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As of January 2004, I have not been able to verify which Jake/Jacob Swallows is my ancestor. Possibilities listed below.
Direct Descendants of Jake Swallows 1
Jake Swallows b. probably Overton County, TN
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The Swallows Family Story
As the years went by, I found I wasn't satisfied with filling in just those blank pages in my Bible. I wanted not only the genealogy charts to be filled, I also wanted, photos, census records, stories of travel, places of origin and marriage certificates. I never seemed to be satisfied. Now I know why. My feelings are that in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again. To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. In finding my ancestors, I somehow found myself. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? How many times have I told the ancestors "You have a wonderful family you would be proud of us?" How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts.
It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing
a cemetery seemingly lost forever to weeds and indifference. The
bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to
pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish and how they contributed
to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses,
their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build
a life for their
family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us; that we might be born who we are; that we might remember them. Therefore, we do.
So, as a called scribe, I tell the story of my family.
On that Sunday afternoon back in 1968 when I sat in my grandparent's living room I was told many interesting stories. I have not been able to document them all. Some, at this point, are not backed up with facts. In truth, some facts disprove the story. However, we wonder how the stories got handed down from one generation to another. They were told to me in honesty.
One such story is about my great grandfather Joe Swallows. I was told that he and 4 Swallows brothers came over from Ireland, landed in New York, shook hands and went their separate ways. In my over 30 years of genealogy experience, I have heard the same story countless times for other families with different surnames. This seems to be the number one most popular genealogy myth. I say myth because 9 times out of 10 the story has been disproved. Such is the case with our Swallows.
Josiah (Joe) Swallows
born December 22,
1848
Here is what I have found. Our earliest
Swallows that I am certain is Josiah/Joe Swallows. He is also known
as Joe. I have found him on various census records across Tennessee
and Kentucky. Since I have found his grave, I know he died and thus he
must have lived. On Josiah's death certificate, his father is listed
as Jake Swallows, his mother as Rosy Harris. The same parents are
listed on Joe'brother, Alvin Pinson Swallows, death certificate.
Rosy Harris and Jake Swallows
Rosy Harris born September 1828 and Jake
Swallows have proved elusive. Rosy's age depends on which record
you look. The 1850 census has her born in 1830. The 1860 census
shows her born in 1831. The 1870 census shows 1833.
Rosy led me a merry chase through the Tennessee Census records. The earliest mention of Rosy is as 20 year old Rosanah Harrison in the 1850 Tennessee Census records. She is living in Overton County in the house with a 52-year old woman also named Rosanah Harrison. This I believe to be her mother. Also included in the home are:
Jesse Harrison age 14 who may be Rosanah's brother (I will stop here to say that this same Jesse Harris/Harrison is later sued for child support of an illegitimate child by Rachel Swallows, known prostitute)
Samuel Harrison age 12. Who also may be a brother of Rosy
Noah Hamilton age 4. Who I find from later census records is Noah Swallows and son of Rosanah
Josiah Hamilton age 1. Who I find from later census records is Josiah/Joe Swallows and son of Rosanah.
My reasoning behind these conclusions
are from later census records of this same family group but with surname
of Harris. On the 1860 Putnam County, TN, Cookeville District 1,
I find:
Rosanna Harris age 29 with sons: Noah Harris, age 14, Josiah Harris age 11, Alvin Harris age 5 (later records show him to me Alvin Pinson Swallows) and daughter, Mary Harris age 1. (Mary I believe to be later known as Matilda Swallows). There is also an Amanda Arnett age 17 living in the home.Who is Amanda? I don't know. Why have the children's name changed from Hamilton to Harris? I don't know. Why has Rosanna name changed from Harrison to Harris? I don't know.
Meanwhile back in Overton County, TN 1860, Rose's mother remained. She is listed as:
Rosanah Harris age 70 along with Jesse Harris age 22 and Samuel Harris age 21.Why has she and her son's name changed to Harris? I don't know. Was it always Harris and the census taker in 1850 wrote it incorrectly? I don't know.
You may ask why does Josiah Swallows start out with the name of Josiah Hamilton and 10 years later show it as Josiah Harris and even later as an adult change it to Josiah Swallows. To tell the truth, I'm not sure.
At this point, I shall revert to theories.
My first theory is that Rosy Harris at the age of 16 becomes the mistress of Jake Swallows age 42 whose wife has just died. Rosy, unmarried, gives all of her children the last name of Hamilton so no one knows who the real father is. Then this Jake dies in 1863 or 1869 (we have conflicting information). Rosy's last child who receives the Swallows surname is born about 1860.) About the same time, Rosy shows up in Putnam County, TN.
My second theory is the same as the first
only with a younger and different man, named
Jacob W. Swallows age 17, who later marries
another. This Jacob also ran a "boarding house/house of ill repute".
He dies in 1900.
The Shady Side of
the Family Tree
BAWDY-HOUSE -
My third theory is Rosy is a "soiled dove".
I have 4 letters that I received from other Swallows researchers.
