| SPOUSE | CHILDREN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Sarah "Sallie" Swayze m. Dec 30, 1756? MS b. 1739/43? Chester, Morris Co. NJ d. Jun 6, 1814 Natchez, Adams Co. MS |
Richard b. Sep 14, 1760 Morris Co. NJ d. Mar 25, 1815 Adams Co. MS |
William Henry b. 1764? Morris Co. NJ d. 1829 Claiborne Co. MS |
Prosper b. 1767 Morris Co. NJ d. 1827 ?Adams Co. MS |
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Elizabeth b. 1769 Morris Co. NJ d. Adams Co. MS |
Catherine b. 1773? Natchez, British West Fla. d. 1803 |
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According to son Richard's obituary, Justus and Sarah emigrated to the Natchez
area on Jan 1, 1774 from Morris Co. NJ
[Obituary, Natchez Gazette,
Natchez, Apr 5, 1815]. |
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Upon arrival in Natchez, Justus and Sarah settled on land that became known as
Oakwood Plantation in what is now Kingston MS. Her family, the Swayze family,
are considered the first settlers of the Kingston area in MS.
Photo of
historical marker. |
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A British grant of 100 acres of land that was surveyed in 1776 for Justus King,
and "bounded by lands of Caleb King", was claimed by Richard and Prosper King
(sons of Justus) [McBee, p. 546]. According to Richard, his "father and uncle,
Justus and Caleb King, were driven by the savages from their habitations and
came to settle near the Fort" during the very unhappy revolution in this
country" [McBee, p. 189]. |
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On Aug 28, 1788, a "Joseph King" appeared at the Natchez courthouse and under oath
said that in 1782, "being hurt by a fall, he stayed at the house of Miguel Lopez"
[McBee, p. 177]. |
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On Dec 26, 1788 Cader Raby was one of the buyers
of "sundry mares and horses" belonging to John Pickens at the plantation of Josiah
Flowers. His "surety" was from son Prosper King [McBee, Natchez
Court Records, Book D, p. 141]. |
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On Feb 18, 1789 Justus King renewed his obligation for $1000 in Mexican
silver to Don Pedro Surget "being unable to make payment" with his sons Richard
and Prosper as sureties" for the sum ... [McBee, Book B, p. 64]. Four days
earlier, "sundry horses belonging to the partnership of Richard King and John
Pickens, deceased" were sold to various buyers, including
"Cady Raby" [McBee, Natchez Court Records,
Book D, p. 142]. |
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Map of
the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799. |
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Son Richard owned 103 arpents of land on St, Catherine's Creek which he sold to
James Boles and John Roberts. It was part of land that was granted to him,
No. 499, and bordered land belonging to Frederick Calvit and
Jeptha Higdon both sons of
Mary Calvit Higdon [McBee, Book D, p. 156]. |
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Son Prosper married Susan Cole, and son William Henry married Elizabeth Chaney
[Scott, "Swayze Descendancy Chart"]. |
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In a letter dated Mar 2, 1790, from
Carlos de Grand-Pré, Natchez to
Governor Don Estavan Miro, the amount of tobacco produced in 1790 was reported
by growers of Natchez. Son "Richard King" reported producing 10,000 pounds of tobacco
that year. Tobacco was produced on other plantations owned by Caleb and "Justin"
King [MS Dept of Archives & History, website]. |
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On May 20, 1791, "Justus King and sons" were buyers of 3 of the 83 slaves imported
in the Schooner Governor Miro from Jamaica for which they paid $1,633
[McBee, Book B page 502, p. 83]. |
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In 1793 son Prosper received Spanish grants of 500 acres (400 arpents) on Bayou
Pierre (Tabor's Fork in Claiborne Co.), 40 miles N.E. of the Fort, and 200 acres
on te south bank of Big Black River, 70 miles N.E. of the Fort. [McBee, Book B,
p. 390]. |
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On Jul 20, 1794, exactly one year after
James Wylie's petition to live on Lot 1
Square 32 on Main St. in Natchez, son Prosper King petitioned the Spanish Govt.
