USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Swanzey > The history of Swanzey, New Hampshire, from 1734 to 1890 > Part 6
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
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GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY.
former divisions) in ranges in various parts of the township. The lots were about 170 rods in length and 60 in width. Lot number 1 was laid west of the house lots and south of the Ashuelot river, near the sand bank ; the northwest corner being near the river bank, its length being from north to south. Numbers 2 and 3 were laid west of number 1, being numbered from east to west. A range of the lots was laid on the hill which lies between Swanzey Centre and West Swanzey ; the most northerly lot was number 4 which was located not far south of the road leading from the Centre to West Swanzey ; the most south- erly was number 18, and at present is part of the farm of Sylvander L. Whitcomb. Numbers 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 were on the hill southeast of West Swanzey extending to the north end of Swan- zey Pond. Numbers 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 were laid on the east of the South Branch and on the present road which runs from the Iron Bridge, near the town house, to Keene, and passes through these lots. East of, and adjoining these lots was another range numbered 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43. Number 44 was northeast of said Iron Bridge. Numbers 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 were between West Swanzey and Westport on the east side of Ashuelot river. Numbers 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 were on the west side of the road leading through the cen- tre of the town. The southeast corner of lot number 51 was near Pond Brook Bridge. Number 63 was the minister lot, and the most northerly one in the range. The east line of these lots, south of the house lots, was where the road now runs ; and the east line of those west of the house lots was on the west line of the house lots.
The names of a few of the present owners of these lots are here given : number 26, Charles H. Rockwood ; 28, Phineas Gay ; 30, A. S. Blake ; 38, Leander Page ; 42, G. W. Eastman ; 53, W. C. Beld- ing ; 54, R. Hovey ; 55, A. B. Cook; 59, M. C. Stone ; 62, George Carpenter.
At a proprietors' meeting held at the house of Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, October 26, 1737, "Voted that Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, Benjamin Heywood, Charles Lumis, Samuel Hills and Thomas Cres- son be a committee to lay out the fifth division and qualify the lots. Voted that the committee shall pitch and lay out the lots for the min- ister and ministry.
Voted that each of the proprietors shall pitch his lot and shall draw lots for his pitch ; and he who draws No. 1 is to make his pitch on the sixth day of March next, and he who draws No. 2 shall pitch on seventh day of March and so on till they are all pitched." The under-
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
standing of the proprietors in voting to have the committee "lay out the lots and qualify them" was to add land to those lots of inferior quality to make the lots of equal value. Each proprietor in turn had the privilege of going anywhere into the undivided land, make his se- lection, and lay it out in just such shape as he chose. As may be supposed these lots were laid out in every conceivable shape, as the description and plans in the proprietors' records plainly show. The description of a few of these lots may serve as specimens.
"This plan describes a 5th division lot lying in Swanzey, pitched according to a vote of the proprietors and laid out to David Belding and to house lot No. 44, containing by estimation one hundred acres, and bounded as follows : Beginning at a Basswood tree on the brink of the river in line of the Old Mill Farm, then running easterly with said Mill Farm till it comes to a 4th division lot No. 24; then south- wardly bounding on 4th division lot till it comes to lot No. 45 in the 4th division ; then westwardly bounding on No. 45 till it comes to Hyponeco meadow, so-called ; thence northwardly with said meadow till it comes to the river; then northwardly by said river till it comes to the bound first mentioned. Laid out October 21, 1758.
DAVID BELDING, Surveyor.
JONATHAN HAMMOND, THOMAS CRESSON, Committee."
DAVID BELDING,
"This Plan Describeth a Fifth Division Lot Lying in Swanzey Con- taining 120 acres pitched agreeable to a vote of the Proprietors and Laid out by Thomas Cresson to the House Lott No. 46 Bounded as follows : First Beginning at a Hemlock Stump on the west side of the River y" Running Down the River bounding on said River 256 Rods to a Pitch pine Tree standing near the Bank of the River as may ap- pear by the Plan ; y" turns N. 29° E. 112 Rods to a white Pine; yn East 52 Rods to a White Oak Stump ; y" E. 70° S. 38 Rods to a Stake ; y" S. 18° W. 52 Rods ; y" E. 38º S. to the Stump first mentioned ; y" running over the River and turning up the River until it comes to the mouth of the Branch to the Corner of the House Lot No. 1 ; yn turn- ing west bounding on said House Lot to the River as Doth appear by this Plan. Laid out April the 1, 1775.
DAVID BELDING, Surveyor.
DAVID BELDING,
THOMAS CRESSON,
Committee."
JONATIIAN HAMMOND,
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GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY.
