Swindle Family compiled by Bill Brackett
The Swindle name is believed to be English. It is said to mean "one who came from Swindale" a chapelry in the parish of Shap in northern England’s county of Westmoreland. The original meaning of the name is thought to be derived from a dale or dell where swine were raised or perhaps a haunt of wild boars.The family claims a coat of arms, which has a boar’s head and two crossed blue swords with gold hilts on a silver shield.
In records I have seen that there was a William Swindell who was born before 1584 in England and was killed in an Indian massacre in Virginia. He died on Captain Berkley's plantation about 60 miles from Jamestown, Virginia in 1624. His last named is spelled Swandal in these records.
In Cheshire, England on 08 Oct 1578 a William Swyndles married Margery Barber. On 10 Dec 1598 in Cheshire, England a William Swindles married Izabell Hiberte. On 29 May 1610 in Cheshire England a William Swindles married Elizabeth Mallbone. There are several others by this name in Cheshire. William Swindles and Isabell Hiberte had sons, Thomas Swindle and Daniel Swindle.
In a muster taken 30 Jan 1624 there is a Thomas Swinhow (Swindell) who was reported as having arrived on the "Diana" and living in the main of the Corporation of James City, Virginia. There was a Thomas Swindell who arrived in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1654. It has been indicated that Thomas Swindell moved to the eastern shore of Virginia. There was also a Daniel Swindell in this same area as mentioned as tithables in that county in 1666. Thomas Swindell had a son named John Swindell who married the daughter of George Willis. George Willis gave the couple a cow in 1668. John and ... (Willis) Swindell lived in North Hampton, Virginia and he died in North Carolina 1750. Thomas Swindell, who arrived in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1654, was an indentured servant and John Walton and John Baynol who were Virginian “Planters” paid his transport. John Swindell was still on the eastern shore of Virginia as late as 1700 when he witnessed the will of John Tilney of Nassawaddox.
In 1702 John Swindell moved into Bath County, North Carolina and in that same year proved headrights to 240 acres. This John Swindell may have been the father to Thomas Swindell. In 1729 there was a Thomas Swindell who was a cooper from Beauford Precinct of Bath County North Carolina. Thomas Swindell purchased 100 acres on the north side of the Pamlico River from James Singleton.
There was a Timothy Swindle in Culpeper County, Virginia in the 1770's. This area of Virginia was settled by Germans, but it is believed that this Timothy Swindle was not of German ancestry. Timothy Swindle married Rebecca Crease (Crees, Crest, Criece, Greys) who was clearly German. Rebecca Crease's family was from Wurttemberg in what was to become Germany. Timothy and Rebecca Swindle had children:
- Sarah Swindle m. Frederick Baumgardner
- Michael Swindle m. Elizabeth Utz
- John Swindle m. Hannah Weaver
- George Swindle m. Hannah Cornelius
- Rebecca Swindle m. John Fray
It is obvious that the Swindle family came from England possibly as early as 1619. They settled in Virginia, moved into North Carolina by 1702, into Tennessee by 1815 and later into Arkansas by 1860.
According to research done by Charles H. Swindle and James E. Swindell The Swindle line is as follows:
- John Swindle was born about 1523 in England. John’s wife’s name is unknown. Their son was William Swindle (Swandal) who was born before 1584 in England.
- William Swindle (Swandal) married Isabell Hiberte on 10 Dec 1598 in Macclesfield, St. Michael, Cheshire, England. Isabell was born before 1580 in Cheshire.
William Swindle (Swandal) was killed in the Indian massacre on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622 at Berkley’s Plantation 66 miles from James City, Virginia. James City is known today as Jamestown. Isabell died in 1652 in Virginia. William came to the New World about 1619/20. William and Isabell Swindle had at least two sons:
- Thomas Swindle
- Daniel Swindle
Thomas Swindle was born about 1604, lived in North Hampton, Virginia and died about 1669 in Rappanock, Richmond County, Virginia. Thomas’s wife’s name is unknown but she was born about 1610 in Rappanock and died about 1670 in Virginia. Thomas Swindle’s known children were:
- Timothy Swindle born between 1646-51 and died in 1683 in Virginia
- John Swindle b, 1648 in North Hampton, Virginia.
Daniel Swindle born about 1648. Timothy Swindle married a lady named Sarah who was born in England. Sarah’s last name is not known. Timothy and Sarah’s son was John Swindle who was born 20 Mar 1675/76 in Rappanock, Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
John Swindle married Mary McPherson, the daughter of William McPherson, about 1696 in Lower Norfolk, Currtuck County, Virginia. John died before 1772 in Hyde County, North Carolina. Mary Swindle died between 1746 and 1751. Some of their sons were:
- Timothy Swindle married Rebecca Crees
- John Swindle b. 1723 in Hyde County, N. C.
