Randolph County and was a friend and hunting companion of Daniel Boone.] [John SWAIM born in Surrey, NC … lived on Yadkin River, a friend and neighbor f Daniel Boone.
11 May 1750 Anne Elizabeth VICKERY born at Frederick, Virginia (one source says Augusta Co) [Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Marmaduke Vickrey and Elizabeth Nation. Marmaduke Vickery was a Revolutionary War hero, a Regulator, and was known for his armed resistance against Governor William Tryon in the Battle of Alamance; who was arrested by the British and placed into chains and later released. In this battle Marmaduke and local farmers were armed with pitchforks and squirrel guns] [strong woman in character and body: she one time had an encounter with a wildcat when she went out to milk a cow. She was carrying a wooden bucket called a “piggin” and she killed the wildcat with it.]
1752 John Barent SWAIM According to one account, born in Frederick County, Virginia and moved from this area to Rowan County, North Carolina in 1752.
23 Aug 1756 John Barent SWAIM: There is a 23 August 1756 land survey for 640 acres in Rowan County, North Carolina near Abbot’s Creek performed for John Swaim. The chain carriers were Abraham Teague and Michael Swaim.
16 May 1767 John Barent SWAIM and Anne Elizabeth VICKERY married at Deep River, Guilford, North Carolina [John and Elizabeth lived in what was regarded as Rowan County, North Carolina. This area became Guilford County in 1770 and later became part of Randolph County in 1779] [one source says May 19, Rowan]
15 Jul 1768 dau Massah SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Daniel ROBBINS 1 Dec 1790 at Randolph, NC; died 23 Mar 1846 at Randolph, NC
15 Mar 1770 son William G SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Elizabeth SHERWOOD on 11 Dec 1789 in Randolph, NC; died 1 Jun 1850 at Randolph, NC; He married Christianna Stone on 19 Dec 1836. Christian Stone Swaim was widow of Michael Swaim, William's cousin.
5 Apr 1772 son Joshua SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Sarah ELLIOTT in NC; died 23 Dec 1855 at Randolph, NC
24 Dec 1774 son Chistopher Columbus SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married (2) Nancy Rebecca WRIGHT on 14 Dec 1818 at Stokes, NC; died 3 Jul 1851 at Warren, Huntington, Indiana [The Swaim Family Genealogy by W. F. Crum (family information written down 3/13/1891 by W. F. Crum). Swaim-Tysen Family book, page 324, which is based on John Swaim’s bible handed down to his descendants. [He married (1) Sarah Hines on 27 Sep 1794 in Randolph Cty, NC. She was born about 1776 in NC.
15 May 1777 son John SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Mary Laughlin; died 19 Nov 1841 at Guilford, North Carolina
abt 1779 dau Martha Jane SWAIM born at Asheboro, Randolph, North Carolina; married John REDDING in abt 1799 at Randolph, NC; died 8 Feb 1834 at at Randolph, NC
20 Jul 1779 dau Elizabeth SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married George SWEARENGEN; died 16 Oct 1863 at NC
1770s-80s Military service [DAR Proven A111447; SERVICE: NORTH CAROLINA; Service Source: NC Rev War Pay Vouchers, #3096, Roll #S.115.127; Service Desc: Paid for Services Rendered; Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE
27 Jan 1780 son Michael SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; died 6 Jan 1830 at Randolph, NC
25 Feb 1782 son Ashley SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Sarah WALDEN; died 21 May 1856 at Abbotts Creek, Davidson, North Carolina
23 Feb 1784 son Marmaduke SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Jeanette LAWRENCE; died 23 Dec 1822 at Timber Ridge, Randolph, North Carolina
1 Aug 1786 dau Charity SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married James LAUGHLIN; died 25 Apr 1864 Sophia, Randolph, North Carolina
1 Dec 1787 son Richard SWAIM born at Wilkes, North Carolina; died 5 Sep 1835 at Parke, Indiana
31 Dec 1788 son Moses SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Ada SWINDELL; died 25 Apr 1870 at St Joseph, Indiana. Lawyer and farmer, President of Manumission Society before Civil War.
