John Joseph "Jeffers" Swain

Other Events:

• Census: 1891, Victoria City, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Voter: 1898, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Census: 1911, Victoria City, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Residence: 15 Sep 1912, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland
• Census: 1921, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland
• Voter: 1928, Calvert, Newfoundland
• Will: 10 May 1932, Calvert, Newfoundland

Notes:

Birth:
The number of John Joseph, John, and Joseph Swains baptized at Fermeuse in 1859 and 1860 has caused much confusion. Some researchers have shown that this John Joseph was baptized there on the 9 April 1860. However, that baptism record shows the child's name was just Joseph, so I have concluded that the record is probably not for this John Joseph, but likely a brother, Joseph. In 1889, John Joseph went to British Columbia. Information from his Victoria, BC marriage record (MRI) states that John was 41 years old when he married in May 1900. The fact that this John J. Swain was the son of Joseph Swain and Anne/Anna Power is confirmed in his marriage record.

Census:
Frank Meaney, John Joseph Swain and John Williams (from Ferryland?) were all living in the same household in Victoria, British Columbia when the 1891 Census was enumerated.

Voter:
1898 Voters List- Victoria City; British Columbia - Swain, John, Brick Row, Sapperton, Carpenter, NWC Swain, John Joseph, Fire Hall, north side Pandora St, Carpenter.

Census:
In the 1911 Canada Census, at Vancouver, British Columbia, John and his son,Clifford, were boarders with a family named Redpath.

Residence:
Shortly after the 1911 Canada Census, John returned to Newfoundland from British Columbia. He was accompanied by his eleven year old son, Clifford. In September of 1912, he married Harriett (Doran) Meaney (widow of Frank Meaney) and built a small house on the Northside of Calvert near Harriett's daughter, Mary Anne (Minnie), who had married Ambrose Walsh. An old Bill of Sale, dated March 31, 1931, shows that John's land had came into his possession from Richard (Rich) Sullivan. The land, house, and furniture were willed to Martin Reddigan (my father) on the 10 day of May 1932. (Kevin Reddigan).

Census:
In the 1921 Newfoundland Census, there is no record for John Joseph Swain and any of his immediate family.It is unclear if this was an omission since they were not recorded elsewhere in Newfoundland.

Voter:
John Swain (of Joseph) was not listed in the 1924 Voters List at Calvert. However, he was an eligible voter at Calvert in the 1928 Voters List, but his wife Harriet was not listed.

Will:
This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Joseph Swain of Calvert, (North Side) Newfoundland. I give and bequeath my house on North Side of Calvert, N.F.Ld. and my furniture to Martin Redigan Calvert, North Side, N.F.Ld. and ask him to have Masses said for the repose of my soul, by the Rev. P Sheehan P.P. of Ferryland. In Witness whereof, I the said John Joseph Swain have to this my last Will and Testament set my name this 10th day of May 1932.

Signed - John Joseph Swain

Witnesses 1) Bernard Meaney
2) Ambrose Walsh



Buried:
John died on, or about, 7 September 1932 and was buried in the Reddigan family plot in Holy Trinity RC Cemetery. John's only request, as a condition of the will, was that Martin Reddigan should have regular Masses said for the repose of his soul. Various slips of paper (receipts) from our old house (torn down in 1995) show that Masses for the repose of the soul of John Swain were still being said into the 1980s. (Kevin Reddigan)

John married Elizabeth Amalda Rhodes 2 May 1900, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph Rhodes and Catharine Angeline Piaggio) was born 15 Jun 1874, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; died 17 Mar 1907, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; was buried 19 Mar 1907, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. [Group Sheet]

John married Harriett Ann Doran 15 Sep 1912, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland. Harriett was born Abt 1868; died Aft 1912. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1924, St. Alban's, Vermont, United States

Notes:

Birth:
Birth Registration Index from BC Archives. Name: CLIFFORD SWAIN Event Date: 1900 11 29 (Yr/Mo/Day) Gender: Male Event Place: VICTORIA; Reg. Number: 1900-09-010098 B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13816 - GSU Microfilm Number: 2134806

Immigration:
On this same ship's manifest, there was also Clifford's first cousin, Robert Swain, (of Joseph) and Ernest O'Toole. Even though the settlement had been renamed Calvert, their last Newfoundland address was recorded as Caplin Bay.

Died:
CLIFFORD SWAIN Search - US Social Security Request Information - (SS-5) SSN 020-14-9963 Residence: Massachusetts; Born 29 Nov 1900 Last Benefit: Died Nov 1964; Issued: MA (Before 1951)

Clifford — Bridget Swain. Bridget (daughter of Peter Swain and Bridget Jones) was born 24 Sep 1899, Caplin Bay, Newfoundland; died 23 May 1991, Massachusetts, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
It is not clear when Theodore was born but his cemetery info says it was 1906.

Buried:
Ross Bay Cemetery