Samuel Sturtevant (ca 1620-1669) of England and Plymouth, Mass., and his wife Anne

Samuel Sturtevant was likely born in England about 1620, based on his estimated age at the birth of eldest child. I have not found his origins. His last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Sturdevant. He was at Plymouth by 1640 when he was on a list of townsmen that was submitted decades later at the18 May 1688 Town Meeting. [Sturtevant] He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Samuel married, about 1647, Anne whose maiden name is not recorded. [Davis] Some researchers believe she was Anne Lee, daughter of Robert Lee, but I have not found proof. The births of the nine children of Samuel Sturtevant are published in Plymouth Vital Records:

1. Ann born 4 June 1648 [p 654]; married Deacon John Waterman; died Plympton 9 February 1719/20 [MD 2:140]
2. John born 17 October 1650 [p 658]; died 30 October 1650 [Plymouth Colony Records 9:316]
3. Mary born 7 December 1651 [p 659]; married Ephraim Little a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren [Anderson p 1191]; she died 10 February 1718 at Scituate [NEHGR 55:73]
4. Samuel born 19 April 1654 [p 661]; married Elizabeth Smith 12 August 1715 [NEHGR 115:244]; Deacon Samuel died Halifax 21 April 1736 age 82 years [MD 10:10]
5. Hannah born 4 September 1656 [MD 17:72]
6. John born 6 September 1658 [p 662]; married 1st Hannah Winslow; married 2nd Mary (Smith) Hascall/Haskall 12 July 1711; he died Plymouth 4 February 1752 age 93 years 5 months [NEHGR 115:241]
7. Lydia born 13 December 1660 [p 663]
8. James 11 Feb 1663 [p 665]
9. Joseph 16 July 1666 [p 666]; married Anna Jones, a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren, on 5 December 1693; died before and likely close to 25 October 1723 at Plymouth when David Sturdevant was appointed administrator of his estate [Massachusetts Probate Records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q]

I descend from Joseph as well as Ann. I wrote about Joseph here and Ann here.

Anne was pregnant in August 1669 when Samuel wrote his will, but I haven’t found a record of a 1669/70 birth of a tenth child. 

Samuell Stertevant is on the August 1643 list of Plymouth men able to bear arms who were between the ages of 16 to 60. [NEHGR 4:255]

Samuel was dedicated to serving the Colony, was a man of some education as he signed his name, and held positions indicating he was well-regarded and trustworthy. He did business with, and his children married into, influential families of the colony.

He was constable, highway surveyor, set land boundaries, witnessed legal documents, and frequently served on juries:

• Record of the bounds of land granted unto John Cook Jr at Rocky Nook in the year 1641 and since viewed and laid forth to order by Mr. John Howland, Joshua Pratt, and Samuell Sturtivant. [PCR 12:206]
• At 10 June 1650 Court, a group of 12 men including Samuell Sturtivant, signed as witnesses that “wee have found out and marked a new way from Joaneses River to the Massachusetts Path through John Rogers his ground, and are all agreed the said way by us marked out to bee most convenient and least providential.” The men included Mayflower passengers John Howland and Francis Cooke and Francis’ brother Henry Howland. [PCR 2:160]
• Samuel was selected as a Plymouth Surveyor of Highways  in 1651 [PCR 2:168] and 1652 [PCR 3:9].
• At 8 June 1664 Court, Samuell Sturtivant was named Constable for Plymouth. [PCR 4:61]
• He frequently served on juries: 4 March 1650/51 [PCR 8:53], 5 October 1656 [8:81], 2 March 1657/8 [PCR 8:87], 3 October 1659 [PCR 8:94], 1 October 1661 [PCR 8:101], 5 October 1663 [PCR 8:112] 7 March 1664/5 [PCR 8:123], 6 March 1665/6 [PCR 8:128], 5 March 1667/8 [PCR 8:143], 6 July 1669 [8:156]; Grand inquest 7 June 1653 [3:32], 5 June 1666 [PCR 4:123]; coroner’s inquest 15 July 1660 [PCR 3:196], petit jury 5 March 1660/1 [3:205] and 2 October 1660 [PCR 3:200].
• Samuel was often called upon to witness legal documents, including wills and deeds.

