Caleb Swazey, Jr

1. Name: Caleb SWAZEY 1
2. Sex: M
3. Change Date: 15 OCT 2006
4. Birth: ABT 1746 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ 1
5. Note:

   Of note to this family tree because he was a Loyalist who counterfited

money to weaken the colonists currency. He went into hiding and was
helped by Abigail Guest, wife of William. Her son had married a Pitney
and Caleb's mother was a Pitney, so there was a family connection. The
story is told on the Draper Family tree at rootsweb.com
1
Father: Caleb SWAZEY b: 1722 in Southold, LI, NY

Mother: Elizabeth PITNEY b: 1724

Marriage 1 Mary TRIMMER b: 17 APR 1752 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ

   * Married: 02 DEC 1768 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ 2

Sources:

  1. Title: WorldConnect at ancestry.com

Abbrev: WorldConnect at ancestry.com
Page: Draper
sources quoted
2. Title: WorldConnect at ancestry.com
Abbrev: WorldConnect at ancestry.com
Page: multiple

i. Caleb SWAZEY was born ABT 1746 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ. He married Mary TRIMMER 02 DEC 1768 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ. She was born 17 APR 1752 in Roxbury, Morris, NJ, and died 17 DEC 1790 in Chester, Morris, NJ.  

It is not clear which Caleb Swayze/Swasey/Swazey Mary married. However, since they married in 1768, he had to be older than her which means born 1750 or earlier.

There was a posting on Ancestry.com in 2012 which lists many records for Caleb Swaseys. I have copied it below so that possibilities can be researchded.

There appears to be some confusion between Caleb and his father Caleb, Sr. B.F. Swasey has Mary Trimmers and Miriam as Caleb, Sr.'s wife's. One source shows date of birth as 1755. The "Early Germans of New Jersey" says that Mary Trimmer was Caleb Sr's second wife, married in 1768.

It is possible that Mary Trimmer is Caleb Sr's second wife and second family and there is no Caleb Jr. I will look for further confirmation.

Another source says that Miriam Drake and Mary Trimmers are the wives of Caleb Swayze, son of Israel and Elizabeth Seward Swayze. I am very confused. For now I will leave my database showing that Caleb Sr. had a son Caleb born around 1755, and it is that Caleb that married Mary Trimmer and had a son Caleb born in 1772, but I could be wrong, and Caleb Sr. married Mary Trimmer later in life, and had another large family with her.

I found the following people who are listed in the "Morris County Militia - 1793":

Israel Swayze Roxbury Richard Swayze Roxbury Trimer Swayze Roxbury John Swayzey Roxbury David Swazey Roxbury Daniel Swazy Roxbury

The first 3 people appear to be sons of Caleb.

The following was forwarded to me by Dorothy Agronick, a Swayze/Sweezey researcher:

"Yesterday was my volunteer day at the South Bay Cities Genealogical Library, and I found a book titled "Notices from New Jersey Newspapers 1781-1798 - Vol. 1, edited by Thomas B. Wilson.....uncovered a fair-sized can of worms. Apparently, there were some black sheep under the family tree:

"26 Dec. 1781: In the matter of Thomas Wells vs. Caleb Sweezy, the court appointed auditors to meet and adjust demands of the creditors of said Caleb Sweezy -- an absconding debtor."

"27 Feb. 1782: Caleb Swayze offers for sale a forge in Roxbury Township on 15 acres plus a house, 300 apple trees -- plenty of ore in the vicinity -- also a farm of 5-600 acres with house and 500-600 apple trees."

"18 Sept. 1782: Last Thursday morning Caleb Sweezey, Jr., late an inhabitant of Black River for whose taking the Governor had offered a reward of $200, was shot and killed on the premises of Isaac Badgley in the Great Swamp by a party under Capt. Carter who knew Sweezey was a relation of Badgley's wife."

I also found a land deed (or purchase) in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania dated 1773, that involves a Caleb Swayze purchasing land there. Actually, the document is quite complex, and it may pertain to Caleb selling the land, and now trying to get paid for it. Either way, I know have a Caleb Swayze appearing in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, along with the 4 sons of Mathias Swayze. I don't know who this Caleb Swayze is, but this is the only Caleb Swayze I have in my database who could be old enough to be the one involved in this land deal. I stand corrected, it appears that Caleb's father was also alive at this time and could be the one mentioned in this document.

