Elizabeth "Betsy" Swift Hooper
Finding a Daughter for Amy
As many family historians do, in the initial research of the family of Abraham Vanderpool (1766-1831) and Phoebe Isaacs (ca 1770-1833) I had focused on my direct ancestry, who in this instance was their youngest child and a son. However, all of their children — two sons and five daughters — were identified in the probate records of their father, Abraham Vanderpool, who died 28 August 1831 in Marion County, Indiana 1831. [1]
Gradually as time permitted, I followed the other son and then I began to trace the five daughters in the family. One of those daughters was Amy Vanderpool who married a Thomas Swift. One day I received an e-mail from a researcher who wanted to know if I could identify an Elizabeth “Betsy” Swift, born ca 1812 in North Carolina, who in 1832 had married a Samuel Hooper in Marion County, Indiana. I checked my Vanderpool-Swift files and replied in the negative. Thomas Swift and Amy Vanderpool had only sons and my Amy Vanderpool (born ca 1799) was too young to have been a mother of a child born ca 1812.
However, curiosity — a disorder rampant among genealogists — forced me to take another look at this Elizabeth “Betsy” Swift Hooper. In 1850 she, her husband, and their family were living in Boone County, Indiana. [2] Boone County is an adjoining county of Marion County, where Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift had removed to from North Carolina in approximately 1831. It appeared to me that her age was 28 rather than 38, which would make her born about 1822, and if so, a possible fit into the Amy Vanderpool-Thomas Swift family.
A tight fit, as Amy and Thomas had a son born about 1822, but certainly possible. Several other genealogical flags waved at me from that enumeration.
• Elizabeth Swift Hooper was born in North Carolina
• Had named a daughter Amy
• Had named a son Thomas
• Had named a son Wilburn/Wilbourn
Those were certainly Swift names. Was the son Wilburn/Wilbourn named for Elizabeth’s maternal uncle or was it just a name they liked? It was the three given names of Amy, Thomas, and Wilburn together that showed a likelihood of more than just a coincidence in naming patterns. Could she be a daughter of Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift after all?
But, and it was a big one, if this Elizabeth Swift Hooper had married 13 September 1832 (and a quick online check confirmed that date,[3] she had to have been born prior to 1822, as an age of 28 in 1850 would indicate. If she was really 38 in 1850, then she was too old to be my Amy Vanderpool Swift’s daughter. A search in the 1860 census hopefully would more closely determine her age.
EXAMINING THE 1860 CENSUS
It didn’t. It only added another possibility, but it provided a tantalizing clue as to whom Elizabeth Swift Hooper might belong. In the 1860 census, she was found in Marion County, Indiana. [4] Her husband, Samuel Hooper, has aged 14 years since the 1850 enumeration; now shown as age 54, and Elizabeth’s age instead of being 48 or 38 was given as 43. So Elizabeth’s possible birth dates now were 1812, 1817 or 1822. However, it was the name of the last person listed in the Hooper household that made me gasp. It was a Geo. W. Swift, age 43, born North Carolina.
Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift had a son, George W. Swift, born in 1817 in North Carolina. He would be 43 in 1860. Was he Elizabeth Swift Hooper’s brother? His surname has been mangled as only enumerators can do, into Swigt, which is probably why he had not been found through previous searches in this census. Earlier I had found George W. Swift, a widowed schoolteacher, with his three daughters listed elsewhere in the 1860 Marion County, Indiana census.[5] I had not looked further for him. The two 1860 enumerations for this locality were taken a couple weeks apart and it is logical that George W. Swift might have been staying at his sister’s, perhaps helping with harvest. That would explain how he came to be enumerated twice in 1860 — not an uncommon happening in the Midwest.
However, if George W. Swift was a brother to Elizabeth Swift Hooper, according to this census, they were born the same year — 1817. Twins? George’s exact birth date (2 May 1817) had been determined from his tombstone listing (he died during the Civil War) and is buried or has a marker in the Swift Cemetery in Marion County, Indiana.[6] Without any reliable evidence of Elizabeth Swift Hooper’s birth date, it was difficult to determine if she was a child of Thomas Swift and Amy Vanderpool, and if so, exactly where she fit on the family tree.
