The parentage of Thomas Swift has never been found and confirmed. According to the Dorchester, Mass. town records Thomas d. May 4, 1675 while the preamble to his June 18, 1675 estate inventory says "who departed this life the 4th of May 1675." On the other hand, his inscribed gravestone says he d. May 30, 1675 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 76 (g.s.) See further below under "Gravestone Details." Based on his inscribed age at death, Thomas was born AFTER May 4, 1599.
On Oct. 18, 1630 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester in Dorset, England, Thomas m. Elizabeth Capen, dau. of Barnard Capen & Joan Purchase, b. AFTER Jan. 27, 1610/11 presumably at Dorchester, England. She d. Jan. 26, 1677/78 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 67 (g.s.)
Thomas and wife Elizabeth immigrated to Dorchester, Mass. in about 1634 on the ship "Recovery." They were admitted to the Church of Dorchester and Thomas was made a freeman of the Mass. Bay May 6, 1635. He signed his mark Feb. 7, 1641 to an agreement to support a free school at Dorchester, Mass.
Thomas received various grants of land at Dorchester: five acres on Nov. 22, 1634, twenty acres for a "Great Lot" on Jan. 4, 1635/6, one acre of meadow in the fresh marsh on Feb. 18, 1635/6, one acre "near Goodman Munnings in the pine neck" on Jan. 2, 1637/8, and on March 18, 1637/8 he received three and one quarter acres and twelve rods in the Neck and the same amount of land in the Cow's Pasture. In Feb. 1639/40, he purchased two acres of land in the First Fresh Marsh from his wife's cousin Oliver Purchase. In 1664, he deeded 12 acres of upland and salt meadow to his son, Thomas Swift, Jr.
His will dated April 26, 1675 was proved July 30, 1675, the inventory of his estate totaling £459 10s. 3d., of which £363 5s. was real estate.
The children of Thomas Swift and Elizabeth Capen, with children ii. through ix. of either birth record and/or only baptism record at Dorchester, Mass., were:
• i. Joan Swift, purportedly bapt. Nov. 20, 1631 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester, England, d. July 21, 1663 at Boston, Mass.; m. Nov. 5, 1657 at Boston (by Gov. John Winthrop), John Baker. Three children of the family, but two died in infancy.
• ii. Dea. Thomas Swift, Jr., b. June 17, 1635, d. Jan. 31, 1717/8 at Milton, Mass., Æ 83; m. 1) Dec. 9, 1657 at Dorchester, Mass. (by Maj. Atherton), Elizabeth Vose, dau. of Robert Vose, who d. at Milton, Mass. Jan. 15, 1674/5. Three known children of the marriage: Thomas, Elizabeth (Pratt) and William (d. unm.). Dea. Swift m. 2) Oct. 16, 1676 at Milton, Sarah Clap, who d. Feb. 4, 1716/7 at Milton. Three children of the marriage: Ebenezer (d.y.), John and Col. Samuel. [Revised 8/22/13]
• iii. Obadiah Swift, b. July 16, 1638, d. Dec. 27, 1690 at Dorchester, Æ 43; m. Mar. 15, 1660/1 at Dorchester (by Maj. Atherton), Rest Atherton, dau. of Maj. Humphrey and Mary Atherton, bapt. May 26, 1639 at Dorchester. She d. Nov. 3, 1708, Æ 70. Seven children of the family.
• iv. Elizabeth Swift, b. Feb. 26, 1639/40 (bapt. Jan. 24 1640/1); d. in her adolescence Sept. 6, 1657, Æ 17.
• v. Ruth Swift, b. Aug. 24, 1643, d. circa 1679 at Boston, Mass.; m. Oct. 10, 1660 at Boston as his 1st wife, Capt. William Greenough, namesake nephew of the husband of Ruth's 1st cousin Elizabeth Upshall of Boston. Seven children of the family. Capt. Greenough m. 2) circa 1680, Elizabeth Rainsford, who died before 1693. He d. Aug. 6, 1693 at Boston, Mass., Æ 52. There were four children by this second marriage.
