Joseph Swett, Jr.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Swett-640

Joseph Swett

Born 25 Aug 1689 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts

Son of Joseph Swett and Hannah (Devereux) Swett

Brother of Elenor (Knott) Martin [half] and Esther (Swett) Eaton [half]

Husband of Hannah (Negus) Lee — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Father of Martha (Swett) Lee and Sarah (Swett) Marston

Died about 1745 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts

Profile last modified 12 Feb 2019 | Created 13 Mar 2015

Biography

Stackpole # 16. Joseph Swett (Joseph3, Stephen2, John1), was baptized at Marblehead, Mass., 25 Aug. 1689. He became one of the most prominent business men of that place. He married (1) Ruth, dau. of Stephen and Susanna (Hartshorn-Devereaux) Parker, of Watertown, who died 4 April 1725, (2) 13 Sept. 1725, Martha A Stacey, (3) 23 Sept. 1734, Mrs. Hannah Strahan, who was dau. of Jabez and Mary (Beesbeach) Browne. Dec. 20, 1738, Sarah Negus of Marblehead, formerly of Boston, deeded to her daughter Hannah, wife of Joseph Swett, one-forth part of rents, yearly income and profit arising from a certain farm in Hedcorn and Frethingden, co. of Kent, Great Britain, which belonged to "my Hon'd grandfather Thomas Beesbeach," and which she received by deed of grant under hand and seal of "my Hon'd mother Mary Browne Dec'd, March 13, 1697. See Essex Deeds, Vol. 77, p. 190. The will of Joseph Swett, dated 20 March 1744 and probated 16 April 1745, names wife Hannah, sons Joseph and Samuel, daughters Ruth wife of Robert Hooper, Hannah wife of Joseph Lemmon, Martha Swett, Sarah Swett, and Rebecca Swett. Widow Hannah Swett married Samuel Lee, 5 Oct. 1745.

Joseph Swett, Jr., was the first man in Marblehead to enter the shipping business. He prospered, and others followed him. They built and operated a large fleet of ships, and several of them became very wealthy men. When I inquired about him in Marblehead, 250 years after he died, I was told, "Joseph Swett put this town on the map."

Sources

Marblehead VR, baptism Marblehead VR has Mrs. Martha A. Stacey Marblehead VR

THE SWETT FAMILY OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS

Ben H. Swett - Colonel USAF (Retired) - 31 July 2002

http://swett-genealogy.com/08Marblehead.html

The first Joseph Swett in Marblehead was born 28 November 1657 at Newbury, son of Stephen and Hannah (Merrill) Swett, and grandson of John Swett of Newbury. When he grew up, he moved to Marblehead. About 1688 he married Mrs. Hannah Knott, twice widowed daughter of John and Ann Devereaux. [Everett S. Stackpole, Swett Genealogy, Lewiston, Maine, circa 1914, head of family #7, p. 10]

Joseph Swett, Jr., the only child of Joseph and Hannah (Devereaux) Swett, was baptized 25 August 1689 at Marblehead. [Stackpole, head of family #16, p. 16]

On 16 December 1710, Joseph Swett, cordwainer, of Marblehead, and Hannah his wife, deeded all their property to their son, Joseph Swett, Jr., cordwainer, of Marblehead. [Stackpole, p. 11. See deed at Salem.]

Although Joseph Swett, Jr., started his adult life as a cordwainer (shoemaker), like his father and grandfather, and probably his great-grandfather, he became the first truly successful businessman in Marblehead. More than 300 years after he was born (1997), when I and my son Scott visited Abbot Hall in Marblehead, where the great painting "The Spirit of '76" is displayed, we asked about the Swett family, and were told: "Joseph Swett put this town on the map." How it happened will be described at the end of this paper.

