History of Swansea, Massachusetts

Swansea was established on October 30, 1667 when Pastor John Myles, Captain Thomas Willett and their neighbors petitioned the Court at Plymouth to establish a town. The fourth town founded in Bristol County, Swansea originally extended from the boundaries of Taunton and Rehoboth to Mount Hope Bay. The area was reduced three times, first by the incorporation of Barrington as a town in 1717, then by the annexation of Warren by the state of Rhode Island in 1747, and finally by the incorporation of Somerset as a separate town in 1790. The first state census taken in 1765 showed Swansea's population to be 1,840. The 1994 town census showed a population of 15,100.

 

 

Historic Districts of Swansea, Massachusetts

• The Colony Historic District - Southern Gardner's Neck
• Barneyville Historical District
• Hortonville Historical District
• Luther's Corner Historical District
• Swansea Historical Village District
• NHR Houses not in Historic Districts
• Historical Homes not listed in Historic Districts or on the National Register

 

 

Swansea, Massachusetts Places

• Hayloft Youth Hostel at the Walkden Farm
• Revised Street Names, 1899-1900
• "Do's and Don'ts of Historical Cemeteries"
• Abram's Rock by Paul Cote
• The Swansea House
• The History of New England Taverns and Historical Taverns of Swansea, Massachusetts
• The Touisset Railroad
• Photo Archives - Ocean Grove
• Preserved Gardner House
• Luther Store Flag Pole

 

 

Swansea, Massachusetts Interesting Residents

• Swansea Women in History
• Elizabeth Richmond Case Steven' Will'
• First Signers of Swanzey
• Violet Denis - Renowned cookie maker
• Jessie Sampson Barney - wife of Algernon Barney, grandson of Mason Barney
• Women's History Month

 

 

Swansea, Massachusetts Town Governement

• Swansea, Bristol Co., MA, Deputies & Representatives, 1670-1899
• First Signers of Swanzey
• "Petition to Separate from Swansey, 1724"
• Other Spellings of Swansea
• 49 Historical Swansea Documents Discovered by the University of Notre Dame