| Town of Swansea History and
Resources
Photo: Martin House Farm |
 |
| The Town of Swansea is a
suburban/rural community founded on the premise of religious tolerance for
all. Unfortunately, the town also turned out to be the starting place of
King Philip's war in 1675 and the site of the first bloodshed of the war.
Before that war there were several historic Indian settlement sites and
trails in the town. Colonial settlement began in 1663 and the town was
named after a minister's home village in Wales. In 1664, King Philip had
conveyed the land in the community to William Brenton of Newport and by
the start of the Indian war, there were 70 people staying in the garrison
fortified house in town and several occupied houses on the Neck. During
the war, Indian attacks destroyed every house in town including the
garrison. After the war, forges, ironworks and fishing on the town's
rivers made up a substantial part of the community's economy. The small
villages that made up the community were the sites of stores, cotton
mills, grist and yarn mills and fishing boats. When the bigger industrial
cities such as Fall River, Taunton and Providence absorbed the town's
industries, Swansea's large agricultural capacity remained important. In
the 1890's, the street trolley connected Swansea to Fall River and
Providence and suburban and summer homes were developed. A picnic grove
called Shady Isles was established by the streetcar company and brought
city people out to the country on day trips. Now a suburban community with
much of its agricultural land still open, Swansea also retains 16
impressive and significant examples of intact Colonial houses. Narrative based on information provided by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. |
|
|
|
|
| Federal Census, 1790, Swansey | Swansea Free Public Library |
| Federal Census, 1850, Swansey | Swansea History |
| Federal Census, 1860, Swansey | |
| Historic Maps Covering Swansea | |
| King Philip's War around Swansea | |
| Martin House Farm | |
| Old Photos | |
| Panoramic Views of Swansea | |