Swearingen 2nd Generation
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Generation No. 2
2. Garrett2 Vansweringen (David Janse1 Swieringh) was born February 04, 1635/36 in Beemsterdam, Holland, and died February 04, 1697/98 in St. Marys County, Maryland. He married (1) Barbarah de Barrette March 01, 1658/59 in Dutch Colony, New Amstel, Delaware, daughter of Isaac De Barrette and unknown. She was born 1636 in Valenciennes, France, and died 1670 in St. Mary's County, Maryland. He married (2) Mary Smith October 06, 1676 in St. Marys Co., Md.. She was born Unknown in St. Mary's.
Notes for Garrett Vansweringen:
To better understand the role of Gerratt Van Swearingen here is are some dates concerning the first European settlements in America.
1607 Jamestown founded by London Company merchants.
1609/10 Henry Hudson agrees to explore for the Dutch East India Company to find a way west to India, finds Delaware Bay and claims it in the name of Holland.
1621 Dutch West India Company formed.
1624 Dutch West India Company settles on Manhattan Island.
1632 Swedish West India Company formed, settled on Delaware River.
1635 Widely scattered English and Swedish settlers captured by Dutch and taken to Manhattan Island
1637 Swedish under Peter Minuit, earlier Governor of New Amsterdam, now working for Swedish company built Fort Christina on the West side of the Delaware River on land bought from the Indians.
1640 Dutch built a colony just below Fort Christina
1646 Gov. Stuyvesant from New Amsterdam built Fort Casimir at what is now New Castle Delaware to strengthen the Dutch position on the Delaware.
1654 Fort Casimir captured by the Swedes.
1655 Gov. Stuyvesant, with a force of 700 men from New Amsterdam took back settlements around Ft. Casimir on Sept. 5, and after a bloodless seige of 14 days, took Ft. Casimir back from the Swedes.
1656 The Dutch West India Company, facing financial difficulties, gives Ft. Casimir and surrounding plantations to the City of Amsterdam, retaining New Amsterdam (New York) and their other possessions.
Garret Van Swearingen was born in 1636, in Reensterdwan (Beemsterdam) Holland. When he was about twenty years old, the Dutch West India Company "sold out its interest to the city of Amsterdam" and the Dutch government appointed Garret "supercargo" (officer in charge) to the ship "de Prince Maurits". His ship sailed from Textel, on December 21, 1656 for New Amstel, Delaware.
The ship stranded off Fire Island on Long Island, NY on March 8, 1657. Another ship, the "Beaver" was sent from New Amsterdam (New York) on April 16, 1657 to fetch the stranded passengers, who reached Delaware on April 25, 1657. There he "tooke possession of the Fort called Newcastle and the soldiers of the West India Company quitted the same." (Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1684-89.)
Garrett Van Sweringen wrote the following letter to Amsterdam:
"New Amstel, December 8, 1659
Noble, Worshipful, Wise, Right, Prudent Sir:
With due respect and reverence, have I hereby taken the liberty to greet you, though bound in duty of gratitude, to devote to you all the days of my life,...I cannot neglect, hereby to communicate my promotion. About a year and a half after my departure from Patria, with your Honor's favorable rcommendation, I have been appointed Sherriff here subject to the approbation of the Honorables the Principals. Previously, I have taken care of the store as a clerk; and after J. Rynevelt's death, as comissary, from which I have not requested to be discharged, as I have, though unworthy, been
made Second Councilor, with Sir Alexander Hinojossa, First Councilor, and Captain of the military here, who intends to go over in the spring to represent this miserable place.
If things become worse I, individually, am ruined, for I have received here some goods from my brothers, all of which I have laid out in a house, horses and mules, which cost me full four to six thousand guilders, Holland currency.
Besides that, I am also married.
Herewith I commend your Honor to the mercy and protection of the Most High God and Remain
Your obedient, humble servant, G. Van Swearingen".
History of Chester County, by Futhey and Cope, Pub. 1881 has these citations for
Gerrit Sweringer: Pg. 363. under "Officers of the Colonies on the Delaware' 1614-81,
(Officers of the Dutch on the Delaware): Garrit Van Sweringen; 1660. Sheriffs or Schouts; 1660 Gerrit Van Sweringen. Officers of the Colony of the City: Secretaries, Assistant, Garrit Van Sweringen.
He married Barbarah de Barrette in 1658/59 and the couple returned to Holland in 1660 where they remained about one year. While in Holland he served as one of the "Counsell and Comissary Generall for the Citty of Amsterdam," his purpose being " to remonstrate the condition of the said Colony and to encourage the Citty of Amsterdam to goe on with their designe..." His purpose was to convince the Dutch government not to give up on their Delaware Colony. On 27 August, 1661 he was appointed Council to New Amstel.
They returned to New Amstel on November 24, 1661, on the ship "the Purmerland Church" along with 43 other passengers. The passenger list was signed by G.V. Sweringen where he is listed as "Sir Garrit van Schweringe, wife, man-servant and maid".
In a letter to Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General of the New Netherlands from William Beekman in Amsterdam, Gerratt Van Swearingen was called "The Honorable President, Van Swearingen."
In 1664 the colony was captured by the British soldiers of Charles II, under the leadership of Robert Carr and although Gerratt was allowed to continue in his various offices Delaware became the Dominion of the Duke of York.
A deposition by Gerratt Van Swearingen, made in1684, regarding the British capture of New Amstel is as follows:
"In the year 1664 arrived Col. Nicolas, sent out by his majesty King Charles II, whereupon the Fort and country were brought under submission by Sir Robert Carr, and deputied with two ships for that intent. Sir Robert Carr did often protest to me that he did not come as an enemy, but as a friend, demanding only in friendship what was the King's own in that country. There was taken from the City and the inhabitants thereabout, to the value so near as I can now remember, of four thousand pounds sterling, likewise arms, power and shot in great quantity. Four and twenty guns were the greatest part, transported to New York.
The Dutch soldiers were taken prisoner and given to the merchantmen that were there, in recompense of their services: and into Virginia they were transported to be sold, as were credibly reported by Sir Robert Carr's officers and other persons there living in town.
All sorts of tools for handicraftsmen, and all plough gear, and other things to cultivate the ground, which were in great quantity: besides the estate of Governor Debouissa and myself, except some household stuff and a negro I got away; and some other movables, Sir Robert Carr did permit me to sell.
Colonel Nicholas, understanding what Sir Robert Carr had got at Delaware, took all again from the said Sr. Robert Carr, when the said Colonel came there again in person, as I was informed when I was upon my way to Maryland."
He was obliged to relocate to St. Mary's City, St. Mary's County, Maryland. In spite of his marriage to the Hugenot, Barbara De Barrett he remained a staunch Roman Catholic, and was not welcome in some parts of British America.
On April 13, 1669, Garrett, his wife and two oldest children filed a petition for naturalization as British citizens. The other child, Thomas, was born after the British takeover and was therefore a citizen at birth. As follows:
"To the Right Honorable, the Lord Proprietory of the Province of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baltimore.
The Petition of Garrett Van Swearingen, Elizabeth De Barette, wife of the said Garrett, Elizabeth and Zacharias Van Swearingen, children of the said Garrett and Barbara...all residents and inhabitants of this Province, humbly sheweth unto your Lordship:
The Petitioner Garrett Van Swearingen was born in Reenstwerdam, Holland, under the dominion of the States of the United Provinces: Barbara De Barette, his wife, in Valenciennes, in the Low countries, belonging to the King of Spain: Elizabeth and Zacharias Van Swearingen their children in New Amstel, on Delaware Bay, then under the government of the said States General..and your petitioners being now removed into this province..being invited to come and dwell in this Province upon confidence of your Lordship's Declaration of July 2, 1649, whereby you did empower your Governor to grant lands to any persons of French, Dutch, Spanish, Swedish, or other foreign descent, in as ample manner, and upon the same terms, as to any persons of British or Irish descent.
And during their abode in this Province your Petitioners have been faithful and obedient to your Lordship's Law; yet for that your Petitioners are not of British or Irish descent they cannot take benefits of the laws and customs of this Province, as the good people of British and Irish descent.
May it please your Lordship, out of your abundant goodness and care that your Petitioners shall henceforth be adjudged as natural born people of this Province of Maryland, or as if they were of British or Irish descent as foresaid, and that they shall be enabled to prosecute and defend all manner of actions and other demands, as liberally and frankly as if they have been naturally born within this Province of Maryland or were British or Irish descent, and Laws or customs of this Province to the contrary notwithstanding. And your Petitioners shall as in duty bound pray &c."
About 1666 he bought a a 200 acre plantation in Talbot County, MD. He sold this property on February 13, 1667 and acquired 100 acres "lying on the East side of wickliffes creeke in St. Georges river" in St. Mary's County. (Proceedings of the Provincial Court of Maryland 1666-70).
Barbarah de Barrette, his Hugenot wife, born in Valenciennes, France, died about 1670. Six years later Garret married Mary Smith whose parentage is not known.
Garrett was an "innholder" at St. Mary's, as well as in Talbot county. Lord Baltimore appointed him alderman in 1668. In 1674 he built the city's stocks and whipping post. His home, known as the "Council House" was the where many early laws of Maryland were formulated and passed. He served as Sheriff from 1686 to 1688. He provided lodging and entertainment to visiting government officials until his death. During the period 1680 to 1692 the Upper house of the General Assembly of the Province of Maryland held their meeting at his home in St. Mary's City.
Here is some information about his home in Maryland from various contributors to the Genforum Swearingen website.
1 - From: Tidewater Maryland Architecture and Gardens - a Sequel to Early Manor and Plantation Houses of Maryland, by Henry Chandlee Forman, published 1956. One chapter is on The "Rose Croft In Old St. Mary's City". This house was built on what is referred to an "an important and commanding town site...where the two principal waterways, St. Mary's River and St. Inigoes Creek, join. There were two homes on this same spot before the present dwelling was built. The first was probably built about 1641.
The croft, as the Anglo-Saxons once called a farm, is situated in the city of St. Mary's the oldest settlement of Maryland, at the furthest extremity of pine-bordered Mattapany Steet, the first highway of this Province. It lies sequestered upon a headland carrying the bygone name of St. Inigoes Neck, and even the town, of which it is a part, seems remote. The second house of the Transitional Syle, was erected to include the basement of the first. Its date of building may have been about 1706, although from the standpoint of architectural criteria, the date of 1724 when Mary Van Sweringen held the premises is just as acceptable. At one time or another the Van Sweringens seem to have owned nearly every tract along the town bank of St. Inigoes Creek. The father of the family went by the name of Monsieur Garret van Sweringen. He was the former Sheriff of the Dutch Colony on the Delaware, who had publicly broken his sword against his knees after the capture of his settlement by the English. In St. Mary's City, in 1672, he owned the Town House within the Fort, and when it burned he had means sufficient to rebuild it with brick.
Be that as it may, Mary Van Sweringen had a charming timber-framed dwelling at the Rose Croft. The gable ends were brick, the long sides of wood, and roof was a gambrel. At the rear of the Great Room and parlor were two cells or aisles as are often met with in Transitional houses. One of these was a little office, the other was the stair passageway. The shell-carved cupboards in the Great Room were much like those of Sotterly, St. Mary's County, and the elaborate wainscot was painted blue. There was a profusion of chiseled woodwork. On the east side of the abode lay a wing containing the dining room, cook house, and shed. On the top of the roof was a small balcony or platform constructead as an observatory from which vessels approaching the port of St. Mary's might be described through the telescope.
About the Rose Croft homestead clustered a group of single-storyed outhouses such as: the brick chapel, the smoke house, and the log slave quarters...one of these outbuildings was appropriated at one time by the (tax) 'Collector' for his business and could still be seen, a deserted ruin with decaying bookshelves. About the year 1900 the house was destroyed by fire, but at the time of the writing of this book the garden remained." There is in this book a drawing of the house, its floor plan, and a millstone from an old mill.
2 - From Maryland, A New Guide to the Old Line State, by Arnett, Brugger and Papernfuse: " With construction of the State House of 1676, the County's house continued to function as an inn. After the capital moved to Annapolis, the wooden building quickly decayed. Bricks now outline its walls and hearths; signs show its conjectured appearance. Interpreters explain all the sites during walking tours scheduled at the Visitors Center in warm weather months." And page 26, "The Van Sweringen site, just north of the Gazebo marks the location of an office constructed in the 1660's for the provincial secretary and his records, with a chamber for the meetings of the council. After construction of the brick state house in 1676, Van Sweringen took over these offices, added a kitchen, and opened a lodge house for the colony leaders. Here legislators and visitors met to talk and drink the colony's best cider. In hot and humid weather, the council was known to adjourn to Van Sweringen's arbor. Van Sweringen also built a coffeehouse here, modeled on the London coffeehouses that were beginning to appear as centers of mercantile sociability."
3 - Wanted to make all Sweringen descendants aware that an archaological dig was done in St. Mary's City, Maryland, the site where Gerret was an innkeeper for the original Maryland Assembly when St. Mary's City was the capitol. The site became a Federal Park two years ago. (note dated Feb. 25, 1999)
He was said to be fair, with black hair, and high cheek bones.
Will of Garrett Van Swearingen is on file, Maryland State Archives, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md. Prerogative Court Wills 6, pp 210-211, dated 25 day of October, 1698. Note the substantial bequest to his church.
In the name of God, Amen. I Garrett Vanswearingen of ye citty of St. Mary's in St. Mary's county, haveing consideredly Many Yeares I have Lived in this World and therefore but a Little time to remain and for Reason of the Uncertainty When this tyme shall be Expired I doe hereby Will and require that When it Should be ye Will of God to Call me out of this Mortall Life My body shall be buried if God Doth permitt According to ye custom of ye Roman Catholique Church and ye Priest That shall bury me I doe give him One Thousand Pound of Tobacco and further I doe require My Executors herafter named to take Care that dureing ye Ensueing Year Mass shall be done for me Soly at all ye Later Days St. Josephs day, St. John ye Evangelist, St. Mary Magdaline in Holy Week at all Saints days and in ye Christmas hollydays further That all my Just debts shal be paid and doe therefore appoint and Nominate My Wife and My son Joseph Vanswearingen Exrs. of my Will and this My Testament to doe and act as here shalbe mencond And My Now dewelling house and Land thereunto belonging I give unto my two sons Joseph and Charles Vanswearingen For them and their Heires for Ever but in case of Any of them should Come to dye then ye houses and land fall to ye Surviving Brother herebefore Named and if both should Come to Dye then it shall fall to my Girles gotten by my Liveing wife the...only equally that is to be Understood that are and were not married, or unprovided and Shall be unmarried after my decease and in Case any of them should So come to be in Possession of any of the afrenamed Land and houses and Shall Come to Dye without issue then ye forenamed Land Should returne againe to those that are Unmarried and to them that shall have issue in the Nature as before but their issue dying shall ye said Land returne again to those yet have issue or be unmarried I doe alsoe require that my Wife doe Alsoe remaine in Possession of All my Estate Moveables and unmoveables dureing her Life that if she shall remaine unmarried, but in Case she should Come to Marry that then her Exership shall Cease and My Son Joseph shall only remaine ye only Executor of my Will and Testament and allow According to Law to my wife one third of my Estate but remaining unmarried she shall Continue in Sole Possession of all as if I was my Selfe Alive for ye good of our children and dow hereby Absolutely Debarr all persons not being of My Blood to meddle or Concern themselves With any of my children or there Estate but What shalbe by ye Election of My son Joseph with ye advise of Mr. John Hall of St. Innegoes the Unaged Children will be C...ed with their brother Joseph be their Guardian I will that....weekes after My Decease My Estate shalbe Appraised and not Undervallued as ordinarily in this country is Done but to ye Reall Value Silver Place Brass Copper Pewter, ledd in Quantity and Quality or other...my Wife shall Remaine Unmarried i doe empower her over all nothing Excepted to remaine inmolessed either by Children or Sonns in Law, Provideing she shall not distribute more to ye one than to ye other and that noe Portcon shalbe givn to any of them dureing My Said Wife her Life to put herself to Want and beggary ye rest of my Younger Children only by ye Way of assistance ye Necessarily should require in part pay of their Porcon or Sheare but if my Wife should come to dye then those children that are left unmarried Shall remain under ye Guardianshipp of their Brother Joseph to take Care of them till they come to be Married but if said Joseph Should do them any injustice which God forbidd then ye offense shall be refered to Mr. John Hall hereafore named Mr. Charles Carrolle, Mr. Charles Egerton, Mr. Thomas Georing or any two of them and their settleing upon ye matter shall difinitise Either for ye said Joseph to remain their Guardian or to Make Elecon of any of those aforenamed instead of him and their porcon Must and Shall be given them on yeare after they are married if rhey remaine alive and not otherwise for if any of these Children aforenamed Comes to dye their porcon shall remaine amongst their Sisters herebefore named and not to ye two brothers haveing ye Land Except issue if they should be married and have issue before ye Expiracon of ye Year or being bigg with Childe but ye affforenamed Brothers shall alsoe have an Equall Share out of ye moveables estate ye day of My departure but to to p...tend any share of ye porcons of these girles that should Come to dye but shalbe Equally divided to ye Sisters that are Unmarried, and further if my Son Joseph Should Come to dye and if mother remaines Alive then shall ye Executorshipp remain in her and in all Power as is Layd before at large, but if my Wife also csould Come to dye then ye Children shall chuse one or more Guardians Out of ye aforenamed whom are hereby desired to see my Will performed and in testimony that this is my Last Will and Tesamt Have I herunto Signed Sealed with my hand this the 25th day of March 1698 But as I have said my Wife to remain Exer if my son Joseph Should Come to dye is allways understood unmarried but if Married the Children shall have Guardians as afrsd in order to shake off ye Yoke of a father-in-law Further if it doth appeare any Gift Given in my Lifetime to any of my children of Vallue threof shalbe allowed to ye other Childen Aportionable. Signed by Gare Vansweringen.