Many court cases Samuel heard were concerned with trespass, unpaid debt, broken agreements, defamation/slander, property damage, and fornication. But Samuel also sat on juries deciding the outcome of people accused of murder and incest. One of the more interesting cases was the 15 July 1660 coroner’s inquest jury concerning the sudden death of James Peirse of Boston. He was fishing in a shallop with two other men coming into Plymouth Harbour on the rainy morning of 15 June 1660, when a great storm of thunder, lightening, and rain arose, and a stroke of thunder and lightening “by Gods ordering hand,” immediately took the life of James Peirse. The jury viewed his corpse, made diligent inquiries about his death, and found that he died by an immediate hand of God by thunder and lightening. His body was burnt on the right side down to the calf of his leg, his shirt was burnt on his stomach and other parts of it, his waistcoat being laced closed with fishing line was not burnt, only with a scorch mark inside. The mainmast of the shallop was broken about two thirds from candelens upward, and the foremast broken about two feet of it off. Peirse was on the fore cuddy and was “stooke” overboard. Samuell signed the 15 July 1660 document, although I have not seen the original containing his signature. My ancestors Thomas Lucas and Thomas Lettice were also on jury.  [PCR 3:196]

Samuel was a farmer, as most Colony land holders were at the time. His inventory shows he owned quite a bit of fabric, so perhaps his family were weavers, and also tobacco and feathers which he may have used in trade. Other documents I reference in this sketch show he once bought property in exchange for beaver skins, so he likely trapped animals; he was in partnership with miller John Jenney concerning sale of corn; he was sometimes in debt to townsmen’s estates or the estates were indebted to him (he was owed £2 3 shillings in Governor William Bradford’s May 1657 inventory)—further confirming he was in trade.  His inventory mentions iron works, but I’m unsure if that indicates he was part owner. 

At the 3 May 1642 Court, difference between Mr John Jenney, Samuell Stertevaunt, & Joseph Ramsden, about their corn in partnership, the Court doth order, with consent of all parties, that the five bushels and half of corn which Mr Jenney should pay to the said Dotey for Thurston Clark, and also eight bushel which the said Joseph Ramsden should pay Edward Dotey, shall be paid to John Jenney, by Joseph, which said five bushels and. Half and the said eight bushels do make up the 13 bushels & half which Edward Dotey was to pay the said Samuell for his part of the said crop, and so the said Edward Dotey to be freed from any further encumbrance therein. [PCR 2:38, 57]

 On 6 December 1653, “Mrs. Ann Atwood” sued “Samuell Sturtivant and Edward Gray” over “non-performance of covenants concerning a farm the said Mrs. Atwood did set and let unto the said Samuell & Edward.” [PCR 7:67-8]

After 15 years of regular duty as a juryman, James Hurst came into court on 7 March 1653/4 and, along with three other men, sued Samuell Sturtevant and Edward Gray “in an action of trespass on the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for destroying a certain parcel of hay,” belonging to the four plaintiffs, the source found for the plaintiffs. [PCR 7:68]

As an early settler and active member of the colony, Samuel likely was a substantial landholder. A few mentions of his land holdings:

• 26 Dec 1638, Lt William Holmes sold by deed unto Mr John Howland one lot of land in Duxborrow containing 30 acres between land of Joseph Biddle and Constant Southworth with three acres of marsh meadow. John Howland since exchanged said land at Joanes River Bridge with Joseph Rogers of Duxborrow. Joseph Rogers since exchanged the said lot of land first sold by said Willm Holmes with Abraham Pearse (the latter is also my ancestor). Rogers also sold land to William Bradford for £10 on the last day of March next ensuing, with the additions exchanged with Abraham Pearse. Memorand—said Abraham letten the said upland unto Steeven Bryan and Samuell Stertevant for the term of three years for 50 shillings. Abraham would receive first year’s rent and Wm Bradford the second and third years. [PCR 12:136]
• On the xvijth [17th] of July 1645 John Shawe Jr for £4 10 shillings paid him by Samuell Stertevaunt in good merchantable Beaver at or before the last day of October next ensuing sold unto said Samuell all that his lot of land purchased of Edward Dotey containing 20 acres lying on the high cliff betwixt the land of Samuell Cutbert on Southside and John Shawe Sr on the Northside. [PCR 12:111]
• At 26 October 1647 Court, Mr. Hatherley acknowledgeth that Helene, wife of Kenelme Winslow, acknowledged her free assent and consent to ye sale of all such lands as her said husband had sold unto Samuell Sturdevant. Capt Miles Standish acknowledged likewise. [PCR 2:118]
• In 1655 Samuel had four acres of meadow on north side on a branch of Jones River. In 1660 was given 50 acres on north side of Jones River on the southeast side of his meadow. [Melville]