• vi. Mary Swift, bapt. Sept. 21, 1645; m. Feb. 22, 1663/4 John White at Dorchester, Mass.
• vii. Anna Swift, bapt. Nov. 14, 1647; m. Aug. 19, 1664 Obadiah Reed at Dorchester, Mass.
• viii. James Swift, bapt. Mar. 10, 1648/9; d. in his youth Nov. 4, 1657.
• ix. Susanna Swift, bapt. Feb. 15, 1651/2, d. Mar. 2, 1731/32 (g.s.); m. Apr. 18, 1672 at Dorchester Elder Hopestill Clap, Sr. (by Mr. Stoughton), s. of Capt. Roger Clap and Joanna Ford, b. Dec. 6, 1647 at Dorchester. He d. Sept. 2, 1719 at Dorchester. Nine children of the family.
Edited/Revised 4/29/2023
On Oct. 18, 1630 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester in Dorset, England, Thomas m. Elizabeth Capen, dau. of Barnard Capen & Joan Purchase, b. AFTER Jan. 27, 1610/11 presumably at Dorchester, England. She d. Jan. 26, 1677/78 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 67 (g.s.)
Thomas and wife Elizabeth immigrated to Dorchester, Mass. in about 1634 on the ship "Recovery." They were admitted to the Church of Dorchester and Thomas was made a freeman of the Mass. Bay May 6, 1635. He signed his mark Feb. 7, 1641 to an agreement to support a free school at Dorchester, Mass.
Thomas received various grants of land at Dorchester: five acres on Nov. 22, 1634, twenty acres for a "Great Lot" on Jan. 4, 1635/6, one acre of meadow in the fresh marsh on Feb. 18, 1635/6, one acre "near Goodman Munnings in the pine neck" on Jan. 2, 1637/8, and on March 18, 1637/8 he received three and one quarter acres and twelve rods in the Neck and the same amount of land in the Cow's Pasture. In Feb. 1639/40, he purchased two acres of land in the First Fresh Marsh from his wife's cousin Oliver Purchase. In 1664, he deeded 12 acres of upland and salt meadow to his son, Thomas Swift, Jr.
His will dated April 26, 1675 was proved July 30, 1675, the inventory of his estate totaling £459 10s. 3d., of which £363 5s. was real estate.
The children of Thomas Swift and Elizabeth Capen, with children ii. through ix. of either birth record and/or only baptism record at Dorchester, Mass., were:
• i. Joan Swift, purportedly bapt. Nov. 20, 1631 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester, England, d. July 21, 1663 at Boston, Mass.; m. Nov. 5, 1657 at Boston (by Gov. John Winthrop), John Baker. Three children of the family, but two died in infancy.
• ii. Dea. Thomas Swift, Jr., b. June 17, 1635, d. Jan. 31, 1717/8 at Milton, Mass., Æ 83; m. 1) Dec. 9, 1657 at Dorchester, Mass. (by Maj. Atherton), Elizabeth Vose, dau. of Robert Vose, who d. at Milton, Mass. Jan. 15, 1674/5. Three known children of the marriage: Thomas, Elizabeth (Pratt) and William (d. unm.). Dea. Swift m. 2) Oct. 16, 1676 at Milton, Sarah Clap, who d. Feb. 4, 1716/7 at Milton. Three children of the marriage: Ebenezer (d.y.), John and Col. Samuel. [Revised 8/22/13]
• iii. Obadiah Swift, b. July 16, 1638, d. Dec. 27, 1690 at Dorchester, Æ 43; m. Mar. 15, 1660/1 at Dorchester (by Maj. Atherton), Rest Atherton, dau. of Maj. Humphrey and Mary Atherton, bapt. May 26, 1639 at Dorchester. She d. Nov. 3, 1708, Æ 70. Seven children of the family.
