Individual Details

Benjamin Paul Swain

(Abt, 1813 - 1847)

Benjamin Swain was born about 1813 maybe in Indiana. He married Polly Ann Howard maybe also in Indiana. He and Polly were pioneers in Lake, Illinois. Benjamin built a sawmill and a dam there. He was appointed tax collector, on a temperance committee and purchased land. He died at age 34 and left a will. One historical book on Lake, Illinois describes him, "This man was one of the few Americans among the pioneers of Shields, and was known to his neighbors as “Yankee” Swain (Nantucket!). He was a big, powerful man, of commanding personality, and was respected by the whole community."

Events

BirthAbt, 1813United States
MarriageAbt, 1833Polly Ann Howard
Residence1835Shields Township - Lake, Illinois, United States
Residence1837Lake, Illinois, United States
Census1840Lake, Illinois, United States
CivilMay 25, 1842Land purchase - Illinois, United States
CivilJuly 10, 1844Land purchase 61.9 acres - Illinois, United States
ResidenceJune 11, 1845Temperance committee
Death1847Illinois, United States
Burial1847
ProbateJuly 1, 1847Lake, Illinois, United States
OccupationSawmiller
CivilTax collector

Families

SpousePolly Ann Howard (1813 - 1858)
ChildJohn Howard Swain (1836 - 1850)
ChildSarah Ann Swain (1838 - 1889)
ChildMary Louisa Swain (1841 - 1905)
ChildWilliam E. Swain (1845 - 1864)
FatherPlaceholder Swain (1780 - 1850)

Notes

Birth

No birth sources, probably born in Indiana.

Marriage

Estimated date, probably married in Indiana, then moved to Lake County Illinois

Residence

"This property afterwards passed into the hands of Titus Pettibone, and the creek came to bear his name, although there is much force in the suggestion of Mr. Thomas Dwyer, that its name should be that of the pioneer Swain".

Civil

Purchased 61.9 acres at $1.25 per acre in Lake County Illinois

Civil

A land record dated 1842 and a land record dated 1844 may be the same record for 61.9 acres at $1.25 per acre purchased by Benjamin Paul Swain in Lake County, Illinois

Residence

From a newspaper mentioning Benjamin's work on a temperance committee. The Porcupine wrote on June 11, 1845: 'It is a fact too notorious to be concealed that our town contains seven places where liquor is sold by ‘the small,’ and two, in the quantity, and yet we have not even one church.'

Death

Deth cause is unknown, he was younger, her had a will ready.

Burial

From Benjamin's probate, a black walnut coffin is billed on September 1847, he was buried in it. burial location is unknown.

Probate

Widow Polly was executor her two brothers James and John also signed the probate papers which included an inventory.

Endnotes

1. (1912). || Page 37.

2. (1912). || Page 463.

3. Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census U.S. Census, Population Schedule, NARA Microfilm, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Provo, UT, USA; 2010, Year: 1840; Census Place: Lake, Illinois; Roll: 62; Page: 92; Image: 187; Family History Library Film: 0007643.

4. State of Illinois, Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909. Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Provo, UT, USA; 1999, Index 25 May 1842, Section NEFR, Price per Acre 1.25, Total Price 77.38, 61.90 total acres..

5. Ancestry.com, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008;), 1844 Jul 10 land purchase Illinois Document No 9753.

6. (1912). || Page 92.

7. Ancestry.com, Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Provo, UT, USA; 2015, Lake Probate case files, box No. 1, files 1-118, 1840-1849 image 997 of 1776. Benjamin Swain, no will, an inventory, Polly is executor.

8. Ancestry.com, Illinois, Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Provo, UT, USA; 2015, Lake Probate case files, box No. 1, files 1-118, 1840-1849 image 997 of 1776. Benjamin Swain, no will, an inventory, Polly is executor.

9. (1912). || Page 463.

10. (1912). || Page 72.