Hoxie Swift

The Falmouth, Massachusetts, Historical Society (FHS) holds in its archives the Wedding Certificate of the marriage of Daniel Swift and Hepzibah W. Hoxie.[1] The document certifies that this Quaker couple married in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1823 in the presence of family and friends. Importantly, as was then and still is the custom for Quaker weddings, the certificate contains the signatures of the bride and groom and various witnesses to the ceremony, a potential source of valuable genealogical information about the couple and their community. This monograph will identify and explore some of this information using vital records, FHS archival material, and information contained in the certificate itself.

The document itself is drawn up on what appears to be hand crafted paper eighteen inches wide by twenty-two inches long. The certificate was most probably prepared by a meeting member before the ceremony from information given to the preparer by the bride, the groom, parents or members of the meeting. At the end of the meeting in which the ceremony took place, it was brought before the new couple for signing. Note that whoever prepared the certificate spelled the brideís name Hepzabah, while she spelled her name Hepzibah in her signature. Do you think she noticed that discrepancy?

As noted on the reverse of the document, the marriage was ìrecorded on Friendís record in Sandwich, page 59, by Samuel Wing, Register.î

Daniel Swift is identified on the certificate as being of Falmouth, the son of Abiel (Abial) Swift, deceased, and Rhoda, his wife. Vital records show Daniel was born December 6, 1792 at Falmouth to Abiel Swift and Rhoda (Bowerman).[2] Abiel and Rhoda were married February 10, 1791 at Sandwich.[3] Abiel died March 27, 1805, probably at Falmouth.[4] His wife Rhoda died September 15, 1859, also probably at Falmouth,[5] having outlived her husband for more than fifty-four years. There is no indication in the Falmouth or Sandwich records that she remarried. On July 30, 1850, she headed a household consisting of herself, her son Seth, and Sethís wife Charity Swift.[6]

Hepzibah W. Hoxie is identified on the certificate as the daughter of Joseph Hoxie of Sandwich and Deborah, his wife. Vital records confirm that Hepzibah was born September 15, 1796 at Sandwich to Joseph and Deborah Hoxie.[7] Joseph died February 22, 1856 at Sandwich[8] and Deborah died November 14, 1825 at Sandwich.[9]

The signatures within the right hand column of the certificate contain first, that of the groom and then of the bride. Below the brideís signature are the signatures of her parents. Then a Deborah Swift signed. She probably was Danielís youngest sister, born August 12, 1804 at Falmouth.[10] Following Deborah, Hepzibahís siblings, Abbey, Newell and Joseph signed. Lucy S. Hoxie, the final family signer, was probably Joseph Hoxieís wife.[11] An interesting exception is the apparent lack of Danielís motherís signature suggesting that she was not present. One can only speculate that she perhaps was ill, since the certificate states the marriage had parental consent. The only Rhoda who signed the certificate was Rhoda Holway who signed in the witnessís area of the document. She most probably is the wife of John Holway, another signing witness. This is evidenced by the marriage record of John and Rhoda (Allen) Holway on October 1, 1802 at Sandwich.[12].

Twenty three meeting members signed the certificate as witnesses. They are: Elizabeth Swift, Hannah Holway, Rebecca Wing, Mary Wing 2^nd, Betsy H. Nye, Rhoda Holway, Charity Allen, Joshua Tobey, Nathan Wing, Belinda S. Nye, Lucy Freeman, John Holway, Benj. Swift, Joseph Hoxie 2^nd, Stephen Holway, Jr., Daniel Holway, Content Russell, Mary R. Wing, Daníl Wing, Ebenezer Wing, Jr., Beulah Wing, Reuben Dillingham, and Lydia W. Russell. Further research might indicate familial relationships among these people.

Vital records reveal that Daniel Swift married first, Rebecca Akin, daughter of Abiel and Catherine Akin, on October 14, 1819 at Sandwich.[13] Daniel and Rebecca had one child, Abiel A. Swift, born July 31, 1820 at Falmouth.[14] This child lived only briefly, surviving his mother for just sixteen days. He died September 5, 1820 at Falmouth.[15] Rebecca died August 21, 1820 at Falmouth,[16] probably due to complications following Abielís birth.

