George Swain, a hatter, was born in Roxborough, Massachusetts on June 17, 1763. Later, in 1784, he invested what property he had accumulated in provisions and set out with his merchandise from Providence, Rhode Island, for Charleston, South Carolina.
Unfortunately, a storm arose during the voyage, and it became necessary to throw most of his cargo overboard. He landed in Charleston, with nothing, and walked from there to Augusta, Georgia where he resided for one year. Then, he went to Oglethorpe County where he engaged in the business of making hats. In later years, he moved near Asheville, North Carolina where he was married to Caroline Lowrie, a widow, whose husband had been killed by the Indians.