18 May 1789 John Barent SWAIM owned 100 Acres
1790 John was in the Hillsborough District of Randolph County, North Carolina as described in the 1790 Census. [Tyrell, NC lists John SWAIM 3 males under 16; 1 male over 16; 3 females; 1 slave (doc); Randolph, NC lists John Swim 4 males under 16; 3 males over 16; 4 females (doc)
10 Feb 1791 son Michael SWAIM born at Randolph, North Carolina; married Susan HINSHAW; died 17 Dec 1878 at Henry, Henry, Indiana
22 Feb 1798 son William Peter born at Wilkes, North Carolina; died 5 Jun 1863 at Adams, Parke, Indiana
1800 Census It also appears that John Swaim is referenced in the 1800 and 1810 censuses based on the ages of the oldest male, over 45, and the fact that John is known to have settled in Randolph County. The use of different spellings for the last name while interesting is troublesome from a genealogy perspective. John is listed as John Swim in the 1790 Census, John Swaim in the 1800 census and back to John Swim in the 1810 census. Of course one explanation is that John Swaim and John Swim were different people. However, there were very few people in Randolph County with a name spelled even close to Swaim/Swain/Swim. If you map out which counties had census listings for Swaim/Swain/Swimin years 1790-1810 and look at the family members’ ages, it does appear that we are viewing the same families that are being listed with variations in the spelling of the Swaim surname. This variation could simply be the result of the census taker misspelling the name. It does not necessarily mean John Swaim was using a different spelling of his surname although that is also a possibility. [Hillsboro, Randolph, NC lists John SWAIM 2 males under 10; 3 males 16-25; 1 male over 45; 2 females 16-25; 1 female over 45 (doc); Tyrell, NC lists John SWAIM 1 male under 10; 2 males 10-15; 1 male q16 to 25; 1 male 26-44; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 16-25; 1 female 26-44 (doc)]
1810 Census for Wilkesborough, Wilkes, NC lists Jno SWAIM 1 male under 10; 2 males 10-15; 4 males 16-25; 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10; 2 females 16-25; 1 female over 45 (doc); Tyrell, NC lists John SWAIM 1 male over45; 1 female 10-15; 1 female over 45 (doc); Randolph, NC lists John SWEM 2 males 10-15; 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10; 1 female over 45 (doc)]
7 Aug 1820 Census for Washington, NC lists John SWAIM 2 males under 10; 1 male 26-44; 3 females under 10; 1 female 16-25; 1 person engaged in commerce (doc)
26 Mar 1824 John Barent SWAIM signed his will (doc)
16 Jan 1827 John Barent SWAIM died at Randolph, North Carolina; buried at Timber Ridge Cemetery Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, not far from the Guilford County Line near Level Cross, North Carolina (one source says January 16, 1827 [John Swaim, Jr’s will was found in the Greensboro Library willing his all to his son Moses and his grandchildren as listed in the Yoder Papers down as far as were born at that time. He was definitely John, Jr. We found a Land Grant recorded in the State Land Grant Office dated 1798 to John Swaim, Jr. giving one of the boundaries on John Swaim, Sr's line. It was in Randolph County on the waters of Deep River, where he was known to live with his wife Elizabeth Vickrey and his 11 children]
1830 Census for Stokes, NC lists Elizabeth SWAIM 1 male 5-9; 1 female 60-69; 1 female slave 55-59 (doc)
21 Aug 1832 John Swaim listed as buried at Timber Ridge [Death Records from Greensboro NC Patriot p. 42 (doc)]
3 Sep 1833 Anne Elizabeth VICKERY died at Randolph, North Carolina (certified from John and Elizabeth Vickery Swaim Family Bible (doc)) buried at Timber Ridge Cemetery Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Randolph County, not far from the Guilford County Line near Level Cross, North Carolina
The Swaim Family of Indiana and Oklahoma Compiled by Jack Stuart Swaim
Page 79
- 3. John Swaim (b ~ 1719) (or Michael Swaim) (b ~1715)
So far the Swaim paternal ancestry back through John Swaim (b 1748) can be validated by reasonably hard evidence, family Bibles and general consensus.
However, once we begin to carry the investigation deep into the 1700’s we run into larger problems in verifying the ancestry. The 1790 United States Federal census was the first federal census conducted. Censuses from 1790 through 1840 only identified the name of the head of the family and provided statistics on family members such as the numbers of women and men over 16 and men under 16. There is little solid information to link individuals to families.
One of the more controversial genealogical issues regarding the early Swaim ancestry in America is the disagreement over the father of John Swaim (born 1748). Many sources including the Swaim-Tysen Family book, Clampett Family Centre web site, Latter Day Saints and others claim that this John Swaim (born 1748) is the son of Michael Swaim (born 1715). On the other hand, family sources state that John’s father was another John Swaim, presumably the one that married Charity Vickery and born ~1719. It is believed by some that this John Swaim (b 1719) was the brother of Michael Swaim (b 1715).
There is no hard evidence in the form of wills or other sources that has been located to conclusively identify John’s father. John Swaim (1748) had a Bible in which births, deaths and marriages were recorded but it did not list his father or mother. The issue of John Swaim’s father has been a running controversy in Swaim family genealogy circles for a number of years. Although the Swaim-Tysen Family book by authors Lloyd Swaim, Joe Mullane and Margorie Johnson claims Michael is the father of John Swaim, (b 1748) no convincing evidence is offered. Lloyd Swaim related to me in an email that Joe Mullane primarily came up with that theory and Joe has since passed away.
“I (Lloyd Swaim) really cannot say who was John's father. Joe Mullane came up with the suggestion that the father was Michael. Others say no, but there is no documentation to really support either argument very well.”
The Teague family history site (http://www.fmoran.com/swaim.html) includes the following explanation:
“Some versions of this family (John Swaim, born ~1719, and Charity Teague Swaim) include a son John Swaim (1748-1827), who married Elizabeth Vickery in 1767 and lived in Randolph Co. NC. Other histories say that this John is the son of Michael Swaim, brother of John Swaim, Sr. We have included John and Elizabeth Vickery Swaim's children in the next generation because a few of their descendants show up in Forsyth County.”
Another source that states that John Swaim’s (1748) father was John Swaim (1719) is the Francine Swaim family information compiled by the Birch family web site at rootweb.
In either case, whether John Swaim’s (1748) father was Michael (1715) or John (1719), there is some consensus albeit not unanimous that the grandfather of John Swaim (1748) was Willem Sweem (Swaim) (b ~ 1677) and that Michael (1715) and John (1719) were brothers.
According to the research of Joe Mullane, Lloyd Swaim and Marjorie Johnson in the Swaim-Tysen Family book, William’s son Matthias settled in West Virginia and sons Michael and John settled in North Carolina. Michael settled in the area around Greensboro and John settled in the area south of Winston Salem.
Based on the Swaim-Tysen Family book Simeon W. Swaim’s middle initial “W” stood for ‘Worthington’. If so, this could be viewed as circumstantial evidence that he was named with Christopher’s possible grandmother Martha Worthington Swaim in mind. As we recall, Martha Worthington Swaim was the wife of Michael Swaim. However, some do not view this as proof of anything.
I do not have independent conclusive evidence as to which of these theories is correct. There are many knowledgeable researchers that have strong opinions on these theories. I suspect this issue will continue to remain unresolved for some time unless some additional evidence surfaces. DNA testing conducted thus far does not answer this question.
I will list the information and analysis I have compiled thus far.
Census analysis
Censuses do not provide details on family members but can be helpful in providing circumstantial evidence regarding where people lived and possible relationships. People with the same surname living in the same vicinity were often related. Of course, family members often moved apart for a number of reasons. So let’s look at some census data and see where that leads us.
In the early Swaim family there were numerous Williams, Michaels and Johns listed in the censuses. In the 1790 census of North Carolina there are 6 Swim’s, 2 Swaim’s and 3 Swain’s (in the counties of interest in North Carolina). Let’s map them by county and see where they are and what their families look like.
Figure 1 – Location of Surry, Stokes, Guilford and Randolph counties in North Carolina
Surry and Stokes counties are in the northern part of North Carolina, Surry being to the west of Stokes. Stokes County was formed in 1789 out of Surry County. Guilford is southeast of Stokes and Randolph is further south, south of Guilford.
John Swim (b ~1719) known as “old Swim” and his sons: Michael & Moses
John Swaim (b 4-26-1748)
Widow of Michael Swaim (b ~ 1715)
| COUNTIES | SWIM | SWAIM or SWAIN’s indexed incorrectly | SWAIN |
| Surry | John Swim (2-0-2) Michael Swim (1-1-4) Moses Swim (1-3-3) | ||
| Stokes | John Swim (1-1-1) William Swim (3-5-6) | ||
| Guilford | Michal Swaim (1-4-6) William Swaim (3-2-5) Marthey Swain (0-0-2) William Swain (1-1-1) |
Joseph Swain (1-4-2) ? | |
| Randolph | John Swim (3-4-4) | ||
| TOTALS | 6 families
(11-14-20) | 4 families (5-7-14) | 1 family (1-4-2) |
Table 1 - Swim/Swaim/Swain’s in the 1790 Census, North Carolina
First let’s look at the group of Swim’s in the 1790 census since they would appear to represent an earlier evolution of the surname (not necessarily always the case but a reasonable starting place for analysis).
John Swim is listed in Surry County with 2 males 16 and older (one is himself) and 2 females. A small family listed in the 1790-1840 censuses is usually indicative of either a very young or fairly old family. There is a land record of John Swim buying 250 acres on Deep Creek on May 18, 1789 in Surry County. So this John Swim, with the small family, would most likely be John Swim (1719), the brother of Michael (1715) and son of William (b ~ 1677). This is the conclusion of the Swaim-Tysen Family book and I understand the logic.
The other Swims listed in Surry County with the larger families would probably be sons of John: Michael and Moses. The two Swims listed in nearby Stokes County would probably be his other sons: John and William.
There is a John Swim shown located in Randolph County, North Carolina listed with 3 males 16 and older (one is himself), 4 males under 16 and 4 females. He is not located adjacent to anyone and has a large family. Since there are so many John’s in this family, it is difficult to know for sure which one he is. It would appear possible that this is John Swaim (1748), brother to William (b ~ 1745/6) and Michael (b ~ 1752) who was later buried in 1827 in Timber Ridge Cemetery in Randolph County, North Carolina.
Also notice that John Swaim (b 1748) and John Swaim (b 1719) both were recorded in this census with their surname spelled “Swim”. Of course this could be a misspelling by the census taker but it would be unusual to make the same mistake four times. Plus we know there are land records of John Swaim (b ~1719) using the surname spelling “Swim”. This is circumstantial evidence that these four families are in a different family branch than the Swaim’s in Guilford County. It is also circumstantial evidence for John Swaim (b ~1719) being the father of John Swaim (b 1748) although I must say it is weak and uncertain evidence.
In looking at the Swaim families in Guilford County we see a Marthey Swaim who has long been believed to be Michael Swaim’s (1715) widowed wife who would have been about 75 years old. Located in the vicinity of Marthey and located right next door to one another is a Michal Swaim (probably misspelled and should be Michael) and a William Swaim. These are large families with 10-11 members each. The fact they are located next to one another, have identical surnames and have similar sized families is a possible indicator that they were brothers (although they could have been cousins). The Michael Swaim listed is certainly not Michael Swaim (1715) as his children would have been grown and left by then. It is less likely that a 75 year old man would have four boys under 16 and 4 daughters living at home.
These two families appear to be sons of Michael Swaim (1715) located in the vicinity of widow, Marthey Swaim (although that is not certain). Michael’s son William Swaim (1745) had 5 sons and 5 daughters that have been identified. Three of the five sons were born before 1790. The 1790 census for this William listed 5 males. So we’re off by one male which could be explained by a number of factors such as an elderly father living with them or another son that we don’t know about.
Michael Swaim (1715) had a son Michael Swaim (1752) who had six sons and an unknown number of daughters. Four of the five sons were born before 1790 which matches the 1790 census. So, while I am not certain, it would appear reasonable that this cluster of families were brothers and were sons of Michael (1715): William (~ 1745/6) and Michael (1752).
There is also another William Swaim listed in the 1790 census for Guilford County that is listed further away from this Michael/William/Marthey cluster. This William only has one son at home in 1790. I am not sure exactly where he fits in. In addition, there is a Joseph Swain (spelling in the census looks like it ends with an ‘n’). I listed him in the table for completeness since he does live in the vicinity of the others in Guilford County. I have no information on him and whether he is even related to our family or not.
By 1790, John’s oldest male child, William, would have moved out since he first married in 1789. If we examine the birth dates of the male children we find that by 1790 there would be two sons over 16 and not married yet – Christopher Columbus Swaim and Joshua Swaim. These two sons married in 1794 and 1795, respectively. In 1790 John Swaim (1748) would have had four sons under 16 – John, Jr. (13), Ashley (8), Marmaduke (6) and Moses (1). John Swaim (1748) had three daughters and the oldest, Massa, did not marry until December 1, 1790.
