Those Who Came Before

Notes


Gerret VAN SWEARINGEN

TYPE Emigrated
DATE 1656
PLAC Holland>New Amsterdam, N.Y.>DE>MD

Garret Van Swearingen, son of a Dutch noble family was appointed to the post of "super cargo" for the ship, `Prince Maurice' which was ready to sail for America from Texel, Holland on 25 Dec 1656. The ship `Prince Maurice' was stranded near the coast of Long Island on 8 March 1657. Shortly after the incident, Garret Van Swearingen had to charter the ship `Beaver' at New Amsterdam (now New York) for the voyage to Casimir and surrounding area. On 25 April 1657, Garret Van Swearingen and the Dutch colonists took Fort Casimir and surrounding area from the Swedes. As one of the founders, Fort Casimir was renamed as New Amstel (now New Castle, Delaware).

Garret Van Swearingen wrote the following letter:

New Amstel, December 8, 1659
`NOBLE, WORSHIPFUL, WISE, RIGH, 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 (my native country), with your Honor's favorable recommendation, I have been appointed sheriff here subject to the approbation of the Honorables the Principals. Previously, I have taken care of the store as clerk; and after J. Rynevelt's death, as Commissary, from which I have not requested to be discharged, as I have, though unworthy, been recently 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 gilders, Holland currency.

Beside 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'

On August 20 1660, Garrent Van Swearingen and his family were granted permission to visit Holland.

On 27 August 1661, the City of Amsterdam in Holland was determined to continue the colony at New Amstel in America. Garret Van Swearingen was again appointed as the Councilor.

Also in a letter to Peter Stuyvestant, Director-General of the New Netherlands from William Beekman, Garret Van Swearingen was called "The Honorable President, Van Swearingen".


Gerret VAN SWEARINGEN

TYPE Emigrated
DATE 1656
PLAC Holland>New Amsterdam, N.Y.>DE>MD

Garret Van Swearingen, son of a Dutch noble family was appointed to the post of "super cargo" for the ship, `Prince Maurice' which was ready to sail for America from Texel, Holland on 25 Dec 1656. The ship `Prince Maurice' was stranded near the coast of Long Island on 8 March 1657. Shortly after the incident, Garret Van Swearingen had to charter the ship `Beaver' at New Amsterdam (now New York) for the voyage to Casimir and surrounding area. On 25 April 1657, Garret Van Swearingen and the Dutch colonists took Fort Casimir and surrounding area from the Swedes. As one of the founders, Fort Casimir was renamed as New Amstel (now New Castle, Delaware).

Garret Van Swearingen wrote the following letter:

New Amstel, December 8, 1659
`NOBLE, WORSHIPFUL, WISE, RIGH, 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 (my native country), with your Honor's favorable recommendation, I have been appointed sheriff here subject to the approbation of the Honorables the Principals. Previously, I have taken care of the store as clerk; and after J. Rynevelt's death, as Commissary, from which I have not requested to be discharged, as I have, though unworthy, been recently 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 gilders, Holland currency.

Beside 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'

On August 20 1660, Garrent Van Swearingen and his family were granted permission to visit Holland.

On 27 August 1661, the City of Amsterdam in Holland was determined to continue the colony at New Amstel in America. Garret Van Swearingen was again appointed as the Councilor.

Also in a letter to Peter Stuyvestant, Director-General of the New Netherlands from William Beekman, Garret Van Swearingen was called "The Honorable President, Van Swearingen".


Thomas SWEARINGEN

EVEN
TYPE Emigrated
PLAC MD>VA
[DebRogfamily99.FTW]

Abstact of will of Thomas Swearingen, April 12,1726/May 12, 1726: Eldest son Thomas and heirs, 70 a. "The Forest" had of father-in-law Hugh Riley; youngest son Van and heirs 70 a. of aforsaid tract and 20 a. of "Hills Choys" had of father; daughters Margaret and Lurana and their heirs each 40 a. of "Hill Choys"; eldest daughter Mary and heirs 96a. of "Swerengin's Pasture", Pr. George's Co.; if Thomas or Van dies, survivor to inherit; if either of girls dies, survivor to inherit. Witnesses: John Sherwood, Joseph Chapliin, Ann Clarke.

Marriage Notes of Thomas Swearingen and Lydia Riley:
Deed of gift, November 17, 1716, hugh Riley of Prince Georges,planter,for love and affection,conveyed "unto my Daughter Leady Riley now the wife of Thomas Swearingen" 120 acres called "Rileys Gift", to the said Leady Riley and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten," and if the said Thomas Swearingen should bury my Daughter Leady," then his rights in the land for his lifetime only. Wit. by Samuel Swearingen, Enoch Sprinks, Elizabeth Lee[Ray-Piper99.FTW]

[DebRogfamily99.FTW]

About 1734, Thomas Swearingen settled near the present site of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on the Potomca River, where he passed the remainder of his days, having accumulated considerable land, which remained in the posession of his descendants for more than a century.


Miles RILEY

"The Earliest known Riley immigrants to the Chesapeake Bay area were the three brothers, Miles, Garret and Thomas, who arrived in Northern Virginia in 1635. The oldest Riley records and land grants of Maryland and Virginia, which were written and dated in the late 1600's and early 1700's, were no doubt those of the immigrants or their descendents." (The Colonial Riley Families of the Chesapeake Bay, Southern, and Trans-Appalachian Frontiers"


Richard AP MORGAN Col.

Richard Ap Morgan was born in Wales, came to New Jersey and was granted land in 1734 by Lord Thomas Fairfax.