Many thanks to all who responded about Richard Swain, the reported gun master of the "Old Sow." Following is a bit of published information, as well as federal census findings concerning a few of Swain's descendants: Edmund B. Raftis ('"Summit, New Jersey, From Poverty Hill to the Hill City," Great Swamp Press, Seattle, 1996) writes in his excellent, well-sourced history of Summit, on page 31, that William P. Tuttle of Madison recalled in 1896 meeting a Richard Swain who was "over 85" in a house atop Beacon Hill in Summit in 1855 and that Swain said he know all about the cannon of the Colonial forces, having lived all his life in the locality and "been a boy" during the Revolution. Raftis goes on to write that "Richard Swain senior" was gun master of the Old Sow and "lighted the signal beacon. It may have been that he lived right there'' atop Beacon Hill. It appears that the above refers to two different Richard Swains -- the "senior" perhaps suggesting that their relationship was father and son. On page 149 of the above book Raftis writes that Richard Swain the cannon master "owned a farm on the east side of Hobart Avenue where the Reeves-Reed Arboretum is now'' [and] "died shortly after 1832. His grandson, Job Swain, and his wife Experience lived on the large farm for 60 years, between about 1828 and 1888. It was known as "Buck Hills." Five of their six sons served in the Civil War." ********** The 1860 federal census of Union County, N.J., Springfield township, page 698, shows: Job Swain 57 Farm Labor 1500 2000 New Jersey Experience 49 " Richard 10 " Job 14 " John 17 " Mary King 19 " Lydia(?) A. 2 " Nancy 4/12 " Julia Francis 2 " This appears to be Job Swain, grandson of Richard Swain the gunmaster, to whom Raftis refers. *********** The 1850 federal census of Essex Co., Springfield Township, page 262, shows: Job Swain 46 Farmer Deevy 32 George 18 Betsy 15 Moses 13 Nancy 14 John 8 Job 4 Daniel 2 Enumerated with them are: William Swain 21 Farmer Bridget his w. 19 William Swain's wife was Margaret Duffy, daughter of John and perhaps Margaret Duffy, also of Springfield township. Census records show Irish birth for all three. Testimony of neighbors of Job and Experience Swain, in William Swain's Civil War pension records, suggests that William Swain's father, Job, was remarried, probably a few years after 1830. William Swain's pension records list his children, some of the great-great grandchildren of Richard Swain the cannon master. If anyone would care to know more about William and Bridget Swain, including names and birth years of their children, or if anyone has additional infomation concerning Richard Swain's ancestors or descendants, please e-mail me, [email protected] I will be happy to share. Dave McMane Paris