• iv. Elizabeth Swift, b. Feb. 26, 1639/40 (bapt. Jan. 24 1640/1); d. in her adolescence Sept. 6, 1657, Æ 17.
• v. Ruth Swift, b. Aug. 24, 1643, d. circa 1679 at Boston, Mass.; m. Oct. 10, 1660 at Boston as his 1st wife, Capt. William Greenough, namesake nephew of the husband of Ruth's 1st cousin Elizabeth Upshall of Boston. Seven children of the family. Capt. Greenough m. 2) circa 1680, Elizabeth Rainsford, who died before 1693. He d. Aug. 6, 1693 at Boston, Mass., Æ 52. There were four children by this second marriage.
• vi. Mary Swift, bapt. Sept. 21, 1645; m. Feb. 22, 1663/4 John White at Dorchester, Mass.
• vii. Anna Swift, bapt. Nov. 14, 1647; m. Aug. 19, 1664 Obadiah Reed at Dorchester, Mass.
• viii. James Swift, bapt. Mar. 10, 1648/9; d. in his youth Nov. 4, 1657.
• ix. Susanna Swift, bapt. Feb. 15, 1651/2, d. Mar. 2, 1731/32 (g.s.); m. Apr. 18, 1672 at Dorchester Elder Hopestill Clap, Sr. (by Mr. Stoughton), s. of Capt. Roger Clap and Joanna Ford, b. Dec. 6, 1647 at Dorchester. He d. Sept. 2, 1719 at Dorchester. Nine children of the family.
Edited/Revised 4/29/2023
The parentage of Thomas Swift has never been found and confirmed. According to the Dorchester, Mass. town records Thomas d. May 4, 1675 while the preamble to his June 18, 1675 estate inventory says "who departed this life the 4th of May 1675." On the other hand, his inscribed gravestone says he d. May 30, 1675 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 76 (g.s.) See further below under "Gravestone Details." Based on his inscribed age at death, Thomas was born AFTER May 4, 1599.
On Oct. 18, 1630 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester in Dorset, England, Thomas m. Elizabeth Capen, dau. of Barnard Capen & Joan Purchase, b. AFTER Jan. 27, 1610/11 presumably at Dorchester, England. She d. Jan. 26, 1677/78 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 67 (g.s.)
Thomas and wife Elizabeth immigrated to Dorchester, Mass. in about 1634 on the ship "Recovery." They were admitted to the Church of Dorchester and Thomas was made a freeman of the Mass. Bay May 6, 1635. He signed his mark Feb. 7, 1641 to an agreement to support a free school at Dorchester, Mass.
Thomas received various grants of land at Dorchester: five acres on Nov. 22, 1634, twenty acres for a "Great Lot" on Jan. 4, 1635/6, one acre of meadow in the fresh marsh on Feb. 18, 1635/6, one acre "near Goodman Munnings in the pine neck" on Jan. 2, 1637/8, and on March 18, 1637/8 he received three and one quarter acres and twelve rods in the Neck and the same amount of land in the Cow's Pasture. In Feb. 1639/40, he purchased two acres of land in the First Fresh Marsh from his wife's cousin Oliver Purchase. In 1664, he deeded 12 acres of upland and salt meadow to his son, Thomas Swift, Jr.
His will dated April 26, 1675 was proved July 30, 1675, the inventory of his estate totaling £459 10s. 3d., of which £363 5s. was real estate.
The children of Thomas Swift and Elizabeth Capen, with children ii. through ix. of either birth record and/or only baptism record at Dorchester, Mass., were:
• i. Joan Swift, purportedly bapt. Nov. 20, 1631 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester, England, d. July 21, 1663 at Boston, Mass.; m. Nov. 5, 1657 at Boston (by Gov. John Winthrop), John Baker. Three children of the family, but two died in infancy.
