William Swain (abt. 1790 - abt. 1860)

Born about 1790 in Sussex, Delaware, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Polly (Phillips) Swain — married 1824 in Sussex, Delaware, United States

Descendants

Died about 1860 at about age 70 in Sussex, Delaware, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: AM Hayes [send private message]

Biography

“William Swain was a native of Sussex county, and a farmer, owning and cultivating a tract of land near Georgetown. He was a Democrat. His children are: I. John B. of Georgetown, Sussex county; II. Hudson D.; III Gillie K., of Harrington; IV. Lavinia; V. Anderson; VI. Spencer. Mr. Swain and his wife died on their farm and were interred on the family burial place on the farm. They were members of the M.E. church.”^[1]

Father William Starlen Swain's 1811 will leaves his tools to William, as well as a seventh of his property.

"But after her decease or marriage my will is that what I have given or lent her shall be equally divided among seven “of my” {inserted} Children hereafter mentioned. Joseph Swain, John Swain, Mary Swain, Rebecca Swain, William Swain, Ann Swain and Kendle Swain, my son William Swain my have what tools I have of all kinds "

In June, 1812, the elder Swain siblings settled property on Kendall and his brother William:

"Witnesseth that the said Robert Swain and Hannah his wife, Joseph Swain and Nancy his wife, John Swain and Polly his wife, Mary Swain, Job Smith and Rebecca his wife and Anna Swain, for and in consideration of the sum of Six dollars good and Lawful money of America, to them in hands paid by the said William Swain and Kendal Swain, and more Especially for and in Consideration of certain reasons and understanding between the Parties and the said William Swain and Kendall Swain are hereby (?)Exonerated and forever discharged, Have given, granted, bargained, Sold, Released and Quit claimed and by these Presents Do grant bargain sell, release and forever quit claim, unto the said William Swain and Kendall Swain, as Tenants in common and not as Joint Tenants, all the right Title and Claim they now share or hereafter may have by Virtue of the last will and Testament of William Swain Senr. decd or which may descend to them or any of them after the death of their mother Rebecca Swain,

To have and to hold all the said Real Property so divided or lent, as aforesaid (after the decease or Marriage of the said Rebecca Swain) consisting of a Plantation, Houses, orchard, woods and so forth...."

Administration of the estate of Rebecca Swain, 1842-1843

I Peter Park, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for Sussex County, John Swain Administrator of Rebecca Swain, Late of the County afsaid deceased, Represents that the said Rebecca Swain, who died intestate, left to survive her as heirs at law the following children. To wit: John Swain, Mary Spicer, wife of Wm Spicer, now deceased, Rebecca Smith, wife of Job Smith who is also dec’d, William Swain, Ann McColley, Kendell Swain and the heirs of Joseph Swain, dec’d and whereas the said administrator having fully administered the Estate of the Estate of the said Dec’d according to the very right of the matter and the law of the Land, ahd whereas there is an unapportioned balance remaining in his hands of $42.44 ½, he therefore presents the following distributive account of said balance to and among the heirs of said dec’d for Examination and Adjustments. [image 366]

William Swain's will, signed 1858

Will of William Swain transcription:

Images 453 and 454 of FamilySearch film # 104376072

In the Name of God Amen[,] I William Swain being feeble in body and nowing {sic} the mortality of the body to make this my Last will and Testament after commuting my Sole {sic} into the hands of God that Gave it and my body to the earth from which it came to be buried in a Christian like manner. I Dispose of my Property in the following manner that is to say

first: I will and bequeath to my son John B. Swain one bed and furniture.

Item the 2nd. I will and bequeath to my two sons Spencer P. Swain and Anderson T. Swain all my corn and foder, all my meat and casks, all my lard {?}, one chest and books[,] all my polter {poultry?} all my hogs wheat and Risy {?}, two carts timber chain and ox chain cutting axes hose two sets of chains.

Item the 3rd. I will and bequeath to my son Spencer P. Swain all my land to him and his heirs & or assigns by his paying my bering [burying] expenses and all my just debts one black horse one cow and heifer one bed and furniture[,] all my pot metal {can’t read – colander?}

Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my son Anderson T. Swain one young horse, walnut dining table, one bed and furniture in the room that I sleep[,] two chests in kitchen[,] one old clock.