"This plan describes one division lot lying in Swanzey pitched agreeable to a vote of the proprietors to the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, June 5, 1759, and to house lot No. 55; said lot originally belonged to Charles Prescott, containing 100 acres and one rod in forty for swag of chain ; and bounded as follows : Beginning at the N. E. cor- ner at a hemlock tree in the town line marked (S. H.) ; then runs west and south with the third division of interval land 260 rods to a white pine which was the corner of a third division lot; then runs south 59° east 140 rods to a red oak tree marked S. H. in Richmond line ; then runs N. 39° E. to the first mentioned bound.
DAVID BELDING, Surveyor.
DAVID BELDING,
JONATHAN HAMMOND, Committee." THOMAS CRESSON,
The settlers, having spent their first winter in the township, appear to have been in a healthy condition in the spring of 1738, and took hold of the work of a public nature that lay before them, with vigor.
At a proprietors' meeting March 15, Nathaniel Hammond was chosen moderator, Jonathan Hammond and Thomas Cresson survey- ors of highways ; Nathaniel Hammond, Thomas Cresson and Samuel Hills, assessors ; N. Hammond collector, and John Evens treasurer for the year ensuing.
Voted to raise two pounds ten shillings on each right to fence the intervale if each proprietor does not do his part of said fence.
Voted that Benjamin Brown, Jonathan Hammond and William Carr be a committee to run the lines between the second division lots.
A meeting was duly called to meet at the house of Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, November 6. After Capt. Hammond was chosen mod- erator the meeting adjourned for a quarter of an hour to meet at the house of Jethro Eames.
Chose Benjamin Brown of Concord proprietors' clerk ; and voted that the proprietors' book be kept in the town for the future.
"Voted to raise the sum of 40 shillings on each right, or the sum of 120 pounds for encouragement towards building a grist mill upon the 'Great River' near to where the saw mill now stands in said town- ship, to him or them that shall appear to enter into bonds to build the same on or before the first day of September next ensuing."
At a meeting held Dec. 28 it was voted, "That the piece of land be laid common for the use of the town forever that lies between the
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
two tier of house lots for a burying place and training field, and for any other use the town shall think proper."
Voted, "That the committee that was chosen to see to the building of the meeting house be a committee likewise to see to the cutting down of the trees and clear a place to set the Meeting House on, and for a burying place."
Voted, "That each of the proprietors shall have liberty to work out his equal part in falling the trees and clearing the above-mentioned road and common land where the meeting house is to stand &c., be- tween the first day of February next ensuing and the last day of Feb- ruary following."
Voted, "That the Proprietors will buy 18 lbs. of Powder & 36 lbs. of Lead for a proprietors' stock, and shall be left in the hands of Capt. Nathaniel Hammond for the use of said Propriety."
Voted, "That Nathaniel Gunn, Jonathan Hammond and Benjamin Brown be a committee to agree with all those men that have any land wanting in their second or third division Lots, and lay out to them an equivalent for the same in some of the undivided land in said Town- ship, or in the equivalent land that is granted and is to be laid out for what this Township interfered upon Arlington."
Voted, "That the Proprietors will pay for building a windlass to draw logs out of the saw-mill pond on to the mill, and shall be kept for the use of the propriety."
Voted, "That Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, Messrs. Jethro Ames, William Carr, Ephraim Jones and Nathaniel Gunn be a committee to look out a convenient place to lay out the equivalent land that is granted by the Great and General Court for the land that was taken away by interfering upon Arlington."
It appears that the piece of land appropriated at this meeting for public uses was not large enough for the designed purpose and sub- sequent changes were made as is shown by the accompanying diagram and report.
" This Plan Describeth the Hous Lotts in ye Lower Ashuelot town- ship so called Laid out in part By Mr. Nathaniel Dwight in May 1734 and since thien agreeable to a vote of sd. propriaotors theares Been Considerable alteration made in thiem from ye waiey they ware first proposed to be laid out by a Committee chosen for that end (as ap- pears by this plan) by Laying a peace of Land common for setting up an house for publick worship, &c. and bounding the eastwardly End of ye Lotts on the Eastward side of the Road on ye second and third
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NORTH
William Grimes
No. İ
No.63
Thomas Gresson
No. 2.
No. 62
William Scott
No. 3
No. 61
John Evans
No. 4
No. 60
James Heaton
No. 5
No. 59
William Care
NO. 6
No. 58
Samuel Belding
Charles Lumis
NO. 7
NO. 57
No. 8
No. 56
Samuel Chamberlain
No. 9
No. 55
Timothy Brown
NO. 10
No. 54
William Arms
No 11
No. 53
Jethro Eames
No. 12
No. 52
Samuel Farnsworth
NO. 13
No. 51
No. 14
No. 50
NO. 15
MEETING
No. : 49
Abraham Graves
School
NO. 16
No. 48
Rev Timothy Harrington
NO . 17
No. 47
John
NO. 18
HILL.
