William Swift (abt. 1695 - abt. 1734)

Born about 1695 in Kent, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Diana (Hodgkins) Swift — married 12 Jan 1722 in St. Dunstan's Church, Kent, England

Descendants

Died about 24 Mar 1734 at about age 39 in Louisa County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

William was born in 1695 in Kent, England. He was the son of Thomas Swift.

• William Swift, emigrant to Virginia in 1728,was born in England in 1696 and was a graduate of Cambridge University. He became a Minister of the Church of England. He married in May 1722, at St Dunstan's in the West, Diana Hodgkin. Before coming to Virginia he went first to Bermuda, where his two oldest sons were born. Arriving in Virginia, he he settled in St Martin's Parish, in that portion of Hanover County which in 1742 was cut off to form Louisa County, VA., and was the first Rector of that Parish which included Old Fork Church in Hanover County and Hollowing Creek Church in Louisa County, VA, the latter surrounded by land owned by Cleavers Duke who contributed the land on which the Church was built. There is no vestige of this Church at present
• In a letter to the Royal Government in England, Governor William Goochland of Virginia endorsed Rev William Swift, saying: "The last week came in hither Rev William Swift from Bermuda. He is much esteemed by those acquainted with him and appears to be a Gentleman very deserving...The allowance to ministers is but small; how he could have stay there as long as he did...especially as he had a family." [Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol 32, page 222; Meade, Vol. I, 467]
• Rev William Swift was granted the King's bounty in 1722 and was granted land in Goochland County, VA. [Land Book 14, page 329, date 1731]; 400 acres on the north side of the James River on branch of Deep Creek of Lickinghole, page 444; 400 acres on branch of Deep Creek of lickinghole [another tract], date 1732. He sold one of the above tracts just before his death and his son William Swift occupied the remaining tract. He died March 24, 1734. There is record of three of his sons, as mentioned below, although there have been other children
• 1. William Swift, born in Bermuda about 1723, married 1756, Frances Waddy, and died in 1808 [Douglas Register]
• 2.Thomas Swift, born in Bermuda about 1725
• 3.Richard Swift, born Aug 16, 1733
• 4.Mary Swift, married Nov 25, 1767 in Goochland County, James George, Jr

Education: Between 1717 and 1718 in University of Cambridge, England. graduation^[1]

Religion: Anglican^[2]

William was employed as a Anglican Priest.

Ordination: 1718 in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England. Note: ordained to the priesthood^[3]

Move: 1722 in Bermuda. Note: sent as a priest by George II^[4]

When William was about 27 he married Dianah Swift on 12 January 1722 in St. Dunstan's Church, Kent County, England. The couple had 2 children: William Swift and Thomas Swift.^[5]

Parish Served: 1728 in Hanover Co. VA. Note: St. Martin's Parish^[6]

Move: May 1728 in to Hanover County, Virginia.^[7]

Property: 1731 in Goochland County, VA. received a grant of 400 acres of land on the north side of the James River^[8]

Property: 1732 in Goochland County, VA. received a second grant of 400 acres of land^[8]

William died at the age of about 39 on 24 March 1734 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Heritage of Caswell County: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "after graduating from Cambridge University, England, in 1717 - 1718" Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
2. ↑ Religion: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
3. ↑ Ordination: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "was ordained priesst at St. Paul's Cathedral in London shortly after that magnificent masterpiece of architecture was completed by sir Christopher Wrenn. Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
4. ↑ Move: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "Following their marriage, the Rev. William Swift with his bride was sent to Bermuda by King George II, as clergyman for the Church of England, where he served until 1728 as rector of St. Peter's Church, St. George's Parish, the oldest Anglican Church in continuous use in the New World." Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
5. ↑ Marriage: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: After his ordination as priest, he married, on 12 January 1722, Dianah Hodgkins, at St. Dunstan's Church in Kent County England." Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
6. ↑ Parish Served: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "In Virginia, the Rev. William Swift and family settled in St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County, where he served as the first rector of that parish which included Old Fork Church and Hallowing Creek Church." Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
7. ↑ Move: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "William Swift, at the age of five was brought by his parents to Hanover County, Virginia, in 1728. In a letter dated 26 May, 1728, to the Royal Government in England, Royal Governor Wililam Gooch ofVirginia endorsed the Rev. William Swift, saying: 'This last week came hither Rev. William Swift from Bermuda. He is much esteemed.' " Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Property: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "In 1731, the Rev. Wiliam Swift received a grant of 400 acres of land in Goochland County, VA, on the north side of the James River, and, in 1732, he received a grant of another 400 acres, which included what today is a suburban residential section of the city of Richmond. He sold one tract before his death" Quality or Certainty of Data: 2 (accessed before 17 October 2012)
9. ↑ Death: UPD 12 MAR 2010 15:16:28 GMT-5 Title: The Heritage of Caswell County Publication: Caswell County Historical Association Call Number: 975.6575/H2h Note: xerox of pertinent articles in possesion of Linda McKinney. Citing: Page: article 708 by Vance E. Swift Data: Text: "In a letter dated 14 January 1735 to the Bishop of London, Governor Gooch reported that the Rev. William Swift died on March 24, 1734, leaving a widow and several small children." Quality or Certainty of Data: 3 (accessed before 17 October 2012)