Hannah McSwain, the daughter of Thomas McSwain and wife of George McSwain (b. 1826, d. 1864 in the Civil War, married about 1849) is often confused with Hannah Hamrick (b. 1841, d. 1893) who in 1857 married a different George McSwain (1837-1862) who was also killed in the Civil War. They were two different people separated by 16 years in age as we can see from census data. Hannah McSwain was the mother of 5 boys (Marcus, Perry G., William K., Thomas D., and George A.). The younger Hannah Hamrick had 2 boys: Andrew and Pinkney. That Hannah later married James Hawkins in 1889.
1850 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 22 & 23 with son Marcus age 7/12
1860 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 32 & 35 with sons Marcus (10), Perry G. (8), William (4), and Thomas D. (2)
1870 Census - Thomas McSwain (74) [Hannah's father], Hannah McSwain (45) with sons Marcus (20), Perry G. (17), William K. (14), Thomas (10), George A. (8)
After 1870, I am unable to find Hannah McSwain. Perhaps she died or remarried or moved out of the area. If she died in the 1870s, she could be buried at the McSwain family cemetery where her parents are buried. For now, this memorial provides a placeholder for her, as she does not appear to be represented elsewhere in findagrave although she was a very real person. She is not the aforementioned Hannah Hamrick 1841-1893 (23059085). She was also not the Hannah Green McSwain 1825-1907 (32553720) who had a son George D. in 1862 and was married to another Thomas McSwain.
- oleyboy
Notes from user 50799670 -Shelly DeStaffino Hunter]
George Washington McSwain
Birth: ABT 1827 in North Carolina
Death: 9 Jan 1864
Father: William McSwain b: 22 Sep 1792
Mother: Mary Nancy Bridges b: 1789
Marriage Hannah McSwain b: ABT Nov 1825 in North Carolina, No death info
Children
1. Marcus L. McSwain b: ABT 1849 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown [abt 1875]
2. Perry Green McSwain b: ABT Mar 1854 in North Carolina, Death: AFT 1930
3. William Kine McSwain b: 15 Jun 1856 in North Carolina, Death: 16 Jul 1915, Burial: Mt. Sinai Baptist Cemetery, Cleveland Co., NC
4. Thomas David McSwain b: 29 Dec 1859 in North Carolina, Death: 9 Aug 1928, Burial: Flint Hill Baptist Cemetery, Boiling Springs, Cleveland Co., NC
5. George W. McSwain b: ABT Dec 1862 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown
Note: It's possible that George A. [?] lived in Laurel, Jones Co., Mississippi, in 1910. If so, he was married to Charity R., born about 1850, in SC.
-- David Holden, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dwh1951&id=I331
Doubtless, George's middle name was Washington. I find it interesting that Holden does not have a death date for Marcus. I estimated the date of death from another fact Holden reports. Marcus' wife was Francis Ledbetter, born 27 March 1839. But he also reports that this same Francis Ledbetter was the wife of William Kine. He reports that Francis married Marcus on 7 April 1873, and William about 1876. He reports no death date for Marcus, but he must have died, or Frances would not have married his brother. Thus, using round figure years, I estimated Marcus died in about 1875.
1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 September, p 315, Hse/Fam #593
George McSwain 22 M Farmer Born NC [born abt 1828]
Hannah McSwain 23 F b NC [born abt 1827]
Marcus L McSwain 1 M b NC [born abt 1849]
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, PO not named, page 73, Hse/Fam #48
George McSwain 32 M Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate born NC
Hannah McSwain 35 F born NC
Marcus McSwain 10 M b NC
Perry McSwain 8 M b NC
William McSwain 4 M b NC
Thomas D McSwain 8 M b NC
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
George McSwain
Residence Cleveland County, North Carolina Occupation: Farmer
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 01 October 1861 at the age of 35 [b abt 1826]
Enlisted in Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 25 October 1861.
Deserted on 01 August 1862
Returned on 25 March 1863
Deserted on 21 April 1863
Returned on 11 November 1863
Court-martialed on 31 December 1863
Executed for desertion Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 09 January 1864
S C Jones, in his phenomenal genealogy Hamrick Generations, reproduces a letter from George about his death. He states that he was scheduled for execution as a deserter on 9 January 1864. But for some reason, most sources report his death as 5 January 1864.
