Esther Doyle Read, Copyright 30 August 2005
New 30 August 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
ANNA MAE COURSEN SWINSON5
609. ANNA "MAE" COURSEN, Sr.4 (Jacob Harvey Coursen4, Hannah Coursen nee Read3, John Read2, Joseph Read1), was born 22 August 1896 in Warren County, New Jersey, probably in Frelinghuysen Township and died 15 January 1998 in Sussex County, New Jersey. Mae was 101 years old when she died (Murcko 1996-98; Social Security Death Index). Mae's older brother Frank was 16 years old when she was born. When she was a very young child, Frank attended Blair Presbyterial Academy (now Blair Academy) in Blairstown (Anon 1898:71). By 1900, when Mae was four years old, Frank was away at school. Her parents basically raised two separate familes of children, each of whom was more-or-less and only chile. Mae lived with her parents on the farmily farm in Frelinghuysen Township (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 184, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, sheet 5A, 12 June 1900). The Coursen farm was located near Kerrs Corner in Frelinghuysen Township, just to the south of Marksboro. Marksboro was probably the Coursen's post office. The family farm was probably the same one as listed for Mae's father in the 1874 Beers County Atlas of Warren County New Jersey.Mae's father died 11 February 1908. She was seven and half years old. Her brother Frank had been married for two years and was living in West Pittston in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Mae lived with her widowed mother in Frelinghuysen Township on the family farm after her father's death (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 125, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 6B, 23 April 1910). She married on 5 August 1914, Charles Carl Swinson (Murcko 1996-98), the son of Swedish immigrants. He was born circa 1891 in New Jersey and died unknown. The couple owned a home at 53 Greendell Road in Green Township, Sussex County in 1920. Mae's mother, Anna Hoagland Coursen lived with them. Mae was expecting her first child when the census taker visited their house on 16 January 1920. Her first son, Wilfrd Harvey Swinson, was born a month later on 23 February. The family was boarding one of the local public school teachers—23 year old Helen Rhinbach. Charles Swinson was employed as a station agent by the railroad (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 184, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 3A, 16 January 1920).
In 1930, the family still lived on Greendell Road. Charles and Mae had two children: Wilfred and Harold. Mae's mother was still a resident of the household. Charles Charles had stayed employed as a station agent through the 1920. The census valued the family home at $2,500. The Coursens also owned a radio. As in 1920, the family was boarding one of the local school teachers. She was 22 year old Bernice Johnson (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 19-11, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 2 April 1930). Mae's final residence was Greendell, Sussex, New Jersey. Her social security card was issued through the Railroad Board before 1951(Social Security Death Index).
Frank's name is inscribed on his parents monument in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Marksboro, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey. However, Frank and Bessie lived most of their married life in West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Frank died in 1957 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania (Murcko 1996-98)—Wyoming County is adjacent to Luzerne County. It is highly unlikely that he is buried in Marksboro. Bessie's name is not inscribed on the Marksboro monument. The Coursen monument in Marksboro was visited on 14 April 2005 (use photo album link above to view a photograph of the monument).
CHILDREN OF MAE COURSEN AND CHARLES SWINSON:
1279. (i.) WILFRED HARVEY SWINSON6, was born 23 February 1920 in New Jersey, probably in Green Township, Sussex County and died unknown (Murcko 1996-98). Wilfred's parents lived at 53 Greendell Road in Green Township a month before he was born. The census taker enumerated the family on 16 January 1920, hence Wilfred does not appear on the census (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 184, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, page 3A, 16 January 1920). He is listed on the 1930 census as a 10 year old school boy living with his parents on Greendell Road in Green Township (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 19-11, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 2 April 1930). He married by 1951, Marion C. Budd daughter of Frank Budd and Harriet "Hattie" Bird of Greendell (New Jersey Herald, August 16, 1951). She was born 1 April 1920 in New Jersey and died 5 November 2003 in Sussex County, New Jersey. In 1930, Marion lived with her parents and younger brother Leslie on a farm in Fredon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 19-10, Fredon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 9 April 1930). Wilfred and Marion lived in Greendell most, if not all of their adult lives. Marion's social security number was issued in New Jersey before 1951. She resided in Greendell at the time of her death in 2003 (Social Security Death Index).
1280. (ii.) HAROLD FRANKLIN SWINSON6, was born 17 January 1922 in New Jersey, probably in Green Township, Sussex County and died unknown (Murcko 1996-98). He appears on the 1930 census as an 8 year old school boy living with his parents on Greendell Road in Green Township (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 19-11, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 1A, 2 April 1930). He married Margaret Wiseburn Martin, the daughter of Alvin and Hazel Martin. She was born circa 1923 in New Jersey (possibly in Green Township, Sussex County) and died unknown. In 1930, Margaret lived with her parents, her younger brother Alvin (18 Januaary 1925-3 June 2004) and her paternal grandparents, John and Lena Martin in a rented home on a private estate in Green Township, Sussex County. Her grandfather was a gardener for the estate and her father worked as the estate's book keeper (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 19-11, Green Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, sheet 4A, 15 April 1930). Harold and Margaret resided in Florida in June 2004 when Margaret's brother and Harold's childhood friend, Alvin Hibler Martin, Jr. died (Ventura County Star, 7 June 2004).
PRIMARY SOURCES
Census
Maps
Beers, F.W.
Newspapers
Social Security Death Index
SECONDARY SOURCES
Anon
WEB SITES
Murcko, Stephen J.
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by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read readgen@adelphia.net