So this review of the 1790 census makes it certainly possible and perhaps likely that this “John Swim” in Randolph County is John Swaim (1748).
It is interesting that this John’s surname is Swim, not Swaim. This would seem to provide some evidence that his father was John Swim (b ~ 1719) and not Michael (b ~ 1715). It does seem odd that in the same snapshot in time (1790 census) that two brothers would use the name Swaim and one would use the name Swim. However, I have also been told that the Dutch pronounced Swaim in such a manner that it may have been misunderstood by the census taker as “swim”. So we have to be careful in drawing too many conclusions from these censuses.
- 3.1. Michael Anthony Swaim (b ~ 1711 or 1715)
One possibility is that the family information stating that this Michael Swaim was born in 1711 was in error and this same Michael was actually born in 1715. In this sub-chapter I will include what is known about Michael Swaim recognizing that this lack of certainty regarding which Michael Swaim we are describing adds confusion. Unfortunately that is the nature of genealogy. Rather than mask such confusion in order to produce a nice tidy book I would prefer to be honest about what is known and what is not.
Michael Swem (Swaim) was included in the List of Taxables for Rowan County, North Carolina in 1761 taken by Thomas Stilwell. This list also included John Vickrey, Marmaduke Vickrey, William Robins, Richard Robins, Elizabeth Lamb, Christopher Nation and others.
Michael Swaim married Martha Worthington in 1747 based on family information passed down through descendants of Rebecca (Swaim) Jones. This is confirmed by the birth of their first son Abraham in 1747. They were married in the Frederick City, Virginia area.
Michael migrated to North Carolina sometime before 1761 since he is listed as Michael Swem on the 1761 List of Taxables tax list for Rowan County, North Carolina taken by Thomas Stillwell. The particular area of Rowan County where they settled is currently in Yadkin County. Rowan County in this time period was a large county that eventually became subdivide into the present day counties of Wilkes, Yadkin, Stokes, Surry, Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, etc.
Michael’s brother John also migrated to North Carolina.
“Michael’s brother John remained in the original area that became Yadkin, Stokes and Surry Counties, whereas Michael moved further eastward and settled in the general area of what is today Guilford County, North Carolina.”
Michael Swaim was a Baptist preacher. There is also information that Michael’s wife Martha was somewhat of a preacher as well. The following provides some information about Michael (described here as “Father Swaim”) and Martha. It is an excerpt from a four page letter from Benjamin Sherwood from February 9, 1856. Benjamin Sherwood was the husband of Sarah Swaim, daughter of Michael Swaim (b ~1755), granddaughter of Michael Swaim (b ~1715). The original letter is in the Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Benjamin Sherwood Hedrick file:
"Beloved Grandchildren" Marion Co., Iowa, page 4---1, February 9, 1856. Your grandmother Sherwood maiden name was Sally Swaim, her mothers’ maiden name was Sally Rigdon or Riggdon. Your grandfather’s father name was Michael Swaim and his father I think was the same, though I have no record thereof, his mother name was Martha Worthington. Father Swaim died when I was a small boy- I recollect seeing him once. Mother Swaim married Samuel Trogdon a few months before I married. She and her husband are both dead. Grandmother Martha Swaim died some years after I had a family. She was a good woman and I think probably, the best female preacher that I ever heard her husband died before I was born. All the Swaim that I have mentioned were Baptists, except mother-in-law, she was a Presbyterian. We are in only moderately good health. P.S. February 10th the cold is intense. Respectfully B. Sherwood Mary Sherwood”
There is family information passed down to descendants of Rebecca Swaim, daughter of Michael and Martha Swaim. This information was passed from Rebecca to her granddaughter Elizabeth and from Elizabeth to her granddaughter Sarah Florence Swaim. This information includes Rebecca’s family Bible information. This information was provided to me by Linda Livingstone in 2005 who obtained it from Barbara Trujillo. In my opinion, family information passed down is some of the most powerful and important genealogical information there is. I was extremely grateful to get this information which sheds light on Michael Anthony Swaim and his family. I will include this information in its entirety:
“This History is written by Sarah Florence Swaim the ggg granddaughter of Michael Swaim as related to her by her grandma Elizabeth who got the story and had the Bible records of her (Elizabeth’s) grandma Rebecca (Swaim) Jones who was the daughter of Michael and Martha (Worthington) Swaim. It was given to Madelaine (Swaim) Rollins to give to Barbara (Swaim) Trujillo before Flo left IN for CA to live with her daughter in 1963. It is exactly as written then, and only copied because it is (too) old and faded to be reproduced in its original form.”
Related by Sarah Florence Swaim:
“My ggg grandfather was named Michael Anthony Swaim. He was b. in 1711 in New Utrecht, NY. His parents were Anthony Swaim (who was Dutch and spoke it at home) and his Ma was Maria Dregau (a Hugenot Lady from settlement near by and she spoke French). My grandpa spoke both but not the best English. He use to tell the children Bible stories with half Dutch names and we always celebrated a small Christmas which was Dutch Custom on Jan 7th, it was also German custom ggg grandpa’s mother had been German descent but from Holland. Ggg grandpa had three brothers William, John and Matthias and twin sisters named Maria and Elizabeth. He was not fond of farming even at a early age so at 15 years old he went to work with a trading post. But the next year went to work with his uncle who did Survey work. It was a trade that ggg grandpa did in VA and NC both, he also like to build and my ggg grandma Martha and gggg aunt Charity had the best fireplaces in St. Luke’s Parish.
Related directly from Rebecca (Swaim) Jones …
“My Pa had two families his first was before he left NY. He married his cousin on his Ma’s side Elizabeth Cortelou at 18 years old. They had their first baby Elizabeth b. in 1730, their 2nd Anthony b. in 1732 and John who was b. in 1734 in the severe winter of 1737 his wife and son John died of Chills and Fever.