----------------------------------------------------
There was one of this generation shot at the stake in time of the Civil War. His name was George Washington McSwain. He was one of the best men in this part of the county and one of the best soldiers in the Civil War. He got a letter from home that his wife was in a bad state of affairs financially and that she wanted him to come home at once.
He got a furlough for thirty days and when the time was up he failed to go back on account of the conditions at home. When they came after him he was tried by court-martial and condemned to be shot at the stake. I will give a copy of his last letter that he wrote to his dear wife and children. It is very pathetic. Charles J. Hamrick and William Jasper Jones were drawn to shoot him. Charles J. Hamrick got out by being related to the condemned man and McSwain was killed before Jones had fired [?]. They both said that George McSwain was one of the best men in their company.
Whereupon comes the following letter:
Camp near Orange Court House, Virginia,
January 3rd, 1864.
Hannah, Dear Wife and dear Children:
It is with painful regret that I have to say to you in way of writing my last letter that I ever expect to write in this world to you, as my days are but few that I have to spend in this unfriendly world, as I expect to part this life next Saturday by sentence of a general court martial to be tied down to a stake on that day, the 9th of this month, and shot to death with muskets.
But little thought I had of this when I volunteered in the service of my country to protect my home and family that my life would be taken by my own people simply from absenting myself from my post with the view of protecting my little helpless children and affectionate wife who are as near and dear to me as my own life.
Hannah, I was in very good heart and didn't think they would shoot me until yesterday morning. My sentence was read to me that I had to be shot next Saturday. It washed against me like the raging billows against a lonely rock in a sweeping storm, and I carefully examined myself and I feel well assured that when I leave the world that I will be better off than here. But to my little children and affectionate wife may the Lord prepare and fit them to meet me in heaven, for there will be no more parting of husbands and wives and dear children, but be rest for ever.
Hannah, dear wife, and dear little children, I never expect to see you any more in this life. My prayers are that you will meet me in heaven. Do the best vou can, and may God in his mercy rest and remain with you forever. Dear wife, don't grieve nor trouble after me, for I feel that I am going to a better world and be at rest. Then I won't be here to be punished any longer. My afflictions have been severe, and I feel that I will be better off when I leave this world.
Tell all my friends farewell for me, and farewell, dear wife, farewell, dear children. Prepare to meet me in heaven. I will close by saying, God bless my wife and little children. Farewell.
(Signed) George W. McSwain
-- The Hamrick Generations, by S C Jones (Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, 1920), pp 37-38
---------------------------------------------------
1850 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 22 & 23 with son Marcus age 7/12
1860 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 32 & 35 with sons Marcus (10), Perry G. (8), William (4), and Thomas D. (2)
1870 Census - Thomas McSwain (74) [Hannah's father], Hannah McSwain (45) with sons Marcus (20), Perry G. (17), William K. (14), Thomas (10), George A. (8)
After 1870, I am unable to find Hannah McSwain. Perhaps she died or remarried or moved out of the area. If she died in the 1870s, she could be buried at the McSwain family cemetery where her parents are buried. For now, this memorial provides a placeholder for her, as she does not appear to be represented elsewhere in findagrave although she was a very real person. She is not the aforementioned Hannah Hamrick 1841-1893 (23059085). She was also not the Hannah Green McSwain 1825-1907 (32553720) who had a son George D. in 1862 and was married to another Thomas McSwain.
- oleyboy
Notes from user 50799670 -Shelly DeStaffino Hunter]
George Washington McSwain
Birth: ABT 1827 in North Carolina
Death: 9 Jan 1864
Father: William McSwain b: 22 Sep 1792
Mother: Mary Nancy Bridges b: 1789
Marriage Hannah McSwain b: ABT Nov 1825 in North Carolina, No death info
Children
1. Marcus L. McSwain b: ABT 1849 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown [abt 1875]
2. Perry Green McSwain b: ABT Mar 1854 in North Carolina, Death: AFT 1930
3. William Kine McSwain b: 15 Jun 1856 in North Carolina, Death: 16 Jul 1915, Burial: Mt. Sinai Baptist Cemetery, Cleveland Co., NC
4. Thomas David McSwain b: 29 Dec 1859 in North Carolina, Death: 9 Aug 1928, Burial: Flint Hill Baptist Cemetery, Boiling Springs, Cleveland Co., NC
5. George W. McSwain b: ABT Dec 1862 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown
Note: It's possible that George A. [?] lived in Laurel, Jones Co., Mississippi, in 1910. If so, he was married to Charity R., born about 1850, in SC.
