Person:Howland Swain (1)

Notes from the New Garden Monthly Meeting Records, Guilford County, North Carolina.

November 26, 1814 A complaint was made by the New Garden MM against Howland Swain for marrying out of unity. (One of the parties was not a member of the Society of Friends). He was condemned for his misconduct.

Excerpt from a letter by William N.F. Swain recording, with his mother, the genealogy of the Swains according to family papers. Noblesville, Indiana. Year 1900

"Howland Swain, the oldest boy of this family was a name sake of his grandfather, second son of Reuben. Howland was born May 13, 1793, and died some where near 1875. He was an active old man, when I first saw him to recollect anything of him. That was in the Fall of 185? (1850?, !855?) He and his family with many others of like nature, left North Carolina owing to the slavery question, and sought a home where an expression could be given to their minds on the principles in which they were so much interested; that of free speech, free press, and safety from the patrollers of the element of the South. They located in Greensboro, Indiana in the year 1844 and were there when our folks came in 1851. I mention this as one of the most interesting circumstances of my life. I had so often heard of him before we left the South, that it was natural for a little boys's ideas to be worked up to high pitch. Of course there were many others to meet, who had been mentioned. The Macy's, Thornburgs for instance, all mingling together to learn of others left behind, as he was my father's own uncle, of course we all called him Uncle Howland. He was a cooper and wagon maker by trade. Phoebe, his wife died the Winter of 51-52. I know it was one of the coldest days I thought I ever saw when father took us up to see her when a corpse. Her maiden name was Kelly."

Notes from the New Garden Monthly Meeting Records, Guilford County, North Carolina.

November 30, 1844 Howland with wife Phebe and son Howland move to Indiana and join Duck Creek Monthly Meeting.