Normally you in America are trying to find your roots in other countries such as England, but in my case I am doing the opposite, I am trying to find ancestors who left England and went to America from the early 1700’s to the early 1900’s.
I am trying to find information about Benjamin and James Swale or Swales, and if possible any descendants of Benjamin and James.
The spelling of Swale could be Swailes or Swail and as with many surnames they became corrupted.
I know Benjamin left England in about 1858 and he took 2 children with him. These 2 children were the children of his sister Jane and her husband William Dawson, Jane and William did not go to America at the same time. Benjamin had a brother who at some time went to Milwaukee and I have got information on William. James Swale went to America but left England after 1880 and nothing is known about him so he too may have gone to Wisconsin, Iowa or Illinois. Benjamin was born in 1832 and James was born in 1838.
Benjamin is believed to have died in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin but the date is unknown, it is not known whether he married or had any children.
Members of another related Swale family also went to America and some of these went to Iowa, there were also other families who are related to those above, these were Curtis, Dewes, Foster and Dawson.

Some of these families went to Iowa but they could have lived in any of the Counties or moved to another State.
It is possible that none of the family descendants of Swale, Dewes, Curtis, Foster and Dawson who live in the States of Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois are aware that they are related to each other. The relationship between all these families is complex and it has taken me more than 25 years to do the research.
I would like to hear from any Swale, Swales, Dewes, Curtis, Foster and Dawson’s descendants, whose ancestors were from Yorkshire, England, which is where I live.
I am also interested in State and Federal census information where these names appear, also any obituaries.
I have researched these families back to the early 1700’s and 1600’s.
Could anyone help?
Geoff Boon (Yorkshire, England)

Hi Geoff,
It appears I've found your James. In the 1900 census he is living in Eden Twp. Clinton Co. IA. Born June 1838 and listed as a widower. Both parents b. ENG. Still looking for Benjamin.

Ken Kothe
Iowa

Geoff,
Do you know anything about the children of James? Forgot to mention in previous posting, that living right next door to James, was a Humphrey and Elizabeth Bower. Both b. IA. but parents of both both ENG. Elizabeth could be James' daughter. By the way, James was listed as Swale.

Ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the information. As to his children I don't think that he had any. He was married in 1869 here in Yorkshire and he was living with his wife on his brother-in-law's farm, I have not found the death of his wife yet, but I think that she must have died before he left England. It would be interesting if there were anyone with the surname Fall in the same area in America, because that was the surname of his brother-in-law. James went to America after 1881 and he had two brother's living in America and they had left England many years before. One of these brother's was called William and I now have full details about him living in Milwaukee, What happened to Benjamin is a mystery because he went to America in 1857 and he took a John and Thomas Dawson with him. These Dawson’s were the brother’s of William Dawson who married one of the sisters of William, Benjamin and James. William Dawson also went to America in 1868 and he took five of his children with him, but little is known about them, however, I picked up one of the children’s lines in Seattle after 1900, but nothing is known about that child before that date and nothing is known about the others
Geoff

I couldn't locate a Benjamin Swales in US 1860 census, so started looking for the Dawsons.
In 1860 census, Thomas Dawson born in England, age 40 living in Eden Township, Clinton County, Iowa.
Not sure he is your man. spouse Maria(?) age 40, children Elizabeth, age 16, Margaret age 10, Maria age 6, Eliza age 6, Hanet (?) age 4. All born in England.
Two John Dawsons born in England
age 29 in Center township, Henry County, Iowa.
spouse Susanna born England, but son William was age 7 and born in Ohio, son John age 4 born in Iowa.
or
John age 31 born in England, living Albion Township, Butler County, Iowa.
WIfe Elizabeth age 36 born in England.
son John N. age 13 born in Ohio, saw again not likely it is your person.
7 other Thomas Daawsons born in England, do you have an approximate age?
19 other John Dawson's born in England, again approximate age?

Looked for Wm Dawson in 1870 census. There are 22 entries for William Daawson born in England, ages 7 ro 68.
The 7 year old William was living with Thomas Nicholson age 31 coal miner, wife Ruth age 24 and children George age 8, Jane age 7, all born in England. In same household a Benjamin Wats(?) age 40 also a coal miner, born in England..
They were living in Weatherfield, Trumbull County, Ohio

Thanks for the info Joyce,

The wIlliam that I am interested in was born in about 1829 in Yorkshire, England.

Geoff

Thanks again Joyce don't think that these are the right Dawson's, but I could be wrong. William had 2 brothers who left England before he did, they left in 1857, they were called John and Thomas Dawson.

The William Dawson that I am looking for had several children, his wife died in England and he went to America in about 1867 with about 5 children, his mother and his Aunt. He could have remarried when he lived in America but I am not sure about this.

Geoff

The John and Elizabeth DAWSON in 1860 Albion census are probably not related to the subjects in this thread. This John and Elizabeth DAWSON are from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. I don't know Elizabeth's maiden name, but I am sure they were married in England. This John came to Ohio in 1843 and his brother Edward DAWSON followed him the next year. They stayed in Trumbull county Ohio for several years and moved to Albion Township in Butler County Iowa in the 1850s. John DAWSON was called "Reverend" in some documents. There is a Benjamin DAWSON in the same vicinity in Ohio as Edward and John and he shows up Blackhawk County Iowa in the 1860 census and Buchanan County Iowa in 1870. In the household is an older woman Mary DAWSON who I believe is the step-mother of Edward and John DAWSON. I believe this Benjamin DAWSON is a brother to Edward and John but haven't yet proved it. Edward and John DAWSON are the sons of Edward and Elizabeth DAWSON and the brothers of my 3rd Great grandmother. The father Edward DAWSON married secondly in England Mary PARLBY. I believe this Mary is the same Mary in the census of 1870 in Benjamin DAWSON's household. The father Edward and his wife Mary were in earlier census records in Ohio. Edward and John (and perhaps Benjamin) DAWSON's sister Elizabeth DAWSON remained in England and married John HOWDEN and after his death James VICKERS. Two of her children DAWSON and Betsey HOWDEN eventually left England at different times and went to Iowa presumably to join their uncles. Dawson HOWDEN married Amanda BICE in Bremer County and moved on to California. Betsey married in England to Joseph KNOTT and their children were born in England. Betsey had a son out of wedlock prior to her marriage to Joseph KNOTT. This son's name was Joseph HOWDEN He was my great grandfather. He married Lydia Ann WIDDOWSON in England after his mother had moved to Iowa. His first child(my grandmother), Lilly HOWDEN , was born in Granby Nottinghamshire and he and his wife and the baby moved to Parkersburg Iowa in 1890 where they had 12 more childresn If any one connects to this family let me know.

Hi Leslie,

Please give me a few days to check my research and I will get back to you.

Geoff