-- David Holden, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dwh1951&id=I331
Doubtless, George's middle name was Washington. I find it interesting that Holden does not have a death date for Marcus. I estimated the date of death from another fact Holden reports. Marcus' wife was Francis Ledbetter, born 27 March 1839. But he also reports that this same Francis Ledbetter was the wife of William Kine. He reports that Francis married Marcus on 7 April 1873, and William about 1876. He reports no death date for Marcus, but he must have died, or Frances would not have married his brother. Thus, using round figure years, I estimated Marcus died in about 1875.
1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 September, p 315, Hse/Fam #593
George McSwain 22 M Farmer Born NC [born abt 1828]
Hannah McSwain 23 F b NC [born abt 1827]
Marcus L McSwain 1 M b NC [born abt 1849]
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, PO not named, page 73, Hse/Fam #48
George McSwain 32 M Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate born NC
Hannah McSwain 35 F born NC
Marcus McSwain 10 M b NC
Perry McSwain 8 M b NC
William McSwain 4 M b NC
Thomas D McSwain 8 M b NC
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
George McSwain
Residence Cleveland County, North Carolina Occupation: Farmer
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 01 October 1861 at the age of 35 [b abt 1826]
Enlisted in Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 25 October 1861.
Deserted on 01 August 1862
Returned on 25 March 1863
Deserted on 21 April 1863
Returned on 11 November 1863
Court-martialed on 31 December 1863
Executed for desertion Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 09 January 1864
S C Jones, in his phenomenal genealogy Hamrick Generations, reproduces a letter from George about his death. He states that he was scheduled for execution as a deserter on 9 January 1864. But for some reason, most sources report his death as 5 January 1864.
----------------------------------------------------
There was one of this generation shot at the stake in time of the Civil War. His name was George Washington McSwain. He was one of the best men in this part of the county and one of the best soldiers in the Civil War. He got a letter from home that his wife was in a bad state of affairs financially and that she wanted him to come home at once.
He got a furlough for thirty days and when the time was up he failed to go back on account of the conditions at home. When they came after him he was tried by court-martial and condemned to be shot at the stake. I will give a copy of his last letter that he wrote to his dear wife and children. It is very pathetic. Charles J. Hamrick and William Jasper Jones were drawn to shoot him. Charles J. Hamrick got out by being related to the condemned man and McSwain was killed before Jones had fired [?]. They both said that George McSwain was one of the best men in their company.
Whereupon comes the following letter:
Camp near Orange Court House, Virginia,
January 3rd, 1864.
Hannah, Dear Wife and dear Children:
It is with painful regret that I have to say to you in way of writing my last letter that I ever expect to write in this world to you, as my days are but few that I have to spend in this unfriendly world, as I expect to part this life next Saturday by sentence of a general court martial to be tied down to a stake on that day, the 9th of this month, and shot to death with muskets.
But little thought I had of this when I volunteered in the service of my country to protect my home and family that my life would be taken by my own people simply from absenting myself from my post with the view of protecting my little helpless children and affectionate wife who are as near and dear to me as my own life.
Hannah, I was in very good heart and didn't think they would shoot me until yesterday morning. My sentence was read to me that I had to be shot next Saturday. It washed against me like the raging billows against a lonely rock in a sweeping storm, and I carefully examined myself and I feel well assured that when I leave the world that I will be better off than here. But to my little children and affectionate wife may the Lord prepare and fit them to meet me in heaven, for there will be no more parting of husbands and wives and dear children, but be rest for ever.
Hannah, dear wife, and dear little children, I never expect to see you any more in this life. My prayers are that you will meet me in heaven. Do the best vou can, and may God in his mercy rest and remain with you forever. Dear wife, don't grieve nor trouble after me, for I feel that I am going to a better world and be at rest. Then I won't be here to be punished any longer. My afflictions have been severe, and I feel that I will be better off when I leave this world.
Tell all my friends farewell for me, and farewell, dear wife, farewell, dear children. Prepare to meet me in heaven. I will close by saying, God bless my wife and little children. Farewell.
