Portman
>Howard > Swafford > Miser > Burris/Burrows
Mitochondrial DNA Study
Haplogroup K1a3a4
HVR2
Matches = 1
Copyright
January 2023
The above family is very fortunate in that early family historians have researched and preserved records of many persons who are descendants of the above lineage. Particularly helpful were two published books written by Ray C. Swofford, "Swaffords of Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee", Volumes 1 and 2, Third Edition, 1990. Also very helpful were four biographical books written over several decades by Hugh Dinsmore Miser, PhD, Joseph A. Mieser, PhD, and Lloyd E. Mizer, MS.
Generation 1 : Sarah Portman and Peter Howard, both born by ca. 1748 in Ireland, were married by ca. 1768. The household of Peter Howard was enumerated on the 1790 census in Greenville County, SC, containing Peter, three young males, and six females. Peter Howard was again enumerated in 1800 in Greenville County, SC, with three males and two females. In 1810 in Wayne County, KY, Peter Howard, age 45+, was enumerated with a wife the same age, and a female age 16-25. Peter Howard was enumerated on the line above his son Portman Howard, age 26-45, with his wife and four children. On the other side of Peter Howard were Abraham Swafford and Jacob Swafford, both ages 26-45, with their families. One can see that the Howards, Portmans and Swaffords had early ties.
Generation 2: Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Peter and Sarah Portman Howard, was born ca. 1780 in Greenville County, SC. She married Aaron "Big Aaron" Swafford ca. 1798 in South Carolina. Aaron died in 1824 at his farm in Bledsoe County, TN, but Elizabeth lived until 1857. The final distribution of the Estate of Aaron Swafford occurred in 1858 in Bledsoe County, TN. This document named, among others, their eight children, and the six grandchildren of their deceased daughter Mary Swafford Miser, late wife of George Washington (5/4) Miser.
Final Distribtion to Heirs of Aaron Swafford
Generation 3: Mary "Polly" Swafford was born 25 November in 1803. Some posts state that she was born in Tennessee, but she was actually born in South Carolina. As per family Bible records, she married George Washington (5/4) Miser on 18 October 1826 in Bledsoe County, TN. They were the parents of eleven children, with their five oldest children living to produce children. Polly Swafford Miser died on 23 November 1842 and was buried in the Miser Homestead Cemetery, then reinterred and buried in the Buttram's Chapel Cemetery. George Miser married 2nd Jane Potter, b. 1819 in SC, and had eight more children.
Generation4: Elizabeth Betsy (6/2) Miser was born 1 October 1828 in Tennessee. In 1836 she came with her parents to Benton County, AR, on a wagon train led by her father, George Washington (5/4) Miser, wagon master. After the death of her mother in 1842 she assisted her father in the rearing of her younger brothers and sisters until she married Josiah Henegar Burris in about 1844. (Both Burris and Burrows spellings are seen among their descendants.) Elizabeth and Josiah were the parents of nine known children, all born in Benton County, AR. Elizabeth Miser Burrows died on 6 November 1848 in Benton County, AR, and is buried in the Miser Homestead Cemetery in Benton County, AR.