Joseph Swift I (1731 - 1806)

Born 24 Jun 1731 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Husband of Margaret (McCall) Swift — married 3 Feb 1759 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 26 Dec 1806 at age 75 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Joseph Swift was born June 24, 1731 in England, the second son of John Swift and Mary Keen. He was brought to Philadelphia with his brother John by his father around 1738 to be in the care of his uncle John White. They returned to England in 1747 to further their education, again with White's support. He attended school at Manchester and was considered an exceptional scholar.

Returning to Philadelphia, he joined his brother in business for many years. He was elected to the Common Council of Philadelphia October 6, 1767 ; chosen to be on the Board of Aldermen under the Act of March 11, 1789. Joseph was one of the committee of Philadelphia merchants who secured the refusal of John Hughes to make any effort to enforce the provisions of the Stamp Act, and was honored with ‘a vote of thanks’ by the Assembly of New Jersey, passed October 1769, for their patriotic action on their behalf.

He served as vestryman or Warden of Christ Church for forty years. As Deputy for Christ Church, he signed "The Act of Association of the Clergy and Congregations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania" in 1785. That same year, he joined one of the first boards of Trustees of the new Protestant Episcopal Academy. Of particular significance was his signing the Non-importation Resolution October 25, 1765. [See below]. He was admired for his scholarship and prepared many official documents.

Along with William West, Joseph purchased at sheriff’s sale a large farm of 374 acres. It had once been owned by the family of Robert Fulton; the inventor was born in the homestead. The property was passed on to his son John W. Swift.

Joseph was, with his brother John, a beneficiary of his uncle John White’s estate.

He died December 24 or 26 1806. and was buried in Christ Church Ground, Philadelphia. "...a good Brother, a tender and excellent Father, and the true and best friend of one of the most worthy and affectionate of Wives, he merited and enjoyed the perfect esteem of all who knew him in that private walk."

He married Margaret McCall (1731-1804) in Philadelphia on February 3, 1759. Margaret was the daughter of George McCall and Anne Yeates.

Joseph and Margaret had fourteen children all born in Philadelphia:

• Eleanor Swift b. 1-6-1760: d. unm. 9-19-1787
• John White Swift b. 3-12-1761; d. 11-19-1761 d/y
• Anne Swift b. 7-19-1762; d. 12-30-1764 d/y
• Mary McCall Swift b. 8-7-1763; d. 12-9-1855
• George Swift b. 1764; d. 9-9-1794; received BA from University of the State of Pennsylvania in 1781; m. and had issue
• Joseph Swift b. 12-14-1765
• John White Swift (first child with this name died at 9 months) b. 3-5-1767; d. 5-15-1852
• Margaret McCall Swift b. 3-20-1768; d. 5-9-1822; m. John Shippen 5-19-1831
• Martha Swift b. 10-30-1769
• Samuel Swift b. 1-12-1771; d. 11-28-1847 Germantown, Philadelphia County Pa.; received a BA in Arts from the University of the State of Pennsylvania in 1786; m. Mary Shippen 2-11-1795. They are buried in one tomb in Trinity Church yard, Oxford
• Elizabeth Swift b. 4-1-1772; d. unm. 1-24-1857
• Ann Swift b. Nov. 1773; buried 4-5-1774 [first child named Ann d/y]
• Archibald Swift b.?; d. 12-5-1779
• William Swift b.?; d. unm. ?

All children, except Samuel, were buried in Christ Church Ground, Philadelphia, where Margaret and Joseph were buried in the same tomb.

Research Notes

Resolution of Non-Importation Made by the Citizens of Philadelphia

This resolution was a reaction to Britain’s increasing trade regulations on the American colonies, exemplified by the Stamp Act 1765 and the Townshend Act 1767. It was an attempt to force British recognition of their political rights through economic pressure. The signers were agreeing to a boycott of almost all English goods. The movement began in New England and moved southward. Colonial non-importation resolutions were often organized by the Sons of Liberty and Whig merchants. Joseph Swift was on the committee of Philadelphia merchants who secured refusal of John Hughes to make any effort to enforce provisions of the Stamp Act, and was honored by a vote of thanks by the Assembly of New Jersey passed October 1769, for patriotic action on their behalf.

Sources

• Colonial And Revolutionary Families Of Pennsylvania, by John W. Jordan, p. 120
• Balch Family Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Collection 3058
• Keen, Gregory B. “The Descendants of Jöran Kyn, the Founder of Upland (Continued).” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 6, no. 3, 1882, pp. 329–341. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20084563. Accessed 10 Sept. 2020.
• Letters and Papers Relating to the Provincial History of Pennsylvania with Some Notices of the Writers, by Thomas Balch. Privately printed, Philadelphia: Crissy & Markey Printers, Goldsmith Hall, Library St. 1855
• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• britanica.com
• Balch, Thomas Willing, et al. "The Swift Family of Philadelphia." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 30, No. 2 (1906), pp. 129-158. Published by University of Pennsylvania Press. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20085329.

• Harris, Alexander. A Biographical History of Lancaster County…Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Elias Barr and Co., 1872, pp 607-608.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11323184/joseph-swift: accessed March 12, 2024), memorial page for Joseph Swift Esquire (24 Jun 1731–24 Dec 1806), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11323184, citing Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by DeLoss McKnight III (contributor 46605619).

• File: Media Format: jpg. Joseph Swift by John Wollaston.File: http:/trees.ancestry.comrd?f=document&guid=7d25cfa6-d24d-4830-9f8c-9d90d1a279ff&tid=172758218&pid=272. Format: pdf.williamswiftclergymanFile: http:/trees.ancestry.comrdf=document&guid=9b9f01d0-b1f44446-9895-3515d2edd3e8&tid=172758218&pid=272. Format: pdf. Christ Churchyard Inscriptions.