The following are excerpts from each of the 4 letters:
Mahala Swallows was the illegitimate daughter
of Jemima Swallows (sister to Jake Swallows). Mahala had siblings
but I have been unable to find out their names ( one of the rumors
is that two of her sisters ran a house of ill repute after or during the
Civil War, and someone has told me there are records of this in the Overton
Co.., courthouse). Mahala's daughter Celina had seven children all
with different fathers and was never married, she too appears and disappears
on census lists. Mahala was born abt. 1814 - From: Terry
One of the daughters of Andrew and Catherine Kinder Swallow was Jemima who was born 1800 and she had several illegitimate children. Illegitimacy seems to run in this family as there are several instances of this for the next 100 years (I descend from Swallows through both of my parents and my mother's side has 2 generations of illegitimacy). I have had a hard time piecing this all together but finally succeeded in doing so after camping out in the courthouse until I found the proof I needed. - From: Paula in Overton Co, TN
Jacob W. Swallows and his wife Anna Bilbrey ran a "boarding house" in Overton County, rumored to be the a house of ill repute. Their daughter, Martha Jane Swallows b. 1859, was said to have had a number of illegitimate children, one being my husband's grandfather's first wife. This woman used both the names of her mother, and her father, William Jasper Phillips, at different times. Frances, "Frankie" had several illegitimate children by ____Miller then married John Hall and had several more children. Jacob and Anna raised John Swallows AND Waymon Swallows who were illegitimate children of Frankie. - From: Melody
Jemima Swallows had several illegitimate
children but it was 2 of her nieces, Rachel and Polina (daughters of Jacob)
who were prostitutes. I descend from Jacob through his son Isaac
on my father's side and daughter Rachel on my mother's side. This
has been a hard line to prove but I have found records in our Overton Co
Archives proving they were arrested for prostitution. I even have
a picture of Rachel! Rachel had 3 illegitimate daughters and each
of those 3 daughters had illegitimate children! Thankfully, they
changed their ways long before my time.... life is
interesting and so is research!! - One of
the documents found dated 1857 show Rachel Swallows had taken a JESSE HARRIS
to court for support of an illegitimate child (that would have been her
last daughter, Ardelia).- From: Paula in Overton Co, TN
If you don't understand all of the above or who everyone is, it's OK. Just note that there seems to be a family trait of promiscuity.
The Polina Swallows, prostitute, mentioned in the above letter was living next door to our Rosy Harrison in 1850 census. Is this a coincidence or just one more piece of condemning evidence?
BAWDY-HOUSE
A house of ill-fame, kept for the resort
and unlawful commerce of lewd people of both sexes.
Such a house is a common nuisance, as it endangers the public peace by drawing together dissolute and debauched persons; and tends to corrupt both sexes by an open profession of lewdness.
The keeper of such a house may be indicted
for the nuisance; and a married woman, because such houses are generally
kept by the female sex, may be indicted with her husband for keeping such
a house. One who assists in establishing a bawdy house is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Record of Circuit Court 1865-1867
Thursday June 13th 1867 page 375
The State
vs.
Polina Swallows,
Bawdy house,
The Grand Jury this day returned into court a bill of indictment against the defendant. Endorsed not a true bill. A J Gully Forman of the Grand Jury. It is then for considerance by the court that the defendant go hence and that the County of the Overton pay the cost of this prosecution when properly taxed and certified.
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The State
vs
Sarah Baker
Bawdy house
The Grand Jury this day returned into court a bill of indictment against the defendant. Endorsed not a true bill. A J Gully Forman of the Grand Jury. It is then for considerance by the court that the defendant go hence and that the County of the Overton pay the cost of this prosecution when properly taxed and certified.
-----------------------------------------
The State
vs.
America Low
Bawdy house
The Grand Jury this day returned into court a bill of indictment against the defendant. Endorsed not a true bill. A J Gully Forman of the Grand Jury. It is then for considerance by the court that the defendant go hence and that the County of the Overton pay the cost of this prosecution when properly taxed and certified.
-----------------------------------------
The State
vs.
Jemima MCormick
Winifred West
Elizabeth Wests
Bawdy house
The Grand Jury this day returned into court a bill of indictment against the defendant. Endorsed not a true bill. A J Gully Forman of the Grand Jury. It is then for considerance by the court that the defendant go hence and that the County of the Overton pay the cost of this prosecution when properly taxed and certified.
-----------------------------------------
The State
vs
Rachel Swallows
Bawdy house
The Grand Jury this day returned into court a bill of indictment against the defendant. Endorsed not a true bill. A J Gully Forman of the Grand Jury. It is then for considerance by the court that the defendant go hence and that the County of the Overton pay the cost of this prosecution when properly taxed and certified.
The explanation below is from Paul Carden,
a lawyer.
It appears from the information you have
supplied that this grand jury returned a "not a true bill" which means
the case was dropped, apparently on payment of costs. Therefore,
nothing happened in court. A "No True Bill" means the grand jury
finds there is no probable cause to suspect a crime or to continue with
prosecution.
Below is Mary Lee Carden's explanation, she
is a court clerk.
Someone apparently complained; the grand
jury looked into the matter and decided nothing warranted prosecution.
Had it been a "True Bill" the court would have been responsible for prosecuting
them. It appears that the County had to pay the costs--not
the ladies.
| Since writing the above I received a
copy of a record from the Overton Co Archives dated 16 Oct 1855 on my Swallows
ancestor, Rosana Harrison. She is charged with 'lewdness'.
On the same page from the court record, Jacob Swallows (the father of her
children) is charged with 'tippling'.
Below are the records.
State of Tennessee
The explanation below is from Paul Carden, a judge and former District Attorney . It appears that your ancestors were proprietors of what is still described in police and prosecutor's jargon as a "good time house". When I was a reporter with the Tennessean I was assigned to the police beat and occasionally went on raids of such establishments. The "good time house" afforded the customer (usually of the male gender) all of the goods and services of a questionable nature at one convenient location - -wine, women, song and gambling. Tippling is the serving of liquor, usually by the shot. Lewdness suggests the female defendant was less than fully clothed and although she is not charged with prostitution the charge suggests that may have been the case. It appears from the record that a "plea bargain" was struck and that the man entered a plea of guilty thereby "puts himself on the grace and mercy of the court and the Attorney General" (prosecutor) and was fined 50 cents. (a substantial fine at the time) In exchange, apparently, the charges against the female were dropped (nolee prosequied - -nolle or nol prossed for short) The spelling you show nolliiose is probalby nolli porse. The prosecutor can nol pros a case only with the consent of the court hence the wording "on his motion and with the assent of the court". Adam Dick has signed as a surety or bondsman
to guarantee that the 50 cent fine is paid. If the fine is not paid,
then the State of Tennessee has the right to grab the goods, chattels and
lands of the defendant and his surety to satisfy the fine.