LAND RECORDS REVEAL THE TRUTH
Amy Vanderpool Swift died between 1850 and 1860 censuses and no probate, burial information or cemetery records for her have been found. Thomas Swift died in Marion County, Indiana 25 August 1864 and at the time of this research, his probate records had not been located or accessed. However, it was in the land records of this county that the proof that Elizabeth Swift Hooper was their daughter was discovered.
In a 25 November 1864 deed[7] Elizabeth and Samuel Hooper (her husband) of Marion County, Indiana conveyed and warranted to Wilbourn Swift, of Marion County, Indiana for the sum of $1,400 some real estate, a one undivided sixth part . . .
[it] Being the same and all the said Elizabeth Hooper inherited from her deceased father, Thomas Swift, late of Marion County, Indiana.
So now we had a daughter for Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift — but how had I missed her before?
In about 1815 Amy Vanderpool married Thomas Swift. She was young — only about 16 years old.[8] Swift was a neighbor in Ashe County, North Carolina. He went to the same church and had served with her brother, John Vanderpool, in the War of 1812.[9] With the exception of some entries in the Cove Creek (North Carolina) Baptist church records and the 1850 federal census, few records about her have been found and probably do not exist. Like many women of this time period she is hidden in the records under her father or husband’s names.
While some of the North Carolina marriage records for this locality and time period have survived none have been found for Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift.[10] The date of their marriage is estimated to be about 1815-1816. This date is derived from examining the Cove Creek Baptist church records[11] of what was then Ashe County, North Carolina, when in October 1814 Amy is referred to as a Vanderpool and in April 1818 when she is referenced as Amy Swift. Her son, George W. Swift was born in May of 1817. It was a tiny church in a small community and her given name was unique enough to identify her. No other Amy Vanderpool or Swift in this church was mentioned in the time frame of interest.
Cove Creek Baptist Church records—On October the third Saturday [15 October 1814] the church met, Brother Parsons being present we chose him moderator and proceeded to business.
• A door being opened we received Sister Ame [sic] Vanderpool by experience into fellowship. On Sunday night the church being together we received Brother Thomas Swift by experience into fellowship.
• In April the second Saturday 1818 [11 April 1818] … A report taken up by the church against two of the Sisters, Sary Davis and Elizabeth Curtis, concerning of their being taken up with the Methodist and running to hear them … The church chose the following Brethren and Sisters to site them, Abraham Vanderpool and Samuel Swift to site Sary Davis and Mary Ford and Amy Swift to site Elizabeth Curtis. [this is first instance of Amy/Ame listed as SWIFT instead of VANDERPOOL in the church minutes.]
Amy is identified as a daughter and probably the fourth child of Abraham Vanderpool (1766-1831) and Phoebe Isaacs (ca 1770-1833)[12] and the only one of their seven known children who was born in South Carolina. Her siblings were all born in North Carolina, most likely in the area that is now Watauga County, but was then Ashe County. Her birth year is estimated to be 1799 based on her age (51) given in 1850 Marion County, Indiana census[13] and the approximate place among her siblings, whose birth dates could be determined from other sources or estimated from census enumerations. Since she died between 1850 and 1860 censuses, this is the only enumeration in which her actual age is given.
Amy Vanderpool grew up in what was then Ashe County, North Carolina in the Cove Creek area (it is now Watauga County) and lived there until about 1831 when evidently the Indiana fever struck the family and her parents, along with her unmarried sister (Mary), her then two grown brothers (John and William) and their families left North Carolina and joined the throng who removed to Indiana from North Carolina during this time period.
BACK TO BASICS
In the 1840 Marion County, Indiana census,[14] Thomas Swift (whose surname was written and indexed as Wift) is listed with six white males and one white female (the latter is 40 to 50, which fits Amy’s age). The oldest male is 50 to 60, which fits Thomas’ age bracket, and it is known that Thomas and Amy had five sons. Elizabeth Swift married young (as did her mother). Her marriage license to Samuel Hooper dated 11 September 1832 notes that she was still a minor and had permission of her father. [15]
That would explain why Elizabeth Swift is not shown with her parents in the 1840 census. But she is probably with them in 1830 and 1820 enumerations and was overlooked. So it was necessary to go back to take a closer look at those records.