No. 46
Jonathan Frary
Benja Brown
NO. 19
No. 45
Ellakim King
No. 20
No. 44
David Belding Samuel Mitchell
NO. 21
No. 43
No. 42
Samuel Gunn
No. 22
No. 41
Nath Gunn
No. 23
No. 40
Andrew Gardner
NO. 24
NO. 39
NO. 25
No. 38
NO. 26.
No. 37
Nathaniel Hammond
No. 27
No. 36
28
NO.
Joseph Hammond
NO.
No.30 --- NO:31
Plan of Town St. with settlers names so far as known, in 1747 when the town was abandoned.
Jonathan Hammond NO 32
No 33
No. 34
SOUTH.
No.35
29
Thomas Hammond Samuel Hills
House.
HOUSE
Chamberlain
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GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY.
Division Lotts and on ye westwardly side of ye Road thears sum va- riation made in ye Roads between ye Lotts viz. the Road of four Rods wide on ye south side of ye Lott is added to sd. Lott in full satisfac- tion for ye Road of four rods wide taken out of the north side of ye Lott No. 25 which was don by agreement of ye committee and ye per- son who is ye present propriator (or owner) of said No. 21 & 25 and likewise by a free consent of ye present owner of ye Lott No. 31 ye Road is turned in at ye north Eastwardly corner of it and Runs some- thing angling Cross sd Lott Leaving part of it on ye South and South Eastwardly side of ye Road as appears by this plan.
Laid out in December 1739 By BENJA BROWN Surveyor
THOMAS CRESSON, SAM' GUNN, Committee."
BENJA BROWN,
A number of proprietors' meetings were held during the year 1739. The most important objects considered were to provide preaching, to settle a minister, to clear off the trees upon Meeting House Hill Com- mon, to lay out and build a road from the saw mill to Arlington, to build a bridge over the South Branch and a road to Upper Ashuelot. The bridge over the Branch was necessary for going to Upper Ash- uelot and to their meadow lots. Its location was nearly opposite the William Carr place.
Oct. 19 it was " Voted to build a pound 35 feet square and 7 feet high, to be set on the easterly side of Meeting House hill." Mr. Ephraim Jones was chosen "to go to the General Court to get confirmed a plan of the equivalent land laid out to said proprietors by order of a committee from the General Court on the easterly side of said Town- ship." The " equivalent land " spoken of was ungranted land taken from outside the township to make up to the proprietors what they lost by the corner in the southwest part of the original township be- longing to Arlington. In 1740 the proprietors were greatly disturbed when they ascertained that they were not inhabitants of Massachu- setts. After a long contest the boundary line between the two prov- inces was now established, and found to be some six miles south of the southern line of the township. They had anticipated no such de- cision as this. They were all from Massachusetts and supposed they were building in a Massachusetts town. They knew Massachusetts, and felt that she would render them any assistance that might be needed for the protection of frontier towns. They knew but little
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
about New Hampshire. They were strangers to her people and knew not what treatment they might receive from her goverment. The near- est towns that had been settled under the auspices of New Hampshire were in the Merrimack valley. Though disappointed in finding them- selves located in New Hampshire instead of Massachusetts they were not discouraged. They changed somewhat their contemplated plans, and gave their attention to building a schoolhouse instead of a meet- ing house as had been proposed. The Congregational Church was formed Nov. 4, 1741, and Rev. Timothy Harrington was settled as pastor.
In those towns in the Connecticut and Ashuelot valleys which had been settled under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts no particular change took place in their affairs for some years after the establish- ment of the boundary line in consequence of the change then made. Massachusetts continued to furnish soldiers for garrison duty in the forts which it had built, and New Hampshire gave no indication of her willingness to accept them and provide for their maintenance. Massa- chusetts at last became dissatisfied with the state of affairs and the settlements became alarmed in view of their situation and exposure to Indian raids.
Fort Dummer was situated on the west side of Connecticut river, about five miles north of Massachusetts line, and at this time within the bounds of New Hampshire. It was built by Massachusetts about 1724, for the protection of her frontier settlements, had been garri- soned and supported by her till 1744, when, finding it without her ju- risdiction and within that of New Hampshire, she naturally thought the latter province should be at the expense of its support. An ex- tended correspondence was entered into by Governors Shirley of Massachusetts and Wentworth of New Hampshire ; action was taken by the legislative bodies of the two provinces and by the King's Coun- cil that had been petitioned to solve the difficulty. New Hampshire pleaded her poverty ; that the fort would serve as a protection to only one or two of her towns, and those granted by Massachusetts ; that Massachusetts was rich and able to support it and that its advantages were largely in her favor.