to build a house on Lot 3, Square 33 which was on St. Catherine's St. but two
blocks north of Main St. This lot is where King's Tavern now stands
[McBee, pp. 227-8]. |
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On Jul 20, 1795, Justus King petitioned the "Spanish Govt. that he desires
to build a house in Natchez", asking for Lot 2 Square No. 33. This petition
was granted Jul 21, 1796, one year later, by
Gayoso, to "Justus Cobun King"
[McBee, Book D, p. 453]. |
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On Jan 18, 1798 son Prosper sold to his brother Richard Lot 3, Square 33 in
Natchez for $50. On the same day, Richard bought Lot 4, Square 33 from John Boles
for the same price. Before, on Jul 29, 1794, Boles had petitioned that "having
material to build a house and no land" asks the Spanish Govt. for that lot,
which was granted by Gayoso on Aug 8, 1796.
So, Richard owned Lots 2, 3 and 4, all in Square 33, each with a building by Jan
18, 1798. [McBee, Book D, p. 453]. |
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On Dec 12, 1797 the Natchez court appointed Justus King, Thomas Calvit and William
Irwin to estimate the damage done in a suit by
Cato West against
John Smith for "trespass on his land and cutting
and carrying away a quantity of timber" at the head of Cole's Creek sometime in
1792. On Jan 24, 1798 the estimate was reported to the court to be $50 by Thomas
Calvit. On Aug 8, 1798 Cato petitioned that Calvit and said that Calvit and
two other men, not Irwin and King, declared "which timber was cust and carried
away" [McBee, Book G, pp.
347-8]. |
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On Jul 8, 1798 son Richard and "his wife, Esther" sold an 800 acre tract in the
"District of Feliciana, Prov. of La." [McBee, p, 360]. |
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In 1802 Claiborne Co. was formed just north of Jefferson Co.
(see present day map)
for location). |
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Daughter Elizabeth married men named Arden and then Morehouse, and daughter
Catherine married Alexander Montgomery [Scott, "Swayze Descendancy Chart"]. |
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Son Richard and his wife were both buried at Springfield Plantation. The markers
no longer exist [find-a-grave, website]. |
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In the 1816 Adams Co. MS Census, on
page 12
(line 12), there was a household headed by "Prosper King" with: 2 adult males [Prosper, ?Richard Jr.], 4 male children under 21 [orphans of brother Richard], 1 adult female [wife Susan Cole], 1 female under 21, and 25 slaves. In 1818 the household had another male child and 30 slaves [MDAH, Adams Co. 1816 & 1818 Census]. |
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Sources: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. "George W. Humphreys Bible", Claiborne MS Bibles, photostat of original bible, recorded 1957 by May Wilson McBee, in Mississippi Genealogy Trails, website. Farrell Family History, "GRAND-PRE to MIRO, May 16, 13 Translation No. 6 AT THE FORT OF NATCHEZ, May 16, 1782" entry, website. Imbert, J. Leopold, map maker, Carte des Possessions Angloises... 1777, reprinted by the Museum of the American Revolution from map image at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library. McBee, May Wilson, comp., "Land Claims", in Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, p. 189, Book B, p. 390, Book D, pp. 156, 453, 546. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Book B, pp. 64, 83, 142, p. 360, pp. 27, 108-9, 227-8, Book D, p. 141, Book G, pp. 347-8. MS Dept. Archives & Hist. (MDAH), Adams Co. 1816 Census, Territorial Census 1801-1816, website, microfilm. MDAH, Adams Co. 1818 Census, website, microfilm. MDAH, Jackson MS, rootsweb, Early Mississippians in Spanish Natchez. MDAH, Will Book Vol. 1, Adams Co. Courthouse, Natchez MS, microfilm, Apr 1816. Natchez Gazette, Natchez, Apr 5, 1815, from find-a-grave website. Scott, Polly, compiler, "Swayze Descendancy Chart", Chart D-8, website. Wells, Carol, Natchez Postscripts 1781-1798, Heritage Books, pp. 101, 144-5, 151. |
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