The Swearingen Family
The first van Swearingen to land on American shores was Gerret Van Sweringen who was born in Beemsterdam, Holland, in 1636. He was the son of a family belonging to the nobility and received a liberal education. When a young man he erformed responsible duties in the maritime service of the Dutch West India Company; and in 1656, when that company fitted out the ship Prince Maurice with emigrants and supplies for the Dutch colony on the Delaware River in America, he was appointed its supercargo. This vessel sailed from the port of Amsterdam on 21st of December, 1656, and was to have made port at New Amsterdam (now New York City); but on the night of the eighth of March, 1657, stranded in shallow water off the coast of Fire Island, near southern Long Island. In freezing weather the next day, the passengers and crew in a frail boat got to the barren shore where they remained several days without fire. On the third day they saw some Indians, one of whom was sent with word to Stuyvesant, the Governor of New Amsterdam, who came with a sloop and carried them to New Amsterdam. The cargo of the stranded ship that was saved before the ship stove to pieces was put on board another ship chartered at New Amsterdam and on the sixteenth of April they sailed for their destination, the new colony, now called New Castle, at a Dutch fort.
Gerret asked to be relieved from the company's service, as he intended to make his living there, and as there was "nothing more for him to do". His request was granted. He was married about 1659 to Barbarah de Barrette, who was born in Vallenciennes, France. He was sheriff, commissary, and a member of the Council and was also interested in the cultivation of some low lands, a duck pond, and trade.
After New Amsterdam was surrendered to the British in 1664, Sir Robert Carr was sent to demand the surrender of New Amstel (New Castle). Gerret says: ”The fort was brought under submission by Sir Robert Carr as deputed with two ships to that intent. Sir Robert Carr did protest often to me that he did not come as an enemy, but as a friend demanding only in friendship what was ye King's right in that Country. From the City and inhabitants were taken thereabouts one hundred sheep, and thirty of forty horses, fifty or sixty cows and oxen, the number of sixty or seventy negroes ... and the estate of the Governor and myself, except some house stuffe, and a negro gott away, and some other moveables Sir Robert Carr did permit me to sell."
It has been said that after the surrender of the colony to the English, Garret van Swearingens publicