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Richard Swain

(1595-1682)

Christened Richard Swain on 21 September 1595, Berkshire England , the name Richard Swayne was used until he moved to Natucket from the mainland.

Other spellings of the name in England during the period 1500-1600's show Swaine, Swain, Swain, in addition to Swayne. His children, Francis, Nicholas, Grace, Richard and John are listed in christening records as either Swaine or Swayne. One son, the first Richard, Jr., died as an infant in England.

In most instances the name Swayne or Swain(e) is derived from the Old Norse word sveinn which meant "boy, servant; peasant" depending on its use in the sentence. It came to England with Danes and Norwegians and was altered there to suein, suen, swan, etc. Svein was first used as a descriptive term before becoming a surname. Burke's Armory describes the Coat-Of-Arms for one Swain or Swaine, one Swaine and four Swaynes...each of them different. According to some authorities Richard Swayne of St. Albans, England who came to America aboard the TRUELOVE in 1635, living first at Rowley, Massachusetts Bay in 1635, and then at Hampton in New Hampshire. This was in line with William Swayne of Salisbury, England, who was granted the Coat-of-Arms, 20 June 1444, later confirmed by a descendant of the same name, of London, in 1612. This is the same Coat-of- Arms found in Scotland in 1100, but without the Motto.

A record of the births of four of the children of Richard Swayne are found in Easthampstead County, England: Nicholas, Grace, Richard, and John Swayne. After Richard Swayne took his family to America in 1635, there seems to be no other family of that name living in Easthampstead for nearly 60 years. St. Albans, England is northeast of London.

Of others using the name Swayne, Swain or Swaine, who came to New England early were: William, mentioned by Savage as "William Swain, Gentlemen", born 1585, came to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635: was afterward one of a commission sent to govern the colony of Connecticut.

A William Swain was in Branford after 1636. Jeremiah Swain was at Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1638 and one of the first settlers of Reading, Massachusetts. The third was Richard Swayne who came to Rowley, Massachusetts in 1635. It is not known if there was any relationship between these three early settlers of New England.

In Virginia, the following headrights in county land grants were made to Stephen Swaine in Surry County in l635. Some genealogical researchers have confused him with Stephen Swain of Nantucket who went to Chowan County, North Carolina about 1690. A Thomas Swain(e) and his wife were in James City in 1638 and another Thomas Swain was in New Kent in 1682.

In North Carolina, 32 families of Swains were property taxpayers in the period 1717 - 1779 . The 1790 United States Census lists one or more of the spellings Swain, Swaine, and Swains in Connecticut, Georgia (Reconstructed) , Maine, Massachussets, New Hampshire, New York, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. The 1790 Census lists Swaims and Swains in the same counties so it would appear that Swaims were once Swains. The fact that the name Sveyn appears in England in 1045 and in Scotland in 1250 would reinforce the priority of Swain.

Richard Swayne/Swain sent his wife Elizabeth and the children to New Hampshire in April 1635 and he followed in September of that same year.

It is known that Elizabeth and the children did not arrive on the same ship, the older children on one vessel and the mother and younger children on another. An early historian states that the children who sailed separately from their mother were with friends on the ship Rebecca. These were sons, William and Francis; and Nicholas, Grace and John came with their mother on the ship PLANTER. Some records state a daughter named Elizabeth was a passenger on the ship SUSAN AND ELLEN. This was not the daughter of Richard Swain since his daughter was not born until he settled at Hampston, New Hampshire

Richard Swain arrived in America in 1635 as stated above, and he and the family first lived in the small town of Rowley, Massachusetts, then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Later he moved to Hampton where he is listed among the first settlers. That was in the autumn of 1638 and the settlement was called "Winnacunnett" according to the History of Hampton. Later the Reverend Steven Bachelor ( Bachiler), one of the early petitioners, requested the name be changed to Hampton.

Included in the History of Hampton are many references to Richard Swain and his role as a leading citizen of the town. His wife was referred to as "Basselle" but this name is not found in any of the records from England. On an early map of the town of Hampton, New Hampshire one notes the names of some of the children of Richard Swain. Also shown are names of many of the early settlers, some remaining in Hampton and others migrating to Nantucket after its purchase from Thomas Mayhew.

It was at Hampton that the last child of Richard and Elizabeth Swain was born in 1636, Elizabeth Swain. It was here also where his wife, Elizabeth, died in 1657. In 1658 he married a widow, Jane Godfrey Bunker, whose first husband was George Bunker, who had died at sea leaving her with five small children. One of them was William Bunker who married Mary Macy (1648-1712), daughter of Thomas Macy (1612-1682. The oldest son of Richard Swain, William, also died in 1657 having lost his life at sea on a voyage from Hampton to Boston.

In 1659 the problems for Quakers increased and many of the inhabitants began to search for a haven of safety where they could live in peace. By1660 Richard Swain had turned his property over to his daughters and moved with sons John and Richard, Jr. his new wife and stepchildren, to the Island of Nantucket. In 1659, he and his son John Swain, were two of the ten original purchasers of Nantucket Island from Thomas Mayhew for thirty pounds silver and two "Beaver Hatts".

