Swan-Hughes Family Bible

Name/Title

Swan-Hughes Family Bible

Entry/Object ID

2022.5.1

Scope and Content

PROVENANCE - Researched and compiled by Thomas Stephen Neel: The Swan-Hughes Bible is owned (2019) by Merry Vaughan Dunn, who photographed the Bible pages at the request of Thomas Stephen Neel of New London, Ohio, a descendant of Barnet O’Neel Sr. (1749-1778) of Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Merry was given the Swan-Hughes Bible many years ago by her mother, Jean Webb Smith (1918-2012), who had the Bible binding retightened and boxed, as it was falling apart. Jean was a daughter of Violet Hughes Webb (1892-1986) and she was a daughter of Grant Hughes (1865-1918). Grant’s brother, Thomas Hughes (1859-1923), was the man in Palms, California, who owned the Swan-Hughes Bible in 1916, and allowed genealogist Mary “Marie” (Prine) Lemley (1878-1965) to visit and make a transcription. She then notified Greene County researchers of her find. The photographs which accompany the transcription in Howard L. Leckey’s The Tenmile Country and its Pioneer Families were taken in 1940, by Henry Swan at the home of Thomas R. Hughes (1889-1959), a son of Grant Hughes and brother to Violet Hughes Webb, grandmother of the current owner, Mrs. Dunn. For the earlier provenance, we quote from Leckey’s book, page 165, courtesy of the publisher, the Greene County Historical Society, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania: “Much of the data used in the history of the families of Charles Lucas, John Swan, and Thomas Hughes, is taken from an old Family Bible, pages of which are here reproduced. It was first reported to us by M. Marie Perrin Lemley, a professional genealogist of Los Angeles, California, in the Fall of 1916. At that time Mrs. Lemley described the Bible as being bound in deer skin, showing the mark made by the bullet, with the pages worn at the edges, blotting out some of the dates. Then in 1940, Mr. Henry Swan of Denver, Colorado, visited Mr. Hughes, who permitted the Bible to be photographed, after which Mr. Swan sent copies of these photographs to the author. Mr. Thomas Hughes, owner of the Swan-Hughes Bible, was born at Rice’s Landing, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1859, a son of James and Mary Francis (Kline) Hughes, grandson of Thomas and Sarah (Swan) Hughes, a great-grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Swan) Hughes, great-great grandson of John and Elizabeth (Lucas) Swan, (two lines) and great-great-great grandson of Charles and Elizabeth (Evans) Hughes. Mrs. Lemley and Mr. Swan are direct descendants of John and Elizabeth (Lucas) Swan. This Bible, which we have designated the “Swan-Hughes Bible,” as shown in the photographs was printed by E. Wood and T. Palmer for the Company of Stationers in London, England, in the year 1732. It was probably first the property of Charles and Elizabeth (Evans) Lucas of Prince George’s County, Maryland, passing from them to their eldest daughter, Elizabeth (Lucas) Swan, who brought it to the Tenmile Country. At her death or more probably at the time of marriage, the Bible passed to the eldest daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Hughes. One can but stop and ponder over the romantic wanderings of this precious volume of authentic records. One error alone may be recognized, and that does not surprise since it is carried out on a tombstone record. This record says John Swan was born in 1721, and died in 1799, whereas the will of John Swan as filed in Greene County shows that it was signed by John Swan on November 3, 1800. As this will was probated on January 6, 1801, it is evident that John Swan must have died about December 1800, rather than in 1799, the dates of the Swan-Hughes Bible and his tombstone.” COMMENTS - by Thomas Stephen Neel: There are a couple omissions in the transcription of the Swan-Hughes Bible supplied by Lemley (pages 168-169, Leckey), but more importantly, the order in that list does not exactly follow the groupings of the Bible pages. As some entries are on random pages, the current Bible owner, Merry Dunn, notes