• ID: I0219
  • Name: John SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: ABT 1590 in probably County Norfolk, England 1
  • Death: 13 Jan 1651/52 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 2
  • Note:
    John Swett of Newbury -- Stackpole # 1. [Swett Genealogy, Descendants of John Swett of Newbury, Mass., by Everett S. Stackpole; Lewiston, Maine, undated, published about 1914. The latest entries are dated 1913.]

    John Swett of Newbury has been the subject of much speculation. He is said to have come from Devonshire, in the west of England. [John Wingate Thornton, "Mementos of the Swett Family," 1851] He is also said to have come from the Isle of Guernsey, in the English Channel. [Simeon L. Deyo, "History of Barnstable County," 1890] Efforts have been made to link him to the Sweet families who settled in Rhode Island. [Trella Hall Manuscript Collection at the New England Historic-Genealogical Society] However, none of these secondary sources refers to primary sources that could prove where John Swett came from.

    Research among primary records shows that he had four of his children (Dorcas, Stephen, Joseph, and Benjamin) baptized in Wymondham Parish, Norfolk, England, 1618-1624. Therefore, he probably was born in Norfolk, in the east of England, and not in Devonshire or the Isle of Guernsey. The vital records of Charlestown, Massachusetts, show that his son John, Jr., was born in 1613, not 1603 as Stackpole has it. Thus, John Swett of Newbury probably was born about 1590 and not 1580 as some writers have assumed.

    The assumption that his wife was named Sarah is not supported. The vital records of Newbury (deaths) have "Swett, [--]ra, Dec. 11, 1650" with no indication of any relationship or even age at death. They also have "Swett, Phebe, wid., May 6, 1665." Careful study of the vital records of Massachusetts (nine compact disks) finds John Swett of Newbury was the only married man named Swett (or variant spellings) who died in Massachusetts prior to May 6, 1665. Thus, his wife was Phebe, not Sarah.

    John Swett of Newbury was a leather-worker, probably a cordwainer (shoe-maker) as several of his descendants were. He signed a pasture agreement at the settlement on Parker River 12 March 1642, was admitted to the Massachusetts Colony 18 May 1642, was one of the 91 Grantees of Newbury 7 December 1642, and died in Newbury 13 January 1652.

    Further details and documentation are available on my website.
    http://swett-genealogy.com/index.html


    Marriage 1 Phebe UNKNOWN b: ABT 1590 in probably County Norfolk, England
    • Married: ABT 1612 in probably County Norfolk, England
    Children
    1. Has Children John SWETT Jr. b: 1613 in probably Wymondham, Norfolk, England
    2. Has No Children Dorcas SWETT b: 31 May 1618 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England
    3. Has Children Stephen SWETT b: 18 Apr 1620 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England
    4. Has Children Joseph SWETT b: 21 Jan 1621/22 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England
    5. Has Children Benjamin SWETT b: 12 May 1624 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England

    Sources:
    1. Estimate based on the birth of his son John Swett, Jr., in 1613, and the baptisms of four of his children in County Norfolk, England.
    2. Newbury VR: "old" John Swett [quotation marks in the original]

  • ID: I0224
  • Name: Benjamin SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 12 May 1624 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England 1
  • Death: 29 Jun 1677 in Scarborough, Maine (killed by Indians)
  • Note: Stackpole # 5. Captain Benjamin Swett

    Father: John SWETT b: ABT 1590 in probably County Norfolk, England
    Mother: Phebe UNKNOWN b: ABT 1590 in probably County Norfolk, England

    Marriage 1 Hester WEARE b: 1629 in England
    • Married: 1 Nov 1647 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 2
    Children
    1. Has No Children Hester SWETT b: 17 Jun 1648 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    2. Has Children Sarah SWETT b: 7 Nov 1650 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    3. Has No Children Mary SWETT b: 7 Jan 1651/52 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    4. Has No Children Mary SWETT b: 2 May 1654 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    5. Has Children Benjamin SWETT b: 5 Aug 1656 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    6. Has Children Joseph SWETT b: 21 Jan 1657/58 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    7. Has Children Moses SWETT b: 16 Sep 1661 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    8. Has No Children Hannah SWETT b: 16 Mar 1664/65 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    9. Has No Children Elizabeth SWETT b: 2 May 1667 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    10. Has Children John SWETT b: 17 May 1670 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    11. Has Children Stephen SWETT b: 13 Sep 1673 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire

    Sources:
    1. Wymondham Parish Records. LDS Film # 1911510
    2. Newbury VR has "Nov. ___ [164-?]"

