Edwin N. Swinburn Collection

Collection

Identifier: A-0176

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection has photocopies of Edwin N. Swinburn's autobiography, his Confederate enlistment and discharge papers, newspaper articles about his wife's death, and reminiscences of his 86th, 88th, 90th birthday.

Dates

Creation: 1813-1908

Language of Materials

The collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Biographical or Historical Information

Edwin N. Swinburn (also spelled Swinborn, Swineburn, Swinburne and E. N. Swinburn) was born in Worcestershire, England around September 13, 1813? and remained there until he was 14. He was then sent to Birmingham to learn a trade at pearl button making. He quickly became aware of books, newspapers and politics and after avid reading, determined he would travel to the new land, which he did some time after the year 1832.

He and his cousin traveled about from New York to Louisiana to the outskirts of civilization and back-traveled by water and land until he went up the Ohio river in a small craft to a settlement where he met and married Martha Ann O'Neal. In 1854 they moved to Nacogdoches where they were living when the Civil War began. He and his oldest son, Alvin C. or Alva C., enlisted in the Confederate Army and served in the 17^th Company of the Texas Cavalry under S. M. Noble, Captain. They both received discharges later in 1862.

His wife passed away around 1904. Census records show that he was the father of eight children and that he and his oldest son were brick masons by trade. No recorded information has been found as to the date or place of death or burial, although he lived in Mexia, Texas in his later years at least at ages 86 to 90.

("Edwin N. Swinburn Collection." East Texas Research Center. Ralph W. Steen Library. Stephen F. Austin State University)