Samuel and Anne lived in the High Cliff/ North Plymouth part of town, presumably on the 20 acres he purchased in 1645. [Sturtevant]

Samuel died in 1669 between 1 August (date of will) and 22 October (date of inventory). He was about 49 years old. It would seem likely Samuel died of an illness, prompting him to write his will, but it must have been fairly brief as he served on a jury in July 1669.

Samuel Sturtivant of Plymouth made his will 1 August 1669 and it was probated 29 October 1669. [Mayflower Descendant, vol 18, page 188 citing Plymouth Colony Wills 3:10] Samuel left the following bequests:

• Son-in-law John Waterman received “one halfe of that my share of Land that I bought of Edward Gray which lyeth neare Namassakeesett ponds called the Majors purchase.”
• Sons Samuell, James, John and Joseph and “to the Child my wife now goeth with (if a boy) after my wifes decease all my house and lands that I now dwell upon: and all other Lands and meddowes; with all Rightes belonging thereunto; That I have in any place whatsoever; To be equally Devided to all or soe many of my aforsaid sonnes as shalbe alive att my wifes Decease: and incase my wife thinketh it meet; to settle and give my son Samuell a Doubble share of the said housing and lands; then it is my will that hee shall have it; incase any of my sonnes are minded to sell it to one of his brothers incase any of them will give as may bee thought meet by two Indifferent men.”
• To wife all cattle, goods, and estate and she is to be sole executrix.

His will was witnessed by William Crow and John Smith, the latter signing by mark.

Inventory of his estate was taken 22 October 1669 by Sgt Ephraim Tinkham (also my ancestor), Joseph Howland and William Crow and exhibited to the court at Plymouth 29 October 1669. The only mention of real estate: "As for his housing and lands wee leave the valluation thereof.” It included: farm animals; wearing apparel; a lengthy list of household goods including items typically indicating wealth such as cloth napkins, a tablecloth and brass items; cotton and sheep’s wool, a significant amount of fabric, a spinning wheel, parcel of tobacco, bag of feathers; farming implements and 3 bushels of barley, parcel of flax, 20 bushels of Indian corn, 8 bushels of rye, 1 bushel of wheat, 15 loads of hay; “the iron works belong to A Waine.” It is untotaled but amounts to over £116. It does not include value of his real estate.

The estate was indebted for a total of £23 18 shillings 4 pence to John Rogers of Duxbury, John Dunham, Jabez Howland, John Moses, James Cole Sr., James Barnaby, Edward Gray, William Nelson, the widow Dunham, John Shaw of Boston, Elizabeth Combes of Boston, Mistress Sarah Paine, Mr. Thomas Clarke of Boston, John Wood, Sgt William Harlow, Andrew Ring, John Hubbard, Thomas Lucas, and John Smith. [Plymouth Book of Wills and Inventories folio 11:12]

On 21 September 1675 Anne married (as Hannah Stirdephant), second, John Bass at Braintree. [Braintree VR p 718]

Anne’s first name and that she was the mother of all of Samuel’s children is shown in a 1681 deed. Anne Bass the wife of John Bass Senr of Braintree “Know ye that whereas my first Husband Samuel Sturtevant Senr of…New Plymouth…deceased, did by his last will & testament bearing date the first Day of august [1669] give me the said Anne his wife Power Liberty & Leave if I thought meet to Give & confirm in my Life time unto his eldest son Samuel Sturtevant a double Portion…I the said Anne Bass…have given…unto my eldest Son Samuel Sturtevant Two Shares of all those Lands that were his Father’s.” Dated 15 April 1681. [MD 44:80 citing Plymouth County deeds 1:366]

