Isaac Swafford, Sr, and Mary Polly Smith
Isaac Swafford, (Sr.), born ca. 1774 in North Carolina, was the son of James (or Peter James) Swafford and Renne Howard. Isaac married Polly Smith, who was born ca. 1778 in North Carolina. The couple moved a lot, passing through Bledsoe County, NC, twice! Although the family has not been located in 1800, it is thought that five of their oldest children were born in North Carolina, while one reported his birth as South Carolina. The couple had three more children in Tennesse, for a total of nine known children, but only three of them have been followed in Volume 1 of "Swaffords of Sequatchie Valley, TN," 1990, by Ray C. Swofford. After their stay in North Carolina, Isaac and Polly Swafford frequently moved.
1810 Census, Clay County, KY:
Isaac Swafford
Males 2 > 10; 1 26-44
Females: 3 > 10; 1 16-25
1816-1817 Bledsoe County, TN:
Daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Swafford married Michael (5/1) Miser in Bledsoe County, TN.
1820 Census, Lawrence County, TN:
Isaac Swafford:
Males: 2 > 10; 1 16-25; 1 45+
Females: 1 > 10; 2 10-15; 1 16-25; 1 26-44:
On the same page of the above 1820 census with Isaac (and Polly Smith) Swafford were William Smith and Joseph Smith, surely some degree of relative to Polly Smith Swafford.
Lawrence & Bledsoe County, TN, Land Deeds:
Isaac Swafford of Bledsoe County, TN, bought 25 acres on Sugar Creek in the 7th district from Thomas Keesee on 20 March 1826, for $200. (Book B, Lawrence County, TN, pages 116-119.)
Deed Book C, pages 10-12, Lawrence County, TN, show that Isaac Swafford sold 56 acres to Thomas Keese on 15 December 1827. Ray C. Swofford believed that this may have been the same piece of ground Isaac Swafford first bought, and Ray thought he may have personally mis-transcribed the acreage. The property in question was about 100 miles east of where Isaac Swafford was living at the time of the deed (Bledsoe County, TN).
1830 Census, Monroe County, TN: Isaac Swafford was listed in the 1830 census in Monroe County, TN, but his wife was not listed. Only two of their children were at home with him.
1840 Census, Cherokee County, AL: Isaac Swafford was enumerated in Cherokee County, AL, with no wife and four children, ages 15-30. He has not been located on the 1850 census.
1860 Census, Clay County, KY: Isaac Swafford was enumerated in Clay County, KY, living with his son William Riley Swafford. He listed his age as 86 (born 1774), birthplace as North Carolina.
It would appear that Mary Polly Smith Swafford died between 1826-1830 because their youngest child was born in 1826, and Mary was not listed in the census in 1830. It had been (previously) assumed that Isaac Swafford died about 1849 because of the suit filed against his heirs, but he lived until at least 1860, as per the Clay County, KY, census. It is not readily apparent whether Isaac was living in Clay County in 1860 or simply visiting there and staying with his son while Polly's estate was reportedly being settled.
Since Polly Swafford was not ennumerated in 1830 with Isaac Swafford, a settlelment in 1860 of her estate would seem very inusual. Is it possible that she lived in another household for 30 years?
The County Clerk of Clay County, KY, reported that he was unable to locate any deed or will for Isaac or Mary Swafford. (See the above information on p. 526, Volume 1).
A summary of Census records for Isaac and Polly Swafford:
1800 Census - Not Located
1810 Clay County, KY
1820-Lawrence County, TN
1830-Monroe County, TN (without Polly)
1840-Cherokee County, AL (without Polly)
1850-Not located
1860-Clay County, KY (without Polly)
Ray C. Swofford listed the five older sons of Peter (or Peter James) Swafford in Volume I, and the three younger sons in Volume II. For more information about Isaac Swafford, see “The Swaffords of Sequatchie Valley, TN, Volume 1," by Ray C. Swofford, 1990.
“Jack and Lois Swofford did some research in Kentucky and said in a letter dated 5 March 1973 that Knox County, KY, recorded a suit in September 1849 showing that John Swofford sued the heirs of Isaac and listed them as Melinda Parker, whom she presumed was Melinda Swofford, John Parker, Minerva A. Swofford, Thomas Swofford, and Mary Ann Swofford. Lois said that the estate of Isaac's wife (Polly Smith Swafford) was settled in 1860 in Clay County, KY, which was four years after John, James and Anna Jane had moved to Missouri, and she reported that it was confusing because their power of attorney was not sent in until 1866. Lois also reported that descendants of James (James Madison Swofford) recalled hearing family legend that James went back to Kentucky from Arkansas to see about his share of the estate but when he got there, he was given until sundown to get out of town. "Swaffords of Sequatchie Valley, TN," Ray C. Swofford, Page 526, Volume 1.
For additional information about the Swafford Family, see page 1 of the introduction at the following link:
Swaffords of Sequatche Valley, TN