- Caleb Swindle
- Parker Swindle b. abt 1730 in Hyde County
- Josiah Swindle b. 1732 in Hyde County
- William Swindle b. 1735 in Hyde County
- Zedekiah Swindle b. 04 Apr 1737
Josiah Swindle was born about 1732 in Albermarie, Hyde County, North Carolina. Josiah was a carpenter by trade. He signed his will on 07May 1804. His estate was probated in 1806. He left mechanic tools equally divided among sons, furniture to daughters and most of his estate to his wife, Ester. Josiah Swindle was married at least three times. The name of his first wife is not known but they had a son:
Josiah Swindle married 2nd Sarah ... . They had sons:
- Caleb Swindle
Josiah Swindle married 3rd Ester Balance. They had children:
- Samuel Swindle
- Abraham Swindle
- Robert Swindle
- Ananias Swindle b. 1758 in Hyde County, North Carolina
- Willis Swindle
- Marget Swindle b. 1764 in Hyde County
- Pricilla Swindle
- Delilah Swindle
- Ann Swindle
- Elizabeth Swindle
Samuel Swindle was born about 1754 in Hyde County, North Carolina. He died about 1807 in the same county. Samuel is believed to have moved to Bladean County, North Carolina from Hyde County in the late 1700's. Samuel Swindle married a lady named Mary. Mary’s last name is not known. Samuel and Mary Swindle had children:
James Swindle was born about 1777 in North Carolina. He died in 1850 in Tennessee. James Swindle married Mary Howe, the daughter of Job Howe Jr.. They were married on 08 Mar 1808 in North Carolina. Mary Swindle died in Tennessee. Mary Swindle died before 25 Jan 1825 as her estate was probated on that date. James and Mary Swindle had children:
- Willis Swindle
- Samuel Swindle
- Henry Swindle b. abt. 1776
- James Swindle
- Thomas Swindle
- Seth Swindle b. abt. 1810
- William E. Swindle
- Nathan Swindle b. abt 1813
Jena Green Hopwood wrote a family history in 1987 called “The Swineherders”. It contains photocopies of documents, photos and detailed information about the following:
Thomas Swindle was born 02 Feb 1811 in North Carolina. He died 29 May 1904 in Benton County, Tennessee. Thomas Swindle came to Tennesse with his parents when he was four years of age (1815). Thomas Swindle lived in Gismunda, Tennessee for over sixty years. When Thomas died he was reportedly 93 years, 3 months and 20 days old and was the oldest man in the county. Thomas Swindle was a Methodist and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was licensed to "exhort", which is to preach, about 1850-1860. Thomas Swindle married 1st Miriam Anderson, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Anderson, on 15 Jan 1833. Thomas Swindle was Justice of the Peace in Benton County, Tennesee in 1869. Thomas and Miriam Swindle had children:
- William Anderson Swindle
- Louisa C. Swindle
- Felissa Ann Swindle b. abt. 1836
- John S. Swindle
- Isaac Harrison Swindle b. abt 1838
- James Eli Swindle
- Green P. Swindle b. abt. 1840
- Asa E. Swindle b. abt. 1843
Thomas Swindle married 2nd Nancy F. Harris on 12 Jul 1873 and they had children:
- Mary A. P. Swindle
- Isabella Swindle
- Doctor Bennet Swindle
- Clark M. (Martin) Swindle
- Louellen Swindle
- Enoch Hawkins Swindle
The Camden Chronicle, one of the early newspapers of Benton County, Tennessee reported Thomas’s death on 10 Jun 1904. “Thomas Swindle, who had been in bad health for some time, died Sunday at the advanced age of 93 years, 3 months and 20 days, and was the oldest man in the county. Mr. Swindle was born February 9, 1811. He professed religion in July or August, 1843, and joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1844. In the division to which he belonged, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he was licensed to exhort somewhere in the date between 1850 and 1860, and was faithful to the trust until his death, being a devoted servant of God for more than sixty years. He was first married to Miriam Anderson on January 15, 1833. To that union there was twelve children, eight of whom lived to be grown and four died in infancy. His second marriage was to Mrs. N.F. Harris on December 7, 1873, who survives him. In 1867, he received the degrees of F. & A.M. at Camden Lodge # 179, of which he died a member. The burial took place at Shiloh Cemetery Tuesday with all the honors of masonry and was attended by a large gathering of friends and relatives.”