(Signed) George W. McSwain
-- The Hamrick Generations, by S C Jones (Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, 1920), pp 37-38
---------------------------------------------------
Hannah McSwain, the daughter of Thomas McSwain and wife of George McSwain (b. 1826, d. 1864 in the Civil War, married about 1849) is often confused with Hannah Hamrick (b. 1841, d. 1893) who in 1857 married a different George McSwain (1837-1862) who was also killed in the Civil War. They were two different people separated by 16 years in age as we can see from census data. Hannah McSwain was the mother of 5 boys (Marcus, Perry G., William K., Thomas D., and George A.). The younger Hannah Hamrick had 2 boys: Andrew and Pinkney. That Hannah later married James Hawkins in 1889.
1850 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 22 & 23 with son Marcus age 7/12
1860 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 32 & 35 with sons Marcus (10), Perry G. (8), William (4), and Thomas D. (2)
1870 Census - Thomas McSwain (74) [Hannah's father], Hannah McSwain (45) with sons Marcus (20), Perry G. (17), William K. (14), Thomas (10), George A. (8)
After 1870, I am unable to find Hannah McSwain. Perhaps she died or remarried or moved out of the area. If she died in the 1870s, she could be buried at the McSwain family cemetery where her parents are buried. For now, this memorial provides a placeholder for her, as she does not appear to be represented elsewhere in findagrave although she was a very real person. She is not the aforementioned Hannah Hamrick 1841-1893 (23059085). She was also not the Hannah Green McSwain 1825-1907 (32553720) who had a son George D. in 1862 and was married to another Thomas McSwain.
- oleyboy
Notes from user 50799670 -Shelly DeStaffino Hunter]
George Washington McSwain
Birth: ABT 1827 in North Carolina
Death: 9 Jan 1864
Father: William McSwain b: 22 Sep 1792
Mother: Mary Nancy Bridges b: 1789
Marriage Hannah McSwain b: ABT Nov 1825 in North Carolina, No death info
Children
1. Marcus L. McSwain b: ABT 1849 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown [abt 1875]
2. Perry Green McSwain b: ABT Mar 1854 in North Carolina, Death: AFT 1930
3. William Kine McSwain b: 15 Jun 1856 in North Carolina, Death: 16 Jul 1915, Burial: Mt. Sinai Baptist Cemetery, Cleveland Co., NC
4. Thomas David McSwain b: 29 Dec 1859 in North Carolina, Death: 9 Aug 1928, Burial: Flint Hill Baptist Cemetery, Boiling Springs, Cleveland Co., NC
5. George W. McSwain b: ABT Dec 1862 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown
Note: It's possible that George A. [?] lived in Laurel, Jones Co., Mississippi, in 1910. If so, he was married to Charity R., born about 1850, in SC.
-- David Holden, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dwh1951&id=I331
Doubtless, George's middle name was Washington. I find it interesting that Holden does not have a death date for Marcus. I estimated the date of death from another fact Holden reports. Marcus' wife was Francis Ledbetter, born 27 March 1839. But he also reports that this same Francis Ledbetter was the wife of William Kine. He reports that Francis married Marcus on 7 April 1873, and William about 1876. He reports no death date for Marcus, but he must have died, or Frances would not have married his brother. Thus, using round figure years, I estimated Marcus died in about 1875.
1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 September, p 315, Hse/Fam #593
George McSwain 22 M Farmer Born NC [born abt 1828]
Hannah McSwain 23 F b NC [born abt 1827]
Marcus L McSwain 1 M b NC [born abt 1849]
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, PO not named, page 73, Hse/Fam #48
George McSwain 32 M Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate born NC
Hannah McSwain 35 F born NC
Marcus McSwain 10 M b NC
Perry McSwain 8 M b NC
William McSwain 4 M b NC
Thomas D McSwain 8 M b NC
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
George McSwain
Residence Cleveland County, North Carolina Occupation: Farmer
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 01 October 1861 at the age of 35 [b abt 1826]
Enlisted in Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 25 October 1861.
Deserted on 01 August 1862
Returned on 25 March 1863
Deserted on 21 April 1863
Returned on 11 November 1863
Court-martialed on 31 December 1863
Executed for desertion Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 09 January 1864
S C Jones, in his phenomenal genealogy Hamrick Generations, reproduces a letter from George about his death. He states that he was scheduled for execution as a deserter on 9 January 1864. But for some reason, most sources report his death as 5 January 1864.
----------------------------------------------------
There was one of this generation shot at the stake in time of the Civil War. His name was George Washington McSwain. He was one of the best men in this part of the county and one of the best soldiers in the Civil War. He got a letter from home that his wife was in a bad state of affairs financially and that she wanted him to come home at once.