When his brothers William and John decided to go to VA to pioneer the Shennadoah Valley with others, he decided to go along. He left his children with their Ma’s family and declared to send for them when he had a home for them. The brothers Swaim got to VA in the 1740’s. They picked some land and was looking forward when William just said, “I ain’t working like this for no land”. He took off and married a Cherokee squaw. John left some later and went with a group of men on a Pioneering spree into the Wilderness Lands. My Pa was working with a company doing some Survey work when John returned in a couple years had a baby girl with the blackest eyes my Pa said, he ever saw. They was a nice family named Robins lived near by and they had no children and they took John’s daughter by an Indian woman and raised her. They called her Hannah she later married a Robins boy. Pa never spoke of Uncle William till many years later.
Pa met my Ma Martha Worthington in Orange Co. and they was married in 1747 and my brother William soon came along. Uncle John had met and married Aunt Charity some time earlier. They had a couple of kids already when in about 1750 Pa said he and John decided to go to Fredrick Co. and John would apply for a Fairfax Grant. You could get land for just the clearing and building a log house on it. John did the clearing and Michael did the building. They’d decided on Fredrick Co and the area they took up cause it was next to Charity’s Pa’s land William Teague. With the help of the Teagues John was able to get his land survey did in 1750. My Pa did the chain carry work for him. Charity’s brother had gone to NC when the word was out that land was more plentiful over there. My Pa took off with the family in 1750 and William Teague aunt Charity’s brother and went to Anson Co. NC. My Pa got work with the Survey Co. and did most all the Chain Carrier work on the Grandville Grants. William Teague got his first Grandville Grant in 1753 on the old Cattaba River. Pa and all us lived in St. Luke’s Parish. Even Pa's girl Elizabeth who had come from NY after Pa and ma married to VA. She was a pretty girl and she married right off to Christopher Nation. They was married in 1747 afore Christmas and named their first baby Abraham after my brother that died. Pa’s son Anthony came also when Elizabeth did from NY, he lived with us but he never got on with Pa too good and was sure good to us younguns. I had a yen to read and write. Pa thought it was a waste for a girl but Anthony taught me at night when the chores was done. Pa got mad and Anthony told him he’s leave if he interfered again with my learning. Anthony was real educated and he could even do numbers and helped Uncle William with his new business dues. Pa and Anthony quarreled about Pa’s not getting land. Pa hated farming and he didn’t want any land. He felt if ma had enough room for a garden, some chickens, a cow was all he wanted, and most all places you’d get in them days had a bit of land around it. Uncle John’s family had come to NC a year or so after we did, we’d get together, have fiddle music. Both John and Pa made a fiddle jump.”
The children of Michael and Martha (Worthington) Swaim as listed in Rebecca (Swaim) Jones Bible. It got wet in moving from NC to IN and some damaged some but readable.
Abraham b. 1747 He died same year with Coup.
William b. 1748 m. Charity Vickery
Rebecca b. 1751 m. Joseph Jones
Martha b. 1753 m. Coltrane (I wasn’t sure it was so faded)
Michael b. 1755 m. Sarah Rigdon
Silas b. 1757 m. Celia Jones
Jacob b. 1760 m. Mary Hinshaw
Rachel b. 1763 m. Josh Sanders or maybe Sauders
Jesse b. 1766 m. Rachel Watts
Infant b. 1770 Died
Written by Sarah Florence Swaim but based on Rebecca (Swaim) Jones:
“My gg grandma Rebecca told her children almost every night about NC and the beautiful land that was her home. She’d always say listen closely and promise to tell your children they trust not forget their beginnings. They always had plenty but was not rich except in Love and God’s gifts. My Ma was a strong Christian woman and her children to be Christians and to work hard. Ma was a Preacher and a good one even younguns like to hear her. Then gg grandma told of the tragedy in their life. My ggg grandpa who had worked most his life as a chain carrier was not home all the time. He was coming home for Sunday Meeting being late took the short cut, his horse stepped in a hole and fell on him. Pa’s legs was hurt bad and he almost died of Chills before Anthony found him. When he healed he had a limp and couldn’t work, Pa never got over it was hard to get on with after that
My gg grandma recalled clearly what happened next it changed their way of life, it was not the same. The closeness in family was gone. Most hardest was moving and Anthony left. Pa had Anthony take him to see some kinfolk. Pa came back in a few days told Ma that uncle John and aunt Charity was coming next Sunday for dinner. I recall ma was upset as to what she’d feed them. Pa said don’t fret woman all is done. Uncle John and Charity came with their boy Will and we was surprised to see uncle Will Teague too. Aunt Charity had brought a pot of her beans with deer meat fresh baked bread and her good vinegar pies. We found out uncle John didn’t want to claim the land Pa was living on cause he was moving from his place to another soon. The land weren’t ours but Pa was a builder and we had a lot of buildings so he sold them to Will Bows our neighbor and he’d applied for the land. Got the Grant and told Pa then he gave Pa a lot of money for the buildings. Pa told us uncle John had a place with a log house and a few acres he’d give him and we was moving there. Everyone ate and Pa then told us he’d gave most of the money to Will Teague for a pardnership in his Blacksmith shop which they was enlarging and going to start a hauling all sort of things for people. They was going to enlarge the Blacksmith Shop and make some stalls for horses to stay. They’d buy some saddle horses, a new team with several wagons to do hauling for folks about. It would give us a income all the time and a tolerable way of life, that Anthony was growed and could raise our food and William was near about a man too. Pa said, he could work some but we knowed he couldn’t. He’d keep some money for everyone new boots and shoes and Ma a new bonnet for church.
