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    SWANNER/SCHWANNER - First appears in Bertie Co. of North Carolina on the north shore of the Albemarle Sound in 1713 when John Conrad Swanner, Mathias Tobias Swanner, and John Metall Swanner appear named in a land grant deed.

Surrounding the Albemarle Sound are the counties where my North Carolina ancesters settled and lived. The counties of Bertie, Martin, Washington, and Tyrrell are the counties in which my ancestors lived. The first documentation of their presence is land patent transactions dated the 8th and 18th of July, 1713 of Bertie Precinct. The family names listed in those documents are, Mathew Swanner (Jr.?), John Conrad Swanner, John Metall Swanner, and Mr. Robert Lanier who was of Chowan Co. Others named where Lewis Williams and Mary his wife from whom the patient was received and Frederick Hofman a joint receiver of the patent. By February 13, 1922, Robert Lanier and his wife Sarah transfers 250 acres on Beaver Dam adj. George Winn's Mill to Horsing Branch in Bertie County. This might be in conjunction with the marriage of Jean Lanier and Matthias/Mathew Swanner as the family seems to fit this date as the time of the marriage. In the actual deed copy the name is written out as Matthew Tobias Swanner. In another deed between Mat: Tob:s Swanner and Geo: Winn the deed is signed/copied as signed Matth: Tobias Swanner. 13 May 1728. On 17th July, 1730 Mathew Tobias Swanner still of Bertie county has another property trans action in Bertie county.

The most telling deed (copy?) was entered into on the 22nd of April 1730. It refers to some of the same lands as the other deeds (George Winn's Mill/Dam) and the name is more correctly recorded/transcribed as Mathias Tobias Swanner and Jean Swanner his wife to Isaac Brawley/Brawler. This appears to be the same lands that was received from Robert Lanier and his wife Sarah back in 1722. This last deed is signed in the presence of a John Swanner and Mathias Tobias Swanner, perhaps the other Senior or Junior Mathias? Other deeds have the name of Mathew and Mathias in 1733 and 1734. The 1733 one associates Mathew Tobias Swanner with the origianal land patent of 1713 from Lewis Williams. But then another telling deed is one on 31st, July, 1738 in Tyrrell County. The lands are those later associated with the estate of Matthias Tobias Schwanner passed on to his sons. Another Tyrrell County deed of 7th December 1736 is a deed from John Swain of Tyrrell County to Matthias Tobias Swanner. Either Mathew and Mathias are being used interchangably which seems to be the case and/or the two are so closely associated to be in one and the same family and the names still being interchangable between a Jr. and a Sr. Matthias/Mathew Tobias Swanner/Schwanner. The Will Abstract of Mathias Tobias Schwanner is where I begin my family ties.

When the Swanner family moves in 1736 into the 'Tyrrell Precinct' it covers most all the the southern shores of the Albemarle Sound in the west including lands that later become associated with Martin, and Washington Counties as well as the later smaller Tyrrell County of today. The Smithwick Creek of the 1736 property deed is part of Martin/Washington counties of today.

Matthias Tobias Schwanner and Jean Lanier

My 5th Great Grandfather on my mother's side is Matthias Tobias Schwanner of North Carolina. He appears to have married Jean Lanier in 1722 in Bertie Precinct. He died about 1743 as that is when his will abstact is recorded. What is known and has been surmised about the will abstract named children is as follows:

