Swayze/Martin Family History
Catherine Swayze was born in Horseheads, Chemung, County, NY on July 14, 1836. Her father was Daniel Swayze and her mother was Mary Ann Robinson, daughter of Michael Robinson. Catherine's family ran ships during the Revolutionary War and they owned slaves. According to Catherine's great-granddaughter, Betty Brown, Catherine was "Lace Curtain Irish." This phrase connotes culture and status (such as the Kennedy family). "Lace Curtain Irish" are the opposite of "Shanty Irish" described as "those who let the water run on the bath tube porcelain until it is stained." Betty Brown commented that "...there is also the Black Irish. Rumor is that Catherine's family were descendants of a Spanish line who were left after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in Ireland."
Catherine married William Hummer (born November 25, 1831) on March 25, 1852 in Sullivanville, NY. They were a young couple - William was 21 years old while Catherine was only 16 at the time of their marriage. A year later, Catherine gave birth to her first child, William Alexander Hummer (March 11, 1853) followed by Daniel Johnson Hummer, born September 2, 18555.William Hummer, Sr. served in the Civil War on the Union side. He died of tuberculosis in Southern prison camp, leaving Catherine to raise their two sons. William Alexander remained in New York State his entire life, working as a mail carrier. He married and had two children - Floyd Hummer and Helen Hummer. Daniel J. Hummer died in 1888, at the age of 33.
Catherine did not remain single long after William died. She married an Englishman - John T. Martin - who was many years her senior. They married on May 10, 1865 in Burdett, Schuyler County, NY. Catherine was 29 years old and John T. Martin was 47 years old. John was born on April 18, 1818.
John T. and Catherine Martin had four children during the next 11 years, two boys and two girls. J.T. Martin was born on December 10, 1867 followed by Jesse Whittker Martin, born on July 30, 1869. Both boys were born in Horseheads, NY.
Elizabeth Anna (known as Anna) was born on February 6, 1873 and Cassie Martin was born on January 22, 1876 - when Catherine was 40 years old and John T. was 58. Both Anna and Cassie were most likely born in Horseheads, NY. Cassie Martin lived less than two years, dying on Christmas Day in 1877.Sometime between the date of Cassie's death (1877) and March, 1883, the Martin family moved to Elk Point, Union County, South Dakota. J.T. related (to his wife) that he was about 10 years old when the family moved to Elk Point, so that puts the move around 1879. The following letter from James Miles Martin (a descendant of J.T. Martin) helps to explain the mystery surrounding this move:
"While the details were a little dim by the time I started asking questions, it appears that John T. Martin left his wife, Catherine, for another woman - possibly a maid in their home. John T. moved with this woman to Elk Point, South Dakota where he worked as a butcher. Evidently Catherine was able to find out where he had gone, and she moved (with her children and mother) to Elk Point where she lived on one side of town and he lived on the other side. John T. would reportedly fill Catherine's ice box with meat on Saturday. This may have been how they dissolved a marriage at this point in time."
Betty Brown (Anna Martin Brown's granddaughter) sent Catherine's wedding ring to James Martin several years ago. The ring had been kept by her branch of the family for all those years. The ring was a very plain, unpolished gold band - crudely made by modern standards. The importance of the ring may been that it testified to the legitimacy of the marriage - even after John T. left Catherine for another woman.
Harriet L. Smith Brown - J.T. Martin's wife - always spoke highly of her mother- in-law Catherine, saying "she was a fine Christian woman." Betty Brown inherited Catherine's Bible and the James Martin family has her Gospel of John. Catherine later became interested in the Christian Science religion, which was popular in New York at the time.
Catherine took in washing in Elk Point, and worked as a nurse and midwife, in order to support her family. Later, she owned a livery stable and rented out horses and buggies. Union County records confirm that Catherine purchased property in Elk Point (several lots) on March 9, 1863, This document was witnessed by her son, Jesse W. Martin, who was 14 years old at the time.
J.T. Martin and Jesse attended school in Elk Point, according to a teacher's report, but they only attend 22 days out of a possible 70 during the fall of 1884. Classes taught included reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geography, grammar, and drawing. The teacher was E.E. Collins, who was paid $42.50 per month, including board.
How different life in South Dakota must have been for the Martin family compared to living in New York State. The Indians used to come in the Martin kitchen while South Dakota was still a territory. The grasshoppers were so bad one year that the train slid right though town. Some of the Martins shipped snails outside the State illegally when times were hard.Catherine's daughter, Anna, married Jacob F. Christian Brown on June 16, 1890 when she was 17 and he was 22 years old. This was the second marriage performed in the State of South Dakota. After Anna and Chris married. Catherine moved in with them. Catherine cooked a lot and often sent her grandson, Jesse, to the store without a grocery list. He was sent back if he did not remember everything on the list.
To be continued...................
Additional:
Daniel Swayze and Mary Ann Robinson had two children, Catherine & Cashaday.
The above information supplied by a descendant of Catherine Swayze. It confirms a story we heard as children that there was a castle in Ireland that went back to the state for payment of taxes. Mary Harris Hughes, grand daughter of Cashaday Swayze, stated in a note to my sister, that she and Uncle Bill had talked of going to Ireland but the trip never materialized. She also asked if we knew anything about the castle in Ireland when we visited her in 1995.
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