Bob Swindell's Genealogy Page
Welcome to my genealogy page. For a while it will be as the sign below says:
I'll do the best I can and will be updating regularly as time permits.
This page is dedicated to my mother, Jewell Overton (2/24/1906 -7/11/1996). She loved God and taught me to do so too. I owe her debts I can never pay. I miss her so much. "Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe"
Jewell Overton, 17 years, ca. 1923
My mother was one of 8 children born in Weakley County Tennessee. Her brothers were William Crawley, Brian , and Robert Lee. Her sisters were Ettie Lane, Effie Lee, Evie Lillian, and Lottie (died at age 11 from typhoid fever).
Her paternal grandparents were William Ballard Overton and Virginia (Josie?) Childers (or Childress). William Ballard Overton was the son of John Overton, Jr. and Martha Elizabeth Ballard. It is believed that William Ballard Overton came to Weakley Co. in the 1835 in a wagon train with Polly Birthwright Overton, his stepmother and several siblings. Polly, a widow since the death of John Overton, Jr., brought their seven children to Weakley Co. TN in 1835. They settled on what is called the old Pence place (probably in the Meridian community area) which is east of what later (abt 1870) became the town of Greenfield. All of the children of Polly and John were born in Halifax Co., VA. John Overton Jr.'s parents were John Overton, Sr. and Susannah Christopher.
Her maternal grandfather was William Crawley, Jr who was married to her grandmother Martha Ann Thomason. Martha Ann's parents were Richard Lee Thomason and Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of Edward and Hanna Thomason Smith.
William Chester Swindell
My father, William Chester Swindell, had two brothers, Aaron and Elliott and a sister Mary Lee all born in Weakley Co. TN.
His paternal grandparents were William Green Swindell and Saphronia Mitchell Swindell. Saphronia was the daughter of James Daniel Mitchell and Caroline Mitchell of Benton Co., TN. James and Caroline moved to Weakley Co. abt. 1870. James enlisted in the Confederate army and saw action at Shiloh. William Green Swindell is the son of Dempsey W. Swindell and Nancy Moore. Dempsey's father and mother were Hollowell Swindell and Margaret Williamson.
L to R: Una Pittman, Sarah Yeargan Pittman, Henry Clay Pittman, unidentified neighbor. Picture circa 1900.
The maternal grandparents were Chesley M. Pittman (son of Henry Clay Pittman and Sarah Yeargan Pittman) and Mary E. (Mollie) Lovelace Pittman. Mollie is believed to be the daughter of James S. Lovelace and Martha Jane Roberson, and was probably born in Gibson Co. Henry Clay Pittman was the son of L. G. H. Pittman, one of the early settlers in Gibson Co. TN. L. G. H. Pittman was listed on the 1830 Sheriff's List. He died ca. 1865 and a copy of his will is posted on the Gibson Co. Web Page. Sarah Yeargan (Yeargain) was the daughter of Benjamin A. and Susannah Moore Yeargain. In the early 1840 they were in Henry Co. but by 1850 Benjamin was apparently deceased and Susannah was living in Gibson Co. She donated part of the land for the Walnut Grove Methodist Church.
I have additional information on both sides of the family. I intend to post more as time permits. I will be happy to share information. My e-mail address is rtswindell@ualr.edu
As for me, in 1938 I was born in Weakley Co., TN, about 9 mi. out of Greenfield, in the area of Crawley's Store. My families roots intertwine across the Gibson/Weakley Co. lines not too far from the Skullbone area. Although I have not pinpointed the source or it yet, there is Native American blood flowing in my veins, mixing with English, German, Welsh, Irish, and who knows what else.