born:   14 August 1754 in Pitt County, North Carolina
died:  April 1835 in Duplin, North Carolina

1786 Census, Duplin County; 1806 Tax List, Duplin County
1800 Census, Duplin County shows one male under 10, two males 16-25, one male over 45, one female under 10, one female 10-15, two females 16-25, one female over 45, 2 slaves.
1810 Duplin County Census shows one male 16-25 and one male 45 and older, 2 females 26-44, one female over 45 and three slaves.
1830 Duplin County Census shows one male 70-80. Next door to Theophilus is John Swinson, with 2 males under 10 and one male 40-50, 3 females under 15 and one female 50-60. Alexander Heath and John Heath are neighbors, they may be related to Theophilus's son-in-law Levi Heath. 

"Navegation Project on Goshen Swamp   Duplin Co. 1785
The committee reported to the April 1785 Court; From the great abundance of water in the said swamp-- there is a practicability of making it navigable by clearing the main run during the dry season. The justices then instructed the committee to search the run of Goshen, lay it off in districts and obtain a list of inhabitants living near each district. The committee reported to the July 1785 court that  it had layed off the run of Goshen Swamp into 17 convenient small districts. These districts were numbered consecutively from where the Goshen empties into the Northeast Cape Fear, Westward along the Swamp to just beyond the mouth of Panther Branch in the west, which flows into the south side of Goshen a few yards west of where US 117 now crosses the swamp.
2ND DISTRICT - FROM TREE WITH 1 NOTCH UP TO TREE WITH 2 NOTCHES, INCLUDING CHAMBERS FOARD shows Theophilus Swinson, Absalon Swinson & negro Jo., Richd Swinson and Auston Swinson. 
8TH DISTRICT - UPPER END OF SAMPSON GRIMES SLEW TO HEARD OF OUTLAWS SLEW shows John Swinson's Negro 'Bristo', and Jesse Swinson

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.
I, THEOPHILUS SWINSON, of the State of North Carolina and County of Duplin, being in a State of mind perfectly sound and well disposing do this the 12th day of September A.D. 1833 make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, viz:
First. I  commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it trusting in the merits of the Savior for its redemption and my body I consign to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian-like manner at the discretion of my surviving friends and as to the worldly goods with which it has pleased God to bless me I dispose of as follows:
It is my will and desire that all of my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of the sales of my perishable property.
1st. I give and bequeath to my son John Swinson my Negro man Lulcreek and my Negro boy Tom to him and his heirs forever, also one bed and furniture which he has received.
2nd. I give and bequeath to my son Wm. Swinson my Negro man Jack to him and his heirs forever, also one bed and furniture which he has received.
3rd. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Patsey Eliza Swinson my Negro girl Lucy to her and her heirs forever.
4th. I lend unto my beloved daughter Sarah Taylor and her husband Dempsey Taylor during their lifetime my Negro girl Saritah and all of her future increase and after the deaths of my daughter Sarah and her husband Dempsey Taylor I give and bequeath the said Negro girl Saritah and all of her future increase to my three children, viz: John Swinson, William Swinson and Prudence Heath, to them and their lie equally forever; also, I give unto my daughter Sarah one bed and furniture which she has received to her and her heirs forever.
5th.  I lend unto my son John Swinson during his lifetime my Negro gorl Rose and all of her future increase and after his death I give and bequeath her first living child to my grand daughter Mary Eliza Swinson and I give and bequeath the said girl Rose and the balance of her increase to my grand daughters Susan Jane and Margaret Ann Swinson to them and their heirs forever to be equally divided.
6th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Prudence Heath one bed and furniture which she has received and also the cattle that she has received and the money that I advanced for the payment of the lands, all of which she has received.
It is my will that my Negro woman Betty be sold on a credit of six months and also all of my other property not named in this will and that two hundred and fifty dollars of the money arising from the sale of the said Negro woman and the other perishable property be equally divided between my two grand children Theophilus Heath and Kitty Heath and the balance of the money arising from the sale of my perishable property, etc., I wish to be equally divided between my children John Swinson, Wm. Swinson, Sarah Taylor and Prudence Heath to them and their heirs equally forever.
Lastly. I nominate and appoint my sons John and Wm. Swinson Executors to this my last will and Testament declaring this to be my last will and testament and revoking all other heretofore made by me. Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of day and date above written.
Theophilus (his mark) Swinson Seal\\
Wit:  James Dickson Ozborn Carr
State of North Carolina, Duplin County, Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions, April term 1835
The within, the last will and Testament of Theophilus Swinson, is proved in open Court in due form of law by the oath of James Dickson, a subscribing witness thereto, and it is ordered by the Court that the will be recorded.
Test: James Dickson, Clk.

Father:  John Swinson II
Mother: Sussanna //

Spouse: Elizabeth Thally
Spouse:  //

Children:
1.  Prudence Swinson
2. John Swinson (m Charity Hollingsworth)
3. William Swinson
4. Sarah Swinson (m. Dempsey Taylor)