The Swift Family of Dorchester, Dorset and Dorchester, Suffolk, MA
Parents:
Children of Robert Swift:
Parents: Thomas Swift 4 and Rachel Stockbridge
Ruth Swift married Thomas Barnes.
Parents: Thomas Swift 3 and Elizabeth Tomson
Thomas Swift 4 married Rachel Stockbridge on 28 Jun 1711 in Scituate. [Ref]
Children of Thomas Swift 4 and Rachel Stockbridge:
Parents: Thomas Swift 2 and Elizabeth Vose
Thomas Swift 3 was born on 30 (5) 1659 in Dorchester. [Ref]
He is problematic. He died before his father and, in his will, his father appears to suggest that his son Thomas, might not really be his son. Vose [Ref] says that he was unmarried, but is usually claimed that married Elizabeth Tomson. Some, however, suggest that Elizabeth married a William Swift.
Children of Thomas Swift 3 and Elizabeth Tomson:
DEA. THOMAS SWIFT 2 (1635 - 1718) of Dorchester, MA
Parents: Thomas Swift 1 and Elizabeth Capen
Thomas Swift 2 was born on 17 (4) 1635 in Dorchester. [Ref] He died on 31 Jan 1717/8 in Milton. [Ref] He married first Elizabeth Vose on 9 (10) 1657 in Dorchester. [Ref] She died on 15 Jan 1675 in Milton. [Ref] He married second Sarah Clap on 16 Oct 1676 in Milton. [Ref] She died on 4 Feb 1717/8. [Ref]
Thomas Swift was a yeoman. [Ref]
On 23 Feb 1663, Mr. Vose signed a deed formalising a 1659 gift of 19-3/4 acres to his son-in-law Thomas Swift. [Ref] On Mar 1663/4 Thomas bought 16 acres of upland and meadow in Dorchester from his father. [Ref] Before 3 Mar 1671/2, he bought three acres bounding his own land from George Badcock. [Ref] In 1693 he bought five acres bounding his land from Nathaniel Pitcher and built a house on it. [Ref] This was his residence for the rest of his life. [Ref] His son Samuel later lived there. [Ref]
Thomas was a quarter master and cornet during King Philip's war. He was a Selectman in Milton every year but 1677 from 1668 - 1707. [Ref] He was deputy to the General Court in 1692-3. [Ref] He was a founder of the the first church in Milton, signing the covenant on 24 Apr 1679. [Ref] On 20 Aug 1682 Brother T. Swift was ordained as a deacon of the church in Milton. [Ref]
He left his land to his sons John and Samuel and £100 to his daughter Elizabeth Pratt and her children. His son Thomas had already died. He left Thomas, the "reputed" son of his son Thomas 20 shillings, plus the £20 pounds that he had already promised him, saying, "... and he shall have no more of my estate." [Ref]
Children of Thomas Swift 2 and Elizabeth Vose:
THOMAS SWIFT 1 (abt 1600 - 1675) of Dorchester, Dorset and Dorchester, MA
Parents: Robert Swift
Thomas Swift was born about 1600 and died on 30 May 1675, aged 75 years. [Ref,Ref says he died on 4 May] He is buried in the Old Dorchester burial ground. [Ref] His gravestone says "Thomas Swift / Aged 75 Years / Dyed May ye 30 / 1675". [Ref] He married Elizabeth Capen on 18 Oct 1630 at Holy Trinity, Dorchester, Dorset. [Ref]
Thomas was a freeman on 6 May 1635 in Dorchester. [Ref][Ref]
Thomas is on a 1641 list of inhabitants of Dorchester. [Ref] He or his son Thomas signed a petition in Dorchester on 19 Oct 1664, as did an Obadiah Swift. [Ref]
He wrote his will on 26 Apr 1675. [Ref]
Children of Thomas Swift I and Elizabeth Capen:
A James Swift died in Dorchester on 9 (9) 1657. [Ref]
Elizabeth Swift died on 6 (9) 1657 in Dorchester. [Ref]