that some of the New Testament is totally missing from the work. With the penciled and penned copies currently in the Bible, which Mrs. Dunn feels are in the handwriting of her grandmother Violet Hughes Webb, we can only guess if there was more there at the time or if the same edges of the Bible were missing and she was seeing exactly what we do today. The submitter, Tom Neel (retired Director, Ohio Genealogical Society), has studied the dates in Leckey, along with surviving tombstone and census data, and has only made adjustments if he thought the information in The Tenmile Country might have been wrong. Look at the images with your own eyes. TRANSCRIPTION OF BIBLE PAGES AND INSERTS (with comparisons to Leckey noted) - by Thomas Stephen Neel: Image # HUGH-AN001-0001 Cover of Swan-Hughes Bible Image # HUGH-AN001-0002 Printed page “The Preface” showing how the leather cover is bound to protect the original book. Image # HUGH-AN001-0003 The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, newly translated out of the Original Greek: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by his Majesty’s Special Command, appointed to be read in churches. London: Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King’s most Excellent Majesty. MDCCXXXV [handwritten note added – 1735] [Leckey has 1732] Image # HUGH-AN001-0004 John Swan departed this life Dec. [torn] [Leckey concludes 29 Dec 1800 since will made 3 Nov 1800 and probated 6 Jan 1801, although tombstone says 29 Dec 1799] Elizabeth Swan departed this life Oct. 24th, 1805 aged 81 yrs [Leckey has Oct. 17th] Thomas Hughes was born the 5th day of May 1749 Elizabeth Hughes was born the 28th day of February 1751 Thomas and Elizabeth Hughes was married Feb. 12th, 1770 Elizabeth Hughes was born the 2nd day of November 1771 John Hughes was born the 7th day of May 1774 Mary Hughes was born the 10th day of December 1776 Sarah Hughes was born the 27th day of January 177[9] [last digit gone] Martha Hughes was born the 11th day of May 178[1] [last digit gone] Thomas Hughes was born the 18th day of Febry. 178[4] [last digit gone] Ann Hughes was born the 2nd day of Septr. 178[6] [last digit gone] [Leckey has 1785-1836 but tombstone of Nancy Ann Curl says 1832 age 45] James Hughes was born the 19th day of Janry. 178[9] [last digit gone] [Leckey has 1788; 1861 tombstone has exact birthdate but requires a closer examination to determine if “8” or “9”] Luea Hughes was born the 19th day of Decr. 179[1]; departed this life aged three weeks [last digit of death year gone] [Leckey has Luca, died 1790 age 2 years; FindaGrave has Lucas] Remembrance Hughes was born the 23rd day of April 179[3] [last digit gone] [Leckey had 13 May] Catharine Hughes was born the 18th day of Novr. 17[95] [last two digits gone] [Tombstone for Catharine Hiller seems to say 1842 age 47 years] Elizabeth Curle daughter of James & Ann Curle was born the 6th of July 1805 Image # HUGH-AN001-0005 [torn section – certainly says James Lindsey, son] of James & Judith Lindsey was born the 31st day of May A.D. 1772 Mary Hughes, daughter of Thos. & Elizabeth Hughes, was born the 10th day of December A.D. 1776 James & Mary Lindsey was married June 2nd, 1796 Thomas Hughes Lindsey, son of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 4th day of February A.D. 1797 James Lindsey, son of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 6th day of December A.D. 1798 Elizabeth Lindsey, daughter of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 6th of February A.D. 1801 John Lindsey, son of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 11 day of March A.D. 1803 Alexander Lindsey, son of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 30th day of April A.D. 1805 Remembrance Lindsey, son of James & Mary Lindsey, was born the 5th day of April A.D. 1807 Rachel Lindsey, daughter of James and Mary Lindsey, was born the 8th day of March 1809 [This child doesn’t appear to be in Leckey] Thomas H. Lindsey departed this life July 17th, 1810 Mary Lindsey was born Febry. 