Notable Swallows and Their Relatives

Notable Swallows and Their Relatives

Isaac Swallows 1808-1894
"It was in 1864 or early 1865 that the Lee farm was suddenly surrounded by Yankees. Polly's father, Isaac Swallows, was staying with the family and on this day, rocking comfortably on the front porch. Unexpectedly, several of the Union soldiers bound the elderly man and began to beat and pull his hair from his head. A former slave from Oak Hill area made the soldiers stop their beating of Mr. Swallows. The black man firmly told the Yankees that Mr. Swallows was a good man and not to bother him again..." Further, "... the Lee's were blessed that lives were not taken and that Isaac Swallows survived the barbarous beating, thanks to a former slave.." Page 6. Also, before leaving the scene, the Union soldiers took a British saber from the house that had been taken at the Battle of New Orleans. Did the sword originally belong to Isaac's father Jacob Swallows-who fought with General Jackson in the War of 1812 at the Battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans? It's a good guess!

Andrew Swallows 1760-1843
Could read and write in German
Born in the same county and State as Daniel Boone (also a contemporary with) Some famous names associated with Overton, County, TN, include Davy Crockett, John Sevier, Joseph Copeland, and John M. Clements (father of Mark Twain).

Revolutionary War Service Chronology of Andrew Swallows:
1777: Spring. Served two months as a substitute in Pennsylvania. Participated in the Battle of Brandywine. He was a Rifleman. His unit was placed on the right wing of the Army on a hill. After the battle marched towards Philadelphia- stopped at Bunker’s Hill until his term expired. During that time Philadelphia was taken by the British.
1778: Second term of Service. Hired for two months as a substitute. Marched down near Philadelphia under Captain Washington’s Army. The British still held Philadelphia.
1779: Third term of Service. He was a Waggoner for one year. Participated in activities in Connecticut and in White Plains, New York. He engaged in hauling ammunition from Redding, Pennsylvania to the United States Army at White Plains. He saw General Washington frequently. The Officer was Captain Archibald.
1780: Andrew had moved to Virginia in the Spring and volunteered in the Fall. He was in Wythe County. For this fourth term of Service, he went with 76 men into the State of North Carolina under Captain Buchannen. His unit was to join General Green but this did not take place. There was an engagement with some Tories in which 17 or 18 Tories were killed and 1 man was killed from Andrew’s unit. The engagement took place near the Adkin River. Term of Service lasted nine months. He was Waggoner. Andrew also served under a Captain Ward during this enlistment. He says he marched with his unit against Indians and guarded the fort on the Clinch River.
1781: Andrew volunteered in February for his Fifth term of Service. Went with Col. Preston with 150 men to Guilford County, North Carolina and joined General Green. Andrew went on a mission with other soldiers to pursue some Tories-and participated in an engagement at Hawes River. Andrew and the other men were afterward pursued by the British.
1800 Andrew came to Tennessee between 1800-1818.

Col. Stephen Copeland 1756-1835
Early spring of 1791 ,Col.Stephan Copeland, 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 Co., 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. Upon their return to Overton they became the first settlers of Overton Co. TN. He was granted 640 acres and chose to settle near the headwaters of the Roaring River. He did not know that the land laid out partly belonged by treaty to the Cherokees. He became good friends with local chief Nettle Carrier (tala-dane-gisks) and was allowed to stay.

Fact 1: Posted bail for his father in a case Joseph Cobeland v. George Swingle.
Fact 2: Served as a Colonel in War Of 1812. Gathered 500 men to fight the Indians.
Fact 3: September 27, 1793, In Col. George Doherty's Regt Doherty's Regt. against Cherokees until 10-27 179?
Fact 4: Served under Capt. David Williams Infantry 3rd Regiment, East TN Militia.
Fact 5: Also in Gen. John Sevier's Etowah Campaign
Fact 6: May 30, 1807, Commisioned to Lt. Col. in Overton, Tennessee.
Fact 7: 1800, Listed on the Jefferson County, Tennessee Tax Records.98

Joseph Jefferson Copeland 1780-1857
AKA 'Big Jo'
He was a famous Tennessee strongman and hunter, who lived in Overton Co. Joseph Copeland was a man of gigantic size. There are many stories about his 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.

Click here for more information on the Copeland and Nettle Carrier families

Talotiskee "Nettle Carrier" Bird Clan
Tale’danigi’ski
(Utale’danigi’si in a dialectic form) variously rendered by the whites as "Hemp-carrier," "Nettle-carrier" or "flax-toter,". A former prominent chief on Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.
Summer?, 1793: As the war party moved north, Nettle Carrier [Talotiskee] and his brother, Pumpkin Boy went ahead to scout. The scouts approached the blockhouse at Ish's Station which was commanded by John Sevier. The two were spotted by sentries and Pumpkin Boy was shot and killed.

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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Record of Circuit Court 1865-1867
Thursday June 13th 1867 page 375
The State
vs.
Jemima MCormick
[aka Jemima Swallows]
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.

Jacob Swallows 1786-1869
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.

The family had a British saber that had been taken at the Battle of New Orleans. Jacob Swallows fought with General Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 at the Battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans.

Record of Circuit Court 1865-1867
Thursday June 13th 1867 page 375
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.

Tuesday 16th October 1855
State of Tennessee
vs.
Jacob Swallows
Tippling
Cause the Attorney as well as the defendant being charged upon this protestant in this cause says he is guilty as therein charged and for his trial puts himself upon the grace and mercy of the court and the Attorney General ? the like. It is therefore considered by the court that for such his offences he make his fine by the payment of Fifty cents and that he pay the costs of the prosecution and Adam Dick in ajurn court acknowledge himself the defendant security for the fine and costs aforesaid and agrees that execution ? against his ? goods and chattels lands and tuenents jointly with the defendant for the collection of the same. It is therefore considered by the court that the state of Tennessee recover of the defendant and his said security the fine and costs aforesaid and that execution ?,