Joseph Swett, Jr., married Ruth Parker, daughter of Stephen and Susanna Parker of Watertown. The Marblehead Church Records for 27 March 1715 read: "Entered Joseph Sweat & Ruth Sweat, his wife." They had five children:

Hannah, baptized 16 September 1716, died young Ruth, baptized 8 January 1719, married Robert Hooper in 1735 Joseph, born 23 April 1721, married Mary Palmer in 1745; of Portland, ME Stephen, born 3 March 1724, was not named in his father's will Hannah, born 15 March 1725, married Joseph Lemmon in 1742 Ruth (Parker) wife of Joseph Swett, Jr., died 4 April 1725, about three weeks after the birth of her last child. He married (2) Martha A. Stacey, 13 September 1725. They had four children:

Martha, born 12 June 1726, married Jeremiah Lee in 1745 Mary, (birth date unknown), married Henry Saunders Samuel [42], baptized 9 November 1729, married Anna Woodbury in 1752 Henry, baptized 5 August 1733, was not named in his father's will Martha (Stacey), second wife of Joseph Swett, Jr., died in late 1733 or 1734. He married (3) Mrs. Hannah Strahan, daughter of Jabez and Sarah (Browne) Negus of Boston, 23 September 1734. They had two children:

Sarah, baptized 23 February 1735, married Benjamin Marston in 1755 Rebecca, baptized 12 September 1736. In 1734, Joseph Swett of Marblehead drew a lot in Amherst, NH, "for his brother Stephen Swett." This was Joseph Swett, Sr., then 77 years old. These lots in Amherst were given to veterans of King Phillip's War or their closest male heir. [Stackpole, pp. 8, 10-11] Joseph Swett, Jr., was 55 years old when he died. His will, dated 20 March 1744 and probated 16 April 1745, names wife Hannah, sons Joseph and Samuel, and five daughters: Ruth wife of John Hooper, Hannah wife of Joseph Lemmon, Martha Swett, Sarah Swett, and Rebecca Swett. [Stackpole, p. 16-17]

Martha Swett, daughter of Joseph Swett, Jr., and Martha (Stacey) Swett, married Jeremiah Lee on 25 June 1745. He became one of the wealthiest men in America. The Jeremiah Lee mansion at 161 Washington Street, Marblehead, which he built in 1768, now includes the offices of the Marblehead Historical Society.

The heirs of Joseph Swett, Jr., gave a silver flagon to the Marblehead Church:

Jan: 3: 1759. Joseph Sweet, Esq., having left Pound 12:10 L.M. a legacy to the Church, and, his heirs desiring that it should be made into a flagon for the communion table, the Church having voted the appropriating of it to that use, it was accordingly made into a Flagon, with additional sums sufficient therefore from the Heirs -- Mr. Samuel Sweet, Mrs. Ruth Hooper, Mrs. Martha Lee, and Mrs. Joseph Lemmon -- and this day brought down & presented to the church for which the Pastor of the Chh returned thanks to the several heirs. (total 25:13:4 value) [Marblehead Church Records] This silver flagon, dated 7 May 1759, has been preserved by the First Church of Christ (Old North), 41 Washington Street, Marblehead. It is kept in a bank-vault, and used in worship services about once a year. I had it photographed in 1998 and have attached the photographs to this paper. The inscription on the bottom of the flagon is in Latin:

Hoc Legatum Josephi Sweett Ar.t una cum Additamento ejus Haeredum, Di S. Sweett, Dae R. Hooper, Dae M. Lee, et Di J. Lemmon, ad Usum sacrosanctae Caenae, in prima Christi Ecclesia apud Marblehead, consecratum: Mau 7, 1759. oz 55:12:0 The following account, written in 1766, explains how the Rev. John Barnard and Joseph Swett, Jr., "Put this town on the map." The Rev. John Barnard was chosen co-pastor to the aged Rev. Samuel Cheever on 10 February 1715, and was ordained pastor of Marblehead Church by Dr. Cotton Mather on 18 July 1718. [Church Records]

REV. JOHN BARNARD IN 1714 [From Two Centuries of Travel in Essex County, Mass. MS 8555, p. 2-1, 2-2]

