SS Stewart

A question for the historical experts:  What is the final letter in the name represented by the second S in SS Stewart?   Most sources represent his name as Samuel Swain Stewart (final letter is "n").  Others, with excellent credentials, give the name as Samuel Swaim Stewart (final letter is "m"). So which is it, "n" or "m"  ? Swain or Swaim? 

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Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on December 18, 2014 at 17:17
His name was S. Swaim Stewart. Not only is this easy to document, but take a look at my photos for his grave marker.
Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on December 18, 2014 at 17:36

Why do you suppose it has been difficult to reach accord on this apparently simple matter? One never sees banjo spellings such as Farlamd, Fairbamks, Canneyer, Wimbsor, Orpheun, or Paranoumt? My guess is that Swain is a more familiar name and Swaim looks like a error to some, who then "correct" it. Or is there more to the story?

Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on December 18, 2014 at 17:48

I found this one on your website and also here on this forum. Are there other photos?



Joel Hooks said:

His name was S. Swaim Stewart. Not only is this easy to document, but take a look at my photos for his grave marker.
Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on December 18, 2014 at 19:43

Talk to anyone with an "unusual" name spelling. Everyone wants to 'normalize' it (whatever "normal" is). Marc vs Mark. Jody vs Jodie, etc, etc. God preserve those millennial kids named Kaytlyn or Britny or Apple...their parents should be hoarse whypped.

I used "Swain" until I discovered the error. BTW, his son Lemuel is listed in Ancestry.com as something very goofy (I forget exactly what it is) because they couldn't read the census taker's handwriting.

Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on December 18, 2014 at 20:06

Most folks get Jody right. But my surname? Oh my goodness. Some get both wrong. I have been Joe Day Starcher, John D Stecher, John Stretcher, Johnny Sticker, Joel Stetcher, Jody Fletcher. I have even been called Jody Foster. No kidding.

Trapdoor2 said:

Talk to anyone with an "unusual" name spelling. Everyone wants to 'normalize' it (whatever "normal" is). Marc vs Mark. Jody vs Jodie, etc, etc. God preserve those millennial kids named Kaytlyn or Britny or Apple...their parents should be hoarse whypped.

I used "Swain" until I discovered the error. BTW, his son Lemuel is listed in Ancestry.com as something very goofy (I forget exactly what it is) because they couldn't read the census taker's handwriting.

Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on December 18, 2014 at 20:33

I was in some store once (years ago) and the clerk had to take down my name. I said, "Marc Smith, with a C" and she blithely wrote "Mark Cmith"...

Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on December 18, 2014 at 21:00

That is so funny, no one could make it up. Weird reality regularly trumps fiction.

In the 1970s a friend of mine named Jon gave his name over the telephone to be put in the local phone directory. He said "Jay Oh En. No aitch." (J -O - N. No "H"). They printed it as JOMOH.  Jay Oh Em Oh Aitch. 

Trapdoor2 said:

I was in some store once (years ago) and the clerk had to take down my name. I said, "Marc Smith, with a C" and she blithely wrote "Mark Cmith"...

Permalink Reply by Trapdoor2 on December 18, 2014 at 22:17

I believe the census has S.S. Stewart down as "Sam'l Stewart" and "S. Stewart". I cannot recall if I found Swaim in any of the census records.

I did find his family in the 1900 census (he died in 1898). Anna T. Stewart (age 51), Lemuel (age 17), Fred S. (age 20), Ernest Faulkner (adopted son, age 21) and Annie Gillian (servant, age 22).

No luck with the 1890 census.

Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on December 19, 2014 at 3:19
Check me if I'm wrong, but I think Karen Linn got it wrong and then it became history.
Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on December 19, 2014 at 3:36

Hmmm…..I dunno….I think the name was represented as Swain long before her book was written. I don't think it is a widely read book. Many or most banjo players I know have not heard of the book or its author.

Joel Hooks said:

Check me if I'm wrong, but I think Karen Linn got it wrong and then it became history.
Permalink Reply by Shawn McSweeny on December 19, 2014 at 3:38

Re : SS Stewart, from Guru & Bollman's "America's Instrument", pg 140 :

"he was the son of Dr. Franklin Stewart, a purveyor of the patent medicine called Swaim's Panacea, developed in the 1820's by his father-in-law, William Swaim  .  .   .

Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on December 19, 2014 at 15:33

Holy Smokes Shawn!  With all the time I've spent with Swaim I never picked up on that.

It all makes since now.  The tongue in cheek marketing, branding, references to patent remedies-- all of it.

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