May 3, 1745, the New Hampshire Assembly by a large majority re- fused to make any grant for the support and maintenance of the fort. Soon after this Assembly was dissolved by the Governor, a new one chosen and qualified, and, June 5, reversed the action of the previous Assembly, and voted to receive and garrison the fort. During the controversy delegates were chosen from Winchester, Upper and Lower
MAJ
I, WEST SWANZ
STREET,
AUTOGLYPH PRINT,
w.
ALLEN
GARUNER,
MASS.
MAIN STREET, WEST SWANZEY.
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GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY.
Ashuelot and No. Two (Westmoreland) to meet at Fort Dummer, March 20, 1744, and see what might be done by petition or otherwise for " help and protection in this time of danger."
Nathaniel Hammond and Thomas Cresson were the delegates from this town.
This controversy about the fort should be regarded as having been a test question whether New Hampshire would or would not assume the responsibility of protecting the few settlements that had been made in the Connecticut and Ashuelot valleys.
It should be said in justice to New Hampshire for its reluctance that it was assuming a great responsibility to undertake their protec- tion. The province was not strong and it gave her a very extended frontier to defend against the French and Indians, and it was reliev- ing Massachusetts of a responsibility that really belonged to her as much as it did to New Hampshire.
At a legal meeting held October 3, 1740, it was unanimously voted to petition the " Kings Most Excellent Majesty" setting forth their dis- turbed condition and asking to be annexed to the province of Massa- chusetts Bay. It was also unanimously " voted that Thomas Hutch- inson, Esq., be impowered to present the petition to His Majesty and to appear in behalf of the petitioners and act according to his best judgment."
" Nathaniel Hammond, Abraham Graves and John Evans were chosen a committee, December 22, 1740, to finish the fort which had been begun around Capt. Nathaniel Hammond's house, as soon as the season would allow, and to build two more forts when there should be occasion for them." The second fort was to be built around John Evans' house, and the third one upon Meeting House hill. Ham- mond's house was upon house lot No. 27, and Evans' was doubtless upon one of the most northerly house lots. The committee for build- ing the forts were authorized to pay eight shillings a day for the labor performed upon them.
At a proprietors' meeting March 16, 1741, Abraham Graves and Samuel Hills were chosen surveyors of " heywaies ;" Thomas Crison and William Carr " fence vewers ;" Jonathan Hammond and David Belding field drivers and Samuel Hills and Charles Lumies "hogreaves."
Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, Ephraim Jones of Concord and Timo- thy Brown were chosen a committee to sell the equivalent land ; John Chamberlain was allowed damages by reason of the "hey waiey " crossing his "meadow lott where the bridge now stands on the South Branch."
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
" Voted that the fence Round the Enterveal in the Great Meadow shall be done up according to Law by the fiveteenth day of April next and that the meadow be clear of Cattle by the first of May next."
War was commenced between Great Britain and France in 1744, and the English and French colonies became involved in it. The French authorities in Canada incited the Canadian Indians to commit barbarous hostilities upon the English frontier settlements. It does not appear that any depredations were made in this vicinity in 1744, but in each of the four following years the inhabitants suffered greatly. (See Chapter II.)
A party of Indians that had been committing depredations in North- field, April 15, 1747, left there the following night and came to Lower Ashuelot and burned the town, every building but one being destroyed. Immediately preceding this date the township had been abandoned. It appears that on account of the Indian war very few accessions were made to the settlement during the time that intervened between the establishment of the boundary line on the south of the province and the time when the township was abandoned.
Those who had made a settlement remained and made the best they could of the situation while those who contemplated coming deferred it until more prosperous times.
The following may be considered a nearly correct list of the names of the men who had a permanent residence in the town previous to its abandonment, together with the place from which each came and the time when the names first appear on the records :
Capt. Nathaniel Hammond, Littleton, Sept. 17, 1737.
Samuel Hills, Sunderland, Sept. 17, 1737.
Samuel Farnsworth, Sept. 17, 1737.
Thomas Cresson, Sunderland, Sept. 17, 1737.
Charles Lumis, Bolton, Sept. 17, 1737.
William Carr, Deerfield, Sept. 17, 1737.
Jethro Eames, Oct. 10, 1737.