This description relates only to one town -- Marblehead, but it is so vivid that it must not be overlooked. Rev. John Barnard was born in Boston in 1681 and after assisting Dr. Coleman of the Brattle Street Church and serving as Chaplain in the expeditions against Port Royal in 1707, he preached as a candidate in several pulpits and at last became the assistant of Rev. Samuel Cheever at Marblehead and there he remained for the rest of his life. He must have been a fine type of the dignified old-time minister for in the discourse preached at his funeral it was said -- "His presence restrained every imprudent sally of youth, and when the aged saw him they arose and stood up." The following is reprinted from an autobiographical account printed in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 3rd Series, Volume V. (1836)

When first I came [1714], there were two companies of poor, smoke-dried, rude, ill-clothed men, trained to no military discipline but that of "whipping the snake," as they called it; whereas now [1766], and for years past, we are a distinct regiment, consisting of seven full companies, well clad, of bright countenances, vigorous and active men, so well trained in the use of their arms, and the various motions and marches, that I have heard some Colonels of other regiments, and a Brigadier General say, they never saw throughout the country, not in their own regiment, no, nor in Boston, so goodly an appearance of spirited men, and so well exercised a regiment.

When I came, there was not so much as one proper carpenter, nor mason, nor tailor, nor butcher in the town, nor any thing of a market worth naming; but they had their houses built by country workmen, and their clothes made out of town, and supplied themselves with beef and pork from Boston, which drained the town of its money. But now we abound in artificers, and some of the best, and our markets large, even to a full supply. And what above all I would remark, there was not so much as one foreign trading vessel belonging to the town, nor for several years after I came into it; though no town had really greater advantages in their hands. The people contented themselves to be the slaves that digged in the mines, and left the merchants of Boston, Salem, and Europe, to carry away the gains; by which means the town was always in dismally poor circum- stances, involved in debt to the merchants more than they were worth; nor could I find twenty families in it that, upon the best examination, could stand on their own legs; and they were generally as rude, swearing, drunken, and fighting a crew, as they were poor. Whereas, not only are the public ways vastly mended, but the manners of the people greatly cultivated; and we have many gentlemenlike and polite families, and the very fisherfolk scorn the rudeness of the former generation.

I soon saw that the town had a prize in its hands, and it was a pity they had not the heart to improve it. I therefore laid myself out to get acquaintance with the English masters of vessels, that I might by them be let into the mystery of the fish trade, and in a little time I gained a pretty thorough understanding of it. When I saw the advantages of it, I thought it my duty to stir up my people, such as I thought would harken to me, and were capable of practising upon the advice, to send fish to market themselves, that they might reap the benefit of it, to the enriching themselves, and serving the town. But alas! I could inspire no man with courage and resolution enough to engage in it, till I met with Mr. Joseph Swett, a young man of strict justice, great industry, enterprising genius, quick appre- hension, and firm resolve, but of small fortune. To him I opened myself fully, laid the scheme clearly before him, and he hearkened unto me, and wise enough to put it in practise. He first sent a small cargo to Barbadoes. He soon found he increased his stock, built vessels, and sent the fish to Europe, and prospered in the trade, to the enriching of himself; and some of his family, by carrying on the trade, have arrived at large estates. The more promising young men of the town soon followed his example; that now we have between thirty and forty ships, brigs, snows, and topsail schooners engaged in foreign trade. From so small a beginning the town has risen into its present flourishing circumstances, and we need no foreigner to transport our fish, but are able ourselves to send it all to the market.

Silver flagon given to the Church of Marblehead, Massachusetts, by the heirs of Joseph Swett, Jr. (1689-1745). His name, their names, and the date 7 May 1759 are engraved on the bottom of the flagon. The engraving on the right is his Coat of Arms.

