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- William Swann was grt 1200a in James City Co Va, Nov 5, 1635, for trans 24 persons, some of whom were Richard Jones, John Swann, Nicholas Stallings, Nicholas Foster, Edward Champion, & Richard Perry. This grant was reissued to Thomas Swann, by Sir John Harvey.
- Thomas Swann had land grant, Mar 1, 1638, 1200a (as above) on South side of James River, “to half way Neck.” Another grt, May 9, 1638, on South side of the James, “at a place called Swanns Bay.” He was a member of the House of Burgesses, from James City Co, (Surry) 1645-49, and from Surry Co, 1657-58. In Council 1660-80; d Sept 16, 1680. His home was on Swanns Point, Surry Co Va, & the English sent to suppress Bacons Rebellion, met at his house. He married five times, Miss Codd being his first wife, by whom he had, 1st Samuel, b May 11, 1653, who moved to Perq Co, N. C.
- Maj Samuel Swann, “Eldest son of Thomas Swann Esq, of Southwarke pish, dec’d, for £30 pd by Mary Swann Widow of afsd” sold 300a in Surry Co, upon Grays Creek, “part of a grt unto my dec’d father, for 1930a, Oct 4, 1645.” Seal Feb 25, 168½. Sarah Swann Ack’ sd Deed, Mar 7, 168½. (Surry Co records.)
- Sarah Swann, wife of Maj Samuel, (by letter) apt’ Capt Thomas Swann of James City Co, her Att’ to recover “goods, Chattels, & money due my sd husband.” April 30, 1694. Test’ Will Foster, Will Gray, Roger Williams. (Surry Co records.)
- Samuel Swann “Sone and heir of Thomas,” for £75 s4 pd by John Tuke of Surry Co, sold “All Right in Est of my father, the late Capt Thomas Swann,” and apt’ Maj Arthur Allen Att’ Feb 8, 1704. (Surry Co records.)
- Samuel Swann “of N. C. gent; sold to Joseph John Jackman of Surry Co Vir” for £450, land called Swanns Point, 1650a, was 300a grt by sd Samuel, by deed, to Mary Swann Relict of Thomas, which was grt sd Thomas “his father” by patent, Feb 15, 1645, in Southwarke Parish, on South side of the James River. Mar 4 1706. Elizabeth wife of Samuel Ack’ her Dower right. (Samuel Swanns 2d wife née Lillington.)
- Samuel Swann proved rights for 13 persons, in Perq precinct 1694, & received for importing them 640a of land; himself, wife Sarah (d of Wm Drummond) & sons: William, Samuel, Sampson, Henry, & Thomas, Elizabeth Hunt, & 5 negroes.
- He was grt by John Archdale 450a in Pasq Co, Feb 26, 1696, “at the mouth of Newbegun Creek,” which he conveyed to said Archdale, the next day.
- On Oct 29, 1702 Samuel Swann Esq, was grt 850a, “in ye prect of perquimons, adj Mr Thomas Durant, and Roan Oak Sound, Northerly on Batemans Creek, & Easterly on lands of Geo Katchmaide (now in poss’ of Mr Jno Hawkins) being part of 3333a grt by Sir Wm Berkley, late Gov of Vir, to sd Katchmaide, late of the precinct of Perq dec’d.” April 1, 1663.
- Hon’ble Maj Samuel Swann Sec of State. (At a Gen’l Court in Perq pre’t 1700.) The ages of his first children, can not be found in Perq. His wife Sarah, died April 18, 1696. Samuel Swann (1) m 2d Elizabeth née Lillington (d of Alex & wife Sarah née James) widow of John Fendall. (See deeds, for mar contract.) Issue: 1 Elizabeth, b June 26, 1698—2 Sarah, b Dec 29 —.
- Maj Samuel Swann d 7 ber 14, 1707. (Berkeley Par Reg, Perq Co.)
- Samuel (1) Swann, m Elizabeth Fendall (widow) before Oct 10, 1698.
- John Fendall late of this County, died Dec 20, 1695, at Capt Walkers house. (Capt Henderson Walker, one time Gov of Albemarle m Ann Lillington, sister of Elizabeth, 2d wife of Samuel Swann.)
- For the will of Maj Samuel Swann, see Grimes N. C. Wills, p 368, which was p April 20, 1708. He bequeathed to s William “a Bible, & seal ring,” to sons: Sampson, Henry, & Thomas, “land between Muddy Creek, & Marshy Gutt” sons: Samuel, & John, dau’s Elizabeth, & Sarah; wife Elizabeth.
- Henry Swann of Perq, Merchant: apt’ Mr William, & Thomas Swann his Att’ Sept 21 1709.
- Thomas Swann of Pasq Co, conveyed 127a in sd Co, “to his cousin Wm Drummond of Vir, to him & his heirs forever” Oct 18, 1726. (Pasq County Records.)
- Samuel Swann of Perq was dec’d 1704. Mary widow & Admix. (Col Rec Vol I.) This could not be Maj Samuel’s son, as he names a son Samuel in his will, 1708. If the Samuel who died 1704, left any issue, there is no record of it in Perq.
- (3) Samuel (s of Maj Samuel & Sarah née Drummond) m Mary — (Widow Vail) issue: Mary, b Mch 5, 1726/7, m Richard Clayton—2 Sarah, b Sept 3, 1729—3 Samuel, b Dec 8, 1731.
- Samuel Swann (3) will Perq, p April 1753, names his dau Mary “wife of Richard Clayton,” to whom he left “land on the Sound side,” other dau’s Sarah, Ann, Elizabeth, Martha, Jane, Margaret. Exrs John, & Jeremiah Vail (brothers). Test’ Susannah Vail, William Woolard.
