Swains Island or Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa Island , and finally Jennings Island. The atoll has been called various names througout it's history. The current population of the island is 37. The inhabitants are all located in one village. The nearby uninhabited Rose Island is often included with the island.
Geographically, the island may be considered part of the Tokelau chain, but administratively it is part of American Samoa.
History
Pedro Fernandes de Quiros is believed to be the first European expolorer to discover the island in the year 1606. He named the island Isle de la Gente Hermosa which means island of the handsome people. An expedition from Fakaofo the island. The male inhabitants of the island either fled or were killed by the invaders while the women were taken with the invaders to Fakaofu. Legend states that the chief put a curse on the island in hopes that the island would become unfertile.
Captain Hudson visited the island in 1841 but was unable to land because of stormy weather. He then went to rename the island, Swains. In 1856 an American, Eli Hutchinson Jennings , started a community on Swains Island. He claimed that he received the title from Captain Turnbull who was an explorer that had claimed rights to the island. . He had recently married a Samoan, Malia. He established a coconut plantation which flourished under his son Eli Junior. The Resdient Comissioner of Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony supposedly demanded an $85 tax because of the plantation's success. He paid the tax but was upset and brought the matter to the U.S. State Department and was later refunded.
The matter of who ownded the island camee into question after Eli Junior's death in 1920 and his wife in 1921. The United States decided to give the right of adminstration jointly to Eli's daughter and son while making it officially part of the American Samoa in 1925. Alexander Jennings the son of Eli Jr. became the managing owner of the island. The population at the time was around 100. In 1954 the United States demanded a local government. Since then the island has sent one non-voting member to the territorial legislature.
External Links
http://www.janeresture.com/tokelau_islands/swains.htm