Anne died between 15 April 1681 (date of the above deed) and 25 June 1716 (when she is not mentioned in her second husband John Bass’s will). [Suffolk Probate 1:63, case 3785] 

I always find it interesting how interconnected the early Plymouth Colony families were. People mentioned in this sketch who are also my direct ancestors include: John Howland (Mayflower passenger), Joshua Pratt, Francis Cooke (Mayflower passenger), Henry Howland, Thomas Lucas, Thomas Lettice, John Jenney, Edward Gray, William Holmes, Constant Southworth, Abraham Pierce, James Hurst, Edward Gray, John Dunham, possibly widow Dunham, and William Nelson.

Sources:

William T. Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, 1889

Doris Johnson Melville, Major Bradford’s Town: A History of Kingston 1726-1976, 1976, p 31

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)

Robert Hunter Sturtevant, Descendants of Samuel Sturtevant, privately printed, 1986

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, 2:1472

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1992

William Swift (born England ca 1596; died before Jan 1642/3 at Sandwich, Mass.) and His Wives Sarah and Joan

William Swift was born by about 1596 in England, based on estimated age at marriage. He was from Bermondsey, Surrey, [Fiske] but I do not know if that was his birthplace or who his parents were. His last name is sometimes spelled Swyft. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

In England William was a leather seller. He migrated to New England in 1634, based on his appearance in Massachusetts Bay Court on 7 April 1635. [Mass Bay Court Records 1144] He was first at Watertown, Massachusetts, but removed to Sandwich on Cape Cod in 1639, buying the largest farm in town. [Bond] From 1640-1650 new arrivals increased the number of families in Sandwich to fifty. The original Swift homestead, which burned down, was on present Standish Road in North Sagamore. [Lovell]  In 1887 it was owned and occupied by William’s descendant Shadrach Freeman Swift, Esq. [Bond]

William Swift married, first, about 1618, Sarah whose maiden name is unknown. Sarah and William had four children [Fiske]:

1. Edward Swift born say 1618; apprenticed to a butcher in 1633 and freed in 1640; no further record
2. Hannah Swift born say 1620; married Sandwich 5 November 1642 Daniel Wing, son of John Wing  [Sandwich VR 2:1249]
3. John Swift bp St. Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey 26 June 1622; buried there 29 June 1622 
4. Mary Swift bp St. Mary Magdalen 21 August 1625; buried there 4 September 1625

Sarah died in August 1625, either from childbirth complications or plague. She was buried at St. Mary Magdalen on 24 August 1625. [Fiske] How heart-breaking for William to lose his young wife and two newborn children. 

On 3 January 1625/6 William married, second, Joan whose maiden name is also unrecorded, at St. Mary Magdalen. Joan married, first, Roger Dimbleby who may have been a victim of the plague. Joan and Roger had four children who all tragically died in infancy, perhaps plague victims: Hester, Andrew, and two sons named Roger. [Fiske]

Joan and William had three children [Fiske]:

v. William Swift bp St. Mary Magdalen 25 April 1627; married by 1651 Ruth —?— 

vi. Esther Swift bp St. Mary Magdalen 28 May 1629; married 1) by 1646 Ralph Allen; probably married 2) Sandwich 14 February 1664[?/5] “Henery Bull of Rode Island” [Sandwich VR 2:1248]

vii. Sarah Swift bp St Mary Magdalen 7 August 1631; buried there 8 Sept 1631

I descend from William.

It is likely William and Joan knew each other before the losses of their spouses as Joan’s husband Roger was also a leather seller. Perhaps they were drawn to each other because of their similar experiences in such incredibly tragic losses of children and spouses or it may have been a practical arrangement. Of their eleven combined children only four survived to adulthood. It is easy to understand why they were willing to accept the risks of moving to a new world. 

William had some education as his inventory included “a parcel of books” valued at £1. [MD 4:168, transcribing PCPR 1:44-45] “Willm Swyft” is in the Sandwich section of 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms. [PCR 8:192] His inventory included “two swords” valued at 10s, “two muskets at 10s [each], valued at £1, “two pair of bandoliers” valued at 4s, “a halberd” valued at 2s, and “a French bill & corslet” 16s, indicating he was a member of the militia. [MD 4:168-9, PCPR 1:44-45].