Item 5th. I give and bequeath to my son Gilley K. Swain one bed and furniture.

Item the 6th. I will and bequeath to my daughter Levinah a. Swain one bed and furniture one heifer {?illegible Gerlin?} one loom and tacklin Says and Geese one borough (burro) one flax hackie

Item 7th. I will and bequeath to my granddaughter Levena E. Swain daughter of John B. Swain one spinning wheel, also I give to my granddaughter Mary P. Swain daughter of Hudson Swain one bed and furniture to have when she arrives at the age of eighteen.

I give to my two sons John B. Swain and Gilley K{?} Swain one cutting box up in barn loft with all that’s up there. Except barrels. And my desire is that the residue of my property to be equally divided between my to {two} sons Spencer P. Swain and Anderson T. Swain.

In testimony whereof I have sub—my name and affixed my seal in the presence of the witnesses this the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred fifty eight. William Swain

Witnesses: Asbury M. Day, John Day

Sources

1. ↑ Runk, Vol I, page 424/image 790

• Will of William Swain the Aged, signed 1811, proved 1812, in Delaware, Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971: Sussex, Wills, books E-F, 1794-1813. Images 438 and 439 of 462. Database and images published by Ancestry.com Image Original source: Sussex County (Delaware). Register of wills

• Abstract of will of William Swain "the aged," 17 Feb 1811, in Delaware, Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971: Abstracts of Wills, Sussex County, Delaware, 1700s-1800s; Probate Place: Sussex, Delaware. Item Description: Will Abstracts and Burton Family Tombstone Inscriptions, Vol 3 Database and images published by Ancestry.com Image

• Delaware, Land Records, 1677-1947. 18 June 1812 to Wm & Kendal Swain. Database and images published by Ancestry.com [1]. Original source: Delaware Public Archives; Delaware Land Records; Roll Number: 13. Transcription from A. Hayes

• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch [2] : accessed 5 May 2018), Joseph Swain, Nanticoke, Sussex, Delaware, United States; citing p. 222, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 4; FHL microfilm 205,610.

Note: The census image shows William Swain directly below Joseph Swain. However, he was not indexed by familysearch.org.

• Estate of Rebeckah Swain, 1842-43, in Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Swain, Aby - Sykes (Sikes), James, RG4545.009, roll 237, 1680-1925; Images 357 - 367 , FamilySearch

Administrator: John Swain

first filing 5 May 1842; final accounting 8 August 1843

• United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch ([3] : 12 April 2016), William Swain, Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex, Delaware, United States; citing family 1508, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex, Delaware

William Swain Male 70 (note: misindexed by FamilySearch, see image for "70")

Levenia Swain Female 20

William Swain Male 20

Spencer Swain Male 16

Gilley Swain Male 14

Anderson Swain Male 10

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch ([4] : 13 December 2017), household of Wm Swain, 1860.

Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex, Delaware, United States

Wm Swain Male 79 Delaware

Lavinia A Swain Female 30 Delaware

Spencer Swain Male 26 Delaware

Anderson Swain Male 21 Delaware

Geo Swain Male 6 Delaware

Sarah E Swain Female 4 Delaware

Elisabeth Swain Female 19 Delaware

• Will and probate papers of William Swain, 1858-1861 in [Delaware, Sussex County, Probate Records. FamilySearch.org, images 452 and following

• Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, by Runk, J.M. & Co. Volume I, pp 790. Digital copy available at Archive.org [5]. Digitizing sponsor and holder of physical copy: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, Fort Wayne Indiana

William Swain of Sussex County -- William’s children were John B., Hudson D., Gillie K., Lavinia, Anderson, Spencer

• "Delaware Death Records, 1855-1961," database with images, FamilySearch [(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FNRT-1XW] : 10 March 2018), William Swain and Polly Phillips, parents, in entry for Spencer P. Swain, 12 Feb 1926; citing Georgetown, Sussex, Delaware, United States, Hall of Records, Dover; FamilySearch digital folder 004252969.