13th, 1811 [Doesn’t appear to be in Leckey] Sarah Lindsey was born December 7th, 1812 [Doesn’t appear to be in Leckey] Image # HUGH-AN001-0006 Barnet O’Neel son of Barnet [torn – certainly said son of Barnet & Mary O’Neel was] born the 23rd day of April A.D. 1776 Martha Hughes, daughter of Thos. & Elizabeth Hughes, was born the 11th day of May A.D. 1781 Barnet O’Neel & Martha was married the 6th day of June 1799 [torn, looks like 1780 but handwritten over top] Thos. O’Neel, son of Barnet & Martha O’Neel, was born the 3 day of Janry. A.D. 1800 Henry O’Neel, son of Barnet & Martha, was born the 30th day of March A.D. 1802 Lavica O’Neel, daughter of Barnet & Martha O’Neel, was born was born [sic] the 10th day of Octr. 1804 [1805 overwritten 1804], departed this life aged [crossed out] December 9th day 1804 [1807 overwritten 1804] [Leckey has Louisa 1805-1807] Elizabeth O’Neel, daughter of Barnet & Martha O’Neel, was born the 19th day of Janry. A.D. 1806 [Leckey has November] Mary O’Neel, daughter of Barnet O’Neel & Martha O’Neel, was born the 4 day of May A.D. 1808 [Leckey has 1806] Barnet O’Neel, son of Barnet & Martha, was born 15th day of September A.D. 1810 Sarah O’Neel, daughter of Barnet & Martha O’Neel, was born March 22nd, 1813 John H. O’Neal [sic], son of Barnet O’Neal and Martha O’Neal, was born November 24th, 1815 James O’Neel, son of Barnet O’Neel and Martha O’Neel, was born January 29th, 1818 Nancy Anne O’Neel was born March 6th, 1820 [Last two children, Remembrance 9 Jun 1822 and Aliff Shepherd 4 Sep 1824 are not in Bible] Image # HUGH-AN001-0007 [torn section – certainly John & Mary Hughes] was married 27th day of Augt. 1795 Elizabeth Hughes, daughter of John & Mary Hughes, was born the 26th of July A.D. 1796 Marget Hughes was born Janry. 12th day 1798 Thomas Hughes was born April 16th day 1800 [1802 overwritten 1800] [Leckey has 8 Apr] Ann Hughes was born March 23rd day 1802 [1803 overwritten 1802] [Leckey has 8 Mar] John Hughes was born Febry. 1st day 1805 [1803 overwritten 1805] George Hughes was born May 9th day 1807 [Leckey has Dec] Mary Hughes was born Septr. 26th 1809 [Leckey has 25 Sep] Catharine Hughes was born Decr. 27th 1811 [Last four children, Lindsey 26 Feb 1814, Charles 22 Aug 1816, Barnet 12 Oct 1819, and Mariah 12 Feb 1822 are not in Bible] Image # HUGH-AN001-0008 Charles Lucas born ye first July 1720 Thomas Lucas born ye 12 of April 1722 Elizabeth Lucas born March ye fourten, 1723 [Leckey has 1 Mar] Mary Lucas born ye June ye 13, 1725 Ann Lucas born April ye 27, 1728 William Lucas born ye 9 July 1730 [Leckey has 7 July] Richard Lucas born ye July ye 19, 1732 Sarah Lucas born ye October ye 19, 1734 [Leckey has 12 Oct] Samuel Lucas born of November ye 25, 1736 [separating line] Mary Evans born ye 30 of October 1718 Samuel Evans born ye 22 of May 1723 Sarah Evans born ye 5 of April 1725 Prisiler Evans ye 26 of December 1726 [Leckey has Persiler] John Evans born ye 2 of November 1728 Hugh Evans born ye 7 of October 1730 Eliner Evans born ye 26 of June 1732 [Leckey has 25 June] Edard Evans born ye 26 of March 1734 [Leckey has David] Richard Evans born ye 26 of May 1736 [separating line] Thomas Evans born ye 27 of September 1740 Rachil Evans born ye 6 of July [year cut off photo] [Leckey has 1742] Image # HUGH-AN001-0009 [Scrap paper with recipe inside the tied leather binding string – can’t make it all out from the picture; others might interpret it better!] --------- a ------- of the Bot By the one pot [?] night in The morning take half a point of ----- milk and drench him then Him [?] hard half mile [?] then Take two spoonfuls of hendung [?] And two spoonfuls of sut and Two spoonfools of hogs fat then Stur them up together then -------- and drench ham with it William [upside down:] William of Noha----- Image # HUGH-AN001-0010 Remember well and bear in mind a faithful friend is hard to find and if you find one that is true bewear [sic] of changing for anew. Image # HUGH-AN001-0011 Thomas Kendall born October the forthen [sic] 1749 Eliseballs [sic] Kendall born Feberay [sic] thard [sic] 1750 [Leckey has 1751] Mary Kendall was born December ye 17 the 1752 Sarah Kendall was born August ye 1, 1755 [Leckey has