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