William Swift (1627-1706) and His Wife Ruth of Surrey, England and Sandwich, Massachusetts

William Swift was baptized 25 April 1627 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Bermondsey, Surrey, England, son of William Swift and his wife Joan whose maiden name is not recorded. [Fiske] I wrote about his parents here. As a child he came to New England with his parents, and in the spring of 1637 they settled at Sandwich on Cape Cod, then part of Plymouth Colony. He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

St. Mary Magdalen

William was a notable man of means in Sandwich. I sometimes find very little information on my 17th/18th century ancestors, but that is not the case with William! He held positions of power and trust in the Colony and operated an ordinary, which was similar to a tavern, where travelers could drink, eat and perhaps lodge. In his probate records he is referred to by the honorific “Mr.”

About 1650 William married, at Sandwich, Ruth whose maiden name is not known [year based on eldest child being born in 1651]. William names his wife Ruth in his will, but that she was his only wife and mother to all of his children is an assumption. [Anderson] She is not named in children’s birth records.

Ruth and William lived on present day Standish Road in North Sagamore, now in the town of Bourne. [Lovell] They had at least ten children born Sandwich [Swift]:

1. Hannah born 11 March 1651 [Sandwich VR 1:15]; married 1st Ambrose Fish and 2nd Thomas Tobey; Hannah Tobey died in March 1720/21 at Sandwich [will written and probated]
2. William born 28 August 1654 [Sandwich VR 1:25]; married Elizabeth —?— (not Elizabeth Tomson) and had eight children [Sandwich VR 1:63]; died probably April 1700 at Sandwich [inventory taken 1 May 1701 Barnstable County PR 2:125-6]
3. Ephraim born 7 June 1656 [Sandwich VR 1:12]; married Sarah Perry about 1678 [she is called Sarah wife of Ephraim Swift in her father Ezra Perry’s will]; had eight children [Sandwich VR 1:42-3]; died before 17 February 1742/3 when his will was proved [Barnstable County PR 6:271-3] 
4. Mary born 7 April 1659 as “Mara” [Sandwich VR 1:19]; married Shubael Smith 6 February 1677[/8]; had three daughters and died 1 March 168?[2, 3 or 4] [Sandwich VR 1:24]
5. Samuel born 10 August 1662 [Sandwich VR 1:24]; married a woman named Mary about 1688; had nine children [Sandwich VR 61-2]; died before 6 June 1733 at Sandwich when his will was proven [Barnstable County PR 5:137-8]
6. Temperance born about 1666; married Timothy Bourne and had five children [Sandwich VR 1:75]; died 8 Oct 1746 [Sandwich VR 1:150]
7. Esther born about 1668; married John Gibbs 9 Nov 1716 [Sandwich VR 1:101]; they removed to Plymouth where she died before 3 March 1736/7 when her will was proved; her will mentions seven children although not all by name
8. Dinah born about 1672; married Benjamin Perry about 1694 and had eight children
9. Jireh born about 1673 [based at age at death]; married on 26 November 1697 1st Abigail Gibbs, a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren [Sandwich VR 1:41] and 2nd Mary Besse 19 November 1741 [Wareham Vital Records, p 154]; died Wareham 17 April 1749 [gravestone]
10. Josiah born about 1675; married 1st Mary Bodfish 19 April 1706 [Sandwich VR 1:72] and 2nd Experience Nye 23 June 1718 [Sandwich VR 1:108]; died Sandwich 1753-1757 

Swift also assigns them a daughter Ruth born 1652 and died in infancy, but I have found no source for that. I descend from Jireh as well as Josiah. I wrote about Jireh here and Josiah here.

William Swyft of Sandwich is on the August 1643 list of men age 16 to 60 able to bear arms.  [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, hereafter “PCR,” 8:192] He was the minimum age of sixteen. 