He got a furlough for thirty days and when the time was up he failed to go back on account of the conditions at home. When they came after him he was tried by court-martial and condemned to be shot at the stake. I will give a copy of his last letter that he wrote to his dear wife and children. It is very pathetic. Charles J. Hamrick and William Jasper Jones were drawn to shoot him. Charles J. Hamrick got out by being related to the condemned man and McSwain was killed before Jones had fired [?]. They both said that George McSwain was one of the best men in their company.
Whereupon comes the following letter:
Camp near Orange Court House, Virginia,
January 3rd, 1864.
Hannah, Dear Wife and dear Children:
It is with painful regret that I have to say to you in way of writing my last letter that I ever expect to write in this world to you, as my days are but few that I have to spend in this unfriendly world, as I expect to part this life next Saturday by sentence of a general court martial to be tied down to a stake on that day, the 9th of this month, and shot to death with muskets.
But little thought I had of this when I volunteered in the service of my country to protect my home and family that my life would be taken by my own people simply from absenting myself from my post with the view of protecting my little helpless children and affectionate wife who are as near and dear to me as my own life.
Hannah, I was in very good heart and didn't think they would shoot me until yesterday morning. My sentence was read to me that I had to be shot next Saturday. It washed against me like the raging billows against a lonely rock in a sweeping storm, and I carefully examined myself and I feel well assured that when I leave the world that I will be better off than here. But to my little children and affectionate wife may the Lord prepare and fit them to meet me in heaven, for there will be no more parting of husbands and wives and dear children, but be rest for ever.
Hannah, dear wife, and dear little children, I never expect to see you any more in this life. My prayers are that you will meet me in heaven. Do the best vou can, and may God in his mercy rest and remain with you forever. Dear wife, don't grieve nor trouble after me, for I feel that I am going to a better world and be at rest. Then I won't be here to be punished any longer. My afflictions have been severe, and I feel that I will be better off when I leave this world.
Tell all my friends farewell for me, and farewell, dear wife, farewell, dear children. Prepare to meet me in heaven. I will close by saying, God bless my wife and little children. Farewell.
(Signed) George W. McSwain
-- The Hamrick Generations, by S C Jones (Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, 1920), pp 37-38
---------------------------------------------------
1850 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 22 & 23 with son Marcus age 7/12
1860 Census - George & Hannah McSwain, ages 32 & 35 with sons Marcus (10), Perry G. (8), William (4), and Thomas D. (2)
1870 Census - Thomas McSwain (74) [Hannah's father], Hannah McSwain (45) with sons Marcus (20), Perry G. (17), William K. (14), Thomas (10), George A. (8)
After 1870, I am unable to find Hannah McSwain. Perhaps she died or remarried or moved out of the area. If she died in the 1870s, she could be buried at the McSwain family cemetery where her parents are buried. For now, this memorial provides a placeholder for her, as she does not appear to be represented elsewhere in findagrave although she was a very real person. She is not the aforementioned Hannah Hamrick 1841-1893 (23059085). She was also not the Hannah Green McSwain 1825-1907 (32553720) who had a son George D. in 1862 and was married to another Thomas McSwain.
- oleyboy
Notes from user 50799670 -Shelly DeStaffino Hunter]
George Washington McSwain
Birth: ABT 1827 in North Carolina
Death: 9 Jan 1864
Father: William McSwain b: 22 Sep 1792
Mother: Mary Nancy Bridges b: 1789
Marriage Hannah McSwain b: ABT Nov 1825 in North Carolina, No death info
Children
1. Marcus L. McSwain b: ABT 1849 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown [abt 1875]
2. Perry Green McSwain b: ABT Mar 1854 in North Carolina, Death: AFT 1930
3. William Kine McSwain b: 15 Jun 1856 in North Carolina, Death: 16 Jul 1915, Burial: Mt. Sinai Baptist Cemetery, Cleveland Co., NC
4. Thomas David McSwain b: 29 Dec 1859 in North Carolina, Death: 9 Aug 1928, Burial: Flint Hill Baptist Cemetery, Boiling Springs, Cleveland Co., NC
5. George W. McSwain b: ABT Dec 1862 in North Carolina, Death: Unknown
Note: It's possible that George A. [?] lived in Laurel, Jones Co., Mississippi, in 1910. If so, he was married to Charity R., born about 1850, in SC.
