When John S. Swearingen Sr was born on 15 February 1720, in Ringgold, Washington, Maryland, United States, his father, Van B. Swearingen, was 26 and his mother, Elizabeth Walker, was 24. He married Catherine Mary Stull on 15 September 1748, in Frederick, Maryland, United States. They were the parents of at least 10 sons and 6 daughters. He registered for military service in 1777. He died on 13 August 1794, in Springfield Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States, at the age of 74, and was buried in Springhill Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States.