At the 5 July 1669 court: “Liberty is graunted by the Court unto William Swift to keep an ordinary for the entertainment of strangers att Sandwich.” [PCR 5:23] At 6 July 1669 court, men including William Swift were approved to sell wine, liquor, cider or beer. They were to pay for a license based on where they lived. For Sandwich, the Treasurer hath agreed with William Swift. No amount was given but others paid 1 to 10 pounds. [PCR 11:222]

On the first of March 1654/5 John Ellis, William Swift, William Allen, and James Skiff engaged themselves to build a mill for the town; William signed the document. Twenty-two townspeople agreed to repay the four men. [Lovell]

He is frequently mentions regarding Freeman status in Plymouth Colony Court records: 

• The names of such as have taken the Oath of Fidelity at Sandwich in the Year 1657 include William Swift. [PCR 8:179]
• At the 29 May 1670 Plymouth court, William Swift was on the list of Sandwich Freemen. [PCR 5:276]
• William Swift Sr was on the 1675 list of Sandwich men allowed to vote at town meeting. [Deyo] 
• At 1 June 1680 court, men propounded to be Freemen in the next year, if approved included William Swift and Ephraim Swift. William Swift, Junr, likewise tooke the oath of fidelity at this court. [PCR 6:42-3]
• In June 1689 William Swift was one of the Sandwich men received and admitted as Freemen. [PCR 8:205] 
• William and his son Jireh appear on a 25 June 1702 list of Freemen. [Swift]

William was 15 when his father died, who although he left an extensive inventory of belongings, he also left substantial debt. His mother Joan did not remarry and undoubtedly with her the help of her only son William, she took control of running the household, the farm, other business enterprises, and sorting her husband’s debts. When she died 20 years later, in 1663, she left a will naming William executor of her estate and he was to receive the remainder of her estate after debts and bequests were made. Her inventory included a considerable amount of fabric and yarn which must have been how she supported herself. There was no land in her inventory, so she would have deeded land to William before her death, but a Barnstable Courthouse fire destroyed a vast amount of Barnstable County deeds.

William, as his father was before him, was very involved in colony affairs. He served on various committees, as Deputy to the General Court, selectman, juryman, surveyor of highways, and constable. He also kept an ordinary/tavern and coordinated purchase of tar on behalf of the colony. He clearly was educated and intelligent to hold these positions.

William frequently served on juries: named to grand inquest June 1652 Court but he was fined for being absent [PCR 3:10]; December 1663 [3:50]; grant inquest June 1682 [PCR 6:85]; July 1686 petit jury [PCR 6:201]; March 1667/8 [PCR 7:143-4]; March 1669/70 [PCR 7:159];  July 1670 [PCR 7:160]; July 1671 [PCR 7:167]; July 1680 [PCR 7:228-29]. 

One of the interesting experiences William had as a juryman was at the December 1663 murder trial of Samuell Howland for shooting William Howes of Sandwich. He discharged his fowling piece at High Pyne on Salt House Beach on 25 October 1663. He was found not guilty of willful murder; the gun went off as it was lying on Howland’s shoulder. [PCR 3:50]

William Swift was named Sandwich constable in 1660 and 1668 [PCR 3:180, 188]

William Swift frequently served as Sandwich Selectman: 1669 [PCR 5:19]; 1670 [PCR 5:35]; 1671 [PCR 5:56]; 1673 [PCR 5:113]; 1674 [PCR 5:143]; 1675 [PCR 5:164]; 1677 [PCR 5:230]; 1678 court [PCR 5:257]; 1679 [PCR 6:12]; 1681 [PCR 6:59]; 1683 as William Swift Sr. [PCR 6:111]; 1685 as William Swift Sr [PCR 6:168]; 1686 as Wm Swift Sr [PCR 6:185];

William served the Colony as Deputy to the General Court: 5 Sept 1673 [PCR 5:135]; 7 June 1676 [PCR 5:196]; June 1677 [PCR 5:231]; 5 June 1678 [PCR 5:256]; 1680 [PCR 6:34].  The position of Deputy was a one of status in the colony. They met to pass legislation, levy taxes, manage colony affairs; represented the interests of their home towns; maintained the 1636 legal code which introduced rights such as trial by jury; oversaw voting rights, restricting rights to freemen who owned property and were of the accepted religion.

