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Descendants of Zebedee Swinson, Sr.

Generation No. 2


2. JAMES2 SWINSON (ZEBEDEE1)7,8 was born Bet. 1802 - 1805 in NC9,10, and died Aft. Jun 26, 188011. He married REBECCA MARSHBURN12,13 Abt. 1829, daughter of UNKNOWN and UNKNOWN. She was born Bet. 1804 - 1805 in NC14,15, and died Aft. Jan 11, 187616.

Notes for JAMES SWINSON:
I've listed James Swinson's birth as "Bet. 1802 - 1805" based on the ranges provided by the 1850 and 1860 North Carolina Federal Census'. The county of James' birth is unknown, but is suspected to be Duplin. It's known that James and Rebecca resided in Duplin County, probably just over the county line, before moving to their home near Ten Mile Creek in Onslow County. This is based upon a deed executed by Richard Swinson to Rebecca Swinson "of Duplin" in 1839. (Onslow County Deed Book 50, p. 370/371- See Notes for Rebecca Swinson)
I have little other evidence of their time in Duplin, as I haven't yet conducted an exhaustive search of existing records in the Duplin County Register of Deeds office in Kenansville. Based upon the information contained here, their move to Onslow County occured some time between Feb 1839, when the above deed was made, and the enumeration of the Census of 1850. However, I have seen reference to indicate James Swinson was an Onslow County taxpayer in 1820. Further research of Onslow County Tax records is required.
The 1850 North Carolina FederalCensus (Onslow County,Upper Southwest District, p. 277, Dwelling 748, family 748) shows the following household for James Swinson:

Swinson, James, 48, Mechanic, born NC
"      Rebecca, 46, born NC
"      Mary, 20, born NC
"      Nancy, 18, born NC
"      James, 14, born NC
"      Nelly, 10, born NC
"      Rachel, 8, born NC
"      Jesse, 5, born NC

James and Rebecca's household had increased by 1860 and James had changed occupations; however, the newest additions appear to be their grandchildren, not their children. The 1860 North Carolina Federal Census (Onslow County, Upper Southwest District, p. 219, household 366, dwelling 366) shows the following household:

Swinson, James, 55, male, W, Cooper, land valued at $100, over 20 cannot read or write
" Rebecca, 55, female, W, serving, over 20 cannot read or write
"      Mary, 30, female, W, domestic, over 20, cannot read or write
"      Ritta, 12, female, W
"      Kitty, 5, female, W
"      Jane, 2, female, W
"       Nancy, 25, female, W, domestic, over 20 cannot read or write
"      Sallie, 2, female, W
"      James, 22, male, W, farm Laborer, over 20 cannot read or write
"      Nelly, 19, female, W, domestic
"      Rachel, 17, female, W, domestic
" Jesse, 12 male

Due to the ages of the younger children and the order of their placement, I believe Ritta, Kitty and Jane to be the children of Mary, and Sallie the daughter of Nancy. It's also interesting to note that James' household was located between the households of William Screws, age 27 (with wife Lydia Ann Williams Blake), and Jacob Blake, age 30, single. Also, just four households after James is enumerated is the household of one John Brown, age 58, Cooper, with a son named John J. "White Marriage Records & Bonds, 1867-1919", on file in the Onslow County Register of Deeds Office, records Jesse Swinson (son of James and Rebecca) and Calestia Ann Batts (daughter of Owen Gurganus and Tamma/Tammie Batts) as being married "at John Brown's".
In 1866, James Swinson is shown in the Duplin County Grantors Index executing a land conveyance with "Zebedie" Swinson to Maxey A. Manning for an unspecified acreage on Back Swamp, as seen above. (Duplin County Deed Book 26, p. 143 - See Notes for Zebadee Swinson, Sr.) This deed was registered on September 28, 1869. It's an important source document, as it cements James' relationship to Zebedee, Jr. and identifies their father.
On September 13, 1869, James purchased 127 acres for $150.00 from Lewis Gurganus, and wife Chrena [Serena]. (Onslow County Deed Book 30, p. 112) Inspection of the deed reveals the presence of many names that are continuously seen in conjunction with the Swinson family: Owen Gurganus, Hosea Mashburn and the Blake's. Additional research in Census and Marriage Bond records of Onslow County reveal that Lewis is Owen's younger brother. Serena's maiden name is Rawls and she later marries Burton Foy, the direct ancestor of the Foy family residing on the Nine Mile today, near Richlands, in Onslow County, NC. I believe this deed to be for the land that became the Swinson home place on the Ten Mile due to the approximate location described in the deed.