The first year was hard we hated it there but worst Anthony just came in one day and said, “I am leaving”. Pa got mad and told him to never come back. We never heard from him except ma’s brother came from VA and said, he come by his place on his way to NY. William was grown and thinking about marrying. He had to put it off and take care of us till the younger ones got older. Me, Martha and Silas were good size and I was about ready to marry to. Michael did a lot for his size. William never tolerated Pa’s outbursts like the rest and put him in the bedroom to rest or on the porch. The gout had hit Pa bad by now. Seemed years passed and we all got by.
William married Charity and we loved her. I married Joseph. The kids growed up and two more got married and the old place became part of Guilford Co. Uncle John now had a place in Surrey Co. It was real nice too.
Joseph and I with family went to IN. later came Martha (husband had died) and so she came to IN with Rachel and Josh and their families. It was wonderful to have family near again and to hear about the others. William had got a good deal of land on Pole Cat Creek and he sold off a bit to Michael to get him started. Both are doing good. Pa and Ma take turns living with William and Michael. Celia finally had a boy Martha said they named Silas William. It was some years later when one of uncle John’s sons came to IN and filled us in on all the news. Silas and Celia’s boy Silas married his cousin Catherine but she died and he remarried and moved to AL some place near uncle John’s children. Never heard about Jesse and family but Jacob and Mary came to IN where she had family and went to Wayne Co. a good piece from us but we seen them twice. I am glad cause now I feel my days are short and I guess even the grandkids are tired of my telling about the family in NC. I pray they never forget where they began. I hope I did my ggg grandpa Michael and his family justice. My Mom was always upset cause when we went to do research everything was wrote about John but nothing about her gg grandpa Michael. I hope she is looking down from her place in heaven and is happy, “I did my best”.
This family account includes a lot of information. Some major points are as follows:
- 1. This Michael’s father’s name was Anthony Swaim and his mother was Maria Drageau. Michael’s middle name was ‘Anthony”.
- 2. This states that this Michael was born in 1711 in New Utrecht, NY. However this was written by Sarah about her ggg grandfather. I have to wonder how she knew his year of birth and how accurate this 1711 birth date really is. Rebecca did not write it down in her information. It is possible she got his date of birth (not his name and the other information) from some other source.
- 3. Michael’s wife was Martha Worthington. Martha was a good preacher.
- 4. Michael had three brothers, William, John and Matthias, and twin sisters named Maria and Elizabeth.
- 5. Michael’s brother John Swaim married Charity Teague, daughter of William Teague.
- 6. Michael and his first wife Elizabeth Cortelou had a son named John, born 1734, but Elizabeth and the baby both died of “Chills and fever” in the sever winter of 1737.
- 7. There is no record listed here of a son named John by Michael and Martha Swaim.
- 8. There is no specific mention or reference to John Swaim (1748). In fact John Swaim (1748) could not have been a child of this Michael Anthony Swaim because the family information states that Michael had sons Anthony and William born in 1747 and 1748, respectively.
- 9. Michael was severely injured by a fall with a horse that fell on him. Michael recovered but walked with a limp and could no longer work.
- 10. Michael and brother John played the fiddle and “made a fiddle jump”.
The birth date listed for Michael in this account is 1711. I’m not aware of baptismal records for a Michael Swaim (or similar surname) in this year (but there could be and I just haven’t located it). I reviewed Staten Island - RDC of Port Richmond Baptisms - 1696-1790 which includes a Sweem baptism.
1708 Apr 20; Johannes Sweem; Annetie; Barent Sweem, Mary Belveel
Perhaps the baptism of this Michael Swaim (1711) was recorded elsewhere. We know that there is the Michael Swaim mentioned in the Swaim-Tysen Family book who was baptized in 1715 and was a son of Willem Swame:
1715 Oct 18; Willem Swame; Magyel; Hendreck Willemsen, Maritje Wyllemit
The Swaim-Tysen Family book and others claim this Michael Swaim (1715) married Martha Worthington.
There are two obvious possibilities:
- 1. The Michael Swaim, born 1715, is the same Michael Anthony Swaim described in the Rebecca Swaim Jones family information, however, the 1711 birth listed for Michael was incorrect due to faulty memory and should have been listed as 1715.
- 2. The Michael Swaim, born 1715, is a different Michael Swaim from Michael Anthony Swaim described in the Rebecca Swaim Jones account.
The possibility that the year of birth, 1711, could be in error is not that farfetched since, after all, there have been listings of John Swaim, born 1748, as incorrectly being born in 1745. However, a key piece of information that makes a strong case for there being two different Michael Swaim’s is the name of the father. The father of Michael Swaim, born 1715, was Willem Swame because we have the baptism record. The father of Michael Swaim as described by Sarah Florence for Michael Swaim, born 1711, was Anthony Swaim not William. Anthony’s wife Maria Drageau was also listed. Rebecca Swaim Jones directly mentions that Michael Swaim first married his cousin Elizabeth Cortelou.
So, in conclusion, I lean towards believing these are two different Michael Swaim’s. I believe the family information in the Rebecca Swaim Jones account to be sufficiently detailed and quite credible. This account confirms (at least to me) that this Michael Swaim, born 1711, was not the father of John Swaim (1748). However this account does not rule out the possibility that Michael Swaim, born 1715, could have been his father. Unfortunately this matter requires further study and hopefully new material will surface. There is not a lot of consensus on the internet regarding this Michael Swaim.
Michael Swaim (1711) died sometime before 1782 since his widow Martha is listed as a widow in the 1782 North Carolina Census (Guilford County).
Michael Anthony Swaim (b 1715) married Martha Worthington (b ~ 1727, d ~1798-1806). Martha has also been referred to as Marthey and is listed that way in the 1790 census. Martha was the daughter of Samuel Worthington and Sarah Simcock. Some believe Martha died near Center Friends Community, Guilford County, North Carolina, which is 18 miles south of Greensboro, North Carolina.. Michael Swaim married Martha when he was about 30. Martha may have been his second wife.
