Notes:

We must begin the story of Samuel Swindler with the assumption that he
was born about 1754, when his parents were living in New Brunswick
Township Middlesex County New Jersey. We know from other sources, (see
Henry Swindler), that his parents remained in New Jersey until about
1770. Then they moved to Cameron Parish, Loudon County Virginia. It is
there that the first record of Samuel is located. He is listed as of
tithable age, i.e. 16 years old or older, with two Henry Swindlers,
likely his father and brother, in the same household.1 Samuel remained
in Loudon County for three years, 1770 to 1772, and then moved to
Augusta County, Virginia, where he received a land grant of 400 acres
on Salt Lick Creek. In 1781. Samuel assigned the land to Jacob
Israel.2 In 1774, Samuel is again listed as a tithable in Loudon
County, Virginia.3 However, according to a pension application filed
by James Troy, enlisted as a sergeant in 1774, and was under
Lieutenant Phil Pierce, Lieutenant Sam Swindler, Captain Robert
Fenole, Captain Lewis Rogers, Colonel Wm. Mc Cleery, at Statler's
Fort, Monmouth County, Virginia.4 In 1776, Lieutenant Sam Swindler
served in the Virginia Militia for two months in Monongalia County,
Virginia. (Monongalia County, Virginia is now Green County,
Pennsylvania).5 On 2 April 1777, Samuel signed as a witness to the
transfer of land from Teagarden to Teagarden in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania.6 Later, Lieutenant Samuel Swindler/Swingler/Swinler, (he
is listed under all three surnames), under Lieutenant William Cross
marched from Jarrett's Fort to Whitley Creek and then to Fort Pitt as
a member of Captain John Minor's Company of Virginia Militia.7
According to the pension application of Leonard Garrison, who was
drafted into the Militia at Garrad's Fort in July 1777, he spent the
next two months under Captain Samuel Swindler.8 A Henry Sykes also
served under Captain Sam Swindler at Gerrard's Fort, in 1777 and
1778.9 From 11 November 1777 to 5 March 1778, Militia Lieutenant Sam's
Swindler served at Scott's Mill.10 In his application for a pension,
Francis Bedle of Waren County, Ohio stated, "I was one of four Militia
Sergeants in Washington County, Pennsylvania upon which a draught of
four months was made for one to go into service. I joined Captain
Cross's Company which crossed the Ohio River and took up their
rendezvous on the banks below Big Beaver Creek where we built Fort
McIntosh. General McIntosh was the commanding general,...Evans was
Colonel of the Regiment to which Captain Cross's company belonged.
Colonel Crawford, Brigade Major Daniel Light and Captain Crow were
also there. Samuel Swindler was Lieutenant and adjutant and James
Wilke was Ensign of Captain Cross's Company. Colonel Belar was also
there and held his rank in the field...".11 In, Josiah Pricket's,
application for a pension, he stated that, "...I served for three
months, beginning 1 May 1778, under Captain Samuel Swindler and
Lieutenant Swearington... my sergeant was Henry Sykes and the company
was billeted at Garrard's Fort."12 From 5 March 1778 to 24 June 1778,
Militia Captain Sam'l Swindler was stationed at Fort Garrard.13 In
1833, Eliel Long, in his pension application stated, "I served under
Captain Samuel Swindler twice during 1780, and in 1781, we served
under Crawford. " (Colonel William Crawford?)14 In March 1779, Samuel
was in Washington County, Pennsylvania and purchased two shirts at the
estate sale of Barnet O'neal.15 Samuel must not have been too
impressed with either Pennsylvania or Virginia, because while both
states were claiming the southwestern corner of what is now
Pennsylvania, he signed a petition to the Continental Congress
requesting that a new state be formed from that part of
Pennsylvania/Virginia.16 In 1781, Samuel Swindler was listed in
Washington County, Pennsylvania, Militia drafts in John Gather's
District.17 In 1782, the First Battalion of Washington County,
Pennsylvania was recruited in Whitely and Green Townships, (now Green
County), with few men from Dunkard Township. The captain was John
Guthrey and Samuel Swindler served under him.18 On 13 December 1782,
Samuel was listed in the appearance docket for the December term of
the Court of Common Pleas in Bassetville, Washington County, PA, in
the matter of John Minnor vs Amos Miller and Samuel Swindler.19 Samuel
was in Fayette County, Pennsylvania on, 22 August 1785 and witnessed
the transfer of property from Samuel and William Douglas to Peter
Armstrong.20 In 1785 and 1786, Samuel is listed in the Return of State
Tax for the County of Fayette, Luzerne Township.21 Samuel is listed in
the Pennsylvania Tax lists for Fayette County, Luzerne Township from
1787 to 1790, from 1795 to 1800, and in 1810. His occupation is listed
as a carpenter.22 On 19 December 1789, Samuel witnessed the signing of
a deed between Thos. Durban and Thos. Stokley, in Fayette County.23 In
the 1790, U.s.. Census of Pennsylvania, Samuel is listed as living in
Fayette County, Springhill Township, with one white male over 16,
himself?, a white male under 16, two white females and three other
free persons. In 1794, Samuel was getting his supplies from Wm. Seaton
or Oliver Crawford, who operated a store on Muddy Creek in Green
County, Pennsylvania.24 Samuel is listed as living in Washington
County, Cumberland Township, Pennsylvania in 1794.25
1.Cameron Parish, Loudoun County, Virginia Tithable, 1770, p.536.