"...Lying on the North Side of the Ten Mile Swamp, bounded...north by the lands of Hosea Mashburn, East by the lands of Blake, South by the Ten Mile pocoson & West by the...Gurganous lands..."

This is roughly where Swinson and Gurganus Roads intersect near the Angola/Gurganus communities. Many Swinson families still make their homes there. This is the first deed for James recorded in Onslow County according to existing Grantors and Grantee Indexes on file in the Onslow County Register of Deeds Office in Jacksonville, NC. This deed was registered September 18, 1869. Lewis Gurganous purchased the tract from Hosea Mashburn on December 24, 1857 for $72.50 (Onslow County Deed Book 28, p. 322) The boundaries referenced for the tract are as follows:

"...Beginning at a stake in Barfield's line, and runs So. 89 Et. 230 poles to Mr. Blake's line, then So. 30 Wt. 63 poles, No. 62 Et. 26 poles, then So. 50 poles - So. 51 Wt. 82 poles, then No. 50 Wt. 98 poles, So. 70 Wt. 36 poles to Barfield's line, then with his line So. 21 Wt. 110 poles to the Beginning, said land being a part of the lands of Nichodemus Gurganous, sold by the Clerk and master in Equity, the same containing One hundred and twenty eight acres, more or less..."
     
On March 8, 1871 James and Rebecca conveyed sixty acres on the North side of the Ten Mile [creek] to their youngest son, Jesse, for sixty dollars. (Onslow County Deed Book 31, p. 324-325) This property was most probably part of the original home place.
On May 4, 1874 James purchased fifty acres on Rooty Branch and Buzzard Branch from A.D. and Deborah A. Cutts for $105.50. The exact location of Rooty and Buzzard Branch is unknown. The deed was registered on May 10, 1875.
They deeded another sixty acres to Jesse for sixty dollars on March 24, 1875. This property was at "the mouth of Juniper Swamp and thence with the ten mile pocoson". (Onslow County Deed Book 33, p. 515/516) The deed was registered January 11, 1876 and is the last recorded appearance I've found of James in Onslow County land records.
Oddly enough, there appears to be no record in the Onslow County Grantors or Grantees Index that James and Rebecca ever deeded property to any of their other children. As of yet, no record has been found of James and Rebecca's oldest son, James, but his location and activities may become more apparent with further research in the Onslow County land conveyances.
In the 1880 North Carolina Census, Onslow County, Jacksonville Township (Dwelling 317, family 320), James is found as as an 86 year old man. His household is listed as follows:

Swinson, James, W, M, 86, Single (possibly widowed?), At Home, unemployed 12 months
Mashborn, John H., W, M, 53, Son-in-law, Married, Farmer
, Mary, W, F, 54, daughter, married, Keeping house
Swinson, E----- R., W, F, 35, Granddaughter, single, working on farm (possibly Ritty, Mary's daughter?)
Swinson, Nancy, W, F, 40, daughter, single, working on farm
, Robt., W,M, 17, grandson, single, working on farm
, Richard, W, M, 4, (relationship unreadable)
     
I believe the John Mashborn listed as Mary's husband to be the same John H. Mashborn who was later a Justice of the Peace for Jacksonville Township. Also, the relationships of Mary's daughter (who may be the same Ritty), Robt. and Richard have yet to be verified by any other documents. It's possible that the 4-year old Richard is the same Richard "Ransom" Swinson who later married into the Sloan family and resided on Cypress Creek Rd. near the Onslow/Duplin County line.     
James' exact date of death and place of burial is unknown, although it's suspected he was buried in the woods on the edge of a field near the old home place near Ten Mile Creek. According to Swinson family oral history, James and Rebecca lived in this location (behind the home of Hallie Swinson on Swinson Rd.) while their larger home was being built in its present location on Swinson Road, on the Ten Mile, near Maple Hill, N.C. This is unconfirmed, but there are ruins of an old farmhouse in the woods and an unmarked grave reported to be that of James.

