Dennis Swick

February 13, 2005

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The Swicks in Canada

Special thanks go to Brenda Young, James Hoover,Jeff Swick, Pat Irvine, Louise McConachie, Gloria Nardecchia,Rita Swick, David F. Swick, Jack Swick, Lowell Thomas, Cathy Fowler, Philip Douglas Campbell, Lawrence Coomber, Brent R. Reidenbach, Dayton Swick,Doris Swick, Ken and Patricia Whiteside, Helen Swick Ross,

Ron and Irene Swick, Dianna Lynn Smith, Jim Swick, R. Robert Mutrie and Barbara Schwitzgebel for their help in this project.

First Generation in Canada

6.53 Martin (1733/34) and Magdalena Elizabeth Swick children:

7.532 Male Swick

+7.533 Martin Swick, b. 1761 married Mary Martin and they had 9 children. (1830 census OH, Fairfield Co., Richland Twp., OH) He was born in Greenwich Twp., Sussex Co., NJ and died before 1840.

Jack Swick writes, “I think that there were two Martin Swicks in Fairfield

County: Martin b. abt. 1761 and Martin b. abt. 1776. Here is what I have on Martin; he was born abt. 1761. Born in Greenwich Twp. Sussex County, New Jersey, married Mary, father Martin Swick baptized 5 Jan. 1734 and mother Elizabeth. He died between 1830-40.

----Children:

John b. 1800 in Greenwich Twp.,

Peter b. 1802 in same ?, Mary b. abt. 1813 in same ?,

Thomas b. 1816 in Fairfield County, Ohio,

Elizabeth b. 1815-1820,

Catharine b. 1818,

Margaret b. Sept. 1819,

Emeline b. 1821

Martin b. 1826

These were also born in Fairfield County. I have additional marriage and sometimes death dates”.

(Pat Irvine writes Martin married Polly and had a son, Peter in 1802).

Louise McConanchie writes, “Martin of 1761 married Mary Unknown.” Gloria Nardecchia writes, “ Now Martin 1761 married Elizabeth.“ Sent by Pat Irvine: ID: I9051, Name: Martin Swick, Sex: M, Birth: 1761 in Greenwich Township, Sussex County, NJ , Death: Bef 1840; Father: Martin SWICK b: 5 JAN 1733/34 in Montgomery Township, Somerville, Somerset County, NJ; Mother: Magdalena Elizabeth, b: ABT 1738 in Greenwich Township, Sussex County, NJ; Marriage: Mary Martin; Children: Peter Swick b: 1802 in NJ

[Sce: Lowell Thomas].

Died 1820 in Fairfield Co.,OH. He married Mary/Martha , b.1782 in NJ, d. 1820-30 in

Richland Twp., Fairfield Co., OH..He left Northumberland Co., PA about 1806

(tax records). Jack Swick says he went to Fairfield Co., OH. Martin was an officer in the 1794 insurrection. He is also listed in the Military Census of 1793 for Alexandria Twp.,

Hunterdon Co., NJ. He probably married late and could have had some children in the

beginning who aren’t listed in the Census. (1820-30-40-50 census from Richland Twp.,

Fairfield Co., OH.) In 1820 there is a Census taken of Martin Swick in Fairfield, Richland, OH

Louise Mc Conachie writes, “I have Martin b 1761 married to Mary unknown. In those days Mary was sometimes known as "Polly". I have unknown son, unknown daughter, John Baker Swick b.1800, Peter b.1802, Mary b.1813, Thomas b.1816, Elizabeth b.1815, Catherine b.1818, Margaret b.1819, Emeline b.1821, and Martin b.1826”.

(Sces. 1.. Title: GEDCOM File: 18 august 2003.ge; Author: Philip Douglas Campbell, 1402 Oak Ochd Rv. Rd. Waterport, NY 14571 or 6610 Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699; Date: 18 AUG 2003. ID: I2562, Name: Martin Swick., Marriage: Mary Unknown. Children: John B Swick. Sources: Title: Family Search, IGI Record [Sce: Lawrence Coomber].

7.534 John Swick, b. 1763/4 in Greenwich Twp, Sussex, NJ, d. July 13, 1849 in Franklin

Twp., or North Swickley Twp., Beaver Co., PA. Rita Swick writes, “ John SWICK b: 1764 in Lancaster County, PA”. Pat Irvine writes John died 13 Jul 1849 in Perry Twp, Beaver, PA.