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Rosy's moving by 1860 to Putnam County, TN may support my third theory. After having 4 illegitimate children, she moves wanting a fresh start. Public opinion demanded that once someone had fallen from virtue, she was lost forever. She changes everyone's name to Harris.
Andrew Swallow
Let me stop here and say that there is a
definite connection with the Andrew Swallow family of Overton County, TN.
We are just not sure which Jake Swallows is the father of Rosy's children.
Jacob/Jake Swallows (we will call Jake for identification purposes) son
of Andrew Swallow born February 11, 1786 or Jacob W. Swallow, grandson
of Andrew Swallows born June 06, 1829 son of Isaac Swallows.
Children of ANDREW SWALLOWS and CATHERINE
KINDER are:
i. JACOB SWALLOWS, b. February 11, 1786,
Wythe Co. VA; d. 1863, Overton Co., TN.
ii. MARY MAGDELINA SWALLOWS, b. January
19, 1788, Virginia; d. August 12, 1863, Roaring River Cemetery, Overton
Co., TN; m. ISAAC WEST, November 17, 1808; b. 1790; d. 1836.
iii. ELIZABETH SWALLOWS, b. January 18,
1790, NC; d. 1857, Overton Co ,TN. married JAMES R. COPELAND.
iv. ISAAC SWALLOWS, b. February 07, 1792,
NC.
v. CATHERINE SWALLOWS, b. January 15, 1794,
NC Did not marry
vi. RACHEL SWALLOWS, b. February 18, 1796,
NC.
Prostitute vii. JEMIMA SWALLOWS,
b. October 23, 1800, TN.
I would also like to note here that Andrew Swallow's wife Catherine Kinder had an illegitimate child by a wealthy man named Thomas Finley before she married Andrew Swallow.
Jake Swallows
(son of Andrew Swallows)
Jake Swallows was in the War of 1812 as
a Sergeant under Captain David Williams' Company of Infantry, Col. S. Copeland's
Reg't Tennessee Militia from Jan. 28 to May 10, 1814. Term of service
charged, was for 4 months, 5 days. His pay per month was 11 dollars.
Jake's subsistence was 2 dollars 86 cents. His amount of pay was
48 dollars 69 cents. He was discharged May 10, 1814. Each non-commissioned
officer and private traveled 330 miles marching to Camp Johnson, where
they mustered in, and from Fayetteville, where discharged, to residence
in Monroe, Overton County, Tennessee.
JACOB/Jake SWALLOWS was born February 11, 1786 in Wythe Co. VA, and died Bet. 1863 - 1869 in Overton Co., TN. He married SARAH COPELAND in Overton Co., TN, daughter of COL. COPELAND and JANE TOWNSEND. She was born 1786 in Jefferson Co., TN, and died Bet. 1840 - 1849 in Overton Co., TN.
Children of JACOB SWALLOWS and SARAH COPELAND
are:
i. ISAAC SWALLOWS, b. 1808, Overton Co., TN; d. 1894; m. FRANCES HAMMOCK(CHEROKEE); b. June 1812; d. August 1898, Putnam co, TN
ii. REUBEN SWALLOWS, b. 1809; m. BETHENA C.; b. 1809.
iii. ANDREW SWALLOWS, b. 1810; d. Jackson Co., TN; m. FANNY UNKNOWN; b. Abt. 1810.
Prostitute iv. ADELINE POLINA SWALLOWS, b. 1820; m. AMBROSE GORE; b. 1836. divorced
Prostitute v. RACHEL SWALLOWS, b. 1821; m. UNKNOWN
vi. MELINDA SWALLOWS, b. 1823; m. ISAAC NEWTON COPELAND; b. June 1827; d. Feb 06, 1902.
vii. JACOB SWALLOWS, b. 1829.
viii. AMANDA SWALLOWS, b. 1831; d. 1877, Overton Co, TN; m. (1) CHARNEL BILBREY; m. (2) UNKNOWN; m. (3) CHARNEL BILBREY.
ix. ELIZABETH SWALLOWS, b. 1834.
Isaac Swallows born 1808 married (according
to some) a full blooded Cherokee, Frances Hammock. I've heard it
said that the whites looked down on the Swallows that were Indian blood.
I've also read of another woman in Overton County who lied to the Government
in the 1820's-1830's by telling them she was Black Dutch. She did
this to keep from being taken to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.
Jacob W. Swallows
(son of Isaac Swallows)
and
(grandson of Andrew
Swallows)
JACOB W. SWALLOWS was born June 06, 1829
in Overton Co., TN, and died November 24, 1900 in Muddy Pond, Overton Co.,
TN. He married ANNA BILBREY. She was born October 29, 1826 in TN,
and died February 05, 1901. Jacob and Anna Swallows ran a BawdyHouse.
