If you know of other web pages focusing on early settlers of Amesbury which you would like to see included in this list, contact Betsy Webber, Amesbury Town coordinator.
Eliphalet Swett (1716 - 1790)
Eliphalet Swett, a descendant of John Swett of Newbury, was born 7 March 1715/16 in Newbury, son of Benjamin Swett and Mary Wheeler. His father was the ferryman at the Newbury end of Swett’s Ferry (across the Merrimack River between Newbury and Haverhill at Holt's Rocks, four miles west of Amesbury).
Eliphalet Swett lived in Amesbury. He was a shipwright during the time when ship building was the major industry in Amesbury and Salisbury. He built his house on a high point of land overlooking the Merrimack River that is still known as “Swett’s Hill” with “Swett’s Hill Road” going up to his house from the river.
Eliphalet Swett married (1) Elizabeth Currier, 18 October 1739 in Amesbury. She was born 12 June 1719, daughter of John Currier and Judith Stevens. They had 8 children, born in Amesbury:
1. Zebulon Swett, born 26 June 1740. "He was killed with a cart wheall July 1743.”
2. Luke Swett, born 20 June 1742, married Hannah Dole, 9 May 1765. She was born 11 December 1744 in Newbury, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Knight) Dole. Luke Swett was a Lieutenant in the Revolution from Tewksbury, Massachusetts. After living in several towns, he settled in Danville, Vermont, where the 1790 census shows his family consisted of 2 males over 16 years of age and 8 females. He died in Newbury, 18 March 1817, aged 73.
3. Zebulon Swett, born 23 October 1743, died 2 October 1753, aged almost 10.
4. Elizabeth Swett, born 15 May 1745, died before 1801.
5. Mary Swett, born 4 December 1747, married a man named Abrahams before 1801. She died 4 September 1820.
6. Judith Swett, born 4 January 1749, died before 1801.
7. Sarah Swett, born 21 July 1750, died young.
8. John Swett, born 21 February 1751, died young.
Elizabeth (Currier) Swett, first wife of Eliphalet Swett, died 10 June 1755. He married (2) Miriam Lowell, 18 May 1756. She was born 20 January 1736, daughter of Stephen and Miriam (Collins) Lowell. They had 12 children, born in Amesbury:
1. John Swett, born 7 March 1757, died in August 1758, aged 17 months.
2. Benjamin Swett, born 14 October 1758, was a shipwright in Amesbury and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted 18 July 1776 and eventually received a bounty of $40. He died 20 September 1801, aged almost 43, unmarried.
3. Sarah Swett, born 26 October 1760, married Benjamin Merrill of Salisbury, 12 October 1782.
4. Enoch Swett, born 21 March 1762, married Molly (Mary) Fowler of Salisbury, 23 March 1788. They lived in Amesbury and had 8 children.
5. Eliphalet Swett, born 14 February 1764, died before 1801.
6. Miriam Swett, born 2 November 1765, married Zacheus Hunt of Salisbury, 24 April 1784.
7. Hannah Swett, born 4 September 1767, married Ezra Merrill of Salisbury, 3 June 1792.
8. Anna Swett, born 26 October 1769, married Daniel Fowler of Salisbury, 10 March 1791.
9. Abigail Swett, born 30 September 1771, married Joseph Brown, 24 November 1799.
“In portions of Amesbury and Salisbury on the 14th of August [1773] occurred one of the most violent tornadoes ever known in this vicinity. Although not lasting more than three minutes, it damaged or entirely prostrated about two hundred buildings. Two vessels were removed twenty feet from the stocks, one of which was of about ninety tons. One Capt. Smith was killed. It swept along about a quarter of a mile in width and a mile and a half in length near the river. [Among the extensive damages] ... Eliphalet Swett’s house half unroofed and barn moved down into a gully ...” [History of Amesbury, p. 247-248]
Two weeks later:
10. William Swett [my ancestor] was born 29 August 1773. He married (1) Sarah Wadleigh, and (2) Hannah Wadleigh. He lived in Amesbury and had 9 children.
11. Reuben Swett, born 11 August 1775, died in October 1775, aged 2 months.
12. Dorothy Swett, born 18 May 1777, died in August 1783, aged 6 years.
Eliphalet Swett died 6 June 1790, aged 74. He fathered his first child at age 25 and his last at age 61. He had 20 children and raised 10 of them. His 4 surviving sons were Luke, Benjamin, Enoch, and William. Luke moved to Vermont. Benjamin did not marry. Enoch and William had descendants who lived in Amesbury.
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Enoch Swett, born 21 March 1762, married Molly (Mary) Fowler of Salisbury, 23 March 1788. They lived in Amesbury. On 9 June 1808, apparently not long after his wife died, he was made guardian of the following children:
1. Elizabeth Swett, born 1788; married (1) John Rand, (2) John Mansfield.
2. Mary Swett, born 1790; married (1) Lewis Foot, (2) Capt. Ezra Merrill.
3. Sarah Swett, born 1792; married John Pettengill; died 16 Sep 1821, aged 29.
4. Eliphalet Swett, born 1796; married his cousin Mary Swett, 23 March 1817.
5. Benjamin Swett, born 1798; moved to Maine, died about 1850.
6. Hannah Swett, born 1801; married William H. Bagley.
7. Ruth Swett, born 1803; married Ezra Flanders of Southampton.
8. William Swett, born 1805; married and lived in Groton, Mass.
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William Swett [my ancestor], born 29 August 1773, married (1) Sarah Wadleigh, 5 November 1794. She was born 24 November 1776, daughter of Adam and Sarah (Greeley) Wadleigh. They had one child:
1. Mary Swett, born l7 February 1797, married her first cousin, Eliphalet Swett, son of Enoch and Mary (Fowler) Swett, 23 March 1817. They lived in Amesbury and had 11 children. He died 15 June 1860. She died 7 January 1876. They were both buried in Union Cemetery, Amesbury.
Sarah (Wadleigh) Swett, first wife of William Swett, died 18 March 1798. He married (2) Hannah Wadleigh, 23 January 1799. She was born 7 February 1779, younger sister of his first wife. They had 8 children:
1. Sarah Swett, born 26 November 1799, died young.
2. Sarah Swett, born 15 February 1803, died 28 February 1819, aged 16.
3. William Swett, Jr., born 16 January 1806, married Charlotte P. Sargeant. They lived in Amesbury and had 2 children.
4. Jonathan Swett, born 15 November 1808, died 27 May 1810.
5. Benjamin Swett [my ancestor], born 22 September 1811, married Elvira Cornish 25 December 1840 in Elkhorn, Walworth County, Wisconsin Territory.
6. Hannah Swett, born 24 February 1814, married Abner L. Bagley 9 December 1837.
7. John Swett, born 6 August 1817, died 11 June 1818.
8. Judith Swett, born 15 April 1819, married Moses Elbridge Wood of Haverhill 16 September 1840.
William Swett died 26 April 1821 in Amesbury, aged 47. His widow Hannah (Wadleigh) Swett died 15 April 1829 in Amesbury, aged 50.<
Submitted by Ben H. Swett
Website: http://www.swett-genealogy.com
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