Saturday, April 14, 2018

Query: Wesley Henderson Swift, Delaware/Madison County


            I have run into a little mystery in regards to my family tree and I was wondering if you could help me shed some light on it.

            Matthew Swift married Hannah Secrist Jones on 2/14/1873.  From what I have gathered in my research, they got a divorce sometime between 1873 and 1880. Hannah remarried on 9/27/1880 to a Theophilis Neely in Michigan.  In the 1880 census it shows Matthew Swift and his father Malachi Swift boarding with a family named the Tuttles in Yorktown, Indiana, and they were both listed as widowed and Matthew was listed as having no children.

            The mystery begins here:  On 3/7/1883, Wesley Henderson Swift was born (cannot find an official birth certificate).  On 11/27/1886 Matthew Swift married Mary Elizabeth Blevins/Blevans/Blevens (not sure on official name spelling).  This marriage took place 3 years after Wesley was born.  

            All documents that I find show Mary as Wesley's mother.  So, did Matthew and Mary have Wesley out of wedlock and were living together for 3 years prior to their marriage?   Or did Matthew have Wesley with another woman that I cannot find?  Or did Mary have Wesley with another man and Matthew adopted Wesley and give him the last name of Swift?  

            All of the events listed above occurred in Delaware County and/or Madison County.  An official birth certificate or christening for Wesley Henderson Swift listing the parents name would help out tremendously.  Also, if you could help me find out how Mary Elizabeth Blevins/Blevans/Blevens last name is spelled would be a help as well.  If Matthew was married to another woman between his marriages to Hannah Secrist Jones and Mary Elizabeth Blevins/Blevans/Blevens, who was she and how did she die?

            Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.





Christopher Swift

IGS Member since 2018

If you have any questions, please contact me at propatria1972@gmail.com

No comments:

Post a Comment