Swinney Family in Giles County, Tennessee

Briant Swinney was born in the Virginia colony around 1770 to 1780. (The 1830 Giles County Census gives Briant’s age group as 50-60. Briant’s son Anderson states on the 1880 U. S. Census that Briant was born in Virginia.) He moved to Rowan county, North Carolina before 1810, but left the state sometime after 1815. (Briant is listed in the 1810 U. S. Census in Rowan County and is listed on the Rowan County tax lists of Capt. Gobbles company in 1815.) The first record of a Swinney in Giles County is a land deed issued for William Swinney in February of 1822 for 80 acres on the headwaters of Pigeon Roost Creek. It is likely that William is a brother or cousin to Briant as he served as executor for Briant’s estate.

In Briant’s will, dated February 1837, he gives his wife’s name as Mary. Her maiden name is unknown. Based on the signature and probation dates of his will, Briant died sometime between February and August of 1837. He lists the following children: Malinda, Nella, Elizabeth, William, Anderson, Nancy, Ruthy (Hays), and Lucinda (Justice). Richmond and Henry Swinney and Fanny Kelley are also mentioned in the will. Richmond, Henry, and Fanny could be Briant’s siblings or cousins. Frances Swinney married James Kelley 27 May 1817 in Rowan County; by 1830 Fanny Kelley is a widow living near the Swinney families in Giles County. William posted a $600 bond as executor of Briant’s estate on 7 August 1837 and completed the inventory by September of 1837. Lucinda's ex-husband James Justice is explicitly excluded from the will.

In 1840, Mary (aged 60-70) is in Giles County with girls two aged 0-5, and 10-15, and three boys aged 0-5, 5-10, and 20-30. Nearby are Anderson (30-40), Henry (30-40), Jesse (20-30), John (30-40), Lucinda (30-40), and Richmond (20-30). By this time, William (40-50), John (20-30), and James (20-30 or 30-40) [possibly two Jameses, or maybe a typo] are living in southern Giles County, away from the "main group" in District 11 (East central Giles County).

By 1850, the Swinney Clan in Giles County is smaller and scattered. Anderson (50, NC), is living in District 11. One John (46, NC) is in District 9, near the Joel Freeman family, with whom Yeatman Swinny is living. Further south, in District 1, John Swinny (31, TN) lives near the Enoch Holt family with whom Mary A. Swinny (21, TN) is residing.

In 1860, thanks in part to Anderson's prodigious efforts, the Swinney Clan is larger. (Anderson would eventually produce 20 children.) Swinneys in the Northern Subdivision of Giles County are Anderson (52, NC) and his children Ed "Sinney" (25, TN), Milton "Sweeney" (23, TN) and Amanda "Sweeney" (27, TN) (The children all live next door to each other.)

In the Southern Subdivision of the county we find Mary F. Swinney (24, TN) enumerated with the John Sisk household. (Early TN Marriage records indicate his wife is Martha J. (29, TN) is a Swinney.) Nearby is Robert H Swinny (26, TN) and family. The remaining members are scattered, John Swiny (54, NC) lives further off. Martha Swinney (38, NC) is apparently a widow with three children. John Swinney (42, TN) and family finish off the 1860 list.