David F. Swick states he died 7/16/1849 in N. Sewickley, PA. Lowell Thomas says he was b.1764 in Lancaster Co., PA (In the 1810 Census for Beaver Co., N. Swickley Twp., A). He first married (1) Susan Thomas.

Cathy Fowler writes Jesse Swick’s death certificate, a son of John and Susan, that Susan Thomas was born in Ireland. Then (2) Miss Mary Reno (moved to PA ca. 1780 according to Gloria Nardecchia), and later (3) Nancy Mary Reno, b. 1775 in PA. They married after 1795. He died 7/17/1849

(Cathy Fowler: John Swick –Pedigree chart; 1850 census).

John Swick, NJ line R 10361. Appl. 11/27/1837 in Beaver Co., PA age 73. Soldier lived in Sussex Co., NJ. Enlisted soldier is son of Martin Swick, served with his uncle Lt. Peter Swick.

(Sce. Index to Revolutionary War Service Records, Vol. IV:S-Z. Trans. Virgil D. White; The Nat. Hist. Pub. Co., Waynesboro, TN, 1995.)

From: Reidenbach, Brent R, HRC-Alexandria ;

Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:09 AM. Revolutionary War Pension Requests:

“John Swick, son of Martin Swick - Applied for a military pension due to service in the Revolutionary War but request was denied mainly because of insufficient evidence of service. According to his pension request, a letter dated 29 March 1939 from a Dr. J. Howard Swick and a letter dated 8 June 1934 from a James Ezra McQuiston of Salt Lake City, Utah. John Swick, son of Martin Swick, allegedly enlisted in Captain Maxfield's (assumed to be Maxwell) company of New Jersey volunteers commanded by Colonel Jacob West. After six weeks of service he was taken out of service and sent to Easton, Pennsylvania where he was placed under Drum Major Jacob Allshouse to learn to beat the drum where "he believed when he was removed he was placed on the rolls as a substituted for his father but did not know if it was a New Jersey or Pennsylvania organization and remained in Easton until around the close of the war." He also maintained that his uncle, Peter Swick, was a lieutenant in the army at the same time of his service however, his claim provided no proof of Peter Swick's service”.

Also from Brent Reidenbach: “There was a letter request for John's record from the above McQuiston on May 28,1934 and it was answered on 8 June 1934 from A.D. Hiller, Asst. Administrator.” Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

Personally appeared before the subscriber a justice of the peace and for said county John Swick a resident of the county of Beaver aforesaid who being duly sworn according to the law, that he enlisted in New Jersey four and a half miles from Easton Pennsylvania at a place called the Straw tavern under Lieut. Pettigrew who at that resided in Easton and was taken to Amboy where he remained about six weeks when Gen. Wm. Maxfield took him out and sent him to Easton saying that he was too young to carry arms, being between fourteen and fifteen years of age, under command of Drum Major Jacob Allshouse, for the purpose of beating the drum – that he cannot say whether he was in the New Jersey line or a militia or whether after his removal to Easton he was placed on the roll as a substitute of Martin Swick his father, and remained in Easton until about the end of the war, - the Col. Jacob West commanded a regiment to which he first belonged but is not certain whether of the regular army or militia he cannot say, - That his Uncle Peter Swick was a Lieutenant in the army of the same time under Gen. Maxfield, - That he cannot ascertain anyone now living who has a knowledge of his having served, - That his discharge was signed by a colonel whose name he cannot now remember, but that afterwards it was lost and that afterwards he got a certificate from Capt. John Maxfield signed by him and Peter Swick and two other persons, and further saith not.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 19th day of June AD 1838 – John Swick

W. Clarke

State of Pennsylvania, Beaver County

I, John Scroggs, Pro-Honorary of the court of common pleas in and for said county do hereby certify that the herein named W. Clarke is and was at the time of signing the within deposition an acting justice of the peace in and for said county duly comes forward and testifies and swears and that full faith and credit is passed, ought to be given to all but official acts as such and that his signature to the within deposition is genuine. In testimony whereof I have said court at Beaver the 22nd day of June AD 1838. John Scroggs.

We, Sampson Piersol and Solomon Bennett and William McQuiston residing in the county of Beaver, in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Swick who has subscribed and sworn to the to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he has for years been reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.