Photographed by Rick Ashley, 22 September 1998

Coat of Arms of Joseph Swett, Jr. (1689-1745) Marblehead, Massachusetts great-grandson of John Swett of Newbury

Photographed by Rick Ashley, 22 September 1998

Because it does not have the crest (a pierced star between two gillyflowers), this Coat of Arms does not descend from the grant of Arms and Crest to Adrian Swete of Traine Manor, Modbury, Devon, England, in 1712. For the same reason, it does not descend from the award of Arms and Crest to Guy Swete of Traine by King Edward the Fourth in 1473. Because the shield is the family identifier, and a crest is an extra honor, this shield represents a family tradition that predates 1473. [Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry, 1978 ed.]

Inscription on the bottom of the silver flagon presented to the Church of Marblehead, Massachusetts, by the heirs of Joseph Swett, Jr. (1689-1745).

Photographed by Rick Ashley, 22 September 1998

Swett's Ferry crossed the Merrimack River between West Newbury and Haverhill, Massachusetts, at a place called Holt's Rocks, about four miles west of Amesbury. [Much of the following information is from John J. Currier, History of Newbury, Massachusetts, 1635-1902 (Boston, Damrell & Upham, 1902), pp. 459-462]

1695 March 26: At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Newbury, John Kelly, Sr., presented a petition for liberty to keep a "ffery over the river Merrimack in the place where he now dwells" provided the neighboring towns and the authorities of the province give their consent "for sd fferry to be granted to the Towne of Newbury." [Town of Newbury Records]

1695 June 5: "Capt Thomas Noyes, Cornl George March, Abraham Merrill & Henry Short appoynted by the Towne to vew a convenient place for a ferry over Merrimack River neer the now dwelling house of John Kelly, Senr, together wth a Rode theretoo and bring report to ye Towne at ye next meeting."

Two weeks later, the selectmen of Newbury were authorized to petition the next Court of General Sessions at Salem for permission to "establish a fferry over the Merrimack river near the dwelling-house of John Kelly, Sr., and to appoint the said John Kelly, Sr., keeper of it until the towne see cause to otherwise dispose of it." [Town of Newbury Records]

The selectmen were also instructed to ask the Court for "the continuation of the fferry so long as the Towne shall judg it beneficiall, the price of sd fferry to be sixpence money for horse and man and twopence for a single man, and for our owne Towne Inhabitants sixpence in pay for horse and man & twopence in pay for a single person." [Town of Newbury Proprietors' Records, vol. i., pp. 22, 23] This difference between "money" and "in pay" was apparently advantageous to citizens of Newbury.

1695 June 25: The petition presented by the selectmen of Newbury was deferred to the next term of the Court of General Sessions. [Salem Court Records, 1692-1709]

1695 September 24: The Court of General Sessions ordered that the town of Newbury "have liberty to keep a ferry over Merrimack river near ye house of John Kelly where they are to keep a suitable boat afloat with a hand ready to transport passengers, horses and cattle as need may require, and ye fare of said ferry is hereby appointed to be a penny for a man and five pence for a horse and so proportionable for other creatures allwaies provided that ye town of Newbury do at their own cost and charge make and maintain a sufficient highway from ye river up to ye country road way, and ye town of Amesbury do ye like on their side of ye river." [Salem Court Records, 1692-1709]

1700 October 18: At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Newbury, the selectmen were authorized to lay out a highway near the residence of John Kelly, Sr. It was also voted that "in order to [have] a convenient way to the fferry comonly known by the name of Kellys fferry the Towne voted yt a Bridg should be made over the swamp leading to sd ferry, to be made and maintained by the Towne so long as the Towne see cause. [Town of Newbury Records, vol. iii., p. 65.]

1703 April 12: "Upon the request of John Kelly, Senr., John Kelly, Junr., Abiel Kelly, Jonathan Kelly, and John Swett, Junr., to make & maintain a good & sufficient bridge or way over the swamp at the end of John Kelly, Senr, his field for the space of four years & thereby be aquitted from making or maintaining any other of the Highways of Newbury, the towne grants theyr proposition on the conditions aforesd provided yt it be used so long for a public highway to ye ferry now kept by sd John Kelly, Senr." [Town of Newbury Records (1693-1675), p. 99. emphasis added.]

