Abigail Brannen Line
THE ABIGAIL BRANNEN LINE
Abigail Brannen (1813-1855)
Abigail is listed in the Barrington Township Records as being the sixth child and second daughter of Archibald Brannen (1777-1827) and Mary Atkinson (1788-??). She was born September 3, 1813. Church records for the Centreville church show her as being baptized March 2 1837 she is also shown as having later been baptized by Rev. Brown in either 1856 or 7.
She married Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891) around 1839 when she was age 26.
Archelaus Smith Swim was born in January 1809. He was married three times. His first wife, Jedidah Crowell, died in 1838. Smith had six children from this marriage. Abigail appears to have raised them as well as four from her and Smith’s marriage. They lived at Swim's Point where he was a successful ship owner and businessman.
She died at about age 42 around 1855.
After her death, her sister Rebecca married Smith Swim, her widower. Abigail’s sons William, Peter and Benjamin were crew on their father's fishing and trading vessel and later became master mariners.
THE THIRD GENERATION
THE CHILDREN OF ABIGAIL BRANNEN (1813-1855)
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William Henry Swim (1839-1920)
William was born March 5 1839 on Cape Sable Island NS. He was the son of Abigail Brannen (1813-1855) and Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891).
He married Matilda Watt February 18 1861. She was the daughter of William Watt. They had four children together. Their oldest child was Samuel Albert (Shorty) Swim (1861-1934) was born September 30 1862. Their second son Alexander (1864-1893) drown at sea. Their daughter Charlotte (1865-1950)
The 1871 census shows William as age 30, married to Matilda and living on Cape Sable Island. There were four children at home, Samuel age nine, Alexander age six, Charlotte age five and Ada two years old. He was shown as a ship’s captain. The 1881 census showed him as age 42, a master mariner married to Matilda. Albert age 19 was a fisherman as was their son Alexander age 18. Also, at home were Ada age 15, and Christina age 12.
Matilda passed away April 18 1885 and he married Ann Esther Smith (1864-1954) November 3 1886 in Yarmouth NS. She was the daughter of Caleb N. Smith (1832-1906) and Grizelda Duncan.
The 1891 census found him living in Doctor's Cove, age 50, married to Annie age 27. There were two children at home Jonnie age 12 and Ora age three. He was a Master Mariner.
The 1901 census shows him as age 61; a mariner married to Annie. There were three children at home Ora age12, Lillian age nine and Verne age one. These are children of he and Ann.
In the 1911 census only Lillian age 20 was living with them. He was shown age 81 and Annie age 47.
He died in December 5 1920 and is buried in Barrington Passage.
STORY:
From the Yarmouth Times of October 1904
"Capt. Wm H. Swim of Barrington schooner Golden Rule , now at the north shore for lobster bait, has been stricken with paralysis and is not expected to recover." .’ He later improved’.
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Adelaide L. Swim (1845-1884)
Adelaide was born about 1845 on Cape Sable Island. She was the daughter of Abigail Brannen (1813-1855) and Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891).
She was about ten years old when her mother died. There were older half sisters at home. Her father remarried to Rebecca Brannen Penney (1822-1904), Adelaide’s aunt, her mother’s sister.
She married Thomas Henry Riske July 3 1871 in Boston MA. He was born in Georgetown MA. They had one child William Wallace Riske (1874-1945).
She died in Hyde Park MA July 7 1884 leaving a ten-year-old son. Thomas remarried in 1886 to Mary Jane Coffin (1845-??). He died May 29 1911 in Hyde Park MA.
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Peter Coffin Swim (1847-1933)
He was born in Centreville NS March 1 1847 to Abigail Brannen (1813-1847) and Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891).
He was about eight years old when his mother died. There were two older half sisters at home. His father remarried to Rebecca Brannen-Penney (1822-1904) in about 1856. His new step mother was his aunt, his mother’s sister.
He married Lydia E. Crowell (1853-1888) December 2 1869 at Clark’s Harbour. She was the daughter of Joseph and Charlotte Crowell. They had seven children. They lived at North East Point NS.
Lydia died in March 14 1888 and is buried Oakvale Cemetery in Clark’s Harbour.
Peter married Abigail Amanda Ross (1866-1955), July 2 1888 in Boston MA. She was the daughter of George M. Ross and Mary Jane Swim. They do not appear to have had children.
He died August 29 1933 at Cape Sable Island NS and is buried in Oakvale Cemetery, Clark’s Harbour. Amanda died of congestive heart failure and pneumonia March 31 1955 in Yarmouth NS and was buried in Clark’s Harbour with her husband.
STORY:
Margaret Messenger in the book ISLAND PEOPLE wrote “About 1880, Captain Peter, as an experience, tried taking live lobsters to Portland in lobster cars which held about four hundred pounds each. His venture was a success with very few lobsters being lost in the trip. Later he had two “well smacks” built which he used in costal trading to Boston and Portland.”
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Benjamin Swim (1850-1917)
Benjamin was born at Clark’s Harbour about January 7 1850 to Abigail Brannen (1813-1855) and Archelaus Smith Swim (1809-1891).
His mother died around 1855. He would have been about five years old at the time of her death. There were older half sisters at home. His father remarried Rebecca Brannen-Penney (1822-1904) in 1856. She was Benjamin’s aunt.
He appeared in the 1871 census. He was living with parents and sibling on Cape Sable Island. He was shown as age 21.
He married Matilda (Minnie) Banks (1855-1897) the daughter of Gamaliel Banks and Hannah, December 19 1875. They had at least one child, Fredrick Swim born about 1878, and perhaps others. For many years they lived in Doctor’s Cove NS.
His US Naturalization application gives Jan 7 1850 as his birth date.
He was a master mariner. In 1892 was pilot of the SS Worcester running from Boston and Nova Scotia.
The NY death index shows he died age 70, Dec 20 1917 in Manhattan Cert #91. Birth year about 1847. He is buried in Doctors Cove NS. His grave marker shows his date of birth as 1848.
Minnie died in 1897 in Doctors Cove and is buried with Benjamin in the graveyard there.
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