Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II)

M, #232, b. 12 October 1745, d. 30 May 1825

Father*Joseph Tomlinson (Immigrant) b. 12 Oct 1712, d. 1 Dec 1797
Mother*Rebecca Swearingen b. 22 Dec 1716
Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II)|b. 12 Oct 1745\nd. 30 May 1825|p232.htm|Joseph Tomlinson (Immigrant)|b. 12 Oct 1712\nd. 1 Dec 1797|p464.htm|Rebecca Swearingen|b. 22 Dec 1716|p465.htm|||||||Van Swearingen|b. c 1692|p930.htm|Elizabeth Walker|b. 22 Dec 1695|p931.htm|

Charts Pedigree - grandmother Estella Mae "Peggy" Ferrell
Reference 5G Grf

Sources Source(s): Misc other stuff Evd 326, 328, 329, 355D (Will), & 405 (3 Swearingen books available at SLC). 
Birth*12 October 1745 Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II) was born on 12 October 1745 at Littlemeadow, Frederick Co., Maryland.1 
Military* He was in the military No Rev War pension in SLC files. 
Residence*1771  In 1771 Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II) resided at Grave Creek, Ohio Co., West Virginia. 1st Settler in 1771 or 1772. Left in 1774, then returned in Feb 1775. About Jul 177_ the few men stationed there fore protection of the settlers were ordered up to Wheeling, as it was reported that the Indians were to come in, in a body, and strike the frontier somewhere from Grave Creek to (Gelles?) Creek, and it was thought best to concetrate the men at Wheeling. The Grave Creek settlement now broke up, and Joseph Tomlinson moved his family to the Monongalhela, (or Glades?). Tomlinsons's brother, Samuel C Tomlinson stopped at Wheeling to (___) in it's defence and lost his life in the massacre of 18 Sept. Jos. Tomlinson removed back to Grave Creek in 1783 & once subsequently abandoned it for a short period, about 1785 or 1786.
- - - Draper Manuscript Collection 3S165. 
Deed*1773 He sold land to Rebecca Tomlinson in 1773 at Williamstown, Wood Co., West Virginia,: per History of Washington Co., OH by Williams 1881 pg 465 "In the Spring of 1774 Joseph & Samuel Tomlinson, entered 400 acres of land oposite the mouth of the Muskingum (on Va. shore) which they presented to their sister Rebecca" (Rebecca Tomlinson, first married a Martin - who was killed by the Indians, her 2nd husband was Isaac Williams. Isaac & Rebecca Tomlinson Williams and others made a settlement on this 400 acres in 17785-86, and hence the name Williamstown now W.Va.). 
Marriage*25 January 1775 Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II) married Elizabeth Harkness, daughter of Robert Harkness and Mary Scott, on 25 January 1775 at Swearingen's Fort, Springhill Twnshp, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, date (old style) per Bible. See story file for description of where Swearingen's Fort is located.1 
Story* Where is Swearingen's Fort? Family tradition has always said "Swearingen's Fort Maryland was where Captain Joseph Tomlinson and Rebecca Hartness were married on 25 Jan 1775. However, I've never been able to find a reference to it to find out a more specific location. Finally, on 6 Jul 1996 I wrote this email to the Geographic Names Office (gnis_manager@usgs.gov):

Subject: A place not found on GNIS
     My ancestor was married in the late 1700's at "Swearingen's Fort" Maryland. It does not seem to be in the GNIS even as a historic place. I would greatly appreciate it if you could determine the location of this Fort and get it into GNIS. I've tried a lot of sources through the years with no success. The Swearingen/VanSwearingen name was quite prominant in Maryland at this time period so I can't believe that there are no sources at all for the location - just ones I can't find.

On 8 Jul 1996 I got this response (with a couple non-pertinant sentences deleted):
From: jrunyon@nmdhqmail.er.usgs.gov
Subject: Swearingens Fort, MD?

     Your inquiry regarding the location of a place named Swearingen's Fort in Maryland was forwarded to me for response. I am a researcher in the Geographic Names Office at the U.S. Geological Survey and we maintain the GNIS database.
     I remember that you wrote to us (the Geographic Names Office) in October 1994 looking for Swearingen's Fort and several other locations in the U.S. At the time, we checked all our placename books and historical maps and also called the Maryland Historical Trust for help, but we couldn't locate any place named "Swearingen" in Maryland.
     However, although we searched all our Maryland sources at the time, we didn't think to check the surrounding States. We have in our library a 1916 book called "Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania" by George Dallas Albert, which I just checked, and lo and behold...there's Swearingen's Fort in Pennsylvania!!!

The entry in the book reads as follows:
     "Swearingen's Fort was in Springhill township [Fayette County, in southwest Pennsylvania], near the cross-road from Cheat River towards Brownsville. It derived its name from John Swearingen, who owned the land on which it stood, or from his son Van Swearingen, afterwards sheriff of Washington county, a captain in the Revolution and in the frontier wars, and whose nephew of the same name fell at St. Clair's defeat.
     The Swearingen's Fort was on the Catherine Swearingen tract of 468 acres, surveyed April 17th, 1786; not more than one mile from Morris' Cross Roads. It stood on a knoll; the spot can be pointed out definitely. Duke Swearingen was captured by the Indians near it while fetching the cows. He never returned.
     The fort was built of split puncheon and dirt [stockade], and covered a large space of ground. There are no signs of the old fort visible, except what is indicated by the surface of the ground being at this place a little higher than the surface immediately around it. The land originally was owned by John S. Van Swearingen; it is now owned by the heirs of Michael Crow, dec'd. This fort was made in 1774.
     * The site was marked recently by the erection of a metal tablet, when a descendant of Van Swearingen, Judge John C. Van Swearingen made an address."
     So, I guess it pays to keep searching! I'm sorry we didn't locate Swearingen's Fort when you wrote to us back in '94. I checked the current Fayette County, PA highway map and although Swearingen's Fort is not shown, the map does show the Cheat River and Morris' Crossroads which are both mentioned in the 1916 description. The location of the Fort looks to be about 1 mile from the West Virginia state line, and maybe 23 miles from the northwestern tip of Maryland. I guess it was easy to confuse the state boundaries in the 1770's. I'll fill out a form to get Swearingen's Fort, PA added to GNIS.
     Although it's the wrong state, I think this must be the same location where your ancestor was married. You may also want to see if Fayette Co., PA has a historical society (probably in the county seat of Uniontown). They might have an old map showing the exact location of the Fort. I hope this information helps and Happy Rootin'...!
Jenny Runyon
jrunyon@usgs.gov.

 
Death*30 May 1825 Joseph Tomlinson Jr (Capt) (II) died on 30 May 1825 at Grave Creek, Ohio Co., West Virginia, at age 79 date per Bible.1 

Family

Elizabeth Harkness b. 2 Mar 1757, d. 1 May 1841
Marriage*25 January 1775 He married Elizabeth Harkness, daughter of Robert Harkness and Mary Scott, on 25 January 1775 at Swearingen's Fort, Springhill Twnshp, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, date (old style) per Bible. See story file for description of where Swearingen's Fort is located.1 
Children

Last Edited 7 Jul 2007

Citations

  1. [S443] Evidence 443 - see http://bassett.net/genealogy/evidence443.shtml, Tomlinson Henderson Bible.