(Hereafter cited as CPLCVT) Located: Loudoun County Courthouse
(Archives), Leesburg, Virginia. (Hereafter cited as LCCLV). Copy in
the possession of the author. (Hereafter, "Author", shall mean copies
are in the possession of the author)
2.This land was originally located in Augusta County, Virginia.
In
1776, the land became part of Monongalia County, Virginia. In 1784,
the land was part of Harrison County, Virginia. In 1836, the land
became part of Braxton County, Virginia and is now in the state of
West Virginia. History of this area may be found in: Henry Haymond,
History of Harrison County, West Virginia, (Morgontown, West Virginia:
Acme Publishing Company, 1909), p.23 and p.39. Located: Library of
Congress, Division of History and Genealogy. Author. Also see, Earl L.
Core, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, (Parsons, West
Virginia: McCain Printing Company, 1974), p.243. Located: University
of West Virginia, Morgontown, West Virginia. Author.
3.Loudoun County, Virginia, Tithable, Part 2, p.739a. Located:
LCCLV. Author.
4.Cecil R. Goodall ed., West Virginia History, Vol. VII,
(Charleston, West Virginia: State Department of Archives and
History, 1945-1946)
p. 340. Pension Application of James Troy (Sergeant), Virginia, No.
S. 7747. Author.
5.Copied from WPA Workers in the Pension Office under the
direction of Commission on History and Scenic Markers, Revolution War
Pension Claims, Preston County, Virginia, vol. III, ( Washington
D.c..: U.s.. Government Printing Office), p.721. Author. Also see:
Ross B. Johnson, West Virginians in the American Revolution,
Parkersburg, West Virginia: Augusta Historical and Genealogical
Society, 1109 35th Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 1959). Author
6.Fayette County, Pennsylvania Deed Book A, Copied by: Chief
Tancharison Chapter, National Society Daughters of American Colonists,
Connellsville, Pennsylvania. 1960. Located: Pennsylvania State
Library, Department of Genealogy and History, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. Call No. 929.374835, D2659, V.3. Author.
7.Revolutionary War Pension claims, and West Virginians in the
American Revolution.
8.Howard L. Leckey, The Tenmile Country and It's Pioneer
Families, vol.4 (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania: The Wainsburg Republican,
1950), vol.1, p.23: Pension Application of Leonard Garrison, Number,
W-7503, dated September 1833, resident of Green County, Pennsylvania.
Author.
9.Ibid.
10.Pay Orders of General Hand (Jun.-Aug.. 1778), Fort Pitt
Command. "To Lieutenant Sam'l Swindler Militia, for the pay of Militia
under his command at Scott's Mill. Author.
11.John Frederick Dorman, abstractor and compiler, Virginia
Revolutionary War Pension Applications, (Washington, D.c..: 1961),
vol.6, Pension Application of Frances Bedle, Number S. 2375. Author.
12.Tenmile Country, vol. 1, pp. 23-24. Pension Application of
Josiah Pricket, Number W-5584, dated 10 August 1832. Author.
13.Pay orders of General Hand Ft. Pitt Command (Jun.-Aug.. 1778).
to Militia Captain Sam'l Swindler Fort Garrard, "For the pay of his
company of militia stationed at Fort Garrard, 5 March 1778 - 24 June
1778. Located: Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Author
14.Tenmile Country, vol. 1. p.20. Pension Application of Elietl
Long of Green county, Pennsylvania, No. S2284, Dated 17 September
1833.