This John Swett, Junior, was John [13] Swett, born 28 February 1677 in Newbury, the oldest son of John [6] and Mary (Plummer) Swett, grandson of Stephen [4] and great-grandson of John Swett of Newbury. He married Susanna Page. [Stackpole, head of family # 13, pp. 10 & 14] In 1703 he helped build a road to the ferry that was operated by John Kelly. Eight years later he was licensed to operate the ferry.

1711 September 25: At the Court of General Sessions held in Newbury, John Swett, Jr., of Newbury was licensed to keep the ferry over Merrimack river near Holt's Rocks, for the term of seven years. [Salem Court Records, 1696-1718]

1711 Haverhill: John Swett, a native of Newbury, was this year appointed ferryman at the Rocks -- hence the name of "Swett's Ferry." It is believed that there were no more than two houses at that place; and, indeed, the whole town had increased but very little, if any, in population during the last thirty years. Strangers would not move into it, on account of the danger arising from the Indian war, and it is probable that those who sickened and died, and those who were slain by the enemy, nearly equaled the births. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), pp. 236-237]

1712 February 12: Benjamin [15] Swett, born 11 April 1688 in Newbury, youngest son of John [6] and Mary (Plummer) Swett, married Mary Wheeler. [Stackpole, pp. 10 & 15] About this time, he probably went to work for his brother John [13] as the ferryman at the Newbury end of the ferry.

1712 September 3: The inhabitants of the town of Newbury again ordered the selectmen "to lay out the way from the Bradford road to Swett's ferry."

1712 December 13: The Court of General Sessions appointed a committee "to view the way leading to the ferry under care of John Sweat junior of Newbury."

1713 December: The selectmen of Newbury applied to the General Court for liberty to keep the ferry and pay over annually to the treasurer of the town the amount received for ferriage.

1714 June 10: "In answer to the petition of the Select Men of Newbury praying that the profits of the ferry lately granted by the Genll Sessions of the Peace, to be kept over Merrimack River above Holts Rocks between Newbury and Haverhill, may be settled upon the Town of Newbury. Ordered that there be a Ferry over Merrimack River in the place mentioned in the petition, the profits of the said Ferry to be to the Towns of Newbury & Haverhill in equall proportion; this Grant being limited for ye space of forty years next coming." [Province Laws, vol. ix., chap. xxiv., p. 356; General Court Records, vol. ix., p. 334]

The settlement on the north shore of the river, now known as Rock's village or East Haverhill, was at that time quite a busy and prosperous place. Salmon and other fish were caught in large numbers in that locality, and an extensive trade with the West India islands was established and maintained for many years. [Joshua Coffin, A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, from 1635 to 1845 (Boston, S. G. Drake, 1845) republished in 1977, p. 193]

1717 John [6] Swett deeded his homestead to his son Benjamin [15] Swett, he to pay his brothers Stephen and Joseph and grantor's wife Esther. [Stackpole, p. 10. See deed at Salem.]

1718 March 27: The will of John [6] Swett dated 27 March 1717 according to the Puritan calendar system, confirmed the deed and the provisions by which he gave his homestead to his son Benjamin [15], made additional bequests to sons Stephen and Joseph, daughters Mary Lowell and Hannah Woodman, stated that "my son Benja. Swett shall pay to his brothers John [13] Swett & Samuel [14] Swett one shilling apiece besides the portion they have had already," and named Benjamin [15] sole executor of his estate. [Copied from court records by Mary Adams Rolfe.]

1719 March 4: The following petition was presented by John [13] Swett to the town of Haverhill. As so often happened, the town clerk misspelled his name.