  • Sarah Schwanner/Swanner assumed eldest, b. abt 1723 in Bertie Precinct, She married Darby Bryan and by 1743 has one son named William Bryan. She & Darby Bryan, her husband, become guardians of her brother Samuel Swanner a minor as of 1744/6 orphan bond.
  • John Schwanner/Swanner b. before 1725 in Bertie Precinct as he had reached his majority of 21 by the orphan bond dates of June 1746. He is the eldest son of Mathias Tobias Swanner. He marries and has four known childern: Jesse, Anna, John, and Mathias. John's eldest son Jesse Swanner of Pitt County, claims the lands of His uncle Mathias Swanner which where left to George Mathis Swanner by his father Mathias Tobias Swanner.
  • Mary Schwanner/Swanner b. after 1723 in Bertie Precinct. Desposition unknown.
  • Samuel Schwanner/Swanner b. after 1725 as minor per orphan bond. He dies by 6th November 1759. Marries and has a son named Richardson Swanner. Richardson is orphaned and raised with his cousin Obedian Bryan.
  • William (Lanier) Schwanner/Swanner b. after 1725 as he is orphaned to Robert Daniel, his own choice, possibly an in-law on his mother's side. His will is dated 1777. He marries Sarah _______ and has eight known childern: Thomas Swanner who marries Sally ______, William Swanner who marries Tabitha Everett, Henry Swanner who marries Elizabeth Worley Leary my ancestors, Mathias Swanner disposition unknown, and four referred to but un-named daughters.
  • Mathias George Schwanner/Swanner b. after 1725 as he is orphaned to his in-law/uncle William Lanier. He dies before 1773 without any known issue and his lands are claimed by his eldest brother's eldest son Jesse Swanner, then of Pitt County.

The Tyrrell Precinct lands of Matthias Tobias Swanner left to his four sons laid at the west end of the old Tyrrell Precinct. They were in the region that would later become Martin County and Washinton county. The Lands of Matthias Tobias Swanner left to his son William Swanner would later make this William Swanner of Martin County, he being my ancestor.

(Lanier) William Swanner and Sarah __________

My 4th Great Grandfather was William (Lanier) Swanner, Planter of Martin County. His will was dated 8 June 1777. He married Sarah __________. In his will he names four sons and four un-named daughters.

  • Thomas Swanner the eldest son was born about 1755. He died abt 1789. He married a Sally? _________. His sons where William Swanner, James Swanner, and Jesse Swanner named in his will dated 1789.
  • Sarah Swanner - daughter b. abt 1757 - married.
  • William Swanner born about 1759. He died about 1833. He married Tabitha Everett. Their children where Everett Howard Swanner who married Seenny Pinkham and died 10 Jan. 1835, Thomas Swanner who married Debbie Leggett (sister to Elizabeth Leggett of Jesse L. Swanner), Mary Swanner who married Isaac Peal, John Swanner, and Joshua Swanner who marries Emilly/Emilla.
  • _________ Swanner - daughter b. abt. 1762.
  • _________ Swanner - daughter b. abt. 1764.
  • Henry Swanner born about 1766 Tyrrell/Martin. He died between 1850-1860. He married Elizabeth Worley Leary on the 30th of April 1794. They are my ancestors and their family is found next below.
  • _________ Swanner - daughter b. about 1768.
  • Mathias Swanner born about 1770.

The will of William Swanner mentions his beloved wife Sarah Swanner, he four sons, Thomas, William, Henry, and Mathias, and it also mentions his four daughters but without names.

Henry Swanner and Elizabeth Worley Leary

My 3rd Great Grandfather was Henry Swanner of Washington County. He married Elizabeth Worley Leary on the 30th of April 1794. Through property deeds that mentions his daughters and sons the following has been put together.

  • Alpha Swanner born about 1795. She married __________ Whitaker.
  • Jesse L. Swanner born 20 Mar 1797. He died Aug 1867. He married Elizabeth Leggett the sister of Debbie Leggett who married his cousin Thomas Swanner. Their childern were Nancy Swanner born about 1828, Asa Swanner born about 1832 who married lauraney Barfoot, Catherine Swanner born about 1836, and William F. Swanner born about 1838. [Another source has him marrying Elizabeth Griffin, Mary E. Haybrook & Martha T. Barth]
  • Sally Swanner born 22 Dec 1798. She marries Joseph Leggett. She died 31 Dec 1873 in Beaufort. Their children where Louisa Leggett born about 1834, Benjamin Franklin Leggett born about 1837, Joseph Leggett born about 1840, and Uriah S. Leggett born about 1844.
  • Uriah W. Swanner born 15 December 1802, He married first Charolette Downing and married second Susan __________. He has no known issue. He died 15 Aug 1881 Washington Co.
  • Elizabeth Swanner born about 1805. She married _________ Hodges. They had a daughter named Elizabeth Hodges.
  • Martha Swanner born about 1808. She married Harry Perry. Their children were William J. Perry born about 1841, Lewis Perry born about 1850, Sarah Ann Perry born about 1839, Elizabeth Perry born about 1843, and Louisa Perry born about 1845.
  • Thomas L. Swanner born about 1812. He died between 1850-1860. He married ([S]Cinderilla) Atherilla Jones about 1834. They are my ancestors as further given below.