I found the following in "The New Jersey Revolutionary War Documents":

Five Thousand Dollars Reward. BROKE out of the goal of this county, on the night of Monday the 4th instant, a certain Isaac Sweezy, about thirty years of age, five feet eight or nine inches high, sandy complextion, and had a scar of a bullet or swan shot in one of his temples.--Also on the night of Tuesday the 12th instant, Caleb Sweezy, jun. John Swan, Thomas Douglass, and Nathan Horton, jun.--Caleb Sweezy, jun. is about six feet high, thirty-two or thirty-three years of age, has a clear skin, and black beard, and altogether a well made, good looking man.--John Swan is a small man, of a dark complexion, and about thirty-six years of age.--Thomas Douglass is about six feet high, has black hair and beard, is something ruddy in his cheeks, thick lips, is about twenty-eight years of age.--Nathan Horton, jun. is about twenty-two years of age, quite a small man, rather slender, and of a light complexion.--All of whom were confined on charges of felony for passing counterfeit money. Whoever takes up and secures the above described persons in any goal of this state, or delivers them to the subscriber, shall have the above reward; or one thousand dollars for either of them that shall be so apprehended or delivered to

RICHARD JOHNSON, Sheriff of Morris County. Morris-Town, Sept. 19, 1780.

I believe the above pertains to Caleb and his brother Isaac.

The following is from the 12 Aug 1799 edition of the "Herald of Liberty" newspaper:

As Sweezy the horse thief is likely to become conspicuous for his services to his Britannic majesty, in conjunction with Mr. Liston and President Russel, it is proper the public should know his history.

Caleb Sweezy, Isaac Sweezy (Mr. Listons confidential friend) & Benj. Sweezy were the son of an honest farmer in Morris County, N. Jersey. As the two oldest Caleb and Isaac, had been villains from the time they were capable of distinguishing right from wrong, they rejoiced at the calamities which threatened our country in '75, as a new and extensive field would be opened for the exercise of their talents. During the war they were Tories.

While New York remained in possession of his majesty's troops, the Sweezys found a safe refuge there, from whence they made frequent excursions into the neighbouring counties of Essex, Bergen & Morris, for the purpose of stealing horses and other property. Whenever it was discovered that they were in the country, they were hunted like wolves. At one time it was reported that they were concealed in a swamp near their father's house; the swamp was quickly surrounded by armed men; Benjamin who had given them assistance privately, endeavoured to pass into the swamp, that he might warn them of their danger; - he was discovered, and commanded to stand, he fled; was fired upon; he received two balls in his shoulders and instantly expired. Caleb & Isaac being alarmed by the report of the guns, instantly took measures for their escape, which they were happy enough to effect.

The two brothers pursued the business of horse stealing with great success (while many of the accomplices were brought to the gallows) till near the close of the war, when they were discovered near Turkey, in Essex County. In endeavouring to escape Caleb was shot through the body, and expired in a few minutes; Isaac, favoured by the darkness of the night, made good his retreat, and after that troubled the Jerseys no more. His poor old father for some years, supported himself under his misfortunes, but finally he lost his reason, and put an end to his miserable existence by cutting his throat with a scythe, in a manner too horrible to relate.

Isaac Sweezy, at the close of the war, was banished to Nova Scotia, with his brother Tories and refugees. As his avocations in New Jersey, had fitted him for the administration of British justice, he was soon made a judge, in some of his majesty's courts in Nova Scotia. He has occasionally descended from the bench, to exercise himself in this old trade of hose stealing, but generally his conduct in his judicial capacity, has been such, as to gain him the confidence of his majesty's agents there, as well as at Canada and Philadelphia. He was lately sent by the government of Upper Canada, with dispatches to Mr. Liston, who entrusted him secret dispatches to President Russel. But in his ministerial capacity, Mr. Sweezy was most unfortunate. He was recognized by some one who knew him last war. An attempt was made to seize him; he fearing that, his sacred character of British envoy, would not protect him, made his escape, but left his bagger behind, in which upon a close examination were found, amongst other interesting papers, two letters from Mr. Liston, which prove in the most satisfactory manner, that the British have for a considerable length of time, used every effort in their power, to involve this country in a war with France; these furnish a key to many things which have appeared in Fenno's paper for 18 months past. Thus I have attempted to give a short sketch of the history and character of minister Sweezy, in hopes that some one better acquainted with minister Liston than I am will do him a like favour. PLUTARCH.