John Sweet petitioning to the Towne as followeth: To the inhabitants of Haverhill this day convened at the meeting house in Haverhill: The petition of John Sweet of Newbury humbly showeth, Whereas there has been a Ferry granted by the Court to the Towns of Haverhill and Newbury for the term of Forty years where I now keep it. I humbly now request that I may have this Towns interest therein during the whole term, and I will carry over the inhabitants of this Town one single person for a penny per time, and a horse & man for four pence & oblige myself to keep good conveniences for the transport of passengers, for which liberality & kindness as in duty bound shall always pray. --- John Sweet. This petition granted in the terms imposed therein. [Town of Haverhill Records] 1719 March 17: John [6] Swett died in Newbury. [1718 by the Puritan calendar] 1724 March 17: The Newbury Second Parish church voted to give Deacon William Morss seven pounds and ten shillings for half an acre of land "for a burying place at the north end of his land adjoyning upon ye highway leading to Swetts ferry." [John J. Currier, History of Newbury, p. 356]

1724 November 3: John [34] Swett, born 3 December 1699 in Newbury, oldest son of John [13] and Susanna Swett, married Sarah Saunders of Haverhill. They had eight children, but five of them died young. [Stackpole says that he lived near the Haverhill end of Rocks bridge, but the bridge wasn't built until 1795, so he actually lived at the Haverhill end of Swett's Ferry.]

1725 November 26: John [13] Swett died. His will dated 20 November 1725 gave his son John [34] Sweat "all the lands and priviledges which I am intitled to either in Haverhill, Almsbury or Kingston, or elsewhere on the north of Merrimack River. Also my ferry boat and canoe and also my right unto the ferry;" gave his son Benjamin [35] "my dwelling house and buildings of all sorts, also all my lands in Newbury and the one moiety or halfe part of all my marsh lying on Plum Island. I also give him all my stock of cattle and moveables without doors and utencills for husbandry;" gave bequests to daughters Mary, Susannah, Ruth and Hannah, and named Benjamin executor. However, when the will was proved on 27 December 1725, the Probate Judge granted administration to "John Sweet, eldest son of the deceased" because the executor named in the will (Benjamin [35] born 14 March 1708) was "not being of age." [Essex County Probate Records, Vol. 315, pp. 312-314]

1726 Haverhill: At the March meeting for 1726, ten persons living in the east part of town petitioned for permission to assemble for worship at the Amesbury meeting house. The request was granted. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 279]

1728 June 18 Haverhill: Complaint being made that there were "too many taverns" in town, it was decided that two taverns were "sufficient" for the town's benefit: and Lieutenant Ebenezer Eastman and John Swett were appointed to keep them. Eastman kept in the village, and Swett at Holt's Rocks. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 283]

1729 John [34] and his uncle Benjamin [15] continued to operate Swett's Ferry. As shown by a map of West Newbury dated 15 September 1729, John Swett lived at the Haverhill end of the ferry, and Benjamin Swett lived at the West Newbury end of the ferry. [John J. Currier, Olde Newbury, 1896, pp. 395-97]

1730 Haverhill: Twelve persons living in the east part of the town petitioned the town to allow them to pay their "minister's rate" in Amesbury, instead of Haverhill -- John Sanders, James Sanders, Robert Hankins, John Sanders, Jr., Abner Chase, Green Whittier, James Bradbury, John Sweet, Joseph Kelley, Anthony Colby, William Bley, Robert Hastings. The request was granted. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 279]

1731 February 22: "Deacon Caleb Moody, Mr Ezekil Hale & Mr Joshua Bailey were chosen to let out ye Towne of Newburys part of ye Ferry called Swets Ferre for foure years next insuing ye date thereof." [Town of Newbury Records]

1731 March 9: "The selectmen of Newbury received from Mr. John Swett of Haverhill the sum of four pounds for the use of the ferry for the two preceding years." [Records of the Selectmen of Newbury] It looks as though 1730 was the last year Benjamin [15] Swett operated the Newbury end of the ferry. See next entry.