Thomas L. Swanner and (Cinderilla) Atherilla Jones

My 2nd Great Grandfather is Thomas L. Swanner of Martin County, the son of Henry Swanner and Elizabeth Worley Leary. He born about 1812. He married Atherilla (Cinderilla) Jones about 1834. Atherilla was the daughter of John Jones and Fanny his wife. They had 7 known children as follows:

  • John W. Swanner born about 1835. He died 1st of November 1862 of thyphoid as a Civil War soldier.
  • Elizabeth Swanner was born about 1838. She married on 22nd of May to John Daniel Bateman.
  • James Uriah Swanner was born 25th May 1841 in Martin County. He fought in the Civil war. He married 3rd of June to Sarah Francis Hassell. He died 23 Jun 1924 and is buried in the Henry Joseph Williams Cemetary, Roper. Their children were Annie [Minnie] Lee Swanner born 13 September 1880 who died 19 December 1882, and Mary (Bonnie) Eloise Swanner born 16 November 1884 who married 2 January 1900 to Alpheus M. Chesson - she died 30 December 1969.
  • Joseph (Joe) Swanner was born about 1843.
  • Thomas (Tom) Swanner was born about 1845. He died before 1850 census.
  • Henry Lafayette Swanner was born in October, 1846. He died about 1902. He married first Nicey Ann Quinn about 1874. He is my ancestor as detailed below.
  • Charlotte (Charity) Swanner was born about 1849. She married on the 31st of August 1876 to Samuel Baxter Jr. Their children were Duard Baxter born about 1878, John W. Baxter born February 1880, Jenny/Virginia Baxter born 1887 - married 21 December 1904 Lenord Dolphus Lamb - died 22 February 1977 - her decendants inhabit the Uriah W. Swanner estate, and Almer Baxter.

Henry Lafayette Swanner and Nicey Ann Quinn

My Great Grandfather was Henry Lafayette Swanner of Martin County. He was born October 1846, the son of Thomas L. Swanner and [S]Cinderilla Atherilla Jones. He first married Nicey Ann Quinn in about 1874, the daughter of Henry Quinn and his wife Basha. They had 7 known children. Henry married second Louisa Parker. They had no issue. Henry married thrid Viola Agnes Snell, [Violar Adalade] Snell on record, 30 October 1889. Their children where four daughters, Alice b a1892, Tola b May 1897, Hattie b. February 1894, and Goldie b. January 1900. Henry and Nicey's children are:

