Joseph Swasey baptism Aug 12, 1714

A repost of an earlier blog last March, (A repost from 2013)

Joseph Swasey, Sr. 1714-1801

My five times great grandfather on the Ada Swasey Rogers family tree.

He's the Great-Great Grandfather of Alexander G. Swasey, Sr, my great grandfather who I blogged about Here

Joseph Swasey, Sr. was baptised 12 August 1714 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States,

"Death  before (Aug) 1801 in Somerset, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States, Joseph Swasey, shipwright, Bapt. in Boston, Mass. Aug. 12, 1714; died in Somerset, Suffolk County, Mass; [died] bef. 1801; married, daughter of Jonathan & Ann Sylvester Bowers, of Swansea, Mass. She was of Spanish descent.  Feb. 20, 1790, Shewamit (or Somerset) was set off from Swansea & formed a separate town.  Joseph, removed with his family to Salem, where he lived until 1749.  He followed there the trade of hatter.  In that year he bought Swansea of John Palmer, 10 acres of land on Taunton River for which he paid ~1300 O.T.

"He put up a set of buildings, including a hat shop, built a wharf & engaged in shipbuilding, floating his craft down to Fall River.  The dwelling house occupied by the family for 3 generations was taken down several years ago.  The old cellar & the broad stone step still remain to mark the site.  The "Swasey burying ground" occupied about an acre of the original lot, upon which are many tombstones that mark the resting place of his descendants.

"In 1758-9, he was a private in his Majesty's service from the Province of Massachusetts, in Capt. Stephen Whipple's Co;  Col. Jonathan Bagley's Regt; for the reduction of Canada. 

In 1801, his estate was divided among his heirs which included the widow, sons Jerathmel & Joseph heirs of his son Samuel, & daughter Hannah.

(Source, including photo: Genealogy of the Swasey Family, 1910 by Benjamin Swasey an ebook that is available on line)

His wife Mary, took in boarders once widowed, and is listed in the 1823 Town Directory for same.

His son, Lt. Jerathmel Bowers Swasey, was born and died (1752-1826) in Somerset, MA, probably in the house that stood at 323 Main St. (Above)

Lt. Jerathmel Bowers Swasey is my 4th great grandfather, father of Alexander G. Swasey, father of Captain Alexander G. Swasey, Sr, father of Alexander John Swasey, father of my grandmother Ada Swasey Rogers.