Children of JACOB SWALLOWS and ANNA BILBREY are:
i...FRANCES SWALLOWS, b. February 27, 1850, Overton Co ?,Tn; d. June 05, 1933; m. SAMUEL HALL, July 26, 1868, Overton Co., TN; b. Abt. 1853.
ii...JOHN D. SWALLOWS, b. October 08, 1856, TN; d. October 26, 1896, Muddy Pond, Overton Co., TN; m. EMILY PHILLIPS, October 12, 1879; b. 1858, TN.
iii...MARTHA JANE SWALLOWS, b. September 14, 1859, TN; d. June 26, 1895, buried Swallow Cemetery, Overton County, Tennessee; m. WILLIAM JASPER PHILLIPS; b. April 08, 1861, Overton Co., TN; d. May 29, 1916.
iv. N. NARY? C. SWALLOWS, b. April 13, 1862; d. September 16, 1891.
v. POLLY A. SWALLOWS, b. Abt. 1863, TN.
vi. LANA SWALLOWS, b. March 12, 1865; d. September 11, 1917, Monterey, Overton Co., Tn burial Clarkrange Cem., Fentress County, Tennessee; m. RUSSELL HALL.
vii. ETTA E. SWALLOWS, b. April 03, 1868; d. October 19, 1952; m. ISAAC PHILLIPS, November 11, 1886, Overton County, Tennessee.
A Short History
of
Livingston and Overton
County.
The area of Overton County was inhabited
by Cherokee Indians as they were pushed west after the treaty of the Holston
in 1791. One of the earliest white settlers was Colonial Stephen
Copeland. Jake Swallows married Col. Copeland's daughter. Overton
County was originally a part of Davidson County and later Jackson County.
In 1805, Moses Fisk surveyed the first village in what is now the community
of Hilham. On September 12, 1806, the area of Overton County was
established by the state legislature as a county. The Indian Territory,which
Cherokee Chief Nette Carrier presided over, was conceded to Tennessee for
use by the white man. Overton County at this time included Fentress
and large parts of Clay, Putnam, Cumberland, Morgan, and Scott counties.
It was named for Judge John Overton, friend of Andrew Jackson, who owned
two tracts of land in the area.
Social life in this early period was lived within a panorama of log cabin, puncheon floors, pewter or wood plates, raw cotton, wool, flax, hogs and hominy, (the wealthy had coffee on Sunday morning) hats of sheep's wool and coon's fur, wheat and rye.
In 1835 the county seat was moved from Monroe to Livingston. There was great bitterness over this and the battle was not abandoned until after the adoption of the new state constitution of 1870. There was an election in 1835 to see if the people preferred Monroe or Livingston. Jesse Eldridge and ten others, who favored Monroe, started out to vote but stopped overnight in the Oakley community. Eldridge, who personally favored Livingston, arose early in the morning and released the horses of the others that favored Monroe. He then rode to Monroe and voted.
COL. STEPHEN COPELAND
COL. STEPHEN COPELAND was born 1756, and
died 1835 in Copeland Cove, Overton Co, Tn. He married JANE TOWNSEND, daughter
of JOSEPH TOWNSEND. Col. Copeland was one of the first settlers
in Overton County, Tennessee. He was a good friend with the chief
of the band of Cherokee Indians that lived nearby, Nettle Carrier. He laid
out the plan for the Roaring River church house.
Children of COL. COPELAND and JANE TOWNSEND are:Early spring of 1791, Col. Stephan Copeland, one of the oldest families of North Carolina accompanied by his son Joseph, left Jefferson Co. for the Cumberland country. Following an Indian trail over the Cumberland Mountains, they pursued their journey, carrying few supplies, brought from Kingston. They camped in a valley, which is now known as Overton, TN, and they planted a crop of corn. Col. Copeland hunted many days with an Indian chief, Nettle Carrier. As a Cherokee chief, he signed a paper authorizing a turnpike company to open a road through the reservation. After cultivating his corn crop, Col. Copeland and son returned home, and became the first settlers of Overton Co. TN.
i. RICHARD COPELAND, b. 1782.
2. ii. JOSEPH COPELAND, b. 1783, Jefferson Co,Tn; d. April 17, 1857, Copeland Cove, Overton County, TN. known as 'Big Jo'
3. iii. SARAH COPELAND, b. 1786, Jefferson Co., TN; d. Bet. 1840 - 1849, Overton Co., TN. married Jake Swallows
4. iv. STEPHEN JR. COPELAND, b. 1790, Jefferson Co., TN; d. 1834, Overton Co ,TN.
v. AMELIA TOWNSEND COPELAND, b. 1792; m. RICHARD POSTON.
vi. SOLOMON COPELAND, b. 1799, Overton Co ,Tn; m. SARAH TIPPET.
vii. UNKNOWN COPELAND, m. HENRY DILLION.
viii. NICHOLAS COPELAND.
Joseph Copeland was a man of gigantic size, there are many stories about is exhibitions of strength. It was as a hunter that Joseph was well known, one story told was that he killed sixty two grown bears in one winter. In choosing a wife, Joseph married chief Nettle Carriers daughter, Hannah. In her prime, she weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds. The smallest of their children was known as 'Little Ellis and he weighed 360 pounds. They were famous locally for running foot races and winning. Joseph Jefferson Copeland was also known as 'Big Jo'. He was a famous Tennessee strongman and hunter.
Back
to Rosy Harris
My fourth theory is Rosy had a lisp, no
education and when ever she was asked her name what we get is a distortion.
Rhoda for Rosa. Water for Swalers.
For what ever reason, by March 21, 1865 Rosy, age 35 and after having 4 children married and settles down in Smith County, TN. Her name on her marriage certificate is Rosean Water or could it be Swaler? I have looked and it could be either. She marries Abner Shoulders, age 50, a widower with 2 children. Abner Shoulders fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy in Company G of the 30th Tennessee Infantry as a Private.
Abner and Rosy have two children, William Shoulders born about 1865 and Josie Shoulders born about 1868.