15.Estate papers of Barnet O'neal, C-3-0-1790, sale bill dated
March 1779. Located: Washington County Courthouse vault. Author. Also
see Monongalia County, West Virginia Deed Book O,: and Greg
Livingstone Neel, The Ancestors of Greg Livingstone Neel, (1973)
p.119. Call No. 929.2 N295. Located: The Handley Library Archives,
Winchester, Virginia.
16.The Tenmile Country, vol. III, p.24, Papers of the Continental
Congress, Number 48, Folios: 251-6, pp. 89-96.
17.Thomas Lynch Montgomery, ed., Pennsylvania Archives Sixth
Series, (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Harrisburg Publishing Company,
1960), vol. II, p. 211. Hereafter cited as PASS.
18.Ibid., pp. 18-19 and p. 271. also see: Tenmile Country, vol.
1, p. 38.
19.Washington County Pennsylvania, Appearance Docket. Jan.
1782-Jun. 1792. p. 61. Located: in the basement vault of the
Washington County Courthouse.
20.Fayette County, Pennsylvania Deed Book, A, p.245, p. 291. A
copy of the Deed Book is located in the Pennsylvania State Library,
Call Number, R. 929.374835, D265g, v.e.
21.PA, Third Series, vol. 22, p. 582.
22.The Fayette County Tax Lists are in the Fayette County
Courthouse, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
23.Fayette County Deed Book, A. p. 286, copy on p. 295.
24.Account Book of Wm. Seaton or Oliver Crawford, Muddy Creek
Ledger, 25 May 1793 to 7 January 1796. Located: Pennsylvania State
Archives, Microfilm Roll Number 1.
25.Washington County, Cumberland Township, Tax List Number 1.
Located Washington County Law Library, Washington County, PA

Samuel married Margaret MILLS about 1783 in Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. Margaret was born about 1760 in Fayette Co, Pennsylvania; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Dorsey P. SWINDLER was born about 1790 in Pennsylvania; died on 4 Feb 1828 in Louisiana.

Notes:

The first document we located on our Henry Swindler (Swingler) is
dated February 1746. It is the marriage record of Henry Swingler, a
carpenter, and Mary Clayton. Both parties are residents of Freehold,
New Jersey, the county seat of Monmouth County, New Jersey, which is
about seventeen miles from Middletown, New Jersey where the first
Henry Swingler died in July 1724/25.1 On March 16, 1749/50, Henry was
listed as a contributor to the building of Old Tennent Meeting House,2
a church located near Freehold, New Jersey. An example of Henry's
signature is included in the book.3 Sometime after contributing to the
building of Tennent Meeting House and 14 December 1752, Henry and his
family moved to New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey,
where he is listed a being a Freeholder. ie a voter.4 In 1758, Henry
was listed as a contributor to the building of the parsonage for the
Cranbury Church in Cranbury, New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County,
New Jersey.5 In April 1758, Henry was sued in the Court of Common
Pleas, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, by William Harket for 27
pounds and 40 shillings, his co- defendant was Samuel Mount.6 On 14
April 1760, Henry witnessed the will of Simon Horn, in Middlesex
County, New Jersey.7 During the April 1762 term of the Court of Common
Pleas, New Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Henry
served on the jury, in the case of William Hetfield vs Mordecai
Marsh.8 On 8 October 1765, Henry was sued by Thomas Lawrie for 23
pounds 11 shillings and 9 pence.9 (Note: This is the first time
Henry's last name was found to be spelled Swindler, on all documents
previously cited, his name is spelled Swinler or Swingler.) This
action against Henry was continued in the Court of Common Pleas and
Quarter Sessions, on 20 January 1767.10 The reader may note that there
are no land records mentioned, this is not because we did not search
for land records, rather it is because we could not find any land
records for Henry. References to land records we did find are in the
following documents.
1 April 1761, and recorded on 8 May 1771, a deed between John
Clayton of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey and Joseph Clayton of
New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey was executed. This deed
transferred two hundred acres, excepting five acres where Henry
Swingler dwelled.11
On 29 June 1790, Charles Barclay and others transferred land to
the Board of Trustees of the first Presbyterian Church in Cranbury,
Middlesex County, New Jersey, and in the description of the land is
the statement, "... beginning at the southeast corner of a tract or
lot of land belonging to Henry Swinler."12
In a deed dated 18 October 1805, the Executors of the estate of
Adam Newell sold some property to John and Jesse Newell, and in the
description of the property it states, "... land adjacent to land of
Henry Swinler."13
Note: At the time the second deed was executed, Henry had been
in Virginia for twenty years. In the case of the last deed, Henry had
been dead for twelve years when it was recorded. There may be an
explanation for this: The deeds may have been copied from original
deeds, and when the original deed was drawn the land in question was
occupied by Henry, without benefit of title to the land.
