Happy birthday to Joseph and Elisabeth Swasey

I've already posted earlier this year HERE about Joseph Swasey II, my 7 times great grandfather (1653-1710).

His wife Elisabeth Lambert Swasey (1653-1711) has the same birthdate given on my ancestry tree, Sept 12.  She could have been born in 1653 or 1657.  So the only documentation that I can attest to is their wedding in 1678, and details of Joseph's probate that are included in a book about the Swasey family.

They had 3 children, with the daughter Elisabeth not living beyond her 19th birthday.  Sons Samuel and Joseph III did live longer and each married and had children.

Salem Massachusetts

It is also interesting to consider that the Swaseys lived in Salem Massachusetts at the time there were witch trials.  We don't know what Joseph did for his livelihood, though the Swasey book suggests that he might have been a fisherman like his father.

Whatever his life was like, or that of his wife Elisabeth, they both died within a year of each other, he in 1710 and she in 1711.

Joseph Swasey II, 1653-1710

My seven times great grandfather - going back on my father's mother's side of the ancestry I find (and repost about)...

Joseph Swasey II (his father Joseph immigrated to the American colonies in 1632 from England)

Birth 12 Sept, (or 13 Oct or Nov?) 1653 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Death 1710 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts  

The birthdate is listed on Salem birth registry as "13: 8m: 1653" [I'm not sure 8th month was August, they seem to think it was September.]  (He is the Joseph Swase, s of Joseph and Mary in the center of the page below.)  I don't know what CT. and R. mean.

But I do know he lived in Salem in 1692 when the infamous witch trials were taking place.  Salem Village was the site of the witch trials, while Salem Town was not.  Salem Village is now Danvers, MA, and Salem Town is our present day Salem, MA.  There is no distinction in the records I've been looking at...so I don't know upon which side of a disputed border the Swaseys lived.

"Joseph Swasey, Bapt. in Salem, Mass, Sept. 12, 1653; died in Salem 1710; married Oct. 16, 1678, Elisabeth Lambert of Salem.  He probably followed the occupation of his father, a fisherman.  We do not know that he or his father continued in the faith as Quakers as did his uncle & grandfather, who had emigrated to Southold on Long Island, State of New York.

"Joseph left the homestead on English Street in 1680 & bought a house on Beckford Street in the northerly part of the town where all his children were born.  This house he occupied until his decease.  The oldest son, Samuel, was appointed administrator, June 29, 1710, inv. Nov. 6, 1710,  personal 9 pounds, 18 shillings; real 80 pounds, consisting of a house & 17 poles of land.  Estate divided to the widow who survived him, to son, Samuel, & the child of his sister Elisabeth.  His son Joseph, had moved to Old Newbury, Mass; before the father's death.

(Source: Geneology of the Swasey Family 1910 by Benjamin Swasey an ebook that is available on line)

his son:

Samuel Swasey

Birth 14 July 1682 in Salem, Essex,Massachusetts

Death 1739 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts,

his son:

Joseph Swasey (Blog post yesterday, HERE)

Birth before 12 August 1714 in Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts,

Death 1801 in Somerset, Bristol, Massachusetts, 

his son:

Jerathmel Bowers Swasey 

Birth 10 May 1752 in Somerset, Bristol, Massachusetts 

Death 4 Feb 1826 in Somerset, Bristol, Massachusetts

his son:

Alexander G Swasey

Birth 10 Sept 1784 in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts

Death 28 Oct 1861 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island

his son:

Captain Alexander G. Swasey Jr.

Birth April 14, 1812 in Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts

Death March 26, 1866 in Charleston County, South Carolina

his son:

Alexander John Swasey

Birth May 20, 1853 in South Carolina

Death OCT 4, 1913 in Galveston, Tex   


His daughter:

Ada Phillips Swasey Rogers

1886 – 1964

Her Son:

George Elmore Rogers Jr

Birth 9 NOV 1914 in Texas

Death 5 JAN 1985 in Texas

His Daughter:

Barbara Rogers (me)