Peninah A. ALLUM

  General Notes:

Photo: This fine photo of Peninah A. (Allum) Swart, 1825-1901, is from the web site of Candice Buchanan, an unexpected, welcomed "find."
Credit: Candice Buchanan's "Greene Connections" web site at www.greeneconnections.com
Used with permission
Photo by F. S. Hawkins, Photographer, Dougan's Building, Waynesburg, Pa. Archived at the Greene County Historical Society

To see a different photo of Peninah, go to the Index of Names. Click on "Swart, John Newton Garfield - Bible - Peninah A. Allum"

Additional photos--unidentified--found inside the Bible of John Newton Garfield Swart, 1855-1886, can be seen via "Swart, John Newton Garfield - Bible" in the Index of Names. Do you know anyone pictured there?



1825 BIRTH of Peninah A. Allum

(After an impasse of two months, John Quincy Adams was chosen President by a vote in the House of Representatives succeeding the departing Monroe and trumping his opponent, Senator Andrew Jackson. In 1825, the Federalist party expired while the Democratic-Republican party split into two factions. In Washington, D. C., a fire in the Library of Congress caused extensive loss and damage. Fur traders Kit Carson and James Bridger set up posts in Colorado. The Erie Canal was completed linking Lake Erie with New York City.)

1830 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township (with parents)

10 people are in the household in 1830:

1 male 30-40 (father Charles, born 1796)
2 males 10-15 (sons William and Thomas, born 1817 and 1818)
2 males 5-10 (sons John and James, born 1820 and 1822)
1 male under 5 (son Isaac, born 1828)
1 female 30-40 (mother Jemima, born 1795)
1 female 5-10 (daughter Delila, born 1823)
2 females under 5 (daughters Peninah and Hannah, born 1825 and 1827)

1840 DEATH of grandfather William Allum

1840 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Richhill Township (with parents)

11 people are in the household in 1840:

1 male 40-50 (father Charles)
1 male 20-30 (son John) (sons William, born 1817, and Thomas, born 1818, are documented in their own households in Richhill Township in 1840)
1 male 15-20 (son James "Jimmy," born 1822)
1 male 10-15 (son Isaac, born 1828)
1 male under 5 (son Porter, born 1840)
1 female 40-50 (mother Jemima, born 1795)
2 females 15-20 (daughters Delila, born 1823, and Peninah, born 1825)
1 female 10-15 (daughter Hannah, born 1827)
2 females under 5 (Should the census category have really been "2 females 5-10"? If so, they would have been daughters Pamelia and Eliza)

1842 MARRIAGE of Peninah A. Allum and Jacob Swart

1850 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Washington Township (September 24) ("Jacob," age 30, "Farmer") (wife "Penina," age 25) (Jacob and Peninah have four children by 1850)

1859 DEATH of mother, Jemima (Barnhart) Allum

1860 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Washington Township (August 23) ("Jacob," age 39, "Farmer") (wife "Penina," age 35) (Seven children are in the residence, ages 17 to 1)

1863 REGISTRATION, Civil War Draft, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Washington Township 24th Congressional District (May & June) ("Jacob Swart," age 42, "Farmer," born in Pennsylvania) (Class 2)

1865 LIST, U. S. IRS Tax Assessment List, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Morris Township ("Jacob Swart & Co.")

1868 DEATH of father, Charles W. Allum

1868 BENEFICIARY in will of father, Charles W. Allum

1870 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Morris Township, P. O. Waynesburg (July 28) ("Jacob," age 48, "Merchant") (Peninah's given name is transcribed "Painat" in this census; she was age 45) ("Swartz" on census page)

1880 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Morris Township (June 21) ("Jacob," age 59, no occupation documented) (wife "Penniah A.," age 54) ("J. S. Guthrie," age 6, "grandson," is with Jacob and Peninah; their daughter, Asenah Jane [Swart] Guthrie, had died in 1878) (Swart is transcribed "Smart" in some census indexes)