The mystery continues in 1870 as we find Rosy and Abner living in Sumner County, Tennessee. In their household is Abner, age 55 with the occupation of farm laborer, Rosy age 40 now going by the name of Rhoda, (or the census taker can't understand when she said Rosa?). The children include Mary Shoulder age 14 (child of Abner and his 1st wife, Parthenia Tomlin), Matilda Shoulders age 10, William Shoulders age 5, Josephine Shoulder age 1. There is also a Mary Harrison age 45 (see more), Minerma Harrison age 16, and Sally Harrison age 10. Who are these Harrison women? I don't know. Later we find Mary and Sally living in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky in the 1880 Census. Where is our Josiah Swallows? Could he be living next door?
Gideon Gifford
Next door, we find a very prosperous farmer
named Gideon Gifford age 60. Gideon Gifford and another man were
builders. He and his partner constructed several important buildings
in Trousdale County. Gideon has real estate worth $15, 400.00 and
personal property worth $2,000.00. For 1870 just following the Civil
War in the South, Gideon is well off. Let me stop here and say that
Josiah Swallows later marries Martha Shrum who's great grandfather is a
Gideon Gifford from the same area. The Gideon mentioned here not
old enough to Martha's great grandfather. He may be Martha's uncle.
This is area where I need to do future research.
Living with Gideon Gifford and his wife Brattin is a 20-year-old daughter named Wanitha. Included in this house are house are two farm laborers in their thirties, Henry Reese and William Munny. Now this is the interesting part where I believe our Swallows family fits in. We also find Alvin Swallers (notice the surname spelling) age 15 listed as "works on the farm" and Jim Harrison age 11 who "works on the farm". Who is Jim Harrison? At first, I thought this might be Josiah Harrison, but the age is wrong. Josiah would be age 22. Then where is Josiah? I can not find him anywhere in the census. I will continue to search.
Josiah/Joe Swallows
Joe Hamilton/Harris/Swallows was born 3
days before Christmas in Overton County, Tennessee. The year was
1848. Joe was born into a home that had no adult male. In fact
I can find no adult male in any of the census of Josiah's family until
1865 when Rosy, his mother, marries Abner Shoulders. If Rosy were
the mistress of Jake Swallows the law would be good reason for him not
to live under the same roof. Here is a popular law of that period:
Unlawful cohabitation That it shall be unlawful for a man and woman to abide and cohabit together, in this city, as husband and wife, not being married; and any person or persons violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and fined in a sum not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars.
In 1865 when Rosy marries Abner Shoulders
Joe is 17. At this period in history, just following the Civil War,
Joe is a boy, probably doing a man's work.
Not until 1880 in the Trousdale Co., TN 1880
Census do we finally find Josiah listed as Joe Swallow. He is listed
as a 31-year-old laborer and is married to Marthia Shrum age 26.
They have 3 children
Prudie age 6,
John age 3
Zackaria age 2.
Children of JOSIAH SWALLOWS and MARTHA SHRUM are:
i. PRUDIE ANN SWALLOWS, b. April 05, 1873; d. April 02, 1948, Logan Co. KY.
ii. JOHN A. SWALLOWS, b. August 08, 1875; d. December 14, 1949, Logan Co. KY; m. LEONA J. KEATON; b. September 20, 1887; d. February 13, 1964, Logan Co. KY.
iii. ZACHARY TAYLOR SWALLOWS, b. December 09, 1876, Trousdale Co., Tennessee; d. September 09, 1949, Robertson Co., Tennessee; m. LUCINDA ELLEN SCARBOROUGH; b. October 28, 1882, Logan Co., KY; d. February 14, 1963, Tennessee
iv. NORA BELL SWALLOWS, b. January 09, 1884; d. October 23, 1955, Logan Co. KY; m. WILL L McGUIRE, December 24, 1898, Logan Co., KY; b. June 05, 1875; d. July 25, 1953, Logan Co. KY.
In this census, Joe states that both
his mother and father were born in North Carolina. Martha says the
same of her parents. Earlier research for Martha's family shows this
statement incorrect. Both of Martha's parents were born in Tennessee.
Why tell the census taker what they did? I don't know. Next
is what helps tie together all the misleading census records of the past
30 years. Living in the same home with Joe Swallow is Rose Shoulder
age 47 listed as Joe's widowed mother born in North Carolina as were her
parents, William Shoulder age 14, listed as Joe's half-brother and Josie
Shoulder age 12 listed as Joe's half-sister. Rose seems to get younger
as the years go by. This census shows her born in 1833 instead of
1828. I guess women haven't changed much when it come to hiding their
true age.
Swallows, Shrum Mystery
I am confused over a family story about
the Swallows brothers. I received the following information from
other Swallows/Shrum researchers.
Solomon Shrum was born 10 Aug 1872. He was reared in the household of John Allen Shrum and wife, Mary Susan Leath Shrum over the years. Only within the past fifteen years did we find out that John Allen and Susan Leath Shrum were not his parents, but his natural grandparents.
Sol's father was a Swallows but we are not sure if it was Joe or one of his brothers (Noah or Alvin). It could be that Joe was going with Martha and messing with Willie Ann the year older sister, at the same time. Maybe she found out she was going to have a baby after he married Martha. It also could have been a brother to Joe. We don't know for sure, but anyway we do think that Sol's mother was Willie Ann Shrum. The tale that was told was that Willie Ann left her son with her parents for them to rear because she was unwed and that she went away to live out her life in KY and had little to do with the family. She left home after Sol was born and the tell was that she went to keep house for people in Kentucky. I thought that was strange since Martha and Joe was going to Kentucky.
Sol named his first daughter Mary after his wife, the second daughter after his mother, Willie Ann.