William Anderson Swindle was born 18 Jan 1834 in Benton County, Tennessee which was Humphreys County at that time. He died 26 Jan 1914 in Randolph County, Arkansas. William A. Swindle was a farmer and trader. William A. Swindle married 1st Angelina Smith on 10 Nov 1850 in Benton County, Tennessee. Angelina was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Lewis) Smith. William A. and Angelina Swindle were living in Arkansas in 1860. Angelina Swindle died in Randolph County, Arkansas in 1860. William A. Swindle volunteered in the Civil War from Arkansas in 1863 under Captain William Black and Colonel Shaver. William A. Swindle was in battles in Missouri and Siloam, Arkansas. In 1864 William A. Swindle returned to Tennessee and lived there until 1911 when he returned to Arkansas to live with his son, Dr. William T. Swindle. He was known as “Uncle Billie” Swindle. William Anderson Swindle is buried in the Siloam Cemetery near Middlebrook, Arkansas. William A. and Angelina Swindle had children:
- Dr. William T. Swindle
- Anna A. Swindle
- Paralee Swindle
- Green P. Swindle
William A. Swindle married 2nd Mary Lewis on 20 Jul 1864. Mary was married 1st to John Lewis on 30 Sep 1855. Mary and John Lewis had two children, Martha and William. Mary Smith was the sister of William A. Swindle’s first wife. Mary Smith was born in Benton County, Tennessee 06 Oct 1840 and died in Randolph County, Arkansas on 23 Aug 1905. William A. and Mary Swindle had children:
- Arty Swindle b. 18 Jul 1865
- Ada E. Swindle b. 10 Jul 1871
- Isabelle B. Swindle
- Ida Swindle
The 1870 census of Benton County, Tennessee shows:
- William A. Swindle
- Mary Swindle
- Thomas Swindle
- Martha Lewis
- William Lewis
- Artie Swindle
- Elizabeth Smith (mother-in-law)
William A. Swindle’s military records indicate he was wounded at the battle of Siloam, Arkansas and that he was shot with a “Minnie ball” through the right “rist” joint, breaking these bones and “then into my body on the right side and lodged at skin in back”. William died in Randolph County, Arkansas on 26 Jan 1914 and is buried in the churchyard at Siloam near Middlebrook, Arkansas.
Dr. William Thomas Swindle was born in Benton County, Tennessee on 13 Mar 1854. He died 04 Aug 1924 in Middlebrook, Randolph County, Arkansas. In Benton County, Tennessee he married Vandora Hatley on 11 Dec 1873. Vandora was Victoria Vandora Hatley, the only child of Wyley and Leah (Nowell) Hatley. Vandora Hatley was born 11 Dec 1858 and died in Maynard, Randolph County, Arkansas on 12 Feb 1924. Dr. William T. and Vandora Swindle had ten children:
- Nancy Elizabeth Swindle m. Daniel Odom
- Larkin Leonard Swindle m. Annie Green
- Uler or Ula Balkus Swindle m. John Francis Rapert
- Arcus Eli Swindle m. Effie Jones
- Anderson Horace Swindle m. Bell Curtis
- Pizoler Belle Swindle m. Felix Johnson
- Dovie Dee Swindle m. Frank Luter
- Warner Thurman Swindle m. Ethel Lindsey
- Izra Swindle died young
- Tula Swindle m. Patrick Parker
Dr. William and Vandora (Hatley) Swindle are buried in the Siloam Cemetery near Middlebrook, Arkansas. Dr. William T. Swindle traveled back and forth between Benton County, Tennessee and Randolph County, Arkansas where he practiced medicine.
There is an interesting story passed down by Arvena Hambrick Brackett concerning her grandmother Ula Balkus Swindle. Arvena says her grandmother "chewed tobacco and that she would sit on the porch and spit it out into the street". It should be understood that this was a rural area and the street was a dirt path.
*According to another family historian a family Bible records Ula Balkus Swindle as Uler Balkus Swindle. My mother, her grandaughter, says her name was Ula?
Ula (Uler) Blakus Swindle married John Francis Rapert in Randolph County, Arkansas. John and Ula (Swindle) Rapert are buried in the Antioch Cemetery near Doniphan, Missouri.
Their daughter Gussie I. Rapert married Thad Hambrick in Randolph County, Arkansas.
Their daughter Ula Arvena Hambrick married 2nd Harold Earl Brackett in 1947 in Berrien County, Michigan.
Their son William Brackett married Jane Hauch in Lakeside, Berrien County, Michigan in 1970.