More About JAMES SWINSON:
Occupation 1: 1850, Mechanic17
Occupation 2: 1860, Cooper18

Notes for REBECCA MARSHBURN:
Rebecca's exact date of birth is unknown at this time, but is estimated as 1804 based on her listed age (48) in the 1850 North Carolina Federal Census, Onslow County. I've yet to positively identify Rebecca, but it's certain she was a daughter of Duplin Marshburn's descended from Edward Mashburn "the Schoolmaster", who immigrated from England and had sons named Edward, Jethro, Daniel, Joseph and William. She was probably also a cousin of Hosea Mashborn/Marshburn, who married Mary Ann Davis; ancestors of Lillie Leora Marshburn, my grandmother.
James and Rebecca's marriage was recorded as "about 1829 in Onslow County", in the Latter Day Saint's Ancestral File. This date is by no means firm, but would fit with their first child Mary's birth in 1830. Also, it's more probable they were married in Duplin County, though I've yet to conduct an exhaustive search of the Duplin County marriage records.
As shown in the deed from Richard Swinson to Rebecca Swinson "of Duplin", Rebecca, also named as "Re" Swinson in the deed, purchased 25 acres of land in Onslow County on Feruary 18, 1839. This property began at a "...Forked gum in the Taylor's branch standing in the county line..." and ran to "Mashburn's branch". Though the exact location of this property hasn't been located, it most certainly was somewhere within the Nine Mile/Ten Mile area near the onslow and Duplin County lines. Colonel Simon B. Taylor resided at Catharine Lake around this time and the Onslow Marshburn's were already established on the Nine Mile.
A careful inspection of the above mentioned deed reveals that "Ebonezar" Swinson was a witness. It's proven through land conveyances that Ebenezer had a son named Richard, but according to a letter dated Jan 13, 1975 from Mr. Chester Swinson of Illinois to Tom Byrd of Cary, NC, "...Anna Cole's [wife of Richard Swinson, son of Ebenezer] Family Bible states that Richard and Anna left Cumberland Co., NC and landed in Lawrence Co., Illinois in 1837. They purchased 40 acres of land in Lawrence Co.; it went on record in 1852. In 1857 they bought 40 more acres." This makes it unlikely that the Richard in the deed was Ebenezer's son, but the parties were most probably closely related.
Only one reference thus far, the 1860 Census, gives any indication of Rebecca's occupation. She was listed as "Serving", which most probably consisted of preparing and serving meals, either in a larger property owner's home or an eating establishment. This differed from a "domestic" in that a domestic is the equivalent of a housekeeper. Further research into Census records is required.            
Rebecca's date of death of "Aft. Jun 2, 1891. This is the date she registered the land she purchased from Richard Swinson in 1839. I've found no further records of Rebecca in Onslow County after this date. Her grave has yet to be found, but is suspected to be in the Swinson Family cemetery located on Gurganus Road behind the home of Luther Swinson. Her grave marker was probably made of wood and has since decayed.

More About REBECCA MARSHBURN:
Occupation: 1860, Serving18

Marriage Notes for JAMES SWINSON and REBECCA MARSHBURN:
25 Oct 95

The approximate date and county of marriage was found in the LDS Ancestral File. The validity is unconfirmed, but I will continue to look.