Of the 3 Swallows brothers: Joe married Martha Shrum. Alvin married Mary Ann Satterfield. And Noah we lose track of. He disapears between the 1850 Overton County,TN Census and the Civil War until 1880. In 1880 we find him living in Perry, Vanderburgh, Indiana. (see More) Then again at his death. He is buried in the Patterson Cemetery, Sumner County,TN. And on his gravestone it says Noah S. SWALLOWS; Co D 12 Ohio Cav.
There was also tell of the fact that "Tom Swallows" and Sol both had a hump on their back, like a dowager's hump. Sol's daughter did as well. It was also said that the two--Sol and Tom--would visit because they knew they were "brothers".
I have yet to piece together this mystery. I don't know who Tom Swallows is. I hope to do so with future research.
Prudie Ann Swallows, daughter of Zack and Martha never married. She was 17 years old when her family left Trousdale and moved to Logan. The reason she never married may simple be she spent her youth raising her younger brothers and sisters after her mother died. She is buried in Berea Christian Church Cemetery, located just off US 431S on Berea Church Road about six miles south of Russellville, the church is visible from 431 to the east.
Lock 6 and 7 on
the Cumberland River
Josiah/Joe Swallows is said to have assisted
in the building of lock six and seven on Cumberland River, either Trousdale
or Smith Co. I don't know which. Someone said that it took about
30 years to complete. Lock 7 is in the western part of Smith Co.
in the Watervale community. Lock 6 is in the eastern part of Trousdale
County. We don't know when they were built. The Locks were
built before the dams. I am assuming it was before Joe/Josiah left
Trousdale around 1890.
T old Locks and Dams 6 & 7 no longer exist. When the new larger chains of locks and dams were constructed, the old ones were demolished. The exact location of lock 6 was located close to river mile 281.5 in the vicinity of Douglas Branch. The closest city to this point is Hartsville in Trousdale County. Hartsville, TN is located at Cumberland River Mile 279 so the point you are looking for is 2.5 miles upstream. Highways 141 and 25 should get you in the vicinity, but any structural evidence may be under water. If you left the Hartsville landing by boat, passed by Goose Creek on your left or Port, went around a bend, you would be almost there. Now Lock 7 was located in Smith County, TN. This lock and dam was located at river mile 299.7 and Carthage looks like the closet city at river mile 308, quite a ways upstream from your interest point. Rome, TN is located at 292.5. Rome and Carthage are both on Highway 70 or take exit 258 off I-40 onto Highway 53 north to Carthage. Again, I doubt that you could find any evidence of the structure unless some of the local people know of it. When Old Hickory Dam was built, it raised the pool elevation up and over these old structures.
Since the present locks and dams were probably built in the 1930's to 1960's, this time frame may serve as the doom of locks and dams 6 and 7.
I've also heard that Part of Lock 7 still exists. It is located on the old Payne Bend Road off of Rte 70 and is now named Lock 7 Road. A few of the gate keepers buildings along as the gatekeepers' house are still standing as well as some of the stone work (on both sides of the Cumberland) of the old lock.
Matilda Swallows
A "compromised lady" or carrying on the
tradition of a "soiled dove"
Living next door to Josiah/Joe Swallows
in Trousdale Co., TN 1880 is his younger sister, Matilda Swallow, age 20.
She is the housekeeper for widower William Buckingham age 45. William
is listed as a mail rider with 6 children, Mary Etta age 18, Florance 17,
Alfred 14, Larua 12, Arnet 10 and 6 month old Sadie whom he had with Matilda
Swallow out of wedlock. William later married Matilda Swallow.
They continued to have 6 more children together as man and wife. They had
Mahalia Buckingham, born July 05, 1882, Arthur Chester Buckingham, born
September 19, 1886, William Buckingham, born June 1888, Arch Allen Buckingham,
born October 23, 1891, Edgar Edward Buckingham, born June 1895 and Nerma
Buckingham, born 1900 when William was 66. William Buckingham left
Trousdale county and moved to Nashville, Tennessee about Feb. 1903.
He died about three months later, April 27, 1903 at his home 1012 Cheatham
Street. William and Matilda are buried in Nashville's Mt. Olivet
Cemetery.
Matilda Swallow's husband, William Buckingham, enlisted in the Confederate Army at Hartsville, Sumner County, Tennessee 19th Oct. 1861. William was assigned to Barksdale's Company Seventh Bn. Bennett's Tennessee Calvary. William was captured by the Union force in Smith County, Tennessee 17 Nov. 1862. He was trying to go home to visit his family when he was captured. He was sent to Louisville, Kentucky and from there to Vicksburg, Mississippi by way of Cairo, Ill. to be exchanged for a prisoner held by the Confederate forces. This journey was made on the steamboat Mary Crane, 29th November 1862.
William Buckingham was described at age 27, as having a height of 5 ft. 10 in., blue eyes, red hair and beard with a light complexion. After the war he was a mail rider by profession; he carried the mail from Pryor Carter Post Office located on Carter Branch in the southern edge of Macon county. There is a bluff on Big Goose Creek called Buckingham Bluff, where he would feed his horse. He also carried the mail in Trousdale and part of Wilson county. Neighbors who remembered William Buckingham tell how he would accommodate the people on his mail route by delivering things for them that had nothing to do with the U.S. Mail.
Alvin Pinson Swallows
Back to the Swallows. In the same
Trousdale Co. 1880 Census, just 5 houses away from Joe Swallow and Matilda
Buckingham lived Joe's younger brother Alvin P. Swallows. Alvin age
26 was a farmer. He lived with his wife Mary Ann Satterfield age
21 and their three small children. Sarah age 3, Elizabeth age 2 and
Giddeon a son age 3 months. (You can see the honor Alvin Swallows bestowed
on his employer by naming his first son after him.)