William was involved in many land transactions:

• On 25 July 1636 William Swift was granted 40 acres in the Third Division of the Great Dividend at Watertown. [Watertown Records 5] 
• On 28 February 1636/7 “William Swift” was granted five acres in the Beaver Brook Plowlands. [Watertown Records 7]
• On 31 March 1640 “Thomas White granted unto John Knight a house & lands with the appurtenances which he bought of William Swift of Watertowne.” [Suffolk Deeds 1:44] 
• On 6 May 1646 “Swift’s land is by order of Court confirmed to Thomas White.” [MBCR 2:147] (In the Watertown Inventory of Possessions and in the Watertown Composite Inventory, the Great Dividend and the Beaverbrook Plowlands parcels granted to William Swift were held by John Knights. [Watertown Records 43, 128]. The eight acre homestall and the five acres in the Remote Meadows, and perhaps some other parcels listed among the holdings of John Knights, would also have belonged to William Swift.)
• On 28 June 1641, “William Swift of Sandwich granted unto Thomas White of Sudbury all his messuage & tenement with all his right thereto belonging lying in Sudbury & then in the possession of the said Thomas White, for security of his lawful possession of that house which he bought of Swift.” [Suffolk Deeds 1:46] 
• On 2 Dec 1643 consequent to “an agreement between William Swift of [Sa]ndwich and Hugh Drury of Sudbury that for and in consideration of three pounds lent by the said Hugh Drury to the said William Swift which the said William Swift by covenant bound himself to pay the said Hugh Drury in and upon the 29th day of the 7th month [September] 1643 and in default of payment the said William Swift bound over a certain house and land in Sudbury which was sometime the land & possession of Witherlyes and after in the possession of John Knight, which payment being not performed according to the covenant by William Swift nor he appearing on the day appointed, the said Hugh Drury hath entered upon the said house and land.” [Sudbury Town Records 23] (The probate inventory of William Swift included among the debts owed by the estate “to Hugh [blank] Mr. Noyce servant £3” and “for levies at Sudburry £2.” [MD 4:171]
• On 6 May 1646, “John Bridge, Lieut. Mason, & Edmond Goodenow, bringing into this court their determination of the difference between Tho White & the widow Swift, finding that Tho White hath run out in just charges on the widow Swift’s land the sum of £9 19s 8d, besides the breaking & improving of land, for that which the judge & determine the present that is now in the ground will be full satisfaction, & find fifteen pounds principal debt; all the charges &c.  coming to £24 19s 8d, the which the agent of the widow Swift refuseth to pay, it is ordered, therefore, that the land henceforth shall remain the inheritance of the said White & his heirs forever from the date hereof.” [MBCR 3:66]
• According to his inventory he also owned a house and land at Sudbury in Massachusetts Bay.

William was involved in a court case in England the details of which I do not grasp very well as it reads like a “who’s on first” bit. On 27 March 1638 William “Swifte” sued Richard Hollinworth for debt. It referenced a 1636 case between William and Andrew Coleman and that concerned a £100 bond from when William was a surety for Roger Spring (principal debtor) and Josiah Smith of Bermondsey Street, leather-dresser, and another surety for £52. Also in 1636 William mortgaged his Watertown house and lands to John Haynes, attorney working on behalf of Andrew Coleman of England. William alleged Coleman already recovered the debt from John Smithman and William Stacy Jr of Bocking, which they owed William. The amount came close to matching the surety that was owed by William and since Smith was a man of sufficient estate, he was expected to pay the other half. William also mortgaged, for £20 10 shillings, property in Sudbury, Massachusetts to Mr. Butrton, presumably to settle his obligation to Coleman. Whatever all this means, it resulted in William Swift being arrested about midsummer 1637 and imprisoned at Whitechapel, a debtor’s prison in London. I’m not sure how long William was imprisoned but he was back in New England by 27 March 1638. To read more about this see Hale 308-10, 438, Essex Quarterly Court Records 1:7, Mass Bay Court Records 1:200, 298-99. 