Ten Original Purchasers of Nantucket

Tristram Coffin

Thomas Macy

Christopher Hussey

Richard Swain

Peter Coffin

John Swain

Thomas Barnard

Stephen Greenleaf

William Pike

Thomas Mayhew

What brought Richard Swain and others like him to America so long ago when they were desperate to brave the unknown of a new colony across the ocean? The voyage was long and dangerous in vessels that were small and propelled only by sail. Why did he send his family alone and who were the friends that traveled with the family arid perhaps sheltered them until Richard arrived in America? It must have taken great courage on the part of Richard and Elizabeth to leave their home in England, and especially to travel separately not knowing if they would ever see each other again. We can only speculate about the reason for their leaving in the first place, but from 1633-1535, those immigrants from England were seeking more religious freedom from the confines of the Church of England. During a period of time before this migration, the future of the "puritans" in England was so black that thousands finally fled to America where they founded the Colony of Massachusetts. A study of events during that time will show that they did not like the control of the church by the bishops and the type worship service that except for being conducted in English rather than Latin, could not be distinguished from the Catholic Church.

Early in the history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, religious persecution began. A series of acts was perpetrated in the name of the law, that in our present age seems incredible. It is ironic that those who left England to seek religious freedom found conditions worse in their newly chosen land. It appears that many of those Puritans or Separatists joined the Society of Friends in America, and even before the first Quaker arrived in Massachusetts the General Court had appointed a Fast Day, "to seek the face of God in behalf of our native country in refernce to the abounding errors, especially those of Ranters and Quakers". Men and women were scourged from one town to another, imprisoned, banished from the Colony, hurt, mutilated and humiliated. This spirit had in 1658 and 1659, reached an extreme point.

Quakers were banished from the Colony under the pain of death if they returned , or, if they were found within its jurisdiction after a limited time, the penalty was the same as return after banishment.

Citizens were prohibited from harboring them, mingling with them or advocating or encouraging their religion. It appeared to be more intense in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. One law was enacted forbidding the Indians to worship in their own manner on English ground, punishing blasphemy with death, etc. Open renunciation of the church or its order was punishable by a fine of 50 shillings per month for each month of heresy.` Disobedience of parents or denying the Scriptures to be the word of God was punishable with death. A man must be orthodox to hold office or vote. Complaint to the home government brought local whipping and banishment.

In 1655, a law was passed that "no Quaker be entertained by any person or persons with this government;, under penalty of L5 for every such default, or be whipped" This was amended in October 1657, making the fine forty shillings per hour For every offense. Under the Provisions of this law, several Quakers were arrested and imprisoned. On the 18th of October 1659, the "Court understanding that several inhabitants of this jurisdiction have lodged Quakers now in prison, do order that the secretary issue out a warrant to the several persons & send them same by messenger of purpose to bring them with speed to this court to answer for their offense therein" These persons were: James Rawlins, Anthony Emery, Thomas Spencer, Richard Nason, Richard Swain, Zaccheus  Gould and Thomas Macy. Two of the Quakers imprisoned, William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson., were hanged in Boston on the 27th of December 1659. All those named were fined except James Rawlins who is said to be more innocent and ingenious than the rest:, he was only admonished by the Governor.  Richard Swain was fined three pounds and disenfranchised. Thomas Macy paid thirty shillings and was admonished by the Governor.

The above record and his release from the church at Hampton seems to be the only involvement Richard Swain had with the Society of Friends, but later a good many of his descendants on Nantucket embraced the Quaker faith. As the population of the Island grew many of these Quaker families decided to move to other parts of the United States and we find several families departing together and living near each other as they settled in the south and midwestern states. It is evident that the first white settlers of Nantucket were God-fearing people, but in addition to the Quakers, there were Baptists, some Presbyterians, Puritans and Separatists, among those leaving New England to migrate to other locations across America. It is believed that Richard Swain may have been a part of a Puritan group from England. Peter Folger embraced Quakerism and so did John Swain, the oldest son of Richard Swain. Stephen Hussey and John Swain could not agree with each other on the matters of religion so John Swain finally stopped his participation in the affairs of the Society of Friends. Stephen Hussey was the husband of Martha Bunker, step-daughter of Richard Swain.

 

It was during this time of persecution of Quakers that Richard Swain and others, started looking into the possibility of finding a better place to rear their families. During the summer of 1659 Tristram Coffin made a visit to some of the offshore islands, and when he visited Martha's Vineyard he learned that Thomas Mayhew was willing to dispose of Nantucket. He went there, liked what he saw, found out that the Indians would agree to satisfactory terms, made a report to his friends and neighbors, and as a result purchase of the Island was made by Thomas Mayhew, who retained a share for himself, but did not go to Nantucket, nor did all the men named in the deed. Richard Swain bought the half share of William Pike who was one of the "half Share Men" selected by the original purchasers.

 

 

The original purchasers of Nantucket were allowed to select partners which were called "Half Share Men" who later it was learned, were not to share in the political control of the Island. At least that was the intent of the original purchasers. Most of the "Half Share Men" were tradesmen and were needed to perform the essential services of the growing community. The attempt to retain the political control of the early proprietors caused some friction and turmoil later on and caused a split among those first inhabitants that took some time to resolve. This "revolt" occured about 1673 amd the half share group were joined by other men who came from the mainland to the island later , many of them during the King: Philips War, seeking temporary residence.

 

The Half Share Men were selected early in 1659 when the first purchasers met at Salisbury, Massachusetts, and approved or agreed that the "ten owners will admit of Ten more partners who shall have liberty to take a partner who he pleases not being justly Expected against by the rest."

 

There was no mention if anyone was turned down by the group initially selected as a partner. John Swain took as his partner Thomas Look who married Elizabeth Bunker, the oldest step-daughter of Richard Swain. Although Thomas Look went to Nantucket and resided there for a number of years he and his family moved to Martha's Vineyard to live. A number of the first purchasers selected kin or neighbors as partners, so most of them knew each other before moving to Nantucket.

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