John S. SWORDS from SC
The following is from Ancestry.com "Along Those Lines" by George Morgan
I thought it might help someone on this forum.
A Tale of Two Families
A Tale of Two FamiliesIn the late 1700s, there were two families in South Carolina: the John S.
SWORDS family was in the Pendleton District and the John MINTON family was
in Union County. On 19 March 1783, William SWORDS was born, and on 27
August 1791, Sylvanus MINTON was born. Their lives and the lives of their
children would be intertwined.
SWORDS family was in the Pendleton District and the John MINTON family was
in Union County. On 19 March 1783, William SWORDS was born, and on 27
August 1791, Sylvanus MINTON was born. Their lives and the lives of their
children would be intertwined.
John S. SWORDS received bounty land from the government for his service in
the Revolutionary War between 1777 and 1782. On his return from the war, he
settled in the Pendleton District, married in April of 1782, and his first
child, William, was born in 1783. William grew up to become a Justice of
the Peace, and the 1810 and 1820 census records find him in the Pendleton
District, and the 1830 census finds him in Anderson County (formed in 1826
from Pendleton). Land records reflect that land was surveyed for him in
June 1814 and purchased in August 1814. William and his family are no
longer listed in SC census after 1830. Land records indicate that they sold
their land in 1831.
the Revolutionary War between 1777 and 1782. On his return from the war, he
settled in the Pendleton District, married in April of 1782, and his first
child, William, was born in 1783. William grew up to become a Justice of
the Peace, and the 1810 and 1820 census records find him in the Pendleton
District, and the 1830 census finds him in Anderson County (formed in 1826
from Pendleton). Land records reflect that land was surveyed for him in
June 1814 and purchased in August 1814. William and his family are no
longer listed in SC census after 1830. Land records indicate that they sold
their land in 1831.
John MINTON and his wife, Lydia, had several children. Their son, Sylvanus
MINTON, was destined for greatness. He became a Baptist minister and moved
to the Pendleton County about 1810, was married for the first time in 1813.
He founded a Baptist church there and the first of his eighteen children
was born in 1814. His church grew and he enjoyed great success as one of
the finest preachers in SC. He started other churches in what was then
Pendleton County and which later became Anderson County. He lost his first
wife following the birth of their eighth child in November 1827, and
remarried three months later in February 1828. Like William SWORDS,
Sylvanus MINTON last appears in the census records in SC in 1830. Land
records indicate that Sylvanus MINTON's land was also sold in 1831.
MINTON, was destined for greatness. He became a Baptist minister and moved
to the Pendleton County about 1810, was married for the first time in 1813.
He founded a Baptist church there and the first of his eighteen children
was born in 1814. His church grew and he enjoyed great success as one of
the finest preachers in SC. He started other churches in what was then
Pendleton County and which later became Anderson County. He lost his first
wife following the birth of their eighth child in November 1827, and
remarried three months later in February 1828. Like William SWORDS,
Sylvanus MINTON last appears in the census records in SC in 1830. Land
records indicate that Sylvanus MINTON's land was also sold in 1831.
A search of census records in 1820 and 1830 shows that Sylvanus MINTON and
William SWORDS were neighbors. Subsequent SWORDS family records indicate
that they were Baptists. Due to the geographical proximity, there is a
strong probability that the SWORDS family were members of Sylanus'
congregation.
William SWORDS were neighbors. Subsequent SWORDS family records indicate
that they were Baptists. Due to the geographical proximity, there is a
strong probability that the SWORDS family were members of Sylanus'
congregation.
A search of SC and the surrounding states' 1840 census records finds
Sylvanus MINTON in Cherokee County, AL. Also found in Cherokee County at
this time are William SWORDS and his family, as well as his brothers,
Jonathan Gullet SWORDS and family and Andrew J. SWORDS. Cherokee County
historical documentation indicates they all settled near the site of the
Tecumseh. Here there was the site of the Tecumseh Iron Furnace
manufacturing concern, Andrew SWORDS' mill, and Rev. Sylvanus MINTON's
newly established Baptist church, the first in this area.
Sylvanus MINTON in Cherokee County, AL. Also found in Cherokee County at
this time are William SWORDS and his family, as well as his brothers,
Jonathan Gullet SWORDS and family and Andrew J. SWORDS. Cherokee County
historical documentation indicates they all settled near the site of the
Tecumseh. Here there was the site of the Tecumseh Iron Furnace
manufacturing concern, Andrew SWORDS' mill, and Rev. Sylvanus MINTON's
newly established Baptist church, the first in this area.
As time passed, Sylvanus moved on to Arkansas to found other churches. He
died in Hazen (Prairie) AR on 10 November 1880 at the age of eighty-nine.
MINTON and SWORDS families remained in Alabama, and some moved to Georgia.
Ultimately, however, Sylvanus' grandson, William Martin MINTON, married
Lydia Caroline SWORDS, the granddaughter of William SWORDS, in Floyd
County, GA, on 1 October 1866, thus uniting these long-standing families.
died in Hazen (Prairie) AR on 10 November 1880 at the age of eighty-nine.
MINTON and SWORDS families remained in Alabama, and some moved to Georgia.
Ultimately, however, Sylvanus' grandson, William Martin MINTON, married
Lydia Caroline SWORDS, the granddaughter of William SWORDS, in Floyd
County, GA, on 1 October 1866, thus uniting these long-standing families.
History Repeats Itself
History Repeats ItselfWhat I did not mention before is that I searched in vain for several years
to locate William SWORDS and his family after they left SC. It was not
until I went back through the census records and checked for their
neighbors on either side in 1830 and before that I located the removal of
Sylvanus MINTON from the area. Further investigation of land records showed
the sale of both men's real estate in 1831. A subsequent search of
surrounding states' census records in 1840 located Sylvanus, as well as
William, Jonathan G. and Andrew SWORDS.
to locate William SWORDS and his family after they left SC. It was not
until I went back through the census records and checked for their
neighbors on either side in 1830 and before that I located the removal of
Sylvanus MINTON from the area. Further investigation of land records showed
the sale of both men's real estate in 1831. A subsequent search of
surrounding states' census records in 1840 located Sylvanus, as well as
William, Jonathan G. and Andrew SWORDS.When researching our ancestors, it is not uncommon to find that they moved
one or more times in their life. Any number of factors may have influenced
their decisions to migrate elsewhere, not the least of which was that
friends or other family members were moving. The MINTON/SWORDS example
above shows both situations. Sylvanus and William both sold their property
in SC and moved to AL at the same time. Two of William's brothers, one of
whom had a family, accompanied or followed him to AL. Later, the families
went their own ways migrating elsewhere, individually or in groups.