In 1830 Ashe County, North Carolina census[16] Thomas Swift has four males (one under 5; two 10-15; and one 15-20, and a female, 15-20, plus a female (age 30-40). The latter is probably his wife, Amy.
Elizabeth Swift Hooper is probably the female, in the 15 to 20 column, which may not have been correct. Knowing that Amy was only about 31 in 1830, this 15-20-year-old female listed here was dismissed initially as probably a relative or hired help. However, the 1820 enumeration[17] should have been examined more carefully. In the 1820 Ashe County, North Carolina census it shows Thomas Swift with both a free white male and a free white female under 10; an older male (probably Thomas) 16-26 and an older female, 16-26. The young people are probably George W. Swift and Elizabeth Swift.
Whether Elizabeth Swift Hooper is a twin to George W. Swift or is his older sister, she is now attached to the family tree and rightfully acknowledged as the daughter of Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift.
Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift had issue:
2 i. Elizabeth "Betsy" SWIFT, born about 1816, probably Ashe County, North Carolina; married Samuel HOOPER, on 13 Sep 1832, Marion County, Indiana;[18] died between 1864 and 1870, probably Marion County, Indiana.
3 ii. George W. SWIFT, born on 2 May 1817, Ashe County, North Carolina,.[19] married Emily BRADY, on 11 Mar 1844, Marion County, Indiana;[20] died on 9 Apr 1864, Marion County, Indiana.[21]
4 iii. Abraham SWIFT, [22]born about 1822, Ashe County, North Carolina[23].; married Sarah Jane HUFFMAN, on 21 Jun 1849, Marion County, Indiana[24]; married Rosanna S. REVENAUGH, on 27 Oct 1867, Edgar County, Illinois;[25] married Mary E. (ZION) LUCAS JAYNE, on 15 Jan 1887, Bates County, Missouri; [26]died after Jan 1887, probably Mount Pleasant, Bates County, Missouri.
5 iv. Wilborn "Willburn" SWIFT, born about 1825, Ashe County, North Carolina,[27] married Lydia Elma “Eleanor” ROBERTS, on 3 Jan 1850, Marion County, Indiana[28]; died between 1871 and 1880, probably Marion County, Indiana.
6 v. William SWIFT, born about 1828, Ashe County, North Carolina[29]; married Manerva L. HOWARD, on 24 May 1855, Marion County, Indiana[30]; died on 18 Jan 1871, Marion County, Indiana.[31]
7 vi. Elias B. SWIFT, born about 1833,[32] probably in Marion County, Indiana; married Mary A. TRESTER, on 16 Apr 1856, Marion County, Indiana[33]; died after 1900, probably Marion County, Indiana.
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[1]Marion County, Indiana Probate Records. Probate Order Books, 1822-1854, September Term 1831, pp. 190, 196, 204. Family History Library (FHL) film No. 530,295. Also, Circuit Court Records. Execution Docket, 1822-1840, (records 1829-1846) FHL Film No. 520,298.
[2] Samuel Hooper household. 1850 U.S. Census. Boone County, Indiana, NARS M432, Roll 136, p. 179. The enumeration shows Samuel Hooper, 40, born Ohio; Betsy Hooper, 28 (or 38), born North Carolina; Mary J. Hooper, 17, born Indiana; Amy Hooper, 14, born Indiana; Mahala Hooper, 10, born Indiana; Thomas Hooper, 8, born Indiana; Wilburn, 4, born Indiana; and Samuel Hooper, 6/12, born Indiana.
[3] Dodd, Jordan. Indiana Marriages to 1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 1997. Original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Indiana. http://www.ancestry.com/
[4] Samuel Hooper household. 1860 U.S. Census. Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana, NARS M653, Roll 280, p. 678.
