Ebenezer Swain (abt. 1689 - bef. 1756)

Born about 1689 in Cape May, Province of West Jersey [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 18 May 1756 before about age 67 in Cape May, Province of New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile manager: H Husted [send private message]

Biography

Ebenezer's father Richard died in 1707. On 25 October 1708, a petition for guardianship by his brother Jonathan stated Ebenezer was 19. Date of birth is therefore estimated as 1689.

"1708 Oct. 25. Ebenezer, 19 yrs. old, and Alamuwell (Lemuel), 16 yrs., sons of Richard, petition that their brother Jonathan be appointed their gardener (guardian)."^[1]

Ebenezer Swain married Mary Jeacocks about 1710.^{[2][citation needed]}

Children

1. Daniel
2. James
3. Silas
4. Mary Townsend
5. Ruth Mulford

Five of their children are named in his 1755 will, which was proved May 1756.

Abstract of will^[3]

"1755, Dec. 12. Swain, Ebenezer, of Cape May Co., mariner; will of; Wife, Mary. Children--Daniel, James, Silas, Mary Townsend, Ruth Mulford. Homefarm; land adjoining Timothy Hand; interest upon Five-Mile Beach; part of a mill; land between Reuben and Daniel Swaine; personal estate. Executors--sons Daniel and Silas. Witnesses--Ruth Swain, Mary Forkland, Francis Taylor. Proved May 18, 1756. Cape May Wills, 179 E.

Research Notes

There is a birth record for an Ebenezer Swan born 10 Dec 1686 in Rowley, Massachusetts to a Hannah and Richard Swan but it seems not possible this is the same Ebenezer.^[4]

Wife is said to be Mary Jeacocks, daughter of William Jeacocks and granddaughter of [Jeacocks.] The genealogy I got from Wright's Colonial Families of Cape May seems to have been noted incorrectly and I attributed her as his daughter rather than granddaughter, so I need to review that biography and get primary sources before I create her. Husted-87 22:25, 31 July 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Richard Swaine. Calendar of Wills, 1730-1750. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, XXX, 449-450
2. ↑ SAR application
3. ↑ Ebenezer Swain. Calendar of Wills 1751-1760. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, XXXII, 315.
4. ↑ Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (The Essex institute, Salem, Mass., 1928-31), p. 212