Sometime prior to 1770, Henry and his family left New Jersey and
became residents of Cameron Parish, Loudon county Virginia. Henry
remained there until he died in October 1792.14 On 11 November 1773,
Henry was sued by William Savage for 44 pounds 8 shillings and 8
pence. Henry failed to come to court and Savage won a judgement
against Henry.15 On 13 November 1773, Henry was issued a summons to
appear in Court in December to answer certain charges brought against
him by Joseph Skelton. The case remained active in the Loudon County,
Virginia Courts until 1791. The suit in question, concerned a debt
Henry allegedly owed to Joseph Skelton. According to Henry, he and his
son, John, had worked out the debt by repairing Joseph Skelton's mill.
Henry produced am itemized account of the hours he and his son had
worked on the mill. Earlier, the case had been before a court in New
Jersey and Henry testified that he was told the matter had been
dropped. The amount Skelton claimed Henry owed him was 5 pounds and
Henry refused to pay him. The whole matter was dropped until after the
Revolution when Joseph Skelton Jr. appeared and demanded Henry pay him
6 pounds 8 shillings in Virginia Currency, plus damages and interest
from 9 November 1762. (The date of a promissory note Henry had given
to Joseph Skelton Sr. in Middlesex County, New Jersey.) The Jury
agreed with Joseph Skelton Jr. and ordered Henry to pay him. Three
years later Henry returned to court and received an injunction in
Chancery that enjoined Joseph Skelton Jr. from proceeding against him
in proceedings at common law. Joseph Skelton Sr. had died prior to the
suit brought against Henry by Joseph Skelton Jr. The final entry on
the matter is dated 17 June 1791, when the injunction was made
perpetual.16 In May 1781, Henry submitted a Public Service Claim to
the State of Virginia for three hundred pounds of beef he had sold to
the government. His claim was approved and he was paid 5 pounds 2
shillings. On 4 October 1793 his estate received 3 pounds 17
shillings, from the United States Collect Commissioners for more beef
he had sold.17 On 8 October 1792, a letter of administration was
granted to Jonathan Swindler to administer the estate of Henry
Swindler deceased.18
1.William Nelson, ed. New Jersey Marriage Records 1665-1800
(Baltimore, Md., 1967), p.365; A. Vandoren Honeyman, ed., Documents
Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, First
Series, 32 vols. (Sommerville, N.j..: the Unionist Gazette Association
Printers, 1924) Marriage Records 1665-1800, p. 365. (Unless otherwise
cited, documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New
Jersey, will be cited as Colonial History. This series and the New
Jersey Archives Series, are available in libraries throughout the
state of New Jersey. The documents referenced in these books are
available in the New Jersey State Library, Trenton NJ) Copies are in
the Possession of the author. (Hereafter, "Author", shall mean that
copies are in the possession of the author).
2.Rev. Frank R. Symmes, compiler, History of Old Tennent Church,
2nd ed. (Cranbury, N.j..: George W. Burroughs, Printer, 1904), pp.
178-181, lists subscribers. Located Monmouth County Historical Society
Library, Freehold, NJ. Author.
3.Ibid, pp. 380-81, Copies of subscribers signatures. Author.
4.Orra Eugene Monnette, First Settlers of Ye Plantations of
Piscataway and Woodbridge Olde New Jersey 1664-1714 part IV, (Los
Angles: Leroy Carman Press, 1932, p.551; New Jersey Historical
Society, 3rd series, vol. I, pp. 103-09. Located in the New Jersey
Room of the Anderson Library, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New
Jersey. (Hereafter cited as ALRU). Author.
5.Ruth Berg Walsh, Cranbury Past and Present, p. 152. Located at
ALRU. Author.
6.Minutes, Court of Common Pleas, Middlesex County, New Jersey,
July 1755-July 1764, April Term 1758. ( Hereafter cited as MCCPMCNJ)
Located ALRU. Author.
7.A. Van Vandoren Honeyman, ed., Colonial History, 1751-1760,
vol. 3, p.164: also see; Willbook G, p. 218. Located NJSA. Author.
8.MCCPMCNJ, April Term 1762. Located ALRU, No. BL XIV;Ac 2172.
Author.
9.Court of Common Pleas at Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New
Jersey, 8 October 1765. Located ALRU No. BL IV; Ac 2172. Author.
10.Minutes of Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions,
Middlesex County, New Jersey, Records, October 1764-1771, vol. 15, 20
January 1767. Located ALRU, No. BL XIV; Ac2172. Author.