He served as surveyor of highways and on other land-related committees: 8 June 1655 Benjamin Nye and William Swift named surveyor of highways for Sandwidge [PCR 3:79]; Wm Swift and four others were appointed in 1672 to settling and confirming the township with the sachem of Manomet (Monument)[Deyo]; at 1 March 1674/5 court,  men were chosen to settle affairs among Sandwich townsmen about land divisions and William Swift had given the court of list of name of those who were to receive a grant of marshland [PCR 5:158]. 

At the General Court on 13 July , a committee of 12 men including William Swift were “appointed by the Generall Court to meet the second Tusday in August next whoe are appointed and impowered to heare and determine all matters respecting debts due from the Collonie to all p'sons whatsover and ballence the accompts between the severall townes of this Collonie concerning the late warr, not before ballenced and each town to pay them for theire time, and theire expences to be bourne by the collonie." William Swift was on this committee of 12.

In January 1675/6 during King Philip’s War, Sandwich representatives Thomas Dexter and William Swift were to meet other towns’ representatives in Yarmouth about scouting Herring River.  [Lovell] At the end of 1675 the town received stiff fines for not sending enough men to musters. It was an unpopular charge and hard to collect. Those given authority to collect or “to proceed with the delinquents” were William Swift and George Barlow. [Lovell] At 13 July 1677 court, William Swift was appointed to a committee of 11 men to hear and determine all matters respecting debts due from the colony to all persons concerning the late war. [PCR 5:242]

At 5 July 1670 court, one or two men from each town were designated as people that all the tar within town would come to and they were to pay a price set by the court, in an effort to keep tar within the colony. Richard Bourne and William Swift were named for Sandwich. [PCR 5:46] At 29 October 1672 it was ordered that an Indian called Old John, alias Mopes, shall pay William Swift six pounds to be delivered in tar at Sandwich at or before the first of May next. [PCR 5:105]

At 3 March 1662/3 William Swift and Stephen Winge did engage in the behalf of the towne of Sandwich, for all of them excepting the Quakers and theire relations, to save harmles and undamnifyed Thomas Ewer, that may arise to him by reason of the trespas above specifyed, in the action comenced against him, hee satisfying and paying the sume and charges awarded him to pay by the jury. [PCR 7:108]

William is mentioned in a handful of Court cases:

• At the 4 October 1655 court, “And at this Court, Jane Powell, servant to William Swift, of Sandwidge, appeered, haveing been presented for fornication, whoe, being examined, saith that it was comitted with one David Ogillior, an Irish man, servant to Edward Sturgis; shee saith shee was alured thereunto by him goeing for water one evening, hopeing to have married him, beeing shee was in a sadd and miserable condition by hard service, wanting clothes and lviing discontentedly; and expressing great sorrow for her evell, shee was cleared for the prsent, and ordered to goe home againe. [PCR 3:19] Jane Powell is my 8th great-grandfather and she did marry David, whose last name is more commonly O’Killia/O’Kelley, and have a large family.
• At 3 March 1662/3 court, William Swift complaineth, in the behalfe of himselfe and sundry of his naighbors, in combination with them, against Thomas Ewer, in an action of trespas on the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for feling and carting away of timber belonging to the township of Sandwich, and for non payment of two pounds and fifteen shillings, as by bill appeers under his hand. The jury find for the plaintiffe three pounds damage, and the cost of the suite. [PCR 7:108]
• At 3 October 1665 court, William Swift complained against William Allin, in an action of trespas upon the case, to the damage of twenty pounds, for unjust claime to, and deneying of his land to him, and cuting his grasse without his leave and order. The jury for the plaintiffe the meddow land, two pence damage, and the cost of the suite. [PCR 7:124]
• At the 7 July 1668 Court William Swift complaineth against Stephen Skiffe, in an action of the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for non pformance of a bargaine respecting a boate with a paire of oares sold unto him by the said Skiffe. The jury find for the plaintiffe five shillinges damage, and the cost of the suit. [7:145]
• At General Court, 29 October 1672: ”It is ordered by this Court that an Indian named Old John, allies Mopes, shall pay unto Wilam Swift six pound, to be delivered in tarr att Sandwich att or before the first of May next with the charges which hath arisen about a suite comenced att the Court of the Celect Men of the town of Barnstable against the said Swift; and in defect of payment as aforsaid, then the said swift is heerby impowered to sieze on the said body of the said Old John, allies Mopes, and to bring him or cause him to be brought before the Gov'or Court whoe will take such a due course as that his just dues shalbe satifyed by the service or sale of him the said Old John, allies Mopes, and upon the Courts graunt of this order the said Wilam Swift did engage to acquitt and release Jedadia Lumbard from that engagement of his to the said Wilam Swift on that account of the said Old John or any other Indians whoe were his cecuritie." [PCR 5:105]