  • Aleathia Viola Swanner born 3rd August 1875, Roper, Washington, NC. She died 8th of March 1977. She married Elijah Turner Sexton. Their children were Lillian Estelle Sexton, Ida May Sexton, Mary Gertrude Sexton, William Henry Sexton, Alfred Lafayette Sexton, Aleathia Ethel Sexton, Elijah Thomas Sexton, and Lenley Neal Sexton.
  • Henrietta Swanner born about 1875. Died as child.
  • Lula Swanner born about 1877. Died as child.
  • Cinderilla Swanner born about 1878. Died as child.
  • Owney Swanner born about 1879. Died as child.
  • Joseph Thomas Swanner born 15 January 1880 at Mackey Ferry, Wash., NC. He died 20 October 1953. He married 21st April 1901 to Lenora Mabel Smith. They are my grandparents as detailed further below.
  • ________ Swanner born about 1883. Died as child.
As stated above, Henry Lafayette Swanner married second Louisa Parker on 18 March 1866, so Nicey Ann Quinn Swanner would have decease prior to that. My information is that Louisa Parker also died before Henry married a third wife named Viola A Smell on 30 October 1889. There is no mention as to any children of Louisa Parker and our family information is that there was none, but as to Louisa death, wither it was due to a failed child birth or what, is unknown. As for Henry and his third wife, Viola, the had four or five daughters as follows:
  • Alice Swanner, born 1891, Roper, Washington, NC.
  • Iola Swanner, born 1893, Roper, Washington, NC., who died reportedly in 1918.
  • Hattie Swanner, born 16 February 1895, Roper, Washington, NC. Seh died 11 July 1980. Her husband was Joe or Joseph Winn/Wynn.
  • Toler/Tola Swanner, who may be (likely is) the same as 'Iola' but estimated to have a different birth date of 1896 at Roper, Washington, NC. And she is reported to have died 1918 (like Iola) at Roper, Washington, NC. And her husband was Will or William Phelps on 8 June 1913 at Skinnersville, Washington, NC, which is the same location as was later renamed as 'Roper'. This marriage and her there on stated age of 16 in 1913 confirms her birth year to be 1896 rather than the 1893 estimated in likely error above under Iola. There is another point that may maker even younger still as on the 1910 census reports her as age 11, but that is unlikely as in 1900 she was listed as age 3.
  • Goldie or Golda Swanner, born 18 October 1900 at Roper, Washington, NC. Goldie's husband was William Edgar Sawyer and they were married 28 August 1914. She is further given to have married a second husband named Norwood O'Neal on 18 January 1935. And finally she married 3rd, Charles Taber Alexander. And as I recall, she died as Goldie Swanner Alexander on 18 January 1993 at Nags Head, Dare, North Carolina and is buried at Azalea Gardens, Columbia, Tyrrell, North Carolina. She was age 92, widowed and resident 320 Mashoes Rd., Manns Harbor, Dare, North Carolina.
NOTE: After the death of Henry L. Swanner, Viola would marry second Joseph E. Sexton and have at least two additional 'Sexton' children.
Joseph Thomas Swanner and Lenora Mabel Smith

These were my grandparents. Joseph Thomas Swanner was born on the 15th of January 1880. He married Lenora Mabel Smith the daughter of Henry Lewis Smith and Harriett Eliza Barnes on the 21st of April 1901. Their children are as follows:

  • Stella Estella Swanner born 1st March 1903 Roper, Wash., NC. She died 18 September 1908.
  • Vita Esma Swanner born 10th July 1905 Creswell, Wash., NC. She died 2 July 1982. She married October 1918 to Clifton Thompson first then later she married Stewart Robertson.
  • Lucille Gladys Swanner born 5 March 1907 Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. She married Philip David Hender, my father on 11 August 1923. They are my parents as detailed under the Hender family history page. children.
  • Zelma Garland Swanner born 7 March 1909, Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. She died 19 September 1953. She married 1924 Johnnie Sykes and later Benjamim Davidson.
  • Bertha Goldie Swanner born 18 November 1910, Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. She married 14 December 1927 to Jessie Wilbert Warren.
  • Annie Mae Swanner born 11 October 1913, Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. She married George Tsatsanis and later Paul Arnold.
  • Stella Leola born 18 October 1915, Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. She married Willie Holland.
  • Joseph Thomas (brother) Swanner born 27 December 1916, Gum Neck, Tyrrell, NC. He married Charlotte Greenwood Primrose, then Alberta Vena Fitch, and then Shirley Jean Rosar.
  • George Bently Swanner born 22 February 1919, Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. He did not marry and has no issue. He died 27/28 December 1985.
  • Renaldo Jackson Swanner born 21 June 1921, Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. He married first Mae Baines and second Virginia.

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Rev. 10 March 2015