1898 DEATH of husband, Jacob Swart on March 8 at 77 years 2 months 11 days (William McKinley was President)

Cause of death: "General debility" --obituary "Softening of the brain" --Greene County, Pennsylvania Death Records

1898 WILL prepared and signed by Peninah A. Swart on May 10

1900 CENSUS, Pennsylvania, Greene County, Morris Township (June 20) ("Penina A.," age 74, widow, born "June, 1825 in Pennsylvania," is "mother" in the household of her daughter Florence and son-in-law, William H. Dunn) (Peninah was the mother of 9 children, 4 children alive in the year 1900)

1901 DEATH, Peninah A. (Allum) Swart, at approximately 78 years

Cause of death: "Dropsy" --Greene County, Pennsylvania Death Records

(On September 6, the very day Peninah died, President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist in Buffalo, New York and succumbed to his wounds on September 14. Theodore Roosevelt, youngest man ever to become President, was sworn in the day McKinley died. Later in the year, Booker T. Washington was a dinner guest at the White House. Thirty-six years after the Civil War ended, however, three prominent planters in the State of Georgia were charged with practicing slavery. All Indians in the Oklahoma Territory were granted citizenship. With $200 million as his personal fortune, John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil trust, was declared the world's richest man.)



MILITARY SERVICE (Jacob): None documented

OCCUPATION (Jacob): Farmer; merchant; stock-raiser; postmaster at Swarts, PA for 17 years; also superintendent of W & W Railroad and was a director of the railroad at the time of his death

CHURCH AFFILIATION: Methodist - Church at Swarts, Pennsylvania



BOOK: HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 1882, by Boyd Crumrine, page 672: Bio of Andrew J. Swart, brother of Jacob Swart

Shirley Allum Hudlicky, letter to DeeAnna:

"Jacob Swart's photo faces page 304 in Bates'. The book states that Washington Township was formed in 1874. A narrow Guage Railroad Company was formed and organized in May, 1875. Among the directors were Henry Sayers, Henry Swart, Jacob Swart, James Dunn and Thomas Iams."




DOCUMENT:

Shirley, February 11, 1965:

"This is from the Greene County, Pennsylvania Historical Society."



Estate )
of ) No. 4639
Jacob Swart, Dec'd ) Registered January 17, 1899 in
Morris twp, Gr. Co. ) Greene County Will Book No. 8, p. 181


Letters granted to Florence V. Dunn
Sureties: Wm. W. Dunn, Wm. Fonner, James M. Dunn

Widow: Penina A. Swart.
Amos C. Swart, only son

American Ann Simpson and Belle Swart Iams, two of the heirs, make application for Letters of Administration.

Florence V. Dunn, daughter of decedent, also makes application.

Letters first granted to daughters, Mrs. America A. Simpson and Mrs. Belle S. Iams. Later revoked and granted to another daughter, Florence V. Dunn.


PARTITION OF REAL ESTATE OF JACOB SWART, DECEASED.

No. 3, January Court 1899. Oprhans Court of Greene Co., Pa.
Recorded in Partition Docket No 2, p. 165.

Daughter, Belle S. Iams, Petitioner.
Widow: Penina Swart

4 children: America A., intermarried with John W. Simpson; Amos C. Swart; Florence V., intermarried with W. A. Dunn; Belle S., intermarried with James L. Iams.

2 grandchildren: William Guthrie, who is of full age, of St. Francisville, Clark Co., Missouri, and J. Swart Guthrie, who is of full age and an inmate of Dixmont Insane Asylum, and has no committee, children of Asena J. Guthrie, daughter of Jacob Swart, who died prior to death of father.

3 grandchildren: John A. Dunn, Frank F. Dunn and Grace Dunn, all of Greene County and of full age, children of Mary Swart Dunn, daughter of Jacob Swart, who died prior to his death.

1 grandchild: Joseph Dunn of Dunns Station, minor child of Charles V. Dunn, deceased, who was son of Mary Swart Dunn, deceased.