Joe Swallows moves
to Kentucky
Joe and Martha came by covered wagon from
Trousdale County, Tennessee to Logan County KY. Martha died on the
way and was buried along side of the road. This would probably have
been between 1884-1892. The above was told to me by James Swallows
[Oct 2000]. James is a great grandson of Joe Swallows.
When and where Martha Shrum Swallows died is still an unknown. I have searched cemetery records to no avail. We estimate her death sometime between the birth of her last child on Jan 9, 1884 and the marriage of her husband, Josiah/Joe to Eliza in 1892.
Joe and his children were probably already living in Logan County by September 07, 1892. For it was on this date, he remarried. He married Eliza J. Epley, daughter of Daniel W. and Nancy Jane Epley. W.R. Bruce performed the ceremony, at the home of Daniel Epley. Witnesses were C.W. Epley and David Epley.
Children of JOSIAH SWALLOWS and ELIZA EPLEY are:
v. JOE D. SWALLOWS, b. August 24, 1894; d. February 04, 1981, lived in Auburn, Logan Co. KY; m. HETTIE UNKNOWN; b. 1902; d. Abt. 1999.
vi. AMY SWALLOWS, b. Abt. 1895.
vii. GEORGE W. SWALLOWS, b. January 01, 1897; d. September 28, 1962.
viii. WILLIAM B. SWALLOWS, b. August 23, 1899; d. November 07, 1976, Logan County, KY.
ix. MARY SWALLOWS, b. Abt. 1903.
x. ALVIN P. SWALLOWS, b. September 10, 1904; d. February 16, 1969, Logan Co. KY; m. CORDIE B. UNKNOWN; b. September 12, 1901; d. December 02, 1986.
xi. NANCY (NANNY) SWALLOWS, b. Abt. 1907.
xii. ED SWALLOWS, b. February 06, 1910, KY; d. March 1973.
xiii. FREDDIE PAUL SWALLOWS, b. February 03, 1912; d. October 18, 1982, Logan County, KY; m. MARGIE UNKNOWN.
It is difficult to verify when Joe made
the move to Kentucky. Because the 1890 Census was burned we have
very little to go on. In Logan County Kentucky there was however
a 1894 School Census. There is a Joe Swalers listed as the father,
in School #31, for John age 18, Jack age 16(could easily be Zack) and Noah
(I think this is probably Nora) female age 11.
Joe lived out away from Russellville KY in the countryside. Joe was short of statue and had a large nose. He would walk into town and carry his groceries home in a sack over his back. Source: Clayton Swallows as told to Odis Swallows.
Joe was grinding sorghum at the mill with a mule when he was crushed in an accident. He lived 2 or 3 months before he died on December 03, 1918. Joe is buried in Doyle Cemetery (also known as Old Mariah), Logan County, KY. From Russellville, take Hwy 68 west, go right on Hwy 178 (Highland Lick Road) for 3 1/4 miles. Cemetery is about 50 to 75 yards on north side of road.
After Joe's death, his wife Eliza J. Epley lived with her son Joe D. Swallows on the same farm that Joe owned. In the 1920 census, they are living in the Gordonsville, District #7, west of Russellville, KY. All of Joe and Eliza's children are living with Joe D. Swallows.
Zachary Taylor Swallows
born December 09, 1876 in Trousdale County,
TN.
Zack traveled with his family to Logan County,
KY as a young boy, probably between the age of 8 and 14 years. Zack
attended school here. He is listed as student in 1894.
Zack marries Lucinda Ellen Scarborough about 1904. He is 28 years old. She is 22.
At the time of Joe/Josiah Swallows death in 1918, Zack and Lucindy have 6 children.
Odis Swallows tells a story about his grandfather son of Joe C. Swallows. His name was Zack Swallows. The story goes that Zack had a brother (also son of Joe C. Swallows) who needed a loan. (I don't know what for) Anyway Zack put his farm up as collateral on a $5000.00 loan. That was a lot of money back then. After leaving the bank, the brother was never heard from again. No one knows if he skipped town or was bushwhacked and the body never found. Zack lost his farm. This event took place in Logan Co. KY.
In the 1920 census Zack rents the land he is living on and farms it. His son Joseph C. Swallows age 14 is a laborer on the home farm. Joseph along with Martha, Mozell, and Annie May had all been attending school and could read and write.
Zack while living and raising tobacco in Logan Co., KY would bring his crop down to Springfield, Robertson County TN to sell at the big tobacco warehouses. One year after selling his crop and driving home in his wagon with the cash, two men passed him on the road going north. They went a ways on up the road and then turned their horses around and headed back toward Zack. Zack being suspicious leaned forward on the wagon seat and reached his arm down under the seat pretending to be reaching for a gun, when in fact he was not carrying one. The two men stopped along side the wagon and asked Zack if he had gotten a good price for his tobacco. Zack replied 'fair' and 'that he needed to get on home'. The two men seeing Zack's hand and arm extended under the seat thought better of robbing him and moved off down the road returning to Springfield where they had come.
Zack and Lucindy moved to Robertson County, TN from Logan County, KY about 1924 or 1925.
Odis Swallows Sr., Zack's grandson has many fond memories of Zack. They often worked together. Zack taught him many things.
Joseph Clinton Swallows
son of Zachary
and Lucinda Swallows
born in Allensville, Logan Co., KY July
06, 1905
Joseph Clinton Swallows eloped from Logan
County, KY with Nancy Ellen Cockrill. They were married in Springfield,
Robertson County, TN on March 21, 1925. At first, they lived with
some of Joseph's mother's family, Abner Clinton Scarborough and his wife
Hettie Maude Dickson in Springfield out of South Main St. in the 1800 block.
It was said that Abner was about 6' 4" tall, had great big hands and his
word was as good as a sealed contract.
