This photo is of the 1759 Van Swearingen house near Shepherdstown,
WV, taken by Karel Whyte in April 2001.
VAN SWEARINGEN (Gerret, Thomas, Thomas) born 22 May 1719, Prince Georges
Co, MD (Record Book of St Barnabas Church, Prince Georges Co, MD), died
20 Apr 1788 (Berkeley Co, VA). Van married (1) on 17 Jun 1743, his cousin
Sarah Swearingen (Gerret, Thomas, Van). Sarah was born 20 Nov 1722, and
died 4 Nov 1766. She was the daughter of Van and Elizabeth Swearingen.
Van Swearingen was a representative of the King and has been called "King"
Van. He was appointed Deputy County Lieutenant in Berkeley Co, VA, before
the war. He later held the title of Colonel of Militia in Frederick Co,
and about 1777 was appointed County Lieutenant after the resignation of
Samuel Washington, brother of George Washington. Colonel Van Swearingen
and his first wife Sarah settled on a tract of land adjacent the Potomac
River near Thomas Swearingen's home located near Shepherdstown, WV. In
1759 Van built the center portion of the great stone house which stands
today on the tract.
This sign marks the site of THOMAS SWEARINGEN's ferry at Shepherdstown,
WV.
The photo was taken in May 2001 by Karel Whyte
This is "Adena", the home of THOMAS WORTHINGTON and his wife ELEANOR
SWEARINGEN.
The photo was taken in May 2001 by Karel Whyte
Eleanor Swearingen (Gerret, Thomas, Thomas / Van, Van / Sarah, Josiah)
was born in Berkeley Co, VA, 22 Sep 1777, and died 24 Dec 1848. She married
Thomas Worthington on 13 Dec 1796 in the parlor of her aunt and uncle,
Abraham and Eleanor Shepherd in Jefferson Co, VA (now WV). Thomas Worthington
was born near Charles Town, Jefferson Co, VA/WV, 16 Jul 1773. In Mar 1798,
Thomas and Eleanor moved with their infant daughter Mary to Ross Co, OH.
Thomas Worthington was a member of the 1st and 2d Territorial Legislatures,
1799_1803. He was one of the first two US Senators from Ohio, elected as
a Democrat to the US Senate 1803-1807. He was elected again for the years
1810-1814. He resigned 1 Dec 1814 when he was elected the 6th Governor
of OH (1814-1818). Thomas died 20 Jun 1827 in New York City. He is buried
at Grandview Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross Co, OH. The Worthington home,
"Adena", was the site of many of the births and deaths in the family. Built
in 1806-1807, the home overlooks Chillicothe in Ross Co, OH, and the Scioto
River, about 1½ miles south of Mound City National Monument.
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