Sampson Piersol, Solomon Bennett, William McQuiston

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies, that it appears to them who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the county of Beaver aforesaid and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled by credit.

I, John A. Scroggs, Clerk of the court of common pleas of Beaver County in the state of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Swick for the pension in the testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and seal of office this 27th of November A.D. 1837.

John A. Scroggs.

(original copy sent by David F. Swick).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Brent Reidenbach: War of 1812

The following Swick family members served in the military during the War

of 1812 and there are cards on file at the National Archives:

David Swick, Private - Swift and Dobbin's Regiment of NY Volunteers;

Also made a pension request

Andrew Swick, Private - Swift and Dobbin's Regiment of NY Volunteers

Martin Swick, Private - 2nd Regiment (Patterson's) Pennsylvania Militia

Tunis Swick, Sergeant - Willcock's Cavalry Regiment, NY; Also made a pension request

Tunis Swick, Captain - Swift and Dobbin's Regiment of NY Volunteers;

Also made a pension request .

Queen Anne, who well understood the policy of England, to retain her own subjects at home, encouraged the emigration of Germans, sent some of those whom she had invited in 1708 and 1709, to Virginia; settled them above the falls of the Rappahannock, in Spotsylvania county, where they commenced a town, called Germanna. The locality was unpropitious. They moved some miles further up the river where they soon drove well. From this settlement they spread into several counties in Virginia, and into North Carolina.

7.535 Peter Swick, b. 1766 in NJ. He died 4/1/1856. Jack Swick writes, “The problem being that Peter b. 1766 and Peter b. 1772 may be the same person. The 1851 census shows him b. 1772, his gravestone says 1766.You have identified Martin's wife as Magdalena Elizabeth. Madge Covert was pretty sure that her first name was Elizabeth. I agree that Martin and Elizabeth's children were: Anthony, Martin, John. I'm not as sure about Tunis and Peter. I am more skeptical about Mary Elizabeth, Mary Catherine and Mary Magdalena. They were born in Lancaster Co., Pa. The other children in New Jersey”. Louise McConanchie writes, “Peter of 1766 married Mary Ross. Parents: Martin 1733/34 and Magdalena Elizabeth Midge Covert states, “There was a Peter Swick who married Mary Ross in 1793 in Greenwhich Church, Sussex Co., (Now Warren Co.)”

From The Ross Family of New Jersey, compiled by Robert L. Ross, Gateway Press Inc., Baltimore, 1990. Joseph Ross was born in 1750 in Westfield, NJ and died in 1838 in Cincinnati, OH at the home of his daughter, Joanna Ross. Some records say he was buried at Pleasant Ridge, Cincinnati. Others say at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Madisonville, Hamilton Co., OH. Some believed he moved to Cincinnati when he was 80. He served in the Revolutionary War and received a pension in 1831 at the age of 84. Emory Armstrong Ross, his great grandson, records his family in Genealogy and Biography Sketch of the Ross Family 1764,. His children were: Stephen Ross, b. 1772 in New Jersey. Stephen married Mary Clark, b. 1773. They married in Westfield, NJ in 1793. They lived in NJ until 1795; Joanna Ross married Jonathan Robinson; Daughter who married Mr. Sweke and lived in Canada. (This must be Mary Ross and Mr. Sweke must be Peter Swick); Daughter (this must be Elizabeth Ross) who married Peter Melick and lived in Canada. They had Joseph and Katy.

(This information comes from the Ross book. The information regarding Mary’s father as being John Ross is incorrect. The information regarding her mother as Mary Clark is incorrect).

From Lowell Thomas, “Joseph Ross married Margaret Willams 30 Nov 1767 in the Westfield Presbyterian Church”.

Brenda Young writes, “(Joseph Ross) had Stephen, Joanna married Jonathan Robinson, a daughter married Mr. Sweke and lived in Canada and a daughter married Peter Melick and lived in Canada. The Mr. Sweke is Peter Swick. Joseph Ross is a name in both the Peter Swick and Peter Melick families in Ontario. Joseph Ross Melick donated thecemetery where they all ended up being buried--Melick Cemetery.I wish the person who sent it to me would of continued the family so I could follow it in Ohio. This is why the 1st generation of the Peter Swick and Peter Melick families did not inter-marry in Ontario. The wives were sisters, Mary Ross and Elizabeth Ross.”