4 grandchildren: Charles Swart, Mabel Swart, Blanche Swart, and John Swart, all of Greene County, minor children of John Swart, deceased, son of Jacob Swart, who died prior to death of his father.

Real Estate was divided. Purpart No. 1 was awarded Belle S. Iams and No. 2 to America A. Simpson.
Purpart No. 3 to be sold by Florence V. Dunn, administratrix. Purpart No. 3 finally sold to Amos C. Swart. Deed was dated Jan. 29, 1900 and is recorded in Greene County Deed Book 97, page 328.
Real estate situate in Morris twp, containing 249 plus acres. Being Purpart No. 3 in Partition.




DOCUMENT:

Shirley, October 14, 1965 letter to DeeAnna:

"The family of Jacob and Peninah (Allum) Swart had some interesting wills. Note that 'Belle' and America Ann got but one dollar in the will of their mother. Peninah made her will in May, 1898 and by June, 1901, she had added a codicil disinheriting anyone who contested or sought to change the will in any way."


Will of Peninah (Allum) Swart: No. 4987, Volume 9, page 124, Greene County, Pennsylvania, filed October 5, 1901, E. G. Denny, Register

I, Peninah A. Swart, a resident of Green (sic) County, State of Pennsylvania, being of Sound and disposing mind and intellect do make and declare this to be my last will and testament.

I - I direct that all my just debts including my funeral expenses be paid.

II - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Florence V. Dunn, my folding bed-lounger, cherry bureau, cherry wash-stand, with mirror over wash-stand, square walnut table with marble top, wash-stand which has lock and key thereto, china chamber set, decorated with red band, the parlor suite, which I last purchased, consisting of two rockers, one gentleman's chair and two smaller chairs; two bedsteads with bedclothing thereon, my best set of cane-bottom chairs, my marble clock, new extension table, new brussels carpet, kitchen safe, hat rack, decorated coal-box with shovel and tongs, the three cornered cupboard, with glass doors, and the contents thereof and my bed cot with bedclothing thereon.

III - To my son Amos C. Swart, my black mohair-covered parlor suite, consisting of six chairs, one rocking chair and one sofa, my plush trimmed rocking chair with Odd Fellow's emblem thereon, round walnut table with marble top, my two other walnut stands, wash-stand without lock and key thereto, white bowl and pitcher, two bed-steads with bed-clothing thereon, my wooden clock, refrigerator, cup-board (without glass doors) with wooden doors and contents thereof and my set of double driving harness.

IV - To Mrs. Lucinda H. Swart, wife of my son, Amos C. Swart, my folding-bed and my gold watch and I further request that upon the decease of said Lucinda H. Swart, the aforesaid watch revert to my grandson John M. Swart, son of said Lucinda H. Swart.

V - To my grandson, John Newton Swart, my oak bed-stead with bed-clothing thereon and his father's bible.

VI - To my grand-daughter, Blanche Swart, my cherry bed-stead (which is now in the possession of my daughter Virginia Isabella Iams).

VII - To my daughter Virginia Isabella Iams, the sum of one dollar.

VIII - To my daughter, America Ann Simpson, the sum of one dollar.

IX - To my grand-daughter, Dora Loughman, wife of Gibson Loughman, my organ.

X - To my son, Amos C. Swart, my blacksmith shop and lot upon which said shop is situated - providing he, Amos C. Swart, permits George Huffman to use said shop as a place of business as long as he, said George Huffman, may desire to use it as such - the said George Huffman to pay as rental the sum of Five dollars ($5.00) per annum to the Swarts Methodist Episcopal Church.

XI - I further devise and bequeath all the remainder and residue of my property real, personal and mixed of which I may die seized or possessed - including all moneys in my possession or due me - to my son Amos C. Swart and to my daughter Florence V. Dunn to be divided between them as follows: The said Amos C. Swart to receive (2/3) two thirds and the said Florence V. Dunn to receive (1/3) one third of said property.

XII - I appoint Dr. John H. Cary and my son Amos C. Swart as executors of this my last will and testament.