Signed, Sealed Published and declared Garret Vansweringen as his last will & testamt ye 25 day of October 1698 in the presence of us Nicholas Courtch, Willm Aisquith, Thomas Grunwin, Thos. Sinnodd.
And at ye bottom of ye foregoeing Will was Written...Endorsemts sollowinf vist Them came mr. William Asquith and Mr. Thomas Grunwyn two of ye Wittnesses to this Will and made oathe that they did see Garrett Vansweringen ye Testator Signe Seale Publish and declare the within 7 above written to be his lst Will and Testament and the sd Garrett was at ye isuing therof Was of Perfect and Sound Mind and Memory.
Kenelm Cheseldyn March 20, 1698. Then did Mr. Nicholas Crowtch another of ye Wittnesses above have deposed. Kenelm Cheseldyn.
Notes for Barbarah de Barrette:
She was a Hugenot, born in Valenciennes, France, a city that was in the 17th century, in the United Netherlands, later in Spanish Netherlands, and finally in France. Her naturalization papers delare her a native of "Valenchene in the Low Countryes Belonging to the King of Spayne."
Notes for Mary Smith:
Will signed Febry, 17, 1712/13 Maryland State Archives, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Prerogative Court (Wills) 13, pages 557 and 558, (MSA s538, MdHR 1291-4, 1-11-1-14): Daughters Dorithy and Teresha, personalty; son-in-law Wm. Bladen and daughter Ann Bladen, and daughter Elinor Carroll, personalty; son Joseph, executor, residue of estate, real and personal, including 200 acres "The Point", near St. Mary's, he is to maintain daughters Dorithy and Teresha. Wit: Ann Maloni, Hannah Bantom, Wm. Aisquith.
Marriage Notes for Garrett Vansweringen and Mary Smith:
A pre-nuptial agreement, October 5, 1676: I Garrett Vanswearingen of the City of Saint Maries in the Province of Maryland Gent...intendeth by Gods Grace shortly to marry and take to his wife one Mary Smith of the County of St. Maries Spinster..in case the said Mary Smith shall after marriage had between them survive the said Garrett Vanswearingen I lawfully give and assure to the said Mary Smith..".60,000 pounds of tobacco, or equivalent value, in addition to Chaines, Braceletts, Jewells and Apparells which the said Mary shall fortune to have..." on Garrett's death, without "Lett or interruption of Executors Administrators or assigns." Signed G.V. Sweringen.
Children of Garrett Vansweringen and Barbarah de Barrette are:
+ 6 i. Thomas3 Vansweringen, born 1665 in Dutch Colony, New Amstel, Delaware; died July 29, 1709 in Prince George Co., Md..
+ 7 ii. Elizabeth Vansweringen, born 1661 in Dutch Colony of New Amstel, Delaware; died 1736 in St. Marys Co., Maryland.
+ 8 iii. Zacharias Vansweringen, born 1663 in Dutch Colony of New Amstel, Delaware; died April 1711 in St. Marys Co., Md..
Children of Garrett Vansweringen and Mary Smith are:
9 i. Joseph3 Vansweringen, born 1678 in New Amstel, Delaware; died March 08, 1720/21 in St. Marys Co., Md.. He married Mary Neale Adderton 1718 in unknown; born Unknown.
+ 10 ii. Anne Vansweringen, born 1679 in New Amstel, Delaware; died 1718.
11 iii. Charles Vansweringen, born 1680 in New Amstel, Delaware; died 1710.
12 iv. Eleanor Vansweringen, born 1681 in St. Marys Co., Md.. She married (1) James King Carroll. She married (2) James Manning 1719.
13 v. Theresa Vansweringen, born 1683 in Delaware. She married John Parke; born Unknown.
14 vi. Dorothy Vansweringen, born 1685 in Delaware; died 1728. She married Barnaby Lee; born Unknown.
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