The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.
also spelled Swearengen
George Washington ( 1731/32 – 1799) was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and first president of the United States (1789–1797).
Thomas Swearingen was born on April 8, 1708 in Queen Anne's Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland. His parents were Thomas Swearingen and Lydia Riley.
He married Sarah Dossett.
The Swearingens were early settlers in, what is now, the eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. In 1734, they settled in Shepardstown which is now in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Their children may have included:
Thomas Swearingen (1735, married Mary Morgan),
Andrew Swearingen (married Elizabeth Chaplin),
Van Swearingen (1743),
Zachariah Swearingen,
Joseph Swearingen (1754),
Benoni Swearingen
Sarah Swearingen (married Thomas Turner), and
Eleanor Swearingen (married Isaac Israel).
By 1755, Thomas operated a ferry across the Potomac.
In 1757, Thomas was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses representing Frederick County. He received 270 votes and George Washington received 40 votes
His will was signed on April 4, 1760 and proved on June 3, 1760.
In 1771 Van and Thomas were among the regulators.
Slavery is an immoral system of forced labor where people are treated as property to be bought and sold. It was legal in the American Colonies and the United States until the Civil War.
from Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Frederick County, Virginia 1743-1800 by Estelle Stewart King
Sweringen, Thomas
Guardian of John Jones and Sarah Jones, orphans of Josiah Jones 3 April 1745.
G-444
Capt. Thomas Sweringen of Frederick Co.
444 A. in said Co.
Surv. Mr. Guy Broadwater.
Adj. his Patent land, William Chaplin, Simmion Tournour, Jacob Van Meter & Joseph Chaplin. 15 Oct. 1750
G-457
Capt. Thomas Sweringen of Frederick Co.
478 A. in said Co. Surv.
Mr. Guy Broadwater
On Potomack R., adj. his old Patent. 18 Oct. 1750
H-181
Capt. Thomas Sweringen of Frederick Co.
155 A. in said Co. Surv.
Mr. Guy Broadwater
On Potomack R. adj. Sweringen’s own land. 21 May 1752
H-246
Mr. Thomas Sweringen & Charles Buck, church wardens of Parish of Frederick in Frederick Co.
400 A. for use of sd. parish & minsters thereof as a Glebe in Frederick Co.
Surv. Mr. John Baylis
Adj. John Neil dec’d, Opeckon [Opequon] , Messrs. Carters, Lewis Neil Jr. 2 Mar. 1753
Opequon Creek is tributary of the Potomac River. It joins the Potomac northeast of Martinsburg and its source is at the foot of Great North Mountain. It is part of the boundary between Frederick and Clarke counties in Virginia and between Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia.
H-430
Capt. Thomas Sweringen of Frederick Co
400 A. in said Co.
Surv. Mr. Thomas Rutherford
Near Potomack R.,
adj. John Willson, Anthony Turner Jr., Sweringen’s patent, John Van Meter 1 Apr. 1754
H-747
Capt. Thomas Sweringen of Frederick Co.
189 A.
near Potomack R. in said Co.
Surv. Mr. Thomas Rutherford.
Adj. Jonah Hedges, Peter Watkins, Maj. John Caryle, on the Waggon Rd. from Vestall’s Gap to Watkins Ferry. 25 Nov. 1756
from Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Frederick County, Virginia 1743-1800 by Estelle Stewart King
Sweringen, Thomas
Will, 4 April 1760. 3 June 1760.
Wife: Sarah Sweringen to receive one negro girl.
Daughter: Drusills Morgan
Sarah Sweringen,
Eleanor Sweringen.
Sons: Thomas Sweringen – plantation:
sons Andrew, Van, Zachariah, Joseph, Bernoni Sweringen – all to receive land.
Exrs: son Thomas Sweringen.
Wit: Van Sweringen, John Champion, Rachel Wilkins
