Morgan G. Swain, subject of previous posts, moved to Troupville, seat of Lowndes County, GA in 1838. In Troupville, he operated a blacksmith shop and later became owner and innkeeper of the Jackson Hotel. He also worked as Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and Jailor. (see Morz Swain was Innkeeper, Blacksmith, Sheriff & Jailor of old Troupville, GA and Morgan Goodgame Swain and the Estate of Canneth Swain)
In these roles he would have been well known to all citizens of Lowndes, including those pioneers who settled at the site of Ray City, GA. He certainly would have known Levi J. Knight and his father, William Anderson Knight, who were also engaged in civic and political matters, although in politics Swain was a Democrat, whereas the Knights were staunch Whigs. Morgan Swain served as 1st Lieutenant of Militia in the 763rd District in Thomas County while Levi J. Knight was a Militia Captain in Lowndes County. While Swain was a Justice of the Peace in Troupville, Knight was the Justice of the Peace in his home district.
From the time Swain moved to Troupville, GA through the 1840s the state newspapers carried literally hundreds of legal notices issued under his authority, especially the papers at the state capitol in Milledgevillge, GA,
An interesting series of legal advertisements in the pages of The Milledgeville Federal Union covered the affairs of one Uriah Kemp, of Troupville,GA. “Of the merchants who did business there in the old days, were Moses and Aaron Smith, E. B. Stafford, Uriah Kemp, and Alfred Newburn,” according to an 1899 Sketch of Old Lowndes County.
On January 6, 1839 Kemp obtained a judgement to seize a horse owned by Jacob Croft.
Deputy Sheriff Morgan G. Swain advertised on Jan 15, 1839, for the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Sale
In May, several lots owned by Uriah Kemp in the town of Troupville were auctioned off by the Lowndes county Sheriff to satisfy a debt owed to Joseph Sirmans.
Deputy Sheriff Morgan G. Swain advertised for the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Sale, May 21. 1839 Advertised in the Milledgeville Federal Union.
In the fall of 1839 Kemp was forced to sell lot 61 in Troupville, GA and Lot No. 238 in the 13th district in Thomas County to settle debts owed to Morgan G. Swain, himself.
November 5, 1839 Morgan G. Swain collects on a debt in Thomas county. Sheriff’s Sale ad appeared in the Milledgeville Southern Recorder.
A little more than a year later, Morgan G. Swain and Uriah Kemp were co-defendants in a lien action brought against them by Ryall B. Thomas.
As reflected in the legal advertisements in the Milledgeville Federal Union, Morgan G. Swain entered duty as Sheriff of Lowndes County, GA. in 1840.
In other action handled by Sheriff Swain was a case concerning William C. Newbern, who was the brother of Etheldred Dryden Newbern and the uncle of Martha Newbern Guthrie (see Babe of the Indian Wars),
One interesting case concerned a levy on 100 bushels of corn made by William C. Newbern against John A. Priester. Milledgeville Federal Union.
As Sheriff of Lowndes County, Morgan Swain also was responsible for the arrest of escaped slaves. Again, legal advertisements were placed by the sheriff in The Milledgeville Federal Union.
Later advertisements gave Swain’s position as Jailor in Troupville, GA
A clipping of the August 11, 1847 edition of The Albany Patriot lists Morgan G. Swain as Jailor of Lowndes County, responsible for the incarceration of captured runaway slaves.
Related Posts:
- Sheriff Swain and Legal Affairs in Old Troupville
- Morgan Goodgame Swain and the Estate of Canneth Swain
- Morz Swain was Innkeeper, Blacksmith, Sheriff & Jailor of old Troupville, GA
- Map of Old Troupville, GA with Notes on the Residents
- Coffee Road Led to Creation of Lowndes County
- Coffee’s Road Passed Seven Miles West of Ray City
- Pennywell Folsom Fell at Brushy Creek
- Levi J. Knight and Lowndes First Superior Court
- Reverend John Slade of the Troupville Circuit
- Samuel Register and the East Florida Militia
Ray City History Blog 
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