Source in Ancestral File: Batch F501340
Sheet 41
Call # 1396472
      Source type: Film
     
Children of JAMES SWINSON and REBECCA MARSHBURN are:
6. i.   MARY3 SWINSON, b. Bet. 1826 - 1830, North Carolina.
7. ii.   NANCY SWINSON, b. Bet. 1832 - 1835.
  iii.   JAMES SWINSON19,20, b. Bet. 1836 - 183821,22.
  More About JAMES SWINSON:
Occupation: 1860, Farm Laborer23
  iv.   NELLY SWINSON24,25, b. Bet. 1840 - 184126,27.
  More About NELLY SWINSON:
Occupation: 1860, Domestic28
  v.   RACHEL SWINSON29,30, b. Bet. 1842 - 184331,32.
  More About RACHEL SWINSON:
Occupation: 1860, Domestic33
8. vi.   JESSE G. SWINSON, b. Jun 2, 1845, Onslow Co., NC; d. Oct 5, 1925, Onslow Co., NC.


3. ZEBEDEE2 SWINSON, JR. (ZEBEDEE1)34,35,36,37 was born Abt. 181038, and died Aft. 186639. He married (1) NANCY BROWN40,41, daughter of JOHN BROWN and WENEFORD ANDREWS. She was born Abt. 181542, and died Bef. Jan 18, 1859. He married (2) MALSEY MARSHBURN Jan 18, 1859 in H.C. Martin's Tailor Shop, Kenansville, Duplin Co., NC.

Notes for ZEBEDEE SWINSON, JR.:
Zebedee's birth is listed as "Abt. 1810" based on the 1850 North Carolina Census, Onslow County, which lists his age as 40. He was probably born in Duplin County. He first appears in the 1830 Onslow County, North Carolina Census listed as being 20-30 years old, indicating a birth between 1810 and 1820. A female between 15-20 is also listed, most probably his wife, Nancy Brown.
The next record of Zebedee is a grant from the State of NC for 20 acres on the east side of Back Swamp near the Onslow/Duplin County line on November 23, 1833. (Onslow County Grant Book 1, p. 465) A Richard Swinson is a witness to this grant. He sold this tract to Lemuel Williams in July 1839.
Zebedee's deed of July 13, 1839 (Onslow County Deed Book 25, p. 282/283) for the 20 acres on the east side of Back Swamp to Lemuel Williams for 20 dollars, in which he sells the land from his 1833 grant, warrants close inspection. Several families that tie into the Swinson line are party to the transaction. John Brown, who is mentioned in relation to the marriage of Jesse Swinson and Calestia Ann Batts in 1869, appears on several occassions. A Bryan Williams is also a witness to this deed. I believe this to be the father of Lamuel Williams, born in 1839, who married Rebecca Screws, daughter of William Screws and Lydia Ann Blake. William and Lydia are ancestors of my grandmother, Lillie Leora Marshburn Swinson. The Lemuel (notice the different spelling) has been tenatively identified as a member of the Williams family that settled on the Five Mile, near Richlands, NC.
Zebedee was granted 100 acres on the north side of Juniper Swamp by the State of North Carolina on November 27, 1845. (Onslow County Grant Book 2, p. 172) This deed was witnessed by Right and William R. Horne. The Horne's were early land owners in the Back Swamp and Cypress Creek area of Duplin County. This deed was registered on July 26, 1847 and was later sold to Thomas Simpson in 1853.
The 1850 North Carolina Federal Census, Onslow County, Lower Richlands District, lists the following household:

Swinson, Zebedee, 40, male, turpentine business, land valued at $95.00, over 20 cannot read and write
"      Nancy, 35, female, over 20 cannot read and write
"      Spicey, 15, female
"      John, 13 (33?), male (age listed as 33 in other sources - possibly his brother)
"      Molsey, 11, female
"      Mary, 8, female
"      Hosea N., 4, male
"      Nancy L., 1, female

      Henry Swinson, a son of Zebedee, age 20, with wife Mary A. (his 1st wife) and Jesse W. (his brother?) is shown living nearby. The grave of Henry Swinson has been located in a predominantly Simpson family cemetery on Cypress Creek Road, near Back Swamp, in Onslow County. His inscription reads:

                        Henry Swinson
                        Son of Zebdee (sic) &
                        Nancy Swinson
                        Oct 22, 1832
                        Nov. 29, 1912