Joan also appears in court records. 

• On 6 March 1648/9, “Mr Thomas Dexter Senior complaineth against Mrs. Joane Swifte, in an action upon the case, to the damage of forty shillings. The jury find for the plaintiff thirty shillings damage, and the cost of suit. Judgement granted.” [PCR 7:44]
• On 20 August 1651 “John Vincent, Willm Newland, Anthony Wright, Robert Botfish and Richard Bourne being deputed by the town of Sandwidge in the behalf of the said town” to settle accounts with Edmond Freeman, reimbursed him for “the sum of seventeen pounds in the consideration of the purchase of the lands from the Indians” from three different sources, the last of these being “4 pounds…paid by Mrs. Joane Swift.” [PCR 12:211-12]
• In October 1660 “Jone Swift” was one of 25 men and women fined for being at Quaker meetings. [Plymouth Colony Records 8:103]

William Swift died before 29 January 1642/3 at Sandwich when his inventory was exhibited at court, likely close to that date. He was only about 46 years old. 

The estate inventory of William “Swyft” was exhibited at court on 29 January 1642[/3], totaled £82 11s 1d. It is quite lengthy and includes a variety of furniture and other household items, books, tablecloth and napkins which were luxuries, a pair of little scales and weight [indicating he was in business of selling something], a top for a still, sechell [seashell?], 5 bushels of Indian corn, 2 bushels of winter wheat, 3 pecks of beans, a bushel of peas, pumpkins, turnips, cabbages, racks of hay, churn, cheese press, pickaxes and a hatchet, beer barrel, butter, spinning wheel, grinding stone, pork, two cows, 4 young cattle, heifer, three calves, 8 swine, 10 pounds of yarn, 7 pounds of cotton wool. His house with land and meadow is valued at £10 10s 10p; a house and land in Sudbury in Massachusetts Bay mortgaged to Mr. Burton £20 10s is mentioned but not included in the inventory total. [MD 4:168-71, transcription from PCPR 1:44-5; see also Hale 438] 

Although William seemed to be a man of means, he died heavily in debt—about £250. Perhaps he died too soon so had not received a return on his investments. 

To Mr. Thomas Wallis 90 00 00

To Mr John Buckley 89 00 00

To Mr John Casteele 21 00 00

To Mr Blackwell 06 00 00

To a hatmaker 02 00 00

To John Barnes 17

To Thom Dexter 01 10 00

To Daniell Wing 00 19 00

To Joseph Winsor 00 04 00

To Thom Butler 00 03 00

To Thomas Gibbs 00 14 00

To Thoms Johnson 00 05 00

To Miles Blacke 00 07 00

To Mr Waterhouse 04 18 00

To Goodman Armitage 05 00 00

To Hugh [left blank] Mr Noyce servant 03 00 00

For funerall charges 02 00 00

For levyes at Sudbury 02 00 00

To Mr. [left blank] 01 04 00 

On 7 March 1642/3 “letters of administration are granted to Joane Swyft, of Sandwich, to administer upon her husband’s estate, and to pay debts as far as the estate will amount unto, by equal proportions, and is bound to the Governor & Assistants to do it, & Daniell Wing with her.” [PCR 2:53] 

On 11 March 1642[/3] “Joane Swyft, administratrix of Wm Swyft, deceased, hath paid to John Barnes £5 3s 4d upon the administration of her husband’s estate, that amounting to pay each of his creditors 6s 8d in the pound, so that there is more due unto him upon this payment 10s, his debt being £17 6s 8d, and hath delivered unto her her husband’s bills & writings for that money, provided that if there do arise any more due unto him, others being paid according to the like proportion, that he have his proportion as it will come to.” [PCR 2:54-5].

Joan Swift survived her husband by almost 20 years, never remarrying. She had the difficult job of settling William's business matters and stayed involved in the affairs in the town of Sandwich. She must have been an incredibly strong person, a true force. She survived so much loss in England, dared to travel to the new world, settled her husband’s complicated business affairs, and then kept the farm and business going. 

