Swan, Lyman

Lyman Swan (1823-1899) came to Santa Cruz in the 1860s, working as a cook before starting his own bakery. Swan came here from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he had married Antoinette Francesca Akoni Marin, daughter of Spaniard Francisco de Paula Marin and Kaikuloa, a member of the Hawaiian royal family. The Swans acquired their permanent residence in an unusual manner. The former Cathcart residence was abandoned, and the empty house was claimed by the Swans, first as squatters, and later establishing legal ownership. Both Lyman and Antoinette died there.

According to Riptide, the residence was abandoned as early as 1868 after Cathcart's widow and three resident children died of tuberculosis. Other surviving children had moved out and were apparently unaware that the Swan family had moved in.

Because of her royal connections, Antoinette was trusted to watch over three young Hawaiian princes when they were sent to a boarding school in San Mateo. The three princes introduced surfing to California during visits to Santa Cruz. Local history author Geoffrey Dunn did extensive research on the Swans for a 2017 Good Times article.

• Geoffrey Dunn, "Why is the Grave of Antoinette Swan Unmarked?", Good Times, May 2, 2017, accessed 2023-08-13.

Lyman, Antoinette, son Alfred, and daughter Olivia (Underhill) were all Soc. of Pioneers members.