Diane, Based on what I've found on the family John and Elizabeth (Lucas) Swan -- which has been fairly well researched and documented -- the Catherine Swan who married Joseph McIlvaine is not their daughter. Although I don't know (of course) why Catherine's parents disapproved of Joseph's revolutionary sympathies, I would suggest that you might look at any Swan families in Pennsylvania that were Quakers (or perhaps Loyalists). John Swan certainly would not have disapproved of a son-in-law for supporting the Revolution, which he himself actively supported. Also, at least four of his sons and two of his sons-in-law were Revolutionary War veterans. John __________________________________________ > Joseph McIlvaine b. 1749 d. 1787 in Bucks County m. 1767 in Lancaster > County Catherine Swan. Catherine's parents disapproved of Joseph because he > was a revolutionary and so the couple separated. A son Joseph McIlvaine is > recorded born in 1768. > > is Catherine a daughter of John Swan? The parents are not mentioned by > first name. >