[5] George W. Swift household. 1860 U.S. Census. Washington Township, Marion County, Indiana. NARS M653, Roll 280, p. 993.
[6] Swift Cemetery, Wynnedale, Washington Township, Marion County, Indiana. Manuscript Gpf977.201. M341, No. 1(4). Indiana State Library (Genealogy Division). Also now online: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ingsmc/Pages/Marion_County_Data/Cemeteries/Swift_Cemetery.htm
It shows G. W. Swift (some have read or transcribed it as T. W. Swift), died 9 April 1864; 46y, 11m, 7d. Co. K, 3rd Indiana Cav.
[7] Marion County, Indiana Deeds, 1863-1865, item 2, Volume LL, pp.634-5, FHL No. 1,302,942. Samuel Hooper and Elizabeth Hooper to Wilborn Swift. 25 November 1864.
[8] Amy Vanderpool’s brothers were about 21 when they married; her sister, Elizabeth, about 24; her sister, Nancy, about 21, and her sister Phoebe, about 19. Her sister, Mary, recorded as an idiot in her father’s probate records, never married.
[9] Adjutant General. Muster Rolls of the Soldiers of the War of 1812, Detached from the Militia of North Carolina in 1812 and 1814. (North Carolina: Winston-Salem. Barber Printing Company, Inc., 1926; reprint, ed., Baltimore: Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1996), p. 118.
[10] In The North Carolinian: A Quarterly Journal of Genealogy and History, Vol. VIII, No. 3, Number 27, September 1961, edited by William Perry Johnson, p. 848 notes that “the Marriage Register in the Ashe County courthouse does not begin until 1851. There are, however, 417 loose marriage bonds in file boxes in the courthouse, which bonds are unrecorded, and there is no listing of them in the Archives in Raleigh.” The marriage bond was the principal record of marriages in North Carolina from 1741 to 1868. The list of these 417 Ashe County bonds, which was published in the above journal, did not include one for Amy Vanderpool and Thomas Swift. This list of bonds was dated 1817 through 1850 and no marriage bonds for this county have been located for the years 1799 through 1816.
[11] Cove Creek (North Carolina) Baptist Church Minutes, 1799-1837. FHL film No. 984,361
[12] Marion County, Indiana Probate Records. Probate Order Books, 1822-1854, September Term 1831, pp. 190, 196, 204. Family History Library (FHL) Film No. 530,295. Circuit Court Records. Execution Docket, 1822-1840, (records 1829-1846) FHL Film No. 520,298.
[13] Thomas Swift household. 1850 Marion County, Indiana. Washington Township. NARS M432, Roll 159, p. 422 shows Thomas Swift 61, born North Carolina and Aime, 51, born South Carolina, Elias Swift, 17, born, Indiana; Rebecca Davis [relationship, if any, unknown] 23, b. Kentucky, and William Swift, 22, born North Carolina.
[14] Thomas Swift [written as Wift] household. 1840 U.S. census. Marion County, Indiana, NARS M704, Roll 88, p. 278.
[15] Marion County, Indiana Marriages, 1822-1895, Book 1, p. 180. FHL Film No. 1,323,322 (items 2-10). Be it known that on September 11th 1832, a marriage license issued to Samuel Hooper of lawful age and Elizabeth Swift, a minor, by consent of her father, personally given . . . both of Marion County, Indiana were joined in marriage 13 September 1832; signed by Edward Roberts, Justice of the Peace.
[16] Thomas Swift household. 1830 U.S. Census. Ashe County, North Carolina, NARS M19, Roll 118, p. 28.
[17] Thomas Swift household. 1820 U.S. Census. Ashe County, North Carolina, NARS M33, Roll 81, p. 16.
[18] Marion County, Indiana Marriages, 1822-1895, Book 1, p. 180. FHL Film No. 1,323,322 (items 2-10).
[19] Swift Cemetery, Wynnedale, Washington Township, Marion County, Indiana. Manuscript.Gpf977.201. M341, No. 1(4). Indiana State Library (Genealogy Division). Also now online at:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ingsmc/Pages/Marion_County_Data/Cemeteries/Swift_Cemetery.htm
It shows G. W. Swift (some have read or transcribed it as T. W. Swift), died 9 April 1864; 46y, 11m, 7d. Co. K, 3rd Indiana Cav.
