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Swon/Swan Cemetery
Carmichaels, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Lat: 39° 55' 34"N, Lon: 79° 59' 15"W
Cumberland Township

Contributed by Brad Jarvis, Apr 17, 2010, last edited May 03, 2010 [forza@windstream.net]. Total records = 15.

At the stoplight intersection of West George Street and Route 88 in Carmichaels, take Route 88 North 2.6 miles. Make a right onto Willis Road and follow for .7 miles. Make a right onto Woodrings Road, then make an immediate right on to Neff Road and follow for .5 miles. The cemetery will be on your left but it is far enough from the road that it cannot be seen.

The cemetery is now over 200 years old but has long since been abandoned and is in very poor condition. Several stones have fallen over and quite a few have broken into pieces. In the past someone has pieced together some of the broken stones, securing the pieces with metal straps and bolts to make the stones one again. Many of the stones are very difficult to read, although the oldest ones are surprisingly the best preserved. This cemetery is historically significant for Greene County because John Swon was one of the first pioneers to settle in this region. There are also several Revolutionary War veterans buried here. The cemetery is surrounded by many large osage orange trees and at one time would have had barbed wire strung between the trees as a means of keeping animals out. It is interesting to note that some stones have the surname "Swon" while others have "Swan" instead.

This cemetery is located on private property. The property owner lives nearby in a mobile home. As with any cemetery located on private land, always ask for permission before going to the cemetery.

I walked the cemetery on Apr 03, 2010. This transcription is complete and includes all existing stones. I also have digital photographs of all the stones as well as many views of the cemetery itself and would share them with anyone interested.

- Brad Jarvis

Legend:

b. = born d. = died d/o = daughter of ( ) = author's comments

s/o = son of s/w = shares stone with w/o = wife of

Ailes, Sarah, d. 9 Oct 1842, w/o Joseph, (Age can no longer be read)
Litzenberg, Martha Ann, who departed this life 15 Jul 1829, Aged 7y 5m, In memory of
Swan, Charles Sr., who departed this life 5 Feb 1832, Aged 83y 14d, In memeory of, Revolutionary War Flag Marker, (Entered service as a Private in Captain William Crawford's Company, 1st Battalion, Washington County PA Malitia), (Later rose to the rank of Colonel)
Swan, Eliza, (Rest of stone is illegible), (Broken in two and lies on the ground)
Swan, Henry H., s/o ? & ?, Aged ?y 3m, (Rest of stone is illegible and lies on the ground)
Swan, Jesse, Aged 51y 6m 5d, (Rest of stone is illegible), (Stone lies on the ground)
Swan, Rachel, (Rest of stone is illegible), (Broken into pieces and lies on the ground)
Swan, Sarah, d. 16 Nov 1822, w/o William, (Age can no longer be read)
Swan, Sarah, who departed this life 4 Jul 1825, Aged 67y 10d, c/o Charles, In memory of
Swan, William, (Rest of stone is illegible and lies on the ground, however Howard L. Leckey's "The Tenmile Country and its Pioneer Families" lists these dates: b. 1762, d. 25 Dec 1835, Aged 73y 5m 29d), Revolutionary War Flag Marker, (Ensign in Captain Jesse Pigman's Co. and Private under the command of William Harrod in the Washington County PA Malitia)
Swan, William, d. 21 Apr 1852, Aged 6?y 11m 26d
Swon, Elizabeth, d. 17 Oct 1805, Aged 83y, Here lies the body of, (w/o John)
Swon, John, d. 29 Dec 1799, Aged 78y, Here lies the body of, Revolutionary War Flag Marker
Swon, Martha, who departed this life 24 Oct 1836, Aged 81y 10d, c/o Richard, In memory of
Swon, Richard, who departed this life 11 Feb 1822, Aged 69y ?m 11d, In memory of, A kind husband, affectionate father and good citizen, Revolutionary War Flag Marker, (Ensign in Colonel McFarland's Regiment), (Stone is broken into 4 pieces)

Misc:
??, Amy, d. 2? Jan 18??, Aged ?y 11m, d/o ?.J. & Rachel