It is interesting that in the article below the newspaper picked up the name as "McSwain" when it was really just plain "Swain." Here is another reference to the same lawsuit. (William R. Swain was married to my great-great-grandfather's sister, Susan Watson Williams.) Carolynn Waldon from "The Wests and the Rays and Allied Lines: Southern Families from the Colonies to Texas" by Nan Overton West (FHL book 929.273 W52wn), pg. 145: "William Wyatt Swain (may be William Rosson Swain, b. 1783, who later moved to TN and MS and md. Rebecca (?) Williams dau of John Williams." and the following about William's step-mother, Anna: "Following Anna's death (7 Nov 1851) a lengthy legal case was filed in Abbeville by Joel Smith and others vs. William R. Swain and Jesse Swain. They sought to attach part of William R. Swain's inheritance to collect debts to his father-in-law, John Williams, and to Joel Smith, which William R. owed prior to his removal from Abbeville to Mississippi [Abbeville Equity Court Records, Box 15, Pkg. 411-426, South Carolina Archives -- transcript in Andrea papers]." (I also have copies from the court records. ckw) NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ABBEVILLE BANNER", Abbeville, South Carolina for the year 1853 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, MARCH 24, 1853 --------- STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Abbeville District Court of Equity Joel SMITH and others, vs. Wm. R. McSWAIN and Jesse McSWAIN Bill to Apply Funds It appearing that William R. McSWAIN, one of the defendants, resides beyond the limits of the State of South Carolina. It is therefore ordered that said defendant do appear and plead, answer or demur to said Bill of Complaint within three months of the publication hereof, otherwise the same will be taken Pro Confesso against him. H.A. Jones, Court of Equity for Abbeville District. March 1, 1853 ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

The action of dropping the MC from a Surname appears to be common. McHaney to Haney, McRae to Rae, McCall to Call etc..etc. Nothing those ancester did to change themselves, is not surprising any longer. Some of them are still eluding me anyway. Winn