1733 March 5: "The selectmen of Newbury received from Mr. Joshua Bailey three pounds for the use of the ferry for the year 1731, and subsequently received from him three pounds annually for the years 1732, 1733, and 1734." [Records of the Selectmen of Newbury]

1735 March 11: The inhabitants of the town of Newbury passed the following order: "Our Townes part of ye ferre called Swetts ferre is granted to Joshua Bailey upon his giving to ye selectmen a bond to see said ferre be well tended & also to pay four pound a year, yearly, for three years insuing for ye use of ye Towne of Newbury." [Town of Newbury Records (1731-85), p. 21] John [34] Swett continued to operate the Haverhill end of the ferry.

1738 Benjamin [15] Swett died, aged 50. His will, dated 15 June and probated 13 August 1738, gave bequests to wife Mary, sons Stephen, Enoch, John and Daniel, daughters Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary and Hannah, left the rest of his estate to his oldest son Eliphalet and appointed him executor. [Essex County Probate Records, Vol. 322, pp. 357-358]

Eliphalet Swett was my ancestor. He settled in Amesbury, where he was a shipwright, and had a large family. There is still a Swett Street and Swett's Hill in Amesbury, overlooking the Merrimack River.

1738 September 2: "Mary Swett, widow of Benjamin Swett, late of Newbury, ferryman, entered into agreement with her son Eliphalet in which she released to him all her right & title & power of [ ] in her deceased husband's estate. In consideration whereof he, Eliphalet, doth engage that his mother shall have ye full liberty, use & priviledge of ye South Easterly End and Part of ye dcd Benjamin Swett's dwelling house in Newbury, up & down, & that during her widowhood. And if she, ye sd Mary Swett, should marry, then after such her marriage, ye sd Eliphalet should pay to her or her spouse ye full sum of five pounds in bills of credit every year during her natural life." [Amesbury Genealogies, para. 32]

Apparently, Benjamin [15] Swett was the ferryman at the Newbury end of Swett's Ferry all of his adult life, working for his brother John [13] from 1711 to 1725 and then for his nephew John [34] until 1730.

1745 Haverhill: In 1745 there were five ferries across the Merrimack between the village of Haverhill and Swett's Ferry at Holt's Rocks. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 325]

1750 Haverhill: The little village at the Rocks increased very slowly ... there were but four houses in 1750, owned and occupied by Dr. Brown, John Swett, Joseph Burrill, and Mr. Nichols's father. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 323]

1756 March 9: David Chase was granted permission to build a warf at his own cost at Swetts ferry. [Town of Newbury Records (1731-85), p. 103]

1760: The town of Haverhill granted John Swett a lease of the ferry at Holt's Rocks for ten years. This ferry had for forty years previous to that time been kept by his father. [George Wingate Chase, The History of Haverhill, Mass. (1861), p. 338]

1780 The will of John [34] Swett, dated 3 April 1778 and proved 17 October 1780, gave his homestead and his interest in the ferry to his grandson, James White of Haverhill (born in 1754 son of his daughter Sarah and her husband Noah White), and named him sole executor. [Essex County Probate Records, Vol. 354, pp. 235-236] All of John [34] Swett's sons had died without a male heir. [Stackpole, p. 25]

1782 March 12: The selectmen of Newbury were authorized "to let that part of Sweats ferry belonging to Newbury and defend the same against the claim made by the town of Haverhill." [Town of Newbury Records]

1789 James White probably sold his homestead in Haverhill and his interest in the ferry when he removed to Thetford, Vermont. [E-mail from David G. White, 1999]

1795 When the Merrimack Bridge later known as Rocks Bridge was built nearby, the ferry was discontinued. It had been there for 100 years. John Kelly established it in 1695 and operated it for 16 years. It was licensed to John Swett, Jr., in 1711. Thereafter, he and his heirs operated both ends of Swett's Ferry for 19 years and the Haverhill end for 78 years.