Why this website exists...
Every since I found Garret Van Swearingen's arrival in the new world in 1660 I have tried to connect our family with his line. I haven't found a definitive answer yet, but I think I've come close. And along the way I've found relatives I knew nothing about. I found our family in Arkansas in the 1880 census. William, Julia, William, Dona L (determined to be Don A. Lonzo Swearingen. He later called himself Don Alonzo Swearingen) and Eliza Swearingen.
They (the people mentioned above), lived in Marion County at that time. That census gave me the place of birth for the senior William's mother and father. William Sr.'s mother was born in Pennsylvania and his father was born in Virginia. A distant cousin found what might be the link in the 1850 census in Virginia.
There are at least three William's all about the same age born in Virginia and found in the 1850 census with their families. There are two whose mothers were born in Pennsylvania and their fathers in Virginia. To make things easier to follow I will number them. The line for our family will be William1 the son of George D Swearingen and Eliza Swearingen. William 2 will be the second William whose mother was born in Pennsylvania and William3 will be the third William.
William1 is the son of George D. Swearingen. George D. was born in Virginia his father George Dawson was born in Maryland. George Dawson was the son of John whose father was Thomas. Thomas was the son of Garret.
The 1850 Virginia census listed a William1, 5 years of age. His father George Swearingen was born in Virginia and his mother, Eliza was born in Pennsylvania. William1 lists his father's birthplace as Virginia and his mother's birthplace as Pennsylvania in the census. The mother of this William1 is Eliza. According to records quoted by Karel Whyte Eliza's last name was Gardner. William2's sister was named Eliza. William3 is with his family in the Marion Co., Virginia census of 1850. William3 (William R.) is listed as 6 years old. William Riley was born 16 August 1844 he married Sarah C. Sevell, 21 Sep 1869. William Riley Swearingen is the son of W. Thornton Van Swearingen and Julia Ann Fleming. His father was born in Virginia and his mother was born in Pennsylvania. He is living with his wife, Sarah C. Sevell and family in Marion County, Virginia for the 1880 census. William Riley son of Thornton was the son of William son of Samuel son of Charles son of Van son of Thomas son of Garret.
William #4 (William W) is listed in Hancock County, Virginia. William Warrington Swearingen was born 16 May 1845 in Virginia. In 1850 he is 5 years old. He is the son of George Swearingen and Mary Evans. William Warrington fought in the Civil War and died 23 April 1864 of typhoid fever in Cumberland, Maryland. I have never found a marriage for William W but it is possible that he was married and fathered children before his death. But I do not think he is the father of William Harvey. Further investigation may provide a widow's pension for William W.
William 1 lists his birth month and year as April 1846 in the 1900 census. It is possible the William I found with the George D. Swearingen family in 1850 Virginia census was not this William. Why this William you ask? My only clues in making this connection are the birthplace of the father and the mother. Having found William Harvey with his siblings and parents in the 1880 census I found that his father was born in Virginia and his father's father was born in Virginia and his father's mother was born in Pennsylvania.
In general the Swearingen families seem to have been very meticulous record keepers. There is information on them in numerous books and records. They left wills and can be found in early marriage documents. Our side of the family however, was not as meticulous. Our Swearingen ancestors left the more civilized areas of Maryland and Virginia and headed west. It seems more courthouses burned down in Arkansas than the rest the country combined. The loss of those old buildings and the documents they contained hinders the search.
I'm still searching for the truth but I doubt I'll ever find it. For now I am content with the connection I found. I have no doubt the family goes back to Garret Van Swearingen but we never actually find the link. William 1 is a good start. I've never found a death record for him but he could have died during the Civil War.
I am still searching.
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William 1 lists his birth month and year as April 1846 in the 1900 census. It is possible the William I found with the George D. Swearingen family in 1850 Virginia census was not this William. Why this William you ask? My only clues in making this connection are the birthplace of the father and the mother. Having found William Harvey with his siblings and parents in the 1880 census I found that his father was born in Virginia and his father's father was born in Virginia and his father's mother was born in Pennsylvania.
In general the Swearingen families seem to have been very meticulous record keepers. There is information on them in numerous books and records. They left wills and can be found in early marriage documents. Our side of the family however, was not as meticulous. Our Swearingen ancestors left the more civilized areas of Maryland and Virginia and headed west. It seems more courthouses burned down in Arkansas than the rest the country combined. The loss of those old buildings and the documents they contained hinders the search.
I'm still searching for the truth but I doubt I'll ever find it. For now I am content with the connection I found. I have no doubt the family goes back to Garret Van Swearingen but we never actually find the link. William 1 is a good start. I've never found a death record for him but he could have died during the Civil War.
I am still searching.