Beside him is the grave of Olive [Simpson] Swinson. Her inscription reads, "Wife of Henry Swinson, Born Nov. 20, 1837, Died March 7, 1912; 74 Yrs, 8 Mos. 15 Dys." Olive is believed to be Henry's second wife. They were married May 23, 1869 by D.A. Williams, M. G., in Onslow County. In "White Marriage Records & Bonds, 1867-1919", on file in the Onslow County Register of Deeds Office, Olive's father is listed as one Thomas Simpson.
On February 8, 1853, Zebedee sold one hundred acres on Juniper Swamp to Thomas Simpson [Olive Simpson's father] (Onslow County Deed Book 27, p. 107). William B. and Daniel M. Brown were witnesses to this deed. Brown was the maiden name of Zebedee's first wife, Nancy. This deed is the last bearing Zebedee's name on file in the Onslow County Register of Deeds office.
The next appearance I've found of Zebedee is seven years later. This reference is found in Roger Kammerer's book, "Register Records of Onslow and Jones Co. Citizens and Related Families, Vol. 2" (1988). It records a Zebadee Swinson marrying Molsey Marshburn on January 18, 1859, in H. C. Martin's Tailor Shop, in Kenansville. It's unknown if this Molsey and the Mary recorded with Zebedee in the Census below are the same person, but it's probable. The information for Zebedee is very disjointed and requires further research. However, this information ties in with the next document Zebedee appears in the 1860 Duplin Census.
In the 1860 North Carolina Federal Census, Duplin County (Southern Division, dwelling 186, family 187), things have radically changed in Zebedee's household. It shows:

Z. Swinson, 50, Farmer, land valued at $24.00, personal property valued at $100.00, born Duplin
Mary, 30, Female, born Duplin
Eliza, 3, Female, born Duplin
Owen, 1, Male, born Duplin

Something extraordinary, catastrophic, and as yet unexplained, has happened to Zebedee's family. The older children would've probably established their own household by 1860, but the youngest children, Hosea N. and Nancy L. would've still required care. They aren't listed in Zebedee's household of 1860. They have yet to be found in Census records.
      The last reference I've found for him is contained in the Duplin County Grantors Index. In this single reference, "Zebedie" & James Swinson convey a tract of land on Back Swamp to Maxey A. Manning in 15 Oct 1866. (Duplin County Deed Book 26, p. 143) This deed was filed September 28, 1869. (See the Notes for Zebedee Swinson, Sr. for the full test of this deed)
Zebedee Jr.'s death is listed "Aft. 1866" based on this deed. Perusal of later Census information and records on file in Duplin County should prove very enlightening and necessitate adjusting the dates I have thus far. However, that's the nature of genealogical research.


More About ZEBEDEE SWINSON, JR.:
Occupation 1: 1850, Land Business
Occupation 2: 1860, Farmer43

Notes for NANCY BROWN:
18 Aug 95
Name "Nancy Brown" based on letter from Gertrude Swinson of Beaulaville, NC, as sent to Tom Byrd, discussing the lineage of her husband, James O. Swinson.

Marriage Notes for ZEBEDEE SWINSON and MALSEY MARSHBURN:
19 July 1998

- The information concerning a second marriage for Zebedee was found at the Onslow County Library in Jacksonville, NC. Source information: Title: Register Records of Onslow & Jones Co. Citizens & Related Families, Vol. 2. Author: Rojer E. Kammerer, 1988.

The entry reads as follows:

"Md. in H.C. Martin's Tailor Shop in Kenansville, on the 18th Inst. by james Murray, Esq. Zebedee Swinson to Miss Malsey Marshburn, all of Duplin Co."
WWJ (Weekly Wilmington Journal), Jan 21, 1859.

Based on the 1810 birthdate for Zebedee, he would have been 49 years old.
     