-- David Holden, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=dwh1951&id=I331
Doubtless, George's middle name was Washington. I find it interesting that Holden does not have a death date for Marcus. I estimated the date of death from another fact Holden reports. Marcus' wife was Francis Ledbetter, born 27 March 1839. But he also reports that this same Francis Ledbetter was the wife of William Kine. He reports that Francis married Marcus on 7 April 1873, and William about 1876. He reports no death date for Marcus, but he must have died, or Frances would not have married his brother. Thus, using round figure years, I estimated Marcus died in about 1875.
1850 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 4 September, p 315, Hse/Fam #593
George McSwain 22 M Farmer Born NC [born abt 1828]
Hannah McSwain 23 F b NC [born abt 1827]
Marcus L McSwain 1 M b NC [born abt 1849]
1860 Federal Census, Cleveland County, North Carolina, 13 July, PO not named, page 73, Hse/Fam #48
George McSwain 32 M Farm Laborer $0 Real Estate $75 Personal Estate born NC
Hannah McSwain 35 F born NC
Marcus McSwain 10 M b NC
Perry McSwain 8 M b NC
William McSwain 4 M b NC
Thomas D McSwain 8 M b NC
U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
George McSwain
Residence Cleveland County, North Carolina Occupation: Farmer
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 01 October 1861 at the age of 35 [b abt 1826]
Enlisted in Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 25 October 1861.
Deserted on 01 August 1862
Returned on 25 March 1863
Deserted on 21 April 1863
Returned on 11 November 1863
Court-martialed on 31 December 1863
Executed for desertion Company H, 34th Infantry Regiment North Carolina on 09 January 1864
S C Jones, in his phenomenal genealogy Hamrick Generations, reproduces a letter from George about his death. He states that he was scheduled for execution as a deserter on 9 January 1864. But for some reason, most sources report his death as 5 January 1864.
----------------------------------------------------
There was one of this generation shot at the stake in time of the Civil War. His name was George Washington McSwain. He was one of the best men in this part of the county and one of the best soldiers in the Civil War. He got a letter from home that his wife was in a bad state of affairs financially and that she wanted him to come home at once.
He got a furlough for thirty days and when the time was up he failed to go back on account of the conditions at home. When they came after him he was tried by court-martial and condemned to be shot at the stake. I will give a copy of his last letter that he wrote to his dear wife and children. It is very pathetic. Charles J. Hamrick and William Jasper Jones were drawn to shoot him. Charles J. Hamrick got out by being related to the condemned man and McSwain was killed before Jones had fired [?]. They both said that George McSwain was one of the best men in their company.
Whereupon comes the following letter:
Camp near Orange Court House, Virginia,
January 3rd, 1864.
Hannah, Dear Wife and dear Children:
It is with painful regret that I have to say to you in way of writing my last letter that I ever expect to write in this world to you, as my days are but few that I have to spend in this unfriendly world, as I expect to part this life next Saturday by sentence of a general court martial to be tied down to a stake on that day, the 9th of this month, and shot to death with muskets.
But little thought I had of this when I volunteered in the service of my country to protect my home and family that my life would be taken by my own people simply from absenting myself from my post with the view of protecting my little helpless children and affectionate wife who are as near and dear to me as my own life.
Hannah, I was in very good heart and didn't think they would shoot me until yesterday morning. My sentence was read to me that I had to be shot next Saturday. It washed against me like the raging billows against a lonely rock in a sweeping storm, and I carefully examined myself and I feel well assured that when I leave the world that I will be better off than here. But to my little children and affectionate wife may the Lord prepare and fit them to meet me in heaven, for there will be no more parting of husbands and wives and dear children, but be rest for ever.
Hannah, dear wife, and dear little children, I never expect to see you any more in this life. My prayers are that you will meet me in heaven. Do the best vou can, and may God in his mercy rest and remain with you forever. Dear wife, don't grieve nor trouble after me, for I feel that I am going to a better world and be at rest. Then I won't be here to be punished any longer. My afflictions have been severe, and I feel that I will be better off when I leave this world.
Tell all my friends farewell for me, and farewell, dear wife, farewell, dear children. Prepare to meet me in heaven. I will close by saying, God bless my wife and little children. Farewell.
(Signed) George W. McSwain
-- The Hamrick Generations, by S C Jones (Raleigh: Edwards and Broughton, 1920), pp 37-38
---------------------------------------------------
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