- Thomas Swann (s of Maj Samuel & Sarah Drummond) lived in Pasq Co, where his will was p Aug 9, 1733. Sons: Samuel, & William. He made bequest to Dau’s Rebecca, & Elizabeth, “land at Moyock, in Currituck Co,” wife Elizabeth.
- John & Thomas Swann moved to Hyde County, where their descendants are now living. The county seat of Hyde, Swan Quarter, was probably named for this branch of the family.
- (3) Samuel Swann, was Speaker of the Assembly in 1715. Samuel Swann Gent, was sworn in by George Nichols, Att’ Gen’l, for the Counties of Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, & Chowan, Oct 3, 1752.
- Samuel Swann, & son John were Exrs of the will of Thomas Snowden, p in Perq Oct 1736.
- One of Maj Samuel Swanns dau’s m John Baptista Ashe, another m Frederick Jones, of Chowan County, Chief Justice of N. C. 1720.
- Major Samuel Swanns record in Perq, is without a blemish. The family adhered faithfully to the faith of their fathers, & Samuel Swann was instrumental in establishing a Church according to his belief, the Church of England, believed to be “old Nags Head Chapel” which has long since disappeared. This Chapel, not far from his home, was still unfinished at his death, but it served the people of “Durants Neck” for many generations, finally falling into decay, it was turned over to the Methodist congregation, and it is said the present New Hope Church rests upon the old foundations of Nags Head Chapel. This Methodist Church, is the oldest in the county, so it seems. Here New Hope took root upon “old hope” buried in the past.
- At the present time there is not a living representative of this influential family in Perq, the last to be found, being Samuel, who was dec’d June 13, 1771, without heirs. Like so many other families, once numerous in our county, they have drifted away, & only the records are a reminder that they at one time wielded a strong hand in the public affairs of this section.
- The New Hanover Land Grants, in N. C. show that Samuel Swann, was grt 320a in said county, on East side of the road, from Wilmington, to Brunswick, below his line, Feb 23, 1754, and 300a on same day, same runnings, and 200a on Long Creek, all same date. Thus we see the Swann family continued to migrate ever southward. The Counties of Hyde, Beaufort, & New Hanover, would probably yield valuable information, about this splendid family.
Source: History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).
- Nothing is known of Thomas Snoden prior to his entry into N. C., except an affidavit made by John Foster 1703, that “he knew Thomas Snoden, & Elizabeth his wife in Pennsylvania, where he died, and that his son Thomas came from Maryland to Perq, with his step-father Thomas Hassold.” Thomas Snoden according to his own statement, was 24 years old Mar 1703. How long he had been here at that time the records do not show, but he was serving as Clerk of Court 1704. He married in Perq, July 18, 1705 Thomazin Mercer, who appears to have been his 2d wife.
- Snoden (Snowden) Thomas and wife Constance — issue: 1 Joseph, b Dec 7, 1703. This is the only son by his first wife. His other children being by the second wife Tonsen: 2 Rebeckah, b Nov 23, 1706—3 John, b July 29, 1707—4 Thomas (3), April 18, 1711—5 Willis, b Dec 24, 1713—6 Joseph (2d by name), b Jan 24, 1716/7—7 Samuel, b Feby 6, 1720/1—8 Solomon, b Aug 26, 1724—9 Lemuel, b Feby 26, 1726/7. With all these sons, the name of Snoden could hardly suffer for lack of perpetuation.
- Snoden, Thomas (2) will p in Perq, Oct 1736. He bequeathed to son John “land in Bertie Co,” and to son Joseph same. To sons: William, George & Samuel “land in Perq Co,” sons: Solomon, & Lemuel.
- The division of his Estate Dec 1736, by Richard Whedbee, shows heirs: William, Joseph, George, Samuel, Solomon, & Lemuel, to each a part; wife Elizabeth. She is named in the will of John Wilson Aug 6, 1760, as “daughter.” From the records it seems that Thomas Snoden had by his third & last wife one daughter, whose name is not mentioned, therefore one can not be certain of the fact. She was widow of Francis Layden whose will was made in Perq, Feb 23, 1727/8, and he names the identical children in his will that she does in hers.
- Snoden, Elizabeth, will Perq p Jan 1744, Sons: William, Francis, George, & Isack Layden, gr-dau Elizabeth Layden, gr-sons Robert, & Joseph Warren. Francis Layden possessed 337a of land in Durants Neck 1794, and Mary his wife 100a.
- Snoden, Solomon (1) Thomas (1) m Mary Hawkins widow of John (no date). Richard Whedbee petitioned the Court (date not given) “having married Relict of Solomon Snowden” for care of his son Zebulon Snowden, and a division of negroes left by deceased.
- Snoden, Jane, relinquished her right of Admix on Estate of her dec’d husband
- George Snoden, in favor of Joshua Barclift, Oct 15, 1743.
- Snoden, Lemuel, dec’d July 7, 1758, widow Mary Admix.
- Snoden, William, m Ann Holloway, d of Thomas whose will p Nov 3, 1750, names her. He was dead Oct 1756, Ann Admix.
- Snoden, Isaac, gr-son of Mary Sanders of Bertie Co, will 1734. Exrs: George Wynns, Robert Evans.
- Snoden, Elizabeth, m William Stokes, before April 1762. They petition the Court on that day for part of “our Brother Frederick Snowdens Estate, who died March last under age.”
- Snoden, Joseph, d. s. p. will Perq Jan 1740. Brothers: John, George, & William, niece, Thomsen Snoden. The last named was widow of Francis Layden Oct 1756.
Source: History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).