several more Kendall children not in this Bible] Image # HUGH-AN001-0012 Charles Lucus was born February ye 16, 1747 Elisabeth Lucus was born March ye 22nd, 1749 Thomas Lucus was born February ye 24th 1751 Josias Lucus was born November ye 29th 1758 [Leckey has Josiah, born 28 May 1764] Daughter Joseph & Sarah his wife Elisabeth Huges [sic] was born March ye 15, 1776 John Hughes was born November the 26, 1777 [not spotted in Leckey] Thomas Hughes was born October the 10th, 1779 [not spotted in Leckey] Samuel Hughes was born August the 28, 1782 [separating line] Samuel [crossed out words] born [crossed out words] 18, 1779 Samuel Swon was born September 18, 1773 [noted on p. 171 Leckey but not in Bible section] Image # HUGH-AN001-0013 Samuel Foster born first of February 1763 Image # HUGH-AN001-0014 [page looks water damaged – see transcription] John Lucas born September [illegible] [1760 in transcript] Elizabeth Lucas born October [illegible] [1762 in transcript] Sammuel Lucas was born May [illegible] [May 28, 1764 in transcript] Hannah Swan was born December [illegible] [Dec. 7,1778 in transcript] Thomas Swan was born May the 17 [illegible] [1779 in Leckey and transcript] Mary Swan was born December the 17th [illegible] [1782 in Leckey and transcript] [Transcript has “Elizabeth Swan Jan. 17 something” where I see just a line] [separating line] Bazzel Williams born May the 20, 1759 Elizabeth Hughes was born November the 2, 17 [71] [illegible] [Leckey and transcript have 1771; elsewhere in Bible as well] John Hughes was born May the 7: 1774 [transcript has Swan but elsewhere in Bible is Hughes] [illegible] her Swan was born [blank] [transcript suggests Richard Swan born 1733] Image # HUGH-AN001-0015 Thomas Swon [line separating these names] Richard Swon his John Swon his hand and Thomas Swon his hand and Charles Swon his hand and Richard Swon his hand Elesabeth Swon Sary Swon her Image # HUGH-AN001-0016 Thomas Swon Charles Swon John Swon John Swon as for me Thomas Swon [written in other direction]: [torn] nes P [?] anday Mary Swon Richar [space with other name written through it] d Image # HUGH-AN001-0017 [Penciled transcript of a previous page]: John Lucus born Sept. 1760 Elizabeth Lucus Oct. 1762 Sammuel Lucus May 28, 1764 Hannah Swan Dec. 7, 1778 Thomas Swan May 1779 Mary Swan Dec 17, 1782 Elizabeth Swan Jan. 17 something Bazzel Williams May 20, 1759 Elizabeth Hughes Nov. 1771 John Swan was born May 7, 1774 [should be Hughes] Image # HUGH-AN001-0018 [Penciled transcript of a previous page]: Richard Swan was born January 1733 – “I think – at bottom of this page” [not in Leckey and maybe not accurate] Image # HUGH-AN001-0019 [Transcript of just a couple names from a previous page]: Charles Lucus Charly Lucus Hanah Swan was born December 7, 1777 [says 1778 in the previous transcript] Thomas Swan was born May 1, 1779 [says 17th on original] Mary Swan was born Image # HUGH-AN001-0020 [Penciled transcript of a previous page]: Charles Lucas, July 1st, 1720 Thomas Lucas, April 12, 1722 Elizabeth Lucas, March 14, 1723 Mary Lucas 1725 Ann Lucas, April 27, 1728 William Lucas, July 1730 Brah? Lucas, July 19, 1732 [original is Richard] Sarah Lucas 1734 Samuel Lucas, Nov. 25, 1736 Image # HUGH-AN001-0021 Printed photographic postcard labeled “Main St., Rices Landing.”

Collection

Swan-Hughes Collection

Lexicon

Search Terms

Curl family, Evans family, Family Bible--Records, Foster family, Hughes family, Lindsey family, Lucas family, Kendall family, Neel family, O'Neel family, Swan family, Williams family

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

HUGH-AN001-0001 - HUGH-AN001-0021

Web Links and URLs

DOWNLOAD document images and transcript – PDF file

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Swan-Hughes Collection

Acquisition Method

Digital

Acquisition Date

2022

Notes

Source Citation: Swan-Hughes Family Bible Records with transcript and annotations; item nos. HUGH-AN001-0001 - HUGH-AN001-0021, Swan-Hughes Collection, shared by Merry (Vaughan) Dunn and Thomas Stephen Neel; Greene Connections Archives Project (www.GreeneConnections.com).