Joseph Swallows was a carpenter by occupation. He had a contractor's license. In 1939, Joe helped to build the Springfield High School that was located on 5th Ave. He also worked at one time for E.I.du Pont de Nemours & Co. Old Hickory, Tennessee. In 1939, he helped work on the Rubber Company in Clarksville, TN. Joseph worked on the construction of Clinton Laboratory renamed Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) about 1943.
Joseph built his own home for he and Nancy about 1948 located on 1st Ave North with a mailing address of 72 North Main Street.
It is here that I have all of my memories associated with Joseph Clinton Swallows whom I called Paw Paw. I am told that I would have nothing to do with him when I was a little girl. He appeared large man to my little self and a loud man. Any way I was afraid of him. I do remember he had a temper and one time he got very angry. Of course, my Uncle Joe had just kicked a football thru a large upstairs window of their house.
I do have fond memories of visiting Paw Paw in his workshop which was located in front of his home. I remember the good smell of fresh cut lumber, but I hated the loud noise of the ban saw. I would sit with my ears covered just to be there and watch the work going on. As I got older there were also a few times I got to explore and look at all the tools and things he had brought home from various jobs. I remember the shop always being cluttered, with stacks of lumber that would "one day" be made into something, which sometimes he did.
There was one project I remember keeping a close eye on. Our Swallows family liked to travel to Paris Landing State Park and camp. Paw Paw decided to make himself a camping trailer. We would go weekly, it seemed, to check his progress. He did a good job. There were windows you could open, a door, sleeping bunks and table. There was only one problem. It was very heavy. It weighed so much it was hard for a car to pull it. Nevertheless, we must have managed because I do remember one trip with it.
I also remember getting a brown paper sack with nails. Paw Paw seemed to have an endless supply. I remember sitting on our back porch and practicing my hammering. I wonder how many nails my brother and put into that porch?
I remain with a love of wood and tools. I still enjoy making birdhouses, bird feeders, bookshelves and other projects.
In 1965, my parents, Odis and Betty Swallows, built a home out in the country on the corner of New Chapel Road and Ellis Road. My dad hired his father and brother to help him. Paw Paw and his two sons built a beautiful well crafted home. What a feeling it must have been for them to work together and produce such a fine house. Odis Jr., my Mom and I all helped when we could. I remember doing my homework while Dad and Mom laid the hardwood floors. It truly was a family affair.
Paw Paw and Mama Nancy's home was where the entire Swallows clan met on Christmas Eve to celebrate. I can remember being so excited I could hardly wait to go. There was always plenty of good food in their kitchen on Christmas Eve as we all gathered around to pray. Later we would open gifts, then play "rock school" on their steps with my cousins. It was so much fun.
I remember sitting in Mama Nancy's living room and her telling me stories. She was a good storyteller. I think this must be where my Dad gets his talent. She told me the tales of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", and "Where's my Big Toe." It was in this same living room that my genealogy quest began in 1968 while sitting on their couch filling in the blank pages of my Family Bible Genealogy. I would sit and write while Mama Nancy told me about she and her husband's family.
Joseph C. Swallows died in a hospital in Nashville, Davidson Co. TN of [stomach?] cancer on March 09, 1980. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Springfield, Robertson Co. TN.
Patricia
Swallows Carden
March
2002
Noah Swallows Household: 1880 Cenus Indiana
Name Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation
Noah SWALLOWS M Male 35 TN
TN TN Engineer
Sarah T. SWALLOWS M Female 27 GA
NC NC Keeping House
Rosa Anna SWALLOWS S Female 8 IND
TN GA At Home
Reubin J. SWALLOWS S Male 6 IND
TN GA At Home
John T. SWALLOWS S Male 4 IND TN
GA At Home
Willie J. SWALLOWS S Male 1 IND
TN GA At Home
Source Information:
Census Place Perry, Vanderburgh, Indiana
Family History Library Film 1254316
Page Number 177C
Vanderburgh County seat: Evansville.
Located in southwestern Indiana.
Household: /boarding house
140 Walnut Street south side
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation
Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Martha HARRIS Self Divorced Female W 37
KY Housekeeping KY TN (what is the relation between Martha
and Mary below?)
Emma HARRIS Dau S Female W 12
KY At School KY KY (what is the relation between Emma
and Mary below?)
Robt. E. HARRIS Son S Male W 9
KY At School KY KY (what is the relation between Robert
and Mary below?)
S. G. HENRY M boarding Male 70 KY Commission Merchant
Mary HENRY M boardingFemale 66 KY Clerk In Store
Wm. OLDHAM M boarding Male 50 KY At Home
Anna OLDHAM M boarding Female 45 KY At Home
John OLDHAM Male boarding 20 KY Clerk In Store
Wm. OLDHAM Male boarding 16 KY Clerk In Store
Birdie OLDHAM S Female boarding 10 KY At School
Mason SHERRILL Self boarding Male W 73
KY Book Merchant KY KY
Carrie SHERRILL Other boarding Female W 52
IN KY KY
Robt. HOLLAND Other boarding Male W 79
KY VA VA
Wm. GILROY Other Male boarding W 29 IRE
Clerk In Store IRE IRE
Wm. VAN DALSON Other boarding Male W 60
VA Clerk In Store VA VA
Scott VAN DALSON Other boarding Male W 19
VA At School VA VA
Wm. MC GOWAN Other boarding Male W 27
TN R. R. Clerk TN TN
Henry E. HARRIS Other boarding Male W 23
KY R. R. Clerk KY KY
Mary A. HARRIS Other boarding Female
W 57 TN ENG SCOT
Sally L. HARRIS Other boarding Female
W 17 KY At School KY TN