Michael and Martha Swaim had the following children:
- 1. Abraham Swaim (b 1747, d 1747). “He died same year with Coop”.
- 2. William Swaim (b 1748, d ~1811) married ~ 1770 to Charity Vickrey (b 1752, d 16 Aug 1837) who was a sister of Elizabeth Vickery. Charity Vickrey was the daughter of Marmaduke Vickrey and Elizabeth Nation. William Swaim was born in Frederick County, Virginia. William was a farmer and spent almost all of his life in Guilford County. William died around 1811 and was buried in Guilford County, NC. Charity died in Guilford County, North Carolina.
William and Charity Swaim had the following children:
- a. Marmaduke Swaim (b 2 Apr 1771, d 31 Aug 1828) was married August 25, 1798 to Sarah Fannon (b 18 Nov 1776).
- b. Naomi Swaim married February 5, 1800 (marriage bond date) to John Morgan.
- c. Michael Swaim (b ?, d 6 Jan 1830) married ~ 1804 to Christiana Stone
- d. William Jeremiah Swaim (b 1792, d Nov 1851) married Mary “Polly” Ann Weatherly (b ~1797). In 1850 William and Mary were living in Surrey County, North Carolina.
- e. Martha “Patsy” Swaim married May 18, 1814 (bond) to Richard Fentress.
- f. Charity Swaim married John Green.
- g. Moses Swaim (b ~1791, d ?) married ~1817 to Elizabeth Armfield.
- h. John Swaim (b 1792?, d 1874), never married.
- i. Massa Swaim (b 1794, d ~1891) married November 21, 1824 (bond) to James Polk.
- j. Elizabeth Swaim (b ?, d Oct 1829), never married.
- 3. Rebecca Swaim (b 1751, d ~ 1831). Rebecca was born Frederick County, Virginia. Rebecca married Joseph Jones. Rebecca died in Boone County, Indiana.
Rebecca Swaim and Joseph Jones had at least one child: - a. Catherine Jones. Catherine married Silas Swaim (her cousin). Catherine and Silas Swaim had at least the following children:
- i. Michael Swaim (b ~1808). Michael married Rebecca (unknown). Michael and Rebecca Swaim had at least the following children:
- 1. Phoebe Swaim
- 2. George Swaim
- 3. Sylas N. Swaim
- 4. Mary J. Swaim
- 5. Deborah Swaim
- 6. Sarah E. Swaim
- 7. Martha E. Swaim
- ii. Jesse Abner Swaim (b ~1819). Jesse marred Mary Jane Fones.
- 4. Martha Swaim (b 1753). Married an (unknown) Coltrane.
- 5. Michael Swaim (b 1755) was married on 24 Jul 1775 to Sarah Ridgon. Michael and Sarah Swaim had the following children:
- a. Levi Swaim (b ~ 1776).
- b. Michael Swaim (b 17 Feb 1781, d 23 Sep 1830). Born in North Carolina. Married Priscilla Sherwood.
- c. John Enoch Swaim (b 3 Apr 1782, d 14 Aug 1865). John “Enoch” Swaim was born in Guilford County, North Carolina and died in Ducktown, Tennessee (Polk County). Enoch married Nancy Laurence (b ~ 1790, d 14 Aug 1855) on 10 Oct 1809.
- d. Silas Swaim (b ~ 1785, d ~ 1849). Born in North Carolina. Married Catherine Jones (1st) and Temperance Wall (2nd). Died in Jackson County, Alabama.
- e. Sarah Swaim (b 29 Sep 1787, d 18 Apr 1845). Sarah (also known as Sally) was married Benjamin Sherwood (b 21 Aug 1783, d 1865) in 1804. Benjamin’s parents were Daniel Sherwood and Mary (or Frances) Lynthicum. Sarah and Nejamin Sherwood had 13 children. .
”Benjamin and Sally settled in Rowan County, N.C., now Davidson County, eight miles west of Lexington, on a farm called Cherry Hill. H e lived there for 28 years, leaving in the spring of 1832. He stayed in Wilkes County for two years and three months, leaving on 14 July 1834 for Indiana. In Oct. 1841, Benjmain Sherwood divorced Sally and on 4 Jan. 1848 he married Mary Shelton, widow of James Shelton. In Jan 1867 Michael Swaim Sherwood writes that he had just heard of the death of Benjamin Sherwood.” - f. William Swaim
- g. Daughters unknown.
- 6. Silas Swaim (b 1757, d ~ 1825). Silas was born in Rowan County, North Carolina. Silas married Celia Jones. Silas died in Randolph County, North Carolina
- 7. Jacob Swaim (b 1760). Jacob married Mary Hinshaw.
- 8. Rachel Swaim (b 1763). Rachel married John Sanders (perhaps Sauders).
- 9. Jesse Swaim (b 1766). Jesse was born in Rowan County, North Carolina. Jesse married Rachel Watts.
- 10. Infant (b 1770, d ~1770). “Died”.
- Moses Swaim (b ~ 1760) is listed as a child of Michael and Marthey Swaim based on Worthington Family web site. This son was left out of the Swaim-Tysen family book. Moses Swaim migrated into Athens Co. Ohio about 1809. This Moses purchased 160 acres of land in 1809 in Swan Township, Athens Co. Ohio which is now in Vinton Co. Ohio. Records of Montgomery Co. Kentucky show him there from 1794 to 1808. He obtained a license to marry Cathy Berry in Carroll Co. Kentucky on September of 1796.
- 3.2. Johannes (John) Swaim (b ~ 1719)
John Swaim, born 1719, was the 3rd known son of William Swaim (b ~ 1677). John was baptized October 18, 1719 in the Dutch Reformed Church, Staten Island, New York and was presumably born near that date. There is a land record that John either purchased or was granted land in Frederick County, Virginia, on April 9, 1750. John’s land there adjoined property owned by William Teague, father of Charity Teague who was married to John around 1744. There is a further land record that John sold this property in August, 1751. At least one researcher believes this John Swaim was born in 1713.
