Life History

Notes

• North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
  William, McSwain Jr
  Spouse Sarah McSwain
  Marriage 13 Nov 1833 Rutherford County, North Carolina
  
  This marriage record reports William as William Jr.  Knowing from other sources that his middle initial is B, this would mean his father was also William B McSwain.  But I have found that in that era, they used the designation Junior even in cases where the middle name was not actually the same.
  
  Another record reporting the bond reports the witnesses to the marriage.
  
  North Carolina, Index to Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
  William McSwain Jr
  Spouse Sarah McSwain
  Bond 13 Nov 1833
  Bondsman William McSwain
  Rutherford County
  Record #01 207
  Witness W G Irvine, Justice of the Peace
  North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
  
  1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 September, page 315, Hse/Fam #573
  William McSwain 35 M  Farmer $460 Real Estate b NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1815]
  Sarah McSwain 34 F  b NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1816]
  Robert McSwain 14 M Farmer NC [b abt 1836]
  Luiza McSwain 10 F b NC [b abt 1840]
  Timons McSwain 8 M Farmer b NC [b abt 1833]
  Puryear McSwain 2 M NC [b abt June 1848]
  Burrell McSwain 22 M Farmer b NC [b abt 1828]
  
  Burrell appears to be a younger brother of William, reported in later censuses as Burwell.  Several McSwain and related genealogies do report Burwell as the son of William McSwain (b 1792) and Mary Nancy Bridges.
  
  1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 14 August, page 72, Hse/Fam #515
  W B McSwain 45 M Farmer $550 Real Estate $465 Personal  born North Carolina  Cannot read or write [b abt 1815]
  Sarah McSwain 44 F born North Carolina [b abt 1816]
  Louisa McSwain 20 F born North Carolina [b abt 1840]
  Timmons McSwain 18 M Farm Laborer born North Carolina [b abt 1842]
  Prior McSwain 14 M Laborer born North Carolina [b abt 1846]
  William McSwain  11 M born North Carolina [b abt 1849]
  
  1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 23 July, Rippys, District 67, page 32, Hse/Fam #285
  McSwain, William  W M 70 Married Farming Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1810]
  McSwain, Sarrah W F 65 Wife Married Keeping House NC NC NC [b abt 1815]
  McSwain, Louisza [sic]  W F 40 Dau Widow Farm Hand Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1840]
  McSwain, Floyed [sic] W M 7 Son Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1883]
  
  Next door is Preior [Puryear] McSwain and his wife Dulcenia [usually spelled Dulcinea].
  
  1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 23 July, Rippys, District 67, page 32, Hse/Fam #286
  McSwain, Preior  W M 34 Farmer Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1846]
  McSwain, Dulcenia  W F 38 Wife House Keeper Cannot read or write NC NC NC [b abt 1842]
  McSwain, Ida W F 9 Dau Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1881]
  McSwain, Edgar  W M 5 Son Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1885]
  McSwain, Willia[m] W M 2 Son Single NC NC NC Cannot read or write [b abt 1888]

Sources

• 1. RootsWeb Trees
• 2. 1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 14 August, page 72, Hse/Fam #515
• 3. 1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 4 September, page 315, Hse/Fam #573
• 4. North Carolina, Marriage Collection, 1741-2004
• 5. North Carolina, Index to Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
• 6. 1880 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 23 July, Rippys, District 67, page 32, Hse/Fam #285
• 7. 1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 14 August, page 72, Hse/Fam #513
• 8. 1900 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina
  • 29 June, Shelby, District 55, Page 21B, Hse/Fam #388