The Immigrants
This chapter and several that follow give biographies of Swetnam ancestors. They have been grouped by time period so that an overview of current events of the time could be given, and to compare the lives of Swetnams living during the same time period.
If indeed the Swettenham theory is correct, than the first Swetnam was entering America at the time when accusations of witchcraft resulted in dozens of alleged witches being brought to trail at Salem in the Massachusetts colony (1692). During the time of the those with biographies below, the colonies went to war against England and won their independence (1776). Congress adopted a flag with 13 alternate red and white stripes and with a blue square containing a white star for each state of the union (1818). Also during this time Alabama was admitted to the Union as the 22nd state (1819).
John Swetnam was born in the 1740’s. It is possible that John served our Country in the War of Independence, this is one possible explanation for how John’s son Neri (see chapter four) acquired over such a large tract of land on Blaine Creek in what is now Kentucky. It is important to note however that it was rare for land tracts to be granted by the government in this area of the Country. Not much else is know about John’s life other than he was married sometime after October of 1772 to Sarah Ficklin. Have record of only one son, Neri, however it is believed by some that he had at least one other son named William (see chapter four). It is possible that John was the son of Alexander Swetnam who died in 1789 and was married to Ann Roane. John Swetnam is believed to be a grandson of the immigrant Swetnam.
Sarah Ficklin, wife of John Swetnam was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Bruce) Ficklin, granddaughter of William and Sarah Ficklin, who migrated from England about 1710 or 1720 and settled in Brunswick Parish, King George County, Virginia. William Ficklin died before April 7, 1757, when a deed to the estate was made to his son, Benjamin Ficklin. Settler's and Military Claims, 1774 - 178 (Shaded area)
Thomas Swetnam was possibly a brother or cousin of John Swetnam. He married on December 16, 1765, Frances Call, in Hanover or King George County, Virginia. There is a note of him in “British Mercantile Claims”: “He enlisted in the American army during the revolution, having first dissipated all his property, and was marched to South Carolina where he died. His property was quite exhausted and his children all passed out among his neighbors before he enlisted”. It is believed he died in either the battle of Kings Mountain or Cowpens.
Issue of Thomas and Frances Swetnam
Thomas Swetnam + Frances (Fanny) Call
1. William Swetnam (1770 - 1841) + Martha Thompson (1779 - 1856)
2. George Call Swetnam (1772 - ) + Mary (Polly) Sutton
(See chapter four for biographies of those highlighted above)