Therefore, it is believed that John migrated to Rowan County, North Carolina in 1752. There is a record of John Swaim and Joshua Teague surveying land in Rowan County in August 1756. There is a land record that John purchased 640 acres at Abbotts Creek, North Carolina (Rowan County) in 1759, sold it in 1765, and then in 1789 purchased 250 acres on Deep Creek in Surry County, North Carolina. John and his two sons Moses and Michael are listed in the 1790 census (Surry County) with their surnames shown as Swim, not Swaim. It is not clear whether the 1790 census taker misspelled the name or whether these family members used that surname as their official surname in 1790.
John Swaim is listed in the 1790 census (Surry County) as “John Swim”. This census for John “Swim” lists 2 males 16 and older and 2 women. John is referred to as “old Swim” in the Records of the Moravian in North Carolina. By the 1800 census for Surry County, North Carolina, John and Charity Swaim are living by themselves with the children having grown up and moved on. John is again listed as “John Swim”. We have a record of John’s Will signed on October 23, 1801 that does not mention his wife, Charity. So this indicates that Charity passed away sometime in 1801 or late 1800. In his will, John left his land on Fox Knobb near waters of Deep Creek to his oldest son, William, who lived in Stokes County, excluding 250 acres he had already given to his son-in-law Thomas Turner (husband of daughter Charity).
John Swaim is referenced by the name “John Swim” in several other records including:
- • 12 Feb 1752 John Swim & Charity his wife of parish and county of Frederick, Virginia to Benjamin Sebastian of county of Fairfax, Virginia; gentleman. £64 for tract of land granted to John Swim by deed dated 1 Jun 1751 containing 325 acres. Witnesses: David Shelley, James Madmorias, Elizabeth Miller, William Gwin, Ruth Keys & Gersham Keys
- • 22 Aug 1752 Charity Swim wife of John Swim released her dower right to land sold on 12 Feb 1752 Witnesses: Gersham Keys & John Hardin
- • Yadkin County Historical Documentation map that shows the locations of the homes for John Swim (1789) and Michael Swim (1789) located near Tumbling Falls Creek. The 1789 designation in parentheses refers to the year in which they settled.
John Swaim reportedly married Charity Teague although there is some debate regarding exactly which John Swaim married Charity. Charity Teague was the daughter of William Teague (b ~ 1693) and Catherine Teague (b ~ 1691) .
Johannes Swaim (b Oct 1719, ~ 1803) and Charity Teague (b Dec 1722) had the following children:
- 1. William Swaim (b ~1745/6, d 1812-1813). Born in Frederick, Virginia. William was married 27 Apr 1765 to Anna Nancy Robbins (b 1745-1747, d ~ 1822). William Swaim died in Stokes County, North Carolina.
- 2. Charity Swaim (b ?) married Thomas Turner (b ~ 1725, d ~1806). Thomas Turner was the son of Roger Turner and Elizabeth Ellis. Charity and Thomas Turner were married in 1768 in Rowan County, North Carolina. Charity and Thomas Turner had at least the following children:
- a. Abraham Turner
- b. Thomas Turner.
- 3. John Swaim (b 26 Apr 1748, d 16 Jan 1827) married Elizabeth Vickrey (sister of Charity Vickrey previously described who married John’s brother William Swaim). [I’m listing John b 1748 as a son of Michael although it is possible his father was not Michael b ~ 1715 but John b ~ 1719. Details on John and Elizabeth Swaim and their children are included in a previous chapter].
- 4. Rachel Bess Swaim (b ~ 1752) was married 15 Feb 1769 to Abraham Enyart (b ~ 1748, d 13 Apr 1809). Abraham Enyart was born in Kentucky and was the son of David Enyart, born in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Children of Rachel and Abraham Enyart:
- a. Charity Enyart (b 25 Apr 1770). Born in Rowan County, North Carolina.
- b. Mary Enyart (b 1772)
- c. Elizabeth Enyart (b 1773). Born in Virginia.
- d. Sarah Enyart (b 1774). Born in Virginia.
- e. David Enyart (b 1776). Born in Virginia.
- f. Mary Catherine Enyart (b 5 Jan 1778). Born in North Carolina.
- g. Silas Enyart (b 1780). Born in Surry County, North Carolina.
- h. Rachel Enyart (b 1782). Born in Virginia.
- i. Isabelle “Ibby” Enyart (b 1787). Born in North Carolina.
- j. Anne Enyart (b 1788). Born in North Carolina.
- 5. Solomon D. Swaim (b ~ 1754, d ~ 1834). Married Esther Annabella Charity Teague (b ~ 1758), first wife, and later married Maude Welch (b ~ 1763). Solomon D. Swaim was a Baptist minister and preached at Swaim’s Baptist Church in Hamptonville, North Carolina (Surry County).
- 6. Elizabeth Swaim (b ?) married Abraham Transeau.
- 7. Moses Swaim (b ~ 1759). Moses married Catharine Hines. Moses and Catharine Swaim had at least one child:
- a. William Aaron Swaim (b ~ 1793).
- 8. Michael Swaim (b ~ 1761, d ~ 1839). Married Sarah Charity Teague (b ~ 1762). There is a land record for Michael Swim (Swaim) as follows:
”1789, May 18, (page 33) North Carolina Grant Michael Swim 100 acres South side Fox Knob adjoining David Martin’s former survey ( now Nathan Hanes) below old meadow improvement and adjoining John Swim (his father John Swaim born 1719)”.
Michael and Catharine Swaim had at least one child: - a. Moses Swaim (b ~ 1791). Born in Rowan County, North Carolina.