Benjamin MCSWAIN1,2,3,4,5

17821,2,3,4 - 18651

Life History

1782	Born in Orange County, North Carolina.1,2,3,4
10th May 1810	Married Rebecca SMITH in Rutherford County, North Carolina.5
about 1817	Birth of daughter Narcissa Denerza MCSWAIN in North Carolina.6,2
10th Aug 1818	Birth of son Benjamin Franklin MCSWAIN in Rutherford County, North Carolina.7,8,9
about 1826	Birth of daughter Frances Esther MCSWAIN in North Carolina.4,2
about 1828	Birth of daughter Elizabeth D MCSWAIN in North Carolina.4,2
about 1830	Birth of daughter Hazel MCSWAIN in North Carolina.2
about 1832	Birth of daughter Candas H MCSWAIN in North Carolina.4,10,2
about 1834	Birth of daughter Margaret C MCSWAIN in North Carolina.2
1865	Died.1

Notes

I have not reconstructed the parentage of Benjamin fully, but he is connected to a different line of McSwains than the main clan in Tryon-Rutherford, North Carolina. It appears this Benjamin comes from Baltimore in another early line of McSwains. Details are limited. A couple of genealogies are helpful. It appears that Ben's parents were David McSwain and Hannah Jones. David was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, then his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland.
-- http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=edhellis&id=I09603

It is possible he is a son of the Benjamin McSwain born 1766, son of William David McSwain and Susanna Hamrick. I have not been able to find a marriage for the elder Benjamin or parentage for the younger. The location would match.

Note that records show Benjamin McSwain born about 1772 to 1782, and Rebecca (Rabakah) Smith born about 1790. The discrepancy in their ages likely indicates this is a second marriage for Benjamin, but I have not found an earlier marriage for that Benjamin.

The date of 1772 comes from one or more undocumented genealogies, so confidence for that date is very low. It is likely there is a generation missing somewhere, and there was another Benjamin McSwain in between. Censuses matching him place his birth about 1782 or 1783. This would match better with Rebecca Smith's birth in about 1790, also supported by census reports.

I found a marriage record and bond record that matches these names, but note below that the date of marriage is 1810. Ben is reported in some sources as born in 1772. The 1850 census for Ben and Rebecca reports an age making Ben born in 1782, which is more reasonable. In the 1860 census, several children age only 4 years since 1850!

North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
County Court Records Rutherfordton, NC
Benjamin McSwain
Spouse Rebakah Smith
Marriage 10 May 1810 Rutherford County, North Carolina

North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Bond #000135038, Record #01 207
Groom Benjamin McSwain
Bride Rebakah Smith
Bond 10 May 1810 Rutherford County
Bondsman Reuben Hamrick; James McSwain
Witness Wm McBrayer

In the 1820 census, Reuben Hamrick is a nearby neighbor. He may be a cousin. McSwains and Hamricks intermarried in every generation. This Benjamin's mother may have been a Hamrick.

1820 Federal Census, Rutherford County, North Carolina, August 7, 1820
Benjamin McSwain Head of Household
Free White Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 16: 5
Free White Persons - Over 25: 1
Total Free White Persons: 7
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 7

1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 23 August, p 284, Hse/Fam #379
Benjamin McSwain 68 M Farmer $1000 Real Estate b NC [b abt 1782]
Rebecca McSwain 60 F born NC
Narcissa McSwain 33 F born NC
Francis E McSwain 24 F born NC
Betsy D McSwain 22 F born NC
Hazell McSwain 20 F born NC
Candis H McSwain 18 F born NC
Margaret C McSwain 16 F born NC

1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 18 August, PO Not Stated, page 182, Hse/Fam #1092
Benjamin McSwain 77 M Infirm $0 Real Estate $250 Personal Estate born NC
Rebecca McSwain 18 F born NC
Denerza McSwain 40 F b NC
Esther McSwain 28 F b NC
Elizabeth McSwain 26 F b NC
Candes H McSwain 22 M [sic] b NC
Rebecca McSwain 19 F b NC
Elias Padget 10 M b NC

Sources

1. Ancestry Trees
- John Ellis Family Genealogy, http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=edhellis&id=I09688
2. 1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 23 August, p 284, Hse/Fam #379
3. 1820 Federal Census, Rutherford County, North Carolina
- 7 August, page 353
4. 1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 18 August, PO Not Stated, page 182, Hse/Fam #1092
5. North Carolina, Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
- County Court Records Rutherfordton, NC
6. 1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 18 August, PO Not Stated, page 182, Hse/Fam #1092
7. 1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 21 August, page 276, Hse/ Family #325
8. 1870 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 26 June, PO White Planes, p 9, Hse #63, Fam #64
9. RootsWeb Trees
10. 1910 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
- 19 April, Township 2, District 34, page 3A, Boiling Springs Rd, Hse #48, Fam #50