Joan’s death is not recorded Sandwich Vital records but her grandson Jedediah Allen, son of Ralph and Easter/Esther Allen, wrote in the family Bible: “Jone Swift, my grandmother, deceased ye 26 day, ---" the rest is torn off with the leaf. As her will dated 12 October 1662 and the inventory of her estate was taken 25 December 1663, she probably died 26 November 1663. [Swift]

Joan Swift’s will was dated 12 October 1662; proved 3 March 1663[/4] and 7 April 1664. [PCPR 2:2:16; MD 16:21] “Jone Swift” of Sandwich, sick of body, left bequests to:

• “Daniel Winge’s two sons Samuell and John a mare foal of a year old” [children of her stepdaughter Hannah Swift Wing]
• “my grandchild Hannah Swift the old mare if shee bee alive if not the next to her” [her son William’s daughter]
• “my grandchild Experience Allen a chist with drawers and my bible” [daughter of Joan’s daughter Esther Swift and her husband Ralph Allen]
• “my two grandchildren Hannah Swift and Experience Allin all my linnine and my pewter to be equally devided between them” 
• “Mary Darbey my wearing clothes” [probably the wife of John Derby who d. in 1655 and Joan’s friend]
• “Hannah Winge the elder my best hatt and forty shillinges” to her daughters to be devided amongst them 
• “Jedediah Allen and Experience Allen the third pte of my estate this house and garden being a prte of the third” 
• “my son William’s children each of them a mare foale” 
• residue to “my son William whom I make my executor” 
• “I make John Vincent and Benjamine Hammand my overseers…and give to them twenty shillings apiece.”

The inventory of the estate of “Mistris Jone Swift deceased,” was taken 25 December 1663 and was untotaled. [PCPR 2:2:16] It was taken by Richard Bourne and James Skiffe and exhibited to the Court held at Plymouth 3 March 1663[/4] on the oath of William Swift. 

It’s quite a lengthy inventory for a woman in this time period but the value is untotaled. She clearly was still running a farm, seems to have been making fabric and yarn to sell, and had money due to her. The inventory included 38.5 yards of milled cloth, 32 pounds of cotton and wool yarn, and smaller amounts of fabric and yarn; a variety of household items; wheat; spinning wheel; livestock including a cow, two steers, two mares, two horses, two colts, a sow; 4 shillings 6 pence in cash. The only real estate listed was “the house & garden” valued at £12. Debts were owed the estate by Nicholas Davis, John Rowse, Lodowick Haukes, Moses Rowley, Edward Sturgis of Yarmouth, Nathaniel Fish, Thomas Tupper Jr., Francis Allen, Robert Rollock, Mistris Fish, and Benjamin Nye. The estate was indebted to William Swifte, William Browne, Goodwife Hinckley, William Bassett, William Newland, James Skiffe, and Peter Gaunt. [MD 16:21]

On 1 March 1663/4 “Mr. Hinckley is authorized by the court to administer an oath to the witnesses of the last will and testament of Mistress Jone Swift, deceased.” [PCR 4:55] On 4 March 1663[/4], “William Swift planter and Richard Chadwell shipcarpenter both of Sandwich” bound themselves for William Swift’s performance as administrator” on the estate of Mistress Jone Swift deceased.” [Pope p 29]

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 6:626-632, 1995

Jane Fletcher Fiske, The American Genealogist, “William Swift, Citizen and Leatherseller of London, and Planter of Sandwich, Massachusetts,” Vol 77, no. 3, July 2002

George E. Bowman, Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” 4:168-171 

Nathaniel Shurtleff, communicated by, NEHGS Register, “List of Those able to bear Arms in new Plymouth,” 4:257 (1850)

Eben Swift, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, ”William Swift and Descendants to the Sixth Generation," Pamphlet No. 15, 1923

R.A. Lovell, Jr., Sandwich A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Edward Everett Hale, Jr., editor, Lechford Note-book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638, to July 29, 1641, 1885; reprint 1988

Watertown Records Comprising the First and Second Books of Town Proceedings, “Watertown Lands, Grants, Divisions, Allotments, Possessions and Proprietors’ Book,” Section Two, 1894

Henry Bond and Horatio Jones, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, 1860

Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” 16:21 (1914) [Joan’s will]

Charles Henry Pope, The Plymouth Scrapbook, 1918