Dr. Stephen Swett

ID: I00818

Name: Stephen SWETT

Sex: M

Birth: 3 Jan 1733/34 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire 1

Death: 6 Jan 1807 in Otisfield, Cumberland, Maine 2

Note:

Stackpole # 69. Dr. Stephen Swett (Moses4, Stephen3, Benjamin2, John1), born in Newmarket, N. H., 3 Jan. 1733-4, married, 8 Aug. 1756, Sarah, dau. of Dr. Samuel and Phebe (Chesley) Adams of Durham, N. H., granddau. of Rev. Hugh and Susanna (Winborn) Adams of Boston, Mass. He probably studied medicine with his father-in-law. [The following is condensed from Stackpole and a family file posted on the Swett Family Genealogy Forum by Richard Bourne 9 July 2001]

Stephen Swett began his career as a doctor in Pembroke and Epsom, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. In 1770 he was the first physician to settle in Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine. He enlisted as a surgeon in Col. Phinney's 31st Regiment, 7 May 1775, and went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the regiment in July, where he probably served until their discharge, 31 December 1775. Military surgeons were not at first commissioned officers; he was (among others) recommended for a direct commission as Surgeon by General George Washington, 6 October 1775. He was on the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety in 1780. He sold his house and lot in Gorham 1 August 1791 and removed to Windam, Maine. He sold his lot in Windam 12 December 1803 and removed to Otisfield, Maine. He died in Otisfield 6 January 1807. His wife died there 3 May 1808. His children are listed according to a family Bible owned by a descendant of his son William in 1910. They are also recorded in the vital records of Otisfield, but they were not born there.

The 1790 Census for Gorham, Cumberland, Maine, has Stephen Swett with 1 male over 16 [himself], 2 males under 16 [William and Stephen], and 5 females [his wife, and daughters Sarah, Nancy, Hannah and Eliza].

The 1800 Census for Windham, Cumberland, Maine, has Stephen Swett with 1 male and 1 female over 45 [himself and his wife], 1 male and 1 female 16-26 [Stephen and Elisa]

Burial: Plot number 94, Bell Hill Cemetery, Otisfield, Cumberland, Maine. Bell Hill Road is a left turn off Route 121. The cemetery is about 2 miles on the left, across the street from the Old Meeting House and overlooks the Crooked River. [visit by Nancy A. Ratner, 2007]

Father: Moses SWETT b: 12 Dec 1705 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Mother: Hannah SWETT b: 23 May 1708 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire

Marriage 1 Sarah ADAMS b: ABT 1735 in Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire

Married: 8 Aug 1756

Children

Samuel SWETT b: 16 Oct 1757 in Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire 

Hannah SWETT b: 21 Jun 1759 in Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire

Josiah SWETT b: 6 May 1761 in Pembroke, Merrimack, New Hampshire

John SWETT b: 23 Jun 1763 in Pembroke, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Samuel SWETT b: 22 Apr 1765 in Epsom, Merrimack, New Hampshsire 

Moses Adams SWETT b: 7 May 1767 in Epsom, Merrimack, New Hampshsire 

Mary SWETT b: 1 Jul 1769 in Pembroke, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Nathaniel SWETT b: 2 Oct 1771 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine

Sarah "Sally" SWETT b: 13 May 1773 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine 

Nancy SWETT b: 9 Feb 1775 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine

William SWETT b: 6 Dec 1776 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine 

Hannah SWETT b: 7 Mar 1779 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine

Stephen SWETT b: 11 Apr 1781 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine

Eliza SWETT b: 28 Sep 1783 in Gorham, Cumberland, Maine

Sources:

Vital Records

Gravestone

See reference "A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations ... By Alfred Cole, Charles Foster Whitman" published 1915

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62318040/stephen-swett