William died 7 January 1705[/6], the date provided in the inventory of his estate. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

William Swift Senior made his will 15 December 1705; presented at Court 29 January 1705/6. [Barnstable Co PR 2:217] He mentions being weak of body and left bequests to:

• Loving wife Ruth £50
• Son Josiah his house and land I now live in and possess excepting that piece of land about the picket clifts [Peaked Cliffs] I bought of Jonathan Morie [Peaked Cliffs is overlooking the ocean in Sagamore Highlands]
• Son Jirie Swift £20 in moveables of my estate
• The three sons of William Swift, my son deceased, Thomas Swift, Josiah Swift and Ebenezer Swift, that tract of land I bought of Jonathan Morie lying upon the Clifts as ye go to Plymouth as appears by a deed equally to be divided among the three brothers and not to be sold or any way disposed of but to the Swifts
• I do give unto my grandson William Swift, son of the deceased William Swift, 20 shillings
• son-in-law Thomas Bourn
• I do give unto my daughter Hannah Tobie,  my daughter Temperance Bourne, my daughter Hester Gibs, and my daughter Dina Perry, the rest of my moveables to be equally divided amongst them

His daughters Ruth and Mary predeceased him. It is unclear to me why sons Ephraim and Samuel were not mentioned in the will; perhaps William had already gifted them land. William Swift, Senior signed will in presence of Thomas Gibs, Samuel Gibs [his mark], James Stewart.

On 29 January 1705 James Stewart, Thomas Gibs and Samuel Gibs made oath to William’s will at Barnstable. On the same date Timothy Bourn was named Administrator of the estate. By Barnabas Lothrop. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

On 11 February 1705 Ruth widow of Mr. William Swift of Sandwich declared  that she received from her son-in-law Timothy Bourn the £50 in money given to her by her late husband in his last will and testament.  On 13 February 1705 Ruth Swift appeared before Stephen Skeffe, Justice of the Peace, acknowledged the above written receipt to be her act and deed. [Barnstable County PR 2:218]

An inventory of the estate of Mr William Swift late of Sandwich in the County of Barnstable in New England who died the 7th day of January 1705 was taken and apprized by Wm Bassett and Elisha Bourne on 10th day of January 1705. [Barnstable County PR 2:219] The inventory is not totaled but is a considerable value for the early 18th century. 

Some items indicate that William was involved in trade—money scales, animal skins, steel trap, whale bones, 120 pounds of feathers, and tobacco. The £125 in cash/apparel and an additional £25 in cash that his wife added to the inventory, show he was comfortable financially. His house, land and meadow were valued at £160 and land at Picket Cliff was valued at £20. Sadly also included is “one negroe maid servant” valued at £32, who would have been a slave. There are many household items such as a spinning wheel and fabric and the less common brass, copper, six napkins, an hour glass, and a looking glass. That William was literate is shown by his owning a Bible and other books, in addition to the positions he held. Farm items included five cows, two horses, five shoates [young pig/hog], Indian corn, and barrel of pork.  A cutlass and sword indicate he served in the militia. 

Debts due to the estate were from Timothy Bourn 8 08,  John Gibs 00 08 06, Benjamin Perry due 6 00 00, Daniel Butler owes about 00 12 00.

On 29 January 1705 Timothy Bourne, Executor to the last will & testament of William Swift late of Sandwich deceased, appeared before Barnabas Lothrop, Judge of Probate, and made oath to the Inventory.  Ruth Swift widdow and Relict of sd deceased also appeared and made oath that she had given a just & true account of the money and other estate of her sd deceased husband. 

Sources:

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

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

Simeon L. Deyo, editor, "History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts," 1890

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

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Wills of William 2 and 3 Swift of Sandwich” 30:110

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1992

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols., 1968