Jonathan Hammond, Littleton, Oct. 10, 1737. John Chamberlain, Oct. 10, 1737.
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William Grimes, Lancaster, Oct. 10, 1737.
John Evens, Bolton, Oct. 26, 1737.
Samuel Gunn, Sunderland, Nov. 6, 1738.
Benjamin Brown, Concord, Nov. 6, 1738.
Nathaniel Gunn, Dec. 28, 1738.
Samuel Mitchel, Dec. 28, 1738.
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GENERAL OUTLINE HISTORY.
William Scott, Oct. 9, 1739.
David Belding, Weathersfield, Conn., Dec. 28, 1738.
Andrew Gardner, Oct. 9, 1739.
Abraham Graves, Hatfield, Dec. 6, 1739.
Timothy Brown, Brookfield, Apr. 4, 1740.
Rev. Timothy Harrington, Cambridge, Nov. 4, 1741. .
Nathaniel Hammond, Littleton, Nov. 4, 1741.
Thomas Hammond, Littleton, Nov. 4, 1741.
Eliakim King, 1743.
James Heaton, Wrentham, Nov., 1743.
Samuel Belding, Weathersfield, Conn., Dec. 12, 1743.
William Arms.
Joseph Hammond, Littleton, 1744.
Charles Eames, Sept. 28, 1746.
Samuel Chamberlain, Sept. 28, 1746.
Samuel Hills, jr., Sept. 28, 1746.
Timothy Hammond, Littleton, Sept. 27, 1746.
Jonathan Frary, previous to 1747.
Of these thirty-three persons John Evens removed about 1743 to Hinsdale ; Nathaniel Hammond, jr., died Oct. 9, 1743; Samuel Gunn died Nov. 7, 1743, and Timothy Hammond died Sept. 27, 1746. Dea- con Timothy Brown buried two wives ; Capt. Nathaniel Hammond and Thomas Hammond each buried his wife; William Carr buried five children ; Jonathan Hammond buried three and a number of others buried one child each.
The plan facing page 46 may be regarded as a nearly correct rep- resentation of the house lots, roads, forts, burying ground and places where the settlers had located previous to its abandonment and de- struction by fire at the hands of the Indians. Among those whose location is doubtful are Jethro Eames, Andrew Gardner and Samuel Mitchel. We infer that Joseph Hammond, Nathaniel Hammond, jr., Timothy Hammond, Charles Eames, Samuel Chamberlain and Samuel Hills, jr., were young men without families and we have given them no location presuming they had none separate from that of their fathers.
The main road as first laid out as represented on the plan of the house lots was where the road now is at the north and south ends, and the angle was on the hill. The road ran just west of the old ceme- tery. The northeast corner of house lot No. 18 was near the great surface rock on the Ezra Carpenter place. The road that was sub- sequently laid out on the east side of Meeting House hill as it diverged from the main road, passed through what is now the southeast corner
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
of the cemetery and near the hearse house leaving the small hill on the east side of the road.
The brick church stands on house lot No. 24. Capt. Nathaniel Hammond's house lot was No. 27 on which was erected the first house and around which was built the first fort. At present it is the Virgil Woodcock place. The names of the owners and occupants of the several house lots, so far as is known, at the time the town was abandoned, are given on the plan, which with this exception is a fac- simile from the proprietors' records.
It was about twelve years from the time that work was commenced in the township to the time it was abandoned. During this time much land had been brought under cultivation, many houses had been built, a saw and grist mill constructed, a schoolhouse erected, a church or- ganized and a minister settled.
The settlers scattered among their friends in Massachusetts, thank- ful that they had escaped captivity, but sorrowful to leave their newly found homes and so much of the little property they possessed to be destroyed by the Indians.
During the years that intervened before their return some attempts were made to realize a little income from their lands they had left. It is said that cattle were killed at Upper Ashuelot in 1748, and it was this same year that Taylor's party were ambushed while on their way from Northfield to the places of the Ashuelot settlements. Of this party were Thomas Cresson who was captured; Asahel Graves who was killed, and perhaps others of the settlers who were anxious to view the desolations of their former homes.
In 1748 England and France made peace, but the Indians contin- ued their raids upon the frontier settlements till 1749. Some fami- lies may have returned to Lower Ashuelot as early as 1751, but prob- ably only a few came before 1752.
The township was chartered by New Hampshire, July 2, 1753, and "took the name of Swanzey. It is not known by whose influence the town took this name. That it was the result of some connection that some of the early settlers had with Swansea in Wales is probable. It has been conjectured that some of the first settlers were from Swan- sea, Massachusetts, and that that supposition suggested the name. But there is no recorded evidence that any of them came from that town.
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