John Henry Dalzell SWIRE, of Jamaica

John Henry Dalzell "Henry" SWIRE, son of Roger SWIRE & Frances Lydia COX

John Henry Dalzell SWIRE (1820 - 1867)

John Henry Dalzell SWIRE, known as "Henry", was the first son of Roger SWIRE and Frances Lydia COX. He was born 07 November 1820 in St. Vincent, West Indies. His birth is recorded in his mother's bible and his christening is recorded on 25 March 1821 in the records of St. George's Anglican Cathedral in Kingstown, St. Vincent.

Henry SWIRE was married twice, but had children only with his first wife. He was married to Letitia Ann HALL on 08 November 1842 in Portland Parish, Jamaica. Their marriage is recorded in the Portland Parish Register in Volume 3, Folio 39.

The couple had at least four children: Lydia Anne SWIRE, Alice Catherine SWIRE, Roger SWIRE, and Letitia Anne Gertrude SWIRE. There is more information on the children below.

After the death of his first wife in May of 1852, Henry SWIRE married to Caroline (nee PAGE) BARCLAY, the widow of Charles BARCLAY, on 07 February 1861.

Henry SWIRE was a planter in the St. Thomas in the East area of Jamaica. He was listed as a registered voter in the 1860 Jamaica Almanac for St. George Parish in Portland, Jamaica. During the famed Morant Bay rebellion that took place in Jamaica in 1865, Henry SWIRE and several members of his family were named in an article about the place where they took refuge from the rebellion, as follows:

Around 15 October 1865, John Henry Dalzell SWIRE, J.P., Caroline SWIRE, Charles BARCKLAY (Caroline's son from a previous marriage - spelling should be BARCLAY), Constance PAGE (Elizabeth Swire PAGE's daughter), Elizabeth PAGE (maiden name SWIRE - Constance's mother and Henry's sister), Lydia SWIRE, and Alice SWIRE (both Henry's children by Letitia Ann HALL) boarded the vessel "Reunion" to escape from the coming Morant Bay Rebellion. On that day, Governor EYRE (Port Antonio), arriving on the "Wolverine" boarded the "Reunion" as well. The "Reunion" was bound for New York City and arrived there on 5 Nov 1865 ("New York Herald"), 19 days after it set sail from Port Antonio. The "Reunion" was commanded by Captain Tracey of the United States.

Caroline PAGE, photo likely taken before her 1st marriage. Photo from her great-grandson Charles Harrison Wallace.

Henry SWIRE died in 1867. His newspaper obituary (newspaper suspected as the Gleaner of Kingston, Jamaica) was found pasted inside his mother's bible: DIED - May 23, 1867, at the Island of St. Thomas, John Henry Dalzell SWIRE, Esquire. Aged 46 years and 6 months, eldest son of the late Roger SWIRE, Esq. of the parish of St. George's, leaving a widow, children, mother and numerous relatives and friends to mourn for him.

Children of Henry SWIRE and Letitia Ann HALL:

Lydia Anne SWIRE was born 05 February 1845 at Norwich Estate in Portland Parish, Jamaica. She died 02 August 1936 at Cross Roads, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. On 03 February 1875, she married Anglican Reverend William ROWE at St. Mark's Church, in St. Ann Dist./Dry Harbour, Jamaica. Rowe was a widower quite a few years older than Lydia. It's not known if the couple had any children.

Alice Catherine SWIRE was born 19 April 1848 at Norwich Estate in Portland Parish, Jamaica. She died 22 December 1893 in Bedford, England. On 29 June 1876, she married her cousin, Roger Swire HAUGHTON at St. Mark's Church, in St. Ann Dist./Dry Harbour, Jamaica. Their children were: Helen C. HAUGHTON, Reginald Swire HAUGHTON, Dora HAUGHTON, Edith Margaret "Maggie" HAUGHTON, Harold Moffatt Swire HAUGHTON, Beryl HAUGHTON, and one other daughter, whose name isn't known.

Roger SWIRE was born 29 November 1849 at Norwich Estate in Portland Parish, Jamaica. He died 18 September 1921 in Iowa City, IA, USA. He had left Jamaica for Iowa between 1865 and 1870. On 28 April 1881, he married Edith Constance FOSTER at St. Peter's Church, Brooklyn, New York. The couple settled in Iowa, where they had four children: Ethelind SWIRE, Edith Margaret SWIRE, Roger SWIRE (Jr.), and Arthur W. SWIRE. Roger SWIRE, Sr. was a prominent insurance company owner and Episcopal Church member in Iowa City from the 1880's until his death in 1921.

Letitia Anne Gertrude SWIRE was born 31 March 1852 at Norwich Estate in Portland Parish, Jamaica. She died in late January 1853 at Norwich Estate and was buried there.