Children of ZEBEDEE SWINSON and NANCY BROWN are:
9. i.   JESSE W.3 SWINSON, b. Abt. 1831, Onslow Co., NC; d. May 5, 1864, Orange Courthouse, VA.
  ii.   HENRY SWINSON44, b. Oct 22, 1832, Onslow Co., NC45,46; d. Nov 29, 1912, Onslow Co, NC47; m. (1) MARY A.48; b. Abt. 183049; m. (2) OLIVE SIMPSON50, Mar 15, 1869, Onslow Co, NC51,52; b. Nov 20, 1837, Onslow Co., NC53,54; d. Mar 7, 1912, Onslow Co., NC55.
  Notes for HENRY SWINSON:
The 1850 Census of Onslow County, Lower Richlands District, dwelling 872, Family 872, p. 296, shows Henry as head of household at age 20 w/ Mary A., also age 20 (Believe she is 1st wife) and Jesse W. (his brother?). He's living next to Zebadee and Nancy Swinson, his parents.

Henry Swinson, 20, Male, Land Business (?), born NC, Cannot read/write
Mary A., 20, Female, born NC, Over 20 cannot read and write
Jessee W., 19, Male, born NC

There were no children from this marriage.

Private Henry Swinson, Co. H, 55th Regiment, NC Infantry

Born in Onslow County where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Onslow or Alexander County at age 31, March 27, 1862. Reported absent on wheat furlough in June, 1862. Hospitalized at Richmond, Virginia, June 6, 1863, with diarrhoea. Returned to duty on July 17, 1863. Reported absent sick on July 19, 1864. Returned to duty prior to August 19, 1864, when he was wounded in the chin and throat at Globe Tavern, Virginia. Hospitalized at Richmond. Furloughed on August 27, 1864. Returned to duty prior to November 1, 1864. Captured at or near Sutherland's Station, Virginia, April 2, 1865. Confined at Point Lookout, Maryland, April 5, 1865. Released at Point Lookout on June 20, 1865, after signing Oath of Allegiance.

- "North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, A Roster, Vol. XIII, Infantry", p. 513.

Henry Swinson, residing in Kenansville, appeared before the Clerk of the Superior Court of Duplin County on Jul 1, 1911, at age 80, to apply for a pension based on his Civil war service. He attested that he enlisted in Co. H, 55th Regt., NC State Troops on or about March 27, 1862 and that he was wounded at Hatcher's Run and [???] in Virginia on or about August 16, 1864. Henry stated that he was "disabled from manual labor on account of wounds & old age & bad health". A physician's statement on the pension identified Henry's condition as follows:

      "Applicant has several bullet wounds; one produced a fracture of lower right jaw - also fracture of right clavicle which interferes with strength of right arm & limits its motions - lastly he has a scar over left tibia only superficial and of no importance. Disability, I should say, amounts to three fourths on account of wounds and senility."

J. B. Kelly, of Kenansville, was an attesting witness to Henry's pension application. Henry's pension was approved on July 24, 1911 and received by the Dept. of the State Auditor on August 8, 1911.

Information from other researchers indicate that their were no children from the marriage of Henry and Mary. On Mar 15, 1869, he married Olive Simpson, in Onslow County, NC.




  More About HENRY SWINSON:
Burial: Cypress Creek Rd., Onslow Co., NC
Military Serv: Mar 27, 1862, Enlisted Co. H, 55th Regt., NC Troops56
Occupation: Sep 26, 1850, Turpentine Business57

  Marriage Notes for HENRY SWINSON and OLIVE SIMPSON:
White marriage Records and Bonds, 1867-1919, p. 5:

Henry Swinson to Olive Simpson
F: Zebadee Swinson Thomas Simpson
M: Nancy Swinson ? Simpson

Married by D.A. Williams, M.G. at ?? Barber's, Mar 15, 1869

  iii.   SPICEY SWINSON58, b. Abt. 183559.
  iv.   JOHN SWINSON60, b. Abt. 183761.
  v.   MOLSEY SWINSON62, b. Abt. 183963.
  vi.   MARY ELIZABETH SWINSON64, b. Abt. 184265.
  vii.   HOSEA N. SWINSON66, b. Abt. 184667.
10. viii.   WILLIAM THOMAS SWINSON, b. Feb 7, 1846; d. Jan 4, 1929, Cabarrus Co.,NC.
  ix.   NANCY L. SWINSON68, b. Abt. 184969.

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