• ii. Dea. Thomas Swift, Jr., b. June 17, 1635, d. Jan. 31, 1717/8 at Milton, Mass., Æ 83; m. 1) Dec. 9, 1657 at Dorchester, Mass. (by Maj. Atherton), Elizabeth Vose, dau. of Robert Vose, who d. at Milton, Mass. Jan. 15, 1674/5. Three known children of the marriage: Thomas, Elizabeth (Pratt) and William (d. unm.). Dea. Swift m. 2) Oct. 16, 1676 at Milton, Sarah Clap, who d. Feb. 4, 1716/7 at Milton. Three children of the marriage: Ebenezer (d.y.), John and Col. Samuel. [Revised 8/22/13]
• iii. Obadiah Swift, b. July 16, 1638, d. Dec. 27, 1690 at Dorchester, Æ 43; m. Mar. 15, 1660/1 at Dorchester (by Maj. Atherton), Rest Atherton, dau. of Maj. Humphrey and Mary Atherton, bapt. May 26, 1639 at Dorchester. She d. Nov. 3, 1708, Æ 70. Seven children of the family.
• iv. Elizabeth Swift, b. Feb. 26, 1639/40 (bapt. Jan. 24 1640/1); d. in her adolescence Sept. 6, 1657, Æ 17.
• v. Ruth Swift, b. Aug. 24, 1643, d. circa 1679 at Boston, Mass.; m. Oct. 10, 1660 at Boston as his 1st wife, Capt. William Greenough, namesake nephew of the husband of Ruth's 1st cousin Elizabeth Upshall of Boston. Seven children of the family. Capt. Greenough m. 2) circa 1680, Elizabeth Rainsford, who died before 1693. He d. Aug. 6, 1693 at Boston, Mass., Æ 52. There were four children by this second marriage.
• vi. Mary Swift, bapt. Sept. 21, 1645; m. Feb. 22, 1663/4 John White at Dorchester, Mass.
• vii. Anna Swift, bapt. Nov. 14, 1647; m. Aug. 19, 1664 Obadiah Reed at Dorchester, Mass.
• viii. James Swift, bapt. Mar. 10, 1648/9; d. in his youth Nov. 4, 1657.
• ix. Susanna Swift, bapt. Feb. 15, 1651/2, d. Mar. 2, 1731/32 (g.s.); m. Apr. 18, 1672 at Dorchester Elder Hopestill Clap, Sr. (by Mr. Stoughton), s. of Capt. Roger Clap and Joanna Ford, b. Dec. 6, 1647 at Dorchester. He d. Sept. 2, 1719 at Dorchester. Nine children of the family.
Edited/Revised 4/29/2023
On Oct. 18, 1630 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester in Dorset, England, Thomas m. Elizabeth Capen, dau. of Barnard Capen & Joan Purchase, b. AFTER Jan. 27, 1610/11 presumably at Dorchester, England. She d. Jan. 26, 1677/78 at Dorchester, Mass., Æ 67 (g.s.)
Thomas and wife Elizabeth immigrated to Dorchester, Mass. in about 1634 on the ship "Recovery." They were admitted to the Church of Dorchester and Thomas was made a freeman of the Mass. Bay May 6, 1635. He signed his mark Feb. 7, 1641 to an agreement to support a free school at Dorchester, Mass.
Thomas received various grants of land at Dorchester: five acres on Nov. 22, 1634, twenty acres for a "Great Lot" on Jan. 4, 1635/6, one acre of meadow in the fresh marsh on Feb. 18, 1635/6, one acre "near Goodman Munnings in the pine neck" on Jan. 2, 1637/8, and on March 18, 1637/8 he received three and one quarter acres and twelve rods in the Neck and the same amount of land in the Cow's Pasture. In Feb. 1639/40, he purchased two acres of land in the First Fresh Marsh from his wife's cousin Oliver Purchase. In 1664, he deeded 12 acres of upland and salt meadow to his son, Thomas Swift, Jr.