After they were married, Daniel and Hepzibah resided in the village of West Falmouth on West Falmouth Highway where Emerson House, 558 West Falmouth Highway, now stands. Daniel, aided by his brother Seth, was the village blacksmith.[17] He also played a role in Quaker activities as co-chair of the First Day School (Sunday School) for a number of years.[18] He was also remembered as a teacher in West Falmouth.[19]

Early in their marriage, Daniel must have been concerned that the tragic loss of his first wife and child might be repeated when his and Hepzibahís first child died within two years of birth. Fortunately, Hepzibah was then probably pregnant with their second son, George. In actuality, Danielís marriage to Hepzibah proved fruitful. In their nearly thirty-five years together, they had seven children, all born in Falmouth.[20]

i. Abiel A. Swift, born 9 October 1824; died August 13, 1826 at Falmouth.[21]
ii. George H. Swift, born March 11, 1827, date and place of death unknown.
iii. Joseph Newhall Swift, born March 11, 1829; died November 25, 1879 at Falmouth.[22]
iv. Rebecca A. Swift, born July 25, 1831; died November 12, 1831, probably at Falmouth.[23]
v. Henry D. Swift, born May 21, 1833; died February 29, 1916[24]
vi. Mary Abby Swift, born December 13, 1837; died March 23. 1913[25]
vii. Daniel W. Swift, born June 12, 1840; died June 14, 1910 at Worcester, Massachusetts.[26]

Five of the children lived to maturity. Two sons, Henry D. and Daniel W. moved to Worcester, Massachusetts where they revolutionized the manufacturing process for envelopes and became wealthy. They built, as summer residences, the large houses (Emerson House and Chapman, Cole and Gleason) which presently stand on either side of the West Falmouth Quaker Meeting House.[27] Research suggests that the only descendants of the above children result from the union of Henry D. Swift and his wife Emma Colburn Swift.

Daniel died August 21, 1879 in Falmouth.[28] Hepzibah predeceased her husband by twenty-one years dying on August 13, 1858 in Falmouth.[29] Their adjoining graves are in the West Falmouth Quaker Cemetery, directly behind the Quaker Meeting House along with the graves of their third son, Joseph N. Swift, and Danielís first wife Rebecca.

Many Thanks to Mr. Wadleigh and The Falmouth Historical Society for granting permission to use this article.

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[1] Falmouth Historical Society, Falmouth, MA, archive 1990.01.

[2] Kardell, Caroline Lewis and Lovell, Russell A. Jr., Vital Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts to 1885, (Boston, MA: New England Historical Genealogical Society, 1996), Vol. 2, page 1309; Brown, Oliver B., Vital Records of Falmouth to the Year 1850, (Warwick, RI: Society of Mayflower Descendants of Rhode Island, 1976), 119.

[3] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs 2:1353.

[4] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1309; Brown, Falmouth VRs, 258, (Citing grave record.).

[5] Rhoda Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, 572West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA, Old NW Section, Row 11, No. 9.

[6] Rhoda Swift household, US Census, 1850, MA, Barnstable County, Falmouth Series M432, Roll 304, page 400, line 32; Charity Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Meeting Burial Ground, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA.

[7] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1313.

[8] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1106.

[9] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1313.

[10] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1309; Brown, Falmouth VRs, 119.

[11] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1361.

[12] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:254.

[13] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1360.

[14] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1329: Brown, Falmouth VRs, 119.

[15] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1329; Brown, Falmouth VRs, 258.

[16] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1329; Brown, Falmouth VRs, 259.; Rebecca(h) A Swift gravestone, Old North Section, Row 13, No. 23, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA, photographed by the writer 1 Mar 2007.

[17] Daniel Swift household, US Census, 1850, MA, Barnstable County, Falmouth, Series M432, Roll 304, page 400, line 25.

[18] Reports of Friendís Meetings 1860-1878, West Falmouth Collection (Swift), Manuscripts, Falmouth Historical Society.

[19] Dillingham, John Hoag, compiler, Traditions and Narratives of West Falmouth, Typescript, 1909, West Falmouth Collection, Falmouth Historical Society.

[20] Kardell and Lovell, Sandwich VRs, 2:1329, Brown, Falmouth VRs, 118 ñ 123 (Shows Abiel A. DOB as 9 Dec 1824).

[21] Brown, Falmouth VRs, 258.

[22] Joseph N. Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, photographed by the writer 1 Mar 2007; Town of Falmouth Annual Report for the Year Ended Jan. 31, 1880, 52.

[23] Quimby, Harriet B., compiler, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, Typescript, 1992, West Falmouth, Old North Section, Row 13, No. 24, No stone.

[24] Henry Daniel Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, Old North Section, Row 13, No. 27.

[25] Swift, George H., possible compiler, Swift Genealogy, typescript transcription, Falmouth Historical Society, Swift Family West Falmouth Collection, 8

[26] Swift, Swift Genealogy, 8.; Massachusetts Vital Records 1841-1910, Worcester, Volume 113, page 322, online at www.newenglandancestors.org, 7 Mar 2007.

[27] Turkington, Fred and others, Quakers in West Falmouth 1685-1985, Booklet, Privately Published, unpaginated.

[28] Daniel Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, Old North Section, Row 13, No. 21, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA photographed by the writer 1 Mar 2007; Falmouth Town Record for the Year Ended Jan. 31, 1880, 51

[29] Hepzibah W. Swift gravestone, West Falmouth Friends Meeting Burial Ground, Old North Section, Row 13, No. 22, 572 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA photographed by the writer 1 Mar 2007