“Peter Swick married Mary Ross, 6 March 1799, by J.P. John Maxwell, Greenwich Township,Sussex County, New Jersey. [The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Volume 69, Number 2, Hold Number 212, Page 50]”

“Children of Peter and Mary: William, Margaret, Stephen, Nancy A, Lavinia, Benjamin, Maria, Mary Ann, Peter, Rebecca and Joseph. Mother Mary would have been 47 years old when Joseph was born. The other children listed have to be children of William son of Peter and I believe a couple of children were Benjamin's.”

Jack Swick says, “Peter in Canada - gravestone b. 1766 or 1851 census b. 1772 -

married Mary Ross 1793 Greenwich Twp. Sussex Co., N. J. moved to Canada abt. 1810 –

died 1 April 1856, buried Melick Cemetery - Known sons: Joseph, b. 1817; John, b. 1819; and Erastus, b.1823.

(Sce.: LebanonTwsp-Swack.html).

Mt. Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church (the Swack church), Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County. Founded 1844; built 1844; abandoned 1896. “The ruined remains of this church, built in 1844, is one of the most obscure in Hunterdon County, deserving only the barest of mentions in Snell’s history, even during the days when it flourished. Even the cemetery is neglected. It is known to a few today, and in its time, as the Swack church, for the mason who built it, one Jacob Swackhammer or “Stuttering Jake” as he

was called. When a New York minister was denied the pastorship of the Lutheran church in Oldwick, he determined to get even by building his own a dozen miles away. When he left for another church, this congregation declined slowly until it was sold to the Albright

Methodist congregation, who could not pay for it; the church was eventually sold to the

Spruce-Run Lutheran church, which operated it as an outpost from 1864 until 1896. Some local residents want to tear the remaining walls down, as the cost of stabilization is high”.

The Argument for 1766:

Brenda Young of Canada writes, “My Peter died in 1856. Head stone states age 90 which would make him born 1766 and Birds family bible states age 86 which would put him born 1770. The late Margaret Covert who had worked on the Swick family for years stated in a letter to me about my Peter Swick: "If Peter Swick had been married in the Straw Church where the Melicks were so numerous then I would say Peter definitely was the son of Martin Swick and Elizabeth. If Peter and Mary were married in the Bethlehem Church, no problem. He is the son of Peter Swick and Anna. But this nasty man was married in Greenwich Presbyterian Church. This church is about a mile from the Straw Church. The churches were originally farther apart and the Straw church was an offshoot." “When Margaret (Covert) died we were still trying to locate original material for proof. She thought for sure that my Peter was the son of Peter until I started sending her different original material from Ontario. Like Mary Ross was the sister of Elizabeth Ross who married a Peter Melick and both families settled in Ontario next door to each other.”(Sce. Brenda Young).

Brenda Young writes, “Peter Swick and his best friend Peter Melick came to Canborough Township, Haldimand County from New Jersey about 1800. Peter Melick was married to an Elizabeth Ross. Peter Swick was married to a Mary Ross. It is believed that Elizabeth and Mary were sisters since the two families did not intermarry in the first generation in Canborough. From the tombstone in the Melick Cemetery, Haldimand County- Peter Swick died 7/1/1856 so he was 90 years old and a native of New Jersey. The transcribed Birdsall Family Bible states that Peter Turk died at home of his son Peter, Jr. Tuesday morning 7/1/1856 age 86 years. “I have only a copy of the Bible in print and notes in the pages say that Turk should be Swick.” The Bible also says that Peter Turk immigrated from New Jersey in Spring of 1800 from Greenwhich, New Jersey age 30 years old with Peter Melick first settlers pioneers in Canborough Twp., Haldimand Co. Census Peter is living with John and Erastus and he is 78 years old, a farmer, born USA and Presbyterian in religion. Both Peter and Mary are buried in the Melick Cemetery, Canborough Twp., Haldimand Co., ON. It is said that Mary was one of the first burials in the Melick Cemetery. Peter was in Captain Charles Askin 3rd Regiment, Lincoln Militia {MG 19, A 3, Vol. 41} and it appears that Mary as well as some of the other wives went with the regiment to cook and wash clothes. The wives and children appear in the Askin papers as receiving rations. Their children appear from the month of May 1813”.