His will dated April 26, 1675 was proved July 30, 1675, the inventory of his estate totaling £459 10s. 3d., of which £363 5s. was real estate.
The children of Thomas Swift and Elizabeth Capen, with children ii. through ix. of either birth record and/or only baptism record at Dorchester, Mass., were:
• i. Joan Swift, purportedly bapt. Nov. 20, 1631 at Holy Trinity Church at Dorchester, England, d. July 21, 1663 at Boston, Mass.; m. Nov. 5, 1657 at Boston (by Gov. John Winthrop), John Baker. Three children of the family, but two died in infancy.
• ii. Dea. Thomas Swift, Jr., b. June 17, 1635, d. Jan. 31, 1717/8 at Milton, Mass., Æ 83; m. 1) Dec. 9, 1657 at Dorchester, Mass. (by Maj. Atherton), Elizabeth Vose, dau. of Robert Vose, who d. at Milton, Mass. Jan. 15, 1674/5. Three known children of the marriage: Thomas, Elizabeth (Pratt) and William (d. unm.). Dea. Swift m. 2) Oct. 16, 1676 at Milton, Sarah Clap, who d. Feb. 4, 1716/7 at Milton. Three children of the marriage: Ebenezer (d.y.), John and Col. Samuel. [Revised 8/22/13]
• iii. Obadiah Swift, b. July 16, 1638, d. Dec. 27, 1690 at Dorchester, Æ 43; m. Mar. 15, 1660/1 at Dorchester (by Maj. Atherton), Rest Atherton, dau. of Maj. Humphrey and Mary Atherton, bapt. May 26, 1639 at Dorchester. She d. Nov. 3, 1708, Æ 70. Seven children of the family.
• iv. Elizabeth Swift, b. Feb. 26, 1639/40 (bapt. Jan. 24 1640/1); d. in her adolescence Sept. 6, 1657, Æ 17.
• v. Ruth Swift, b. Aug. 24, 1643, d. circa 1679 at Boston, Mass.; m. Oct. 10, 1660 at Boston as his 1st wife, Capt. William Greenough, namesake nephew of the husband of Ruth's 1st cousin Elizabeth Upshall of Boston. Seven children of the family. Capt. Greenough m. 2) circa 1680, Elizabeth Rainsford, who died before 1693. He d. Aug. 6, 1693 at Boston, Mass., Æ 52. There were four children by this second marriage.
• vi. Mary Swift, bapt. Sept. 21, 1645; m. Feb. 22, 1663/4 John White at Dorchester, Mass.
• vii. Anna Swift, bapt. Nov. 14, 1647; m. Aug. 19, 1664 Obadiah Reed at Dorchester, Mass.
• viii. James Swift, bapt. Mar. 10, 1648/9; d. in his youth Nov. 4, 1657.
• ix. Susanna Swift, bapt. Feb. 15, 1651/2, d. Mar. 2, 1731/32 (g.s.); m. Apr. 18, 1672 at Dorchester Elder Hopestill Clap, Sr. (by Mr. Stoughton), s. of Capt. Roger Clap and Joanna Ford, b. Dec. 6, 1647 at Dorchester. He d. Sept. 2, 1719 at Dorchester. Nine children of the family.
Edited/Revised 4/29/2023
Inscription
Thomas Swift
Aged 76 Years
Dyed May ye 30
1 6 7 5
On the day Thomas died he was 75 years old, and Ætatis suæ (i.e., Æ, "Aged," in the XX year of his Age) 76, indicating he was b. AFTER May 30, 1599.
Gravesite Details
The Dorchester town records say he d. on May 4th and the preamble to his June 18, 1675 estate inventory says "who died May 4th 1675"whereas his gravestone says May 30th, but the 0 in the number 30 also appears to have been added after the fact.
Family Members
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