[20] Marion County, Indiana, Marriages, 1822-1895; FHL Film No. 1,323,322, items 2-10. Book 4, p. 75.
[21] Marion County, Indiana, Estate Index, No. 1617, FHL Film No. 382,747. Date of Death: 9 April 1864. Estate settled, 30 March 1868.
[22] Marion County, Indiana Deed Records, 1822-1875, FHL Film No. 130,2943, MM (October 1863-May 1866), p. 388. Abraham Swift to Wilbourn Swift. Indenture. Abraham Swift and Sarah J. Swift, his wife, of Edgar County, Illinois, release and quit claim to Wilbourn Swift of Marion County, Indiana for the sum of $1,100 the following real estate in Marion County, Indiana. The undivided sixth part of the south half of the NE quarter of Sec. 16 in TWS 16 North of Range 3 East. Also the North half of the same quarter section in the same township and range except 20 acres in the NW quarter of the last named tract of land, heretofore sold to William B. Bridgeford. 13 Day January 1865. Signed by Abraham Swift and Sarah J. Swift, with notation. State of Indiana. Vigo County, appeared Abraham Swift and Sarah J. Swift, his wife, and ack. execution of deed. This is the same description of the property that Elizabeth Swift Hooper inherited from her father, Thomas Swift.
[23] Abram Swift household. 1850 U.S. Census. Delaware, Hamilton County, Indiana, NARS M432, Roll 148, p. 45.
[24] Marion County, Indiana, Marriages, 1822-1895; FHL Film No. 1,323,322, items 2-10. Book 5, p. 116. (with consent of her father, Lewis Huffman).
[25] Dodd, Jordan and Liahona Research. Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Index compiled from county marriage records on microfilm located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah by Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research (P.O. Box 740, Orem, Utah 84059). Specific source information is listed with each entry. 27 October 1867, Edgar County, Illinois. http://www.ancestry.com/.
[26] E. Joyce Christiansen, compiler, Bates County, Missouri Marriage Records, Volume I, 1860-1877 (Overland Park, Kansas: Joan Kusek, January 1990). 977.843 v2c, p. 56 Abraham Swift married Mrs. Mary Jayne, 15 January 1887; recorded 15 January 1887. J. G. Burgess, M.G.
[27] Willburn Swift household. 1850 Washington Township, Marion County, Indiana. NARS M432, Roll 159, p. 422. He and his wife, “Eleanor,” are living next to his parents, Thomas and Amy Swift. His brother, George, and his three young daughters reside with Willburn and “Eleanor.”
[28] Marion County, Indiana, Marriages, 1822-1895; FHL Film No. 1,323,322, items 2-10. Book 5, p. 167 (with consent of her father, Daniel Roberts).
[29] Thomas Swift household.1850 Marion County, Indiana. Washington Township. NARS M432, Roll 159, p. 422 shows Thomas Swift 61, born North Carolina and Aime, 51, born South Carolina, Elias Swift, 17, born, Indiana; Rebecca Davis [relationship, if any, unknown] 23, b. Kentucky, and William Swift, 22, born North Carolina.
[30] Marion County, Indiana, Marriages, 1822-1895; FHL Film No. 1,323,322, items 2-10. Book 6, p. 231.
[31] Marion County, Indiana. Estate Index, 1823-1882. FHL Film No. 382,747. No. 2280. Died 18 January 1871;
settled: 1 April 1875
[32] Thomas Swift household. 1850 Marion County, Indiana. Washington Township. NARS M432, Roll 159, p. 422 shows Thomas Swift 61, born North Carolina and Aime, 51, born South Carolina, Elias Swift, 17, born, Indiana; Rebecca Davis [relationship, if any, unknown] 23, b. Kentucky, and William Swift, 22, born North Carolina.
[33] Marion County, Indiana, Marriages, 1822-1895; FHL Film No. 1,323,322, items 2-10. Book 6, p. 388.