11.Middlesex County, New Jersey, Deed Book, F-3, pp. 313-314.
Located NJSA, New Jersey Colonial Conveyances, 1664-1794 Microfilm
Reel no. 97. Author.
12.Ancient Deeds, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Book 1. Located:
Map Room, County Building, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Author.
13.East Windsor Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Deed Book
6, p. 600. Located Ibid. Author.
14.Cameron Parish, Loudon County, Virginia Tithe and Personal
Property Tax Lists 1770-1792. Located: Tithe Lists, in Archives,
basement, Loudoun County Court House, Leesburg, Virginia; (hereafter
cited as LCCLV); property tax lists are located in the Virginia State
Library, Richmond, Virginia. Author.
15.Loudoun County, Virginia, Court Order Book F. p. 262. Located
LCCLV. Author.
16.Loudoun County, Virginia, Judgements and Petitions, vol. P-Z,
13 November 1773; ibid. December 1773; Loudoun County, Virginia Court
Order Book, vol. F., p. 380; ibid. vol. H, p. 50; ibid. vol. I., p.
347; ibid., vol. N., p. 236. Located LCCLV. Author.
17.Loudoun County, Virginia, Court Book,Public Service Claim, May
1781, p. 15; United States Collect Commissioners, Book III, p. 325.
Located LCCLV. Author.
18.Loudoun County, Virginia Court Order Book O, p. 379; Inventory
of the estate of Henry Swindler, decd. LOCATED Book P, p. 216.
Settlement of the estate of Henry Swindler, Ibid p. 282. Located LCCV.
Author.

Henry married Mary CLAYTON on 24 Feb 1746 in Freehold, Monmouth Co. NJ. Mary (daughter of John CLAYTON and Catherine RHEA) was born about 1730 in Freehold, Monmouth Co. NJ; died after 1780 in Loudoun County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Source: Bell, Raymond Martin, Phd. The Claytons of Monmouth Co. NJ,
"The Claytons of Monmouth Co. New Jersey,"

Notes:

The first reference that we have been able to find concerning the
Swindler or Swingler ancestry who was a resident of the English
Colonies in North America, is a Henry Swingler who witnessed an
indenture dated 18 February 1720 for land in what is now Hunterdon
County, New Jersey.1 The next place we found him was as a resident of
Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. On 10 March 1723/24, he
deposited five pounds with William Lawrence Jr., the town clerk.2 We
believe that the five pounds was in the form a of surety bond
deposited with the town as a condition for an individual taking up
residence in a town. If the individual became unemployed or destitute,
he would not become a burden on the other residents of the town. In
July 1725 Henry Swingler died at Middletown and William Lawrence Jr.
was appointed administrator of his estate because, according to the
estate record, Henry was in debt to him.3 We may assume from the items
listed in the inventory that Henry was well dressed as his clothing
was valued at four pounds seventeen shillings. He was literate as his
possessions included an inkhorn, a seal, several books, including a
book of common prayer. It is possible that he was a member of the
Church of England. Also listed was a quilling wheel for making quill
pens. Although listed with his possessions were a saddle and bridle,
there were no livestock in the inventory.4 We do not find any
reference to a wife or children. The proof that this Henry Swingler
was the father of the following Henry Swingler is lacking and all we
have is the similarity of the two surnames and the proximate location
of the two Swinglers in New Jersey. ie. Middletown and Freehold
1.Phyllis B D'Autrechy,Some Records of old Hunterdon County
1701- 1838, (Trenton, N.j..: Trenton Publishing Company, 1979), p. 11.
Copies are available from the author at the Hunterdon County
Courthouse, Flemington, N.j.. Copy in the possession of the Author.
(Hereafter, "Author", shall mean copies are in the possession of the
author).
2.Middletown, New Jersey Record Book Number 2, p. 23.
Located: Monmouth County Historical Society, Freehold, N.j... Author.
3.A. Vandoren Honeyman ed.,Documents Relating to the Colonial
History of the State of New Jersey, First Series, 32
vols.,(Sommerville, N.j.. : The Unionist Gazette Association Printers,
1924) vol. 23, p. 450. Located: Libraries throughout New Jersey.
Author.
4.Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Will Book A, p. 307. Located: New
Jersey State Library, Archives Department, Trenton, N.j.. Author.

Henry married UNKNOWN about 1722 in Monmouth Co. NJ. was born about 1700 in Monmouth Co. NJ; died in in Monmouth Co. NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Catherine RHEA. Catherine was born about 1698; died on 29 Sep 1784. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]