Witness my hand this tenth day

of May A. D. 1898

(signed) Peninah A. Swart

Subscribed by the testatrix in the presence of each of us, and at the same time, declared by hereto be her last will and testament, and thereupon we, at the request of the testatrix and in her presence sign our names hereto, as witnesses, this tenth day of May A. D. 1898 at the home of the testatrix, Swarts Station, County of Green (sic) and State of Pennsylvania.


(signed) John H. Cary, George Huffman, Bessie E. Swart


June 1st, 1901

I hereby append the following codicils to this my last will and testament.

Codicil I - If any heir mentioned in this my last will and testament shall in any way endeavor to break this will by process of law or otherwise, I then and there direct that they shall be cut off from the proceeds of this will entirely.

Codicil II - I appoint Amos C. Swart (my son) as Sole Executor of this, my last will and testament, without bonds or Surety and without the Association of Dr. John H. Cary, as mentioned in article twelve above.


Witness my hand and seal this

first day of June 1901.


(signed) Peninah A. Swart

We the undersigned witnesses declare that the testatrix signed and declared this to be her last will and testament in the presence of each of us.


Witnesses: Enoch Brooks, John H. Cary, E. H. Cary


From will book: "Amos C. Swart says that Peninah A. Swart died September 6, 1901 at 4:35 p.m."






OBITUARY (Jacob) from an undocumented source:

SWART

Jacob Swart died at his home at Swarts Station Tuesday, March 8th, 1898, aged 77 years, of general debility. Mr. Swart was one of the wealthy and prominent men of our county. He was at one time superintendent of the W. & W. railroad and was a director of said road at the time of his death. A special train left here about noon Wednesday for the funeral. The interment being in the family burying ground. The children are Mrs. Iams, wife of Prothonotary Jas L. Iams, Mrs. William Dunn, of West Union, Mrs. John Simpson, of Swarts and Amos Swart, also of the latter place.




OBITUARY (Jacob) from WAYNESBURG REPUBLICAN, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1898:


DEATH OF JACOB SWART

A Prominent Citizen - Once Superintendent of the W. & W. Railroad

Jacob Swart, Esq., died at his home at Swart's, this county, Tuesday, March 8, at 11 o'clock. He had been ill for some time with a complication of ailments. Mr. Swart was born near Amity, PA., December 25, 1820, being the son of Philip Swart. He came to Greene county in 1842 and united in marriage May 5 of that year with Paulina (sic) Allum, daughter of Charles Allum. Mr. Swart followed farming until 1861, when he engaged in general merchandising business and became postmaster at Swart's. He was successful in all his affairs and amassed a considerable fortune. He took an active interest in building the Waynesburg & Washington railroad, being a liberal subscriber to the stock. He was superintendent of the road for two years and had been a member of its building committee. He was an ardent Republican and always manifested an interest in the party's affairs. Four children survive him: Mrs. John W. Simpson, Amos C., Mrs. William Dunn, and Mrs. Virginia Iams, wife of Prothonotary James L. Iams. The funeral was held on Wednesday at 1 p.m.




PHOTOGRAPH (from Shirley):

Monument for Jacob Swart, husband of Peninah (Allum) Swart:

JACOB SWART
BORN
DEC. 25, 1820
DIED
MARCH 8, 1898


Shirley, October 14, 1965 letter to DeeAnna:

"Peninah is buried here, too [Green Grove Cemetery] but has no engraving for dates or even a small stone at her particular gravesite as all the others do. Jacob's stone is a very tall one in the center of the Swart burials."


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Pages for Peninah (Allum) Swart and her descendants were posted to this web site in March, 2006. They were updated in 2011 with the additions of specific census dates (when available) -- for example, "September 24" for the year 1850.


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Peninah married Jacob SWART, son of Philip SWART and Asenah WALTON, on May 5, 1842 in (Probably) Greene County, Pennsylvania. (Jacob SWART was born on December 25, 1820 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, died on March 8, 1898 in Swarts, Greene County, Pennsylvania and was buried on March 9, 1898 in Green Grove Cemetery, Morris Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania.)