Preface

It’s been over twenty years since I had an increased interest in my family history. My father had
written a family history-autobiography-genealogy in 1948, but I had only casual interest in its content.
In 1986 my wife, Dolores (DoDo), started working on her family’s genealogy and, along with her, we
started to look into our families history.

Now I’m slowing down my activities in the family history – genealogy area, and decided to
publish ‘all’ that I have on ‘all’ of my known ancestral families. Previously I’ve printed my father’s
family history-genealogy in 1997, the James Swaney family history-genealogy in 2000, and my
Danskin genealogy, with cousin Kaye Sanchez in 2001. Also published is correspondence and other
papers of my Torrence grandparents.

There are avenues yet to explore, and I may tackle some of them, but I need to leave something
for my descendants to find. I’ve been limited in the information that I have been able to find in Europe,
and have not found any ship records of their immigration. (This is primarily because most of my
ancestors arrived in North America before ship records were kept.). With the on-going digitization of
primary records, more information will become easily available.

There are many who have helped me in my quest over the years, individuals and organizations
too numerous to mention. We have joined genealogical societies throughout the country, and shared
information when possible. Our trips to various locations have been most helpful and enjoyable. We
took trips to Salt Lake City almost yearly, and found the Family History Library to be an excellent
place to work, and the staff most helpful and cooperative.

It has been interesting and enjoyable to visit area where my ancestors resided, and to relate to
their times. History has come alive, and has more meaning as I’ve found more about their lives. I
would recommend the study of one’s family history as a interesting pastime.

David R. Swaney
Introduction

All of the families in this genealogy originated in Europe. The Swaney family from Ireland; the
Blair, Torrence and Watt families from Northern Ireland (and probably from Scotland); the Mason and
Eaton families from England; the Danskin family from Scotland; and the Housel and Gassner family
from Germany. The earliest arrivals were Sampson Mason (some time before 1650) and John Eaton
(about 1636); then Housel (about 1700), Torrence (about 1730), and Swaney (about 1770 ?). All five of
these were pre-Revolutionary War. Then Blair (about 1810), Gassner (1810), Watt (1820), and Danskin
(1828 to Canada). I know nothing on when the Smith family arrived, but it would have been, at the
latest, before 1798.

Europe

Swaney
Gassner

Danskin(e) Housel

Blair
Torrence Mason
Watt Eaton