  • ID: I0314
  • Name: Stephen SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 13 Sep 1673 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire 1
  • Death: 1739-1746 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
  • Note: Stackpole # 12. He was a tailor and lived in Newbury. His will dated 22 March 1738/9 was probated in 1746. He served as a soldier in King William's War.

    Father: Benjamin SWETT b: 12 May 1624 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England
    Mother: Hester WEARE b: 1629 in England

    Marriage 1 Mary KENT b: 24 Oct 1674 in Kent's Island, Newbury, Massachusetts
    • Married: 27 Dec 1695 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 2
    Children
    1. Has No Children Sarah SWETT b: 6 Nov 1696 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    2. Has Children Benjamin SWETT b: 12 Apr 1698 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    3. Has Children Stephen SWETT Jr b: 7 Mar 1700/01 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    4. Has Children Joseph SWETT b: 7 Jun 1701 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    5. Has No Children Mary SWETT b: 7 Jun 1701 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    6. Has Children John SWETT b: 26 Dec 1703 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    7. Has Children Moses SWETT b: 12 Dec 1705 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    8. Has No Children Judith SWETT b: 12 Dec 1707 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    9. Has No Children Esther SWETT b: Jul 1709 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    10. Has No Children Abigail SWETT b: 25 Mar 1711 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    11. Has No Children Esther SWETT b: 4 Feb 1713/14 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    12. Has Children Joshua SWETT b: 7 Feb 1711/12 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    13. Has No Children Elizabeth SWETT b: 14 Jul 1718 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

    Sources:
    1. Hampton VR
    2. Newbury VR Intentions 7 December 1695

  • ID: I0783
  • Name: Joshua SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 7 Feb 1711/12 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 1
  • Death: in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine
  • Note: Stackpole # 33. Moved to Falmouth (Portland), Maine, 12 November 1762.

    Father: Stephen SWETT b: 13 Sep 1673 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    Mother: Mary KENT b: 24 Oct 1674 in Kent's Island, Newbury, Massachusetts

    Marriage 1 Hannah WEBSTER b: 26 Aug 1717 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    • Married: 19 May 1737 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts 2
    Children
    1. Has Children Stephen SWETT b: 26 Feb 1737/38 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    2. Has No Children Sarah SWETT b: 24 Sep 1743 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    3. Has No Children Abigail SWETT b: 29 Apr 1747 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    4. Has No Children Hannah SWETT b: 26 Aug 1749 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    5. Has No Children Susanna SWETT b: 9 Aug 1755 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

    Sources:
    1. Newbury VR
    2. Salisbury VR

  • ID: I1218
  • Name: Stephen SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 26 Feb 1737/38 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 1
  • Death: in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
  • Note: Stackpole # 71. Stephen Swett (Joshua4, Stephen3, Benjamin2, John1), born in Newbury, Mass., 26 Feb 1738, married, 30 March 1758, Elizabeth, dau. of John and Mary (---) Hale, born 1 March 1740. He signed a petition for the fourth parish in Falmouth (Portland) Maine, 17 Aug 1764. Three sons are known. The daughters are here given by conjecture. Res., Westbrook, Me. [Stackpole's Swett Genealogy, p. 44]

    Father: Joshua SWETT b: 7 Feb 1711/12 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    Mother: Hannah WEBSTER b: 26 Aug 1717 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire

    Marriage 1 Elizabeth HALE b: 1 Mar 1740/41 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    • Married: 30 Mar 1758 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 1
    Children
    1. Has Children Israel SWETT b: 31 Dec 1758 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    2. Has Children Elizabeth "Betsey" SWETT b: 7 Sep 1760 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    3. Has No Children Mehitable SWETT b: ABT 1762 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
    4. Has Children Joshua SWETT b: 10 Jan 1763 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
    5. Has Children John SWETT b: ABT 1775 in Standish, Cumberland, Maine
    6. Has Children Stephen SWETT b: 1780 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
    7. Has Children William SWETT b: ABT 1782 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
    8. Has No Children Mary SWETT b: ABT 1785 in Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine

    Sources:
    1. Newbury VR

  • ID: I1225
  • Name: Israel SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 31 Dec 1758 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts 1
  • Death: AFT 1836
  • Note:
    Stackpole # 131. Israel Swett, baptized in Newbury, Mass., 31 Dec. 1758, married in Portland, Me., 20 Sept. 1781, Mary Freeman Haskell. He was living in Falmouth in 1790. He was of Standish in 1794. Israel Swett, joiner, and wife Sally sold their homestead of 83 acres in Chesterville, Me., 27 June 1807. See deed at Augusta, Me. The History of Paris, Me., shows two children. There may have been others. Israel Swett was a revolutionary pensioner at age of 76.

    Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution [posted on Ancestry.com] has:

    Israel Sweet, Private, Capt. Tobias Lord's Company, marched 5 August 1776; service to 31 August 1776, 27 days; company stationed at Falmouth. [Vol. 15, page 291]

    Israel Sweat, Private, Capt. Tobias Lord's Company, service from 31 August 1776 to 25 November 1776, 2 months, 25 days; company stationed at Falmouth for defense of the seacoast. [Vol. 15, page 286]

    Israel Sweet, Private, Lieut. Colonel's Company of Col. Joseph Vose's Regiment; Continental Army pay accounts for service from 1 January 1777 to 31 December 1779. Also: Capt. George Smith's Company of Col. Vose's Regiment; muster roll for December 1777 sworn to at Camp near Valley Forge; enlisted 1 January 1777; enlistment, 3 years. Also: same company and regiment, payrolls for November and December 1778 and February 1779 sworn to in Quarters at Providence. Also: (the late) Capt. George Smith's Company of Col. Vose's Regiment, muster roll for March and April 1779, dated Quarters Providence. [Vol. 15, page 291]

    Israel Swett of Falmouth: return of men raised to serve in the Continental Army from Col. Peter Noyes's (1st Cumberland Co.) Regiment, dated 20 November 1778; residence, Falmouth; engaged for town of Falmouth; joined Capt. Smith's Company of Col. Patterson's Regiment for a term of 3 years. [Vol. 15, page 308]

    The 1790 Census for Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, has Israel Swett as head of a family consisting of 1 male 16 or over [himself], 1 male under 16 [an unknown son born 1781-1790], and 3 females [his wife, an unknown daughter born 1781-1790, and daughter Sarah born about 1790].

    Israel Swett; residence, Cape Elizabeth; place of enlistment, Falmouth. [Maine, Revolutionary War Bounty Applications 1836-1837]


    Father: Stephen SWETT b: 26 Feb 1737/38 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    Mother: Elizabeth HALE b: 1 Mar 1740/41 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

    Marriage 1 Mary Mercy Freeman HASKELL b: BEF 1765 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine
    • Married: 20 Sep 1781 in Portland, Cumberland, Maine
    Children
    1. Has No Children Sarah SWETT b: ABT 1790
    2. Has Children Israel SWETT Jr b: 25 Apr 1796 in Standish, Cumberland, Maine
    3. Has Children Ivory SWETT b: 1802 in Brunswick, Cumberland, Maine
    4. Has No Children Benjamin SWETT b: 18 Feb 1803 in Oxford, Oxford, Maine
    5. Has No Children Huldah SWETT b: 12 Mar 1805 in Paris, Oxford, Maine

    Sources:
    1. Newbury VR

  • ID: I2720
  • Name: Israel SWETT Jr.
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 25 Apr 1796 in Standish, Cumberland, Maine 1
  • Death: AFT 1870 in Biddeford, York, Maine
  • Note:
    Israel Swett was born in Standish 25 April 1796, married widow Olevia Goold, daughter of Captain Moses Libbey of Scarborough, and moved to Paris in 1837. Children: Betsey, born 1824, died 1825; John Goold, born 20 July 1826, married Lydia Fuller; Moses L. born 1 November 1827, lost in gale of 1821 [1851] on fishing banks; Edward E., born 1 September 1830, married Rebecca Coffin, s. Kennebunk; Henry L., born 1 June 1834, married Harriet Bryant; Olevia, born September 1836, died August 1837. [History of Paris, Maine, from Its Settlement to 1880]

    The 1870 Census for Biddeford, York, Maine, has:
    Israel Swett, 74, farmer
    Olivia Swett, 73, keeping house


    Father: Israel SWETT b: 31 Dec 1758 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts
    Mother: Mary Mercy Freeman HASKELL b: BEF 1765 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine

    Marriage 1 Olivia LIBBY b: 24 Jan 1797 in Scarboro, Cumberland, Maine
    • Married: 18 Mar 1824 in Scarboro, Cumberland, Maine 2
    Children
    1. Has No Children Betsey SWETT b: 1824
    2. Has Children John Goold SWETT b: 20 Jul 1826 in Paris, Oxford, Maine
    3. Has No Children Moses L. SWETT b: 1 Nov 1827 in Paris, Oxford, Maine
    4. Has Children Edward Erastus SWETT b: 1 Sep 1830 in Paris, Oxford, Maine
    5. Has Children Henry L. SWETT b: 1 Jun 1834 in Paris, Oxford, Maine
    6. Has No Children Olevia SWETT b: Sep 1836

    Sources:
    1. History of Paris, Oxford, Maine
    2. Marriage record has Olivia Gould, her married name.

  • ID: I5242
  • Name: Edward Erastus SWETT
  • Sex: M
  • Birth: 1 Sep 1830 in Paris, Oxford, Maine 1
  • Death: AFT 1880 in Biddeford, York, Maine
  • Note:
    The 1870 Census for Biddeford, York, Maine, has:
    Edward E. Swett, 39, sailor
    Rebecca C. Swett, 35, keeping house
    Moses L. Swett, 14, sailor
    Minnie O. Swett, 8
    Edward R. Swett, 6
    Mary B. Swett, 2
    Katie S. Nash, 14
    Johnathan Emery, 31, sailor

    The 1880 Census for Ward 1, Biddeford, York, Maine, has:
    Edward E. Swett, head, 49, b. Maine, parents b. Maine; machinist
    Rebecca C. Swett, wife, 45, b. Maine, parents b. Maine
    Bertie M. Swett, dau, 12, b. New Hampshire
    Isabel D. Swett, dau, 10, b. Maine
    Harry A. Swett, son, 8, b. Maine


    Father: Israel SWETT Jr b: 25 Apr 1796 in Standish, Cumberland, Maine
    Mother: Olivia LIBBY b: 24 Jan 1797 in Scarboro, Cumberland, Maine

    Marriage 1 Rebecca C. COFFIN b: 1835 in Maine
    • Married: 4 Oct 1854 2
    Children
    1. Has Children Moses L. SWETT b: 1856 in Biddeford, York, Maine
    2. Has No Children Minnie O. SWETT b: 1862 in Biddeford, York, Maine
    3. Has No Children Edward R. SWETT b: 1864 in Biddeford, York, Maine
    4. Has No Children Bertha M. SWETT b: 31 Oct 1867 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire
    5. Has No Children Isabel D. SWETT b: 1870 in Montville, Maine
    6. Has Children Harry Alfred SWETT b: 1872 in Biddeford, York, Maine

    Sources:
    1. History of Paris, Oxford, Maine
    2. Pedegree Resource File by Carol J. Hayward

  • ID: I6157
  • Name: Isabel D. SWETT
  • Sex: F
  • Birth: 1870 in Montville,  Maine 1

    Father: Edward Erastus SWETT b: 1 Sept 1830 in Paris, Oxford, Maine
    Mother: Rebecca C. COFFIN    b: 1835 in Maine

  • Marriage 1  Frank A. Knowlton b: July 9, 1865 in Liberty, Maine
  •      Married:  June 10, 1890

  • Children: 

  •    1.  Donald Swett Knowlton  b: Fairfield, Sept   6, 1893
    •       2.  Frank Watson Knowlton   b: Fairfield  June   4, 1900
          3.  Edith Ellen Knowlton         b: Fairfield, Oct. 25, 1906


    • Frank A. Knowlton
    Died in Fairfield:  Feb. 7, 1929
    Residence: Winchester St., Fairfield
    Length at residence: 41 years
    Previous residence: Belfast, Maine
    Date of Birth: July 9, 1865
    Age: 63 yrs., 8 months, 2 days.
    Name of father: John Watson Knowlton
    Birthplace of father: Liberty, Maine
    Father's occupation: RR mail clerk
    Maiden name of mother: Aseneth Brown
    Birthplace of mother: Liberty, Maine

    Frank Watson Knowlton
    male, born June 4, 1900 in Fairfield
    Second child of Frank A. Knowlton and Isabel D. Swett residing in Fairfield
    Father's occupation = dentist, 
    Mother's occupation = milliner,
    Father's place of birth = Liberty, Maine, 
    Mother's place of birth = Montville, Maine,
    Attending physician = F.J. Robinson
    <>Sources: Public Records,  Liberty, Maine