This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: hmartinsoward Surnames: Soward, Hotchkiss, Mead, Manning Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.arkansas.counties.independence/1250/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am researching the Soward family and would like to exchange information with anyone else interested in the family. My 2nd grt grandfather, West Walker Soward, settled in Independence County about 1839. He was born in 1814 in Knox County, Tennessee, to Henry and Mary (maiden name not known) Soward. He was hired to help move the Hotchkiss family from Roane County, TN to Arkansas about 1836. He married Matilda Hotchkiss, a daughter of the head of the family he was hired to move. The head of the family was Hezekiah Knight Hotchkiss whose wife was Lydia G. Mead. Upon arrival in Arkansas the Hotchkiss family and West W. Soward lived for a short time in St. Francis County and that is probably where West and Matilda were married. Unfortunately, the marriage records of St. Francis Co. for that time period do not survive. I am searching for a family Bible that might have the marriage recorded. Hezekiah's brother, Elihu Hotchkiss, preceded Hezekiah's arrival in St. Francis Co. ! West's brother William Soward (1802-1878), his wife, Mary Manning Soward, and two other brothers, Elijah Soward (1817-1862) and Jeremiah Soward (born in 1821 and last heard of in a Union prisoner of war camp), also went to Independence Co. I am especially interested in finding the maiden name of Mary wife of Henry Soward. She was born in 1778 in NC and died sometime in the 1850s, probably in Knox or Roane County, TN. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.