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WILLIAM SWIFT (bp. 1627–1706), son of William Swift and Joan Unknown

RUTH UNKNOWN (d. aft. 1706)

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William Swift was baptized on 25 April 1627 in St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, London. [1] He died on 7 January 1705/6 in Sandwich. [1]

On 1 March 1654 William was one of four men in Sandwich who agreed to build a mill, paying themselves each 20 pounds. On 18 (3) 1660 he was chosen constable and selectman. On 13 9 1660 he was granted a small parcel at the western end of his land. On 16 July 1662 William was chosen one of four men to agree with Lieutenant John Ellis about finishing the dock. On 28 January 1664 William Swift was one of five men chosen to be a rater. On 20 February 1667 he was one of six men appointed to be raters for the year. On 15 May 1668, William was chosen constable. On 13 (5) 1671 he was chosen one of five men to exchange town land with James Skiffe On 29 April 1673 he was chosen to be a selectman. On 21 3 1674 William was chosen a selectman. On 22 (12) 1675 William Swift, Sr. was one of two men appointed to collect money owed to the town by virtue of an order of the Council of War. On 21 May 1678 he was chosen deputy and a selectman. On 12 May 1679 he was appointed a surveyor. On 18 May 1681 William Swift, Sr. was chosen selectman. [2]

William made his will on 15 December 1705; it was proved on 29 January 1705/6. He names his wife Ruth, his daughter Hannah Tobey, his daughters Temperance Bourne, Hester Gibbs and Dinah Perry, his sons Josiah and Jirah, the sons of his son William, deceased and his son-in-law Timothy Bourne, whom he made his sole executor. [3][4]

Children of William Swift and Ruth Unknown:

i. Hannah Swift was born on 11 March 1651 in Sandwich. She married first Ambrose Fish. She married second Thomas Tobey.

ii. William Swift was born on 28 August 1654 in Sandwich. He married Elizabeth Unknown.

iv. Maria Swift was born on 7 April 1659 in Sandwich. [5] Maria, the wife of Shubaell Smith, died on 1 March 1682 in Sandwich. [5][3] She married Shubaell Smith on 6 February 1677 in Sandwich. [5]

v. Samuel Swift was born on 10 August 1662 in Sandwich. [5] He died on 25 May 1730 in Sandwich. [5] He married Mary Unknown. [3]

vi. Josiah Swift was born about 1664, or perhaps after 1670.

viii. Hester Swift was born about 1668. She married John Gibbs, Jr. in 1689/90. [3]

ix. Jirah Swift was born about 1670. He died between 29 March 1744 and 1 May 1749. He married first Abigail Gibbs of Sandwich on 26 November 1697. [3][5][6] He married second Mary Unknown. [6]

Abigail was the daughter of Alice Warren, granddaughter of Nathaniel Warren, and great-granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren. [6]

Jirah and Abigail had 12 children recorded in Sandwich. [6]

Jirah of Wareham made his will on 29 March 1744; it was probated on 1 May 1749. [6]

References:

1. Jane Fletcher Fiske, "William Swift, Citizen and Leatherseller of London and Planter of Sandwich, Massachusetts," The American Genealogist 77 (2002): 161–172.

2. Sandwich and Bourne Colony and Town Records, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy (Yarmouthport: C.W. Swift, 1912), no page numbers, book in bad shape.

3. Mrs. John E. Barclay, "Hannah (Swift) Tobey, daughter of William² Swift, and the Family of Ambrose² Fish, of Sandwich, Mass.," The American Genealogist 35 (1959): 40–43.

4. Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, "The Rev. Richard Bourne of Sandwich, Mass. (c. 1610–1682)," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 118 (1964): 197–214.

5. Caroline Lewis Cardell and Russell A. Lovell, Vital Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1996).

6. Editor, "Jirah Swift's Will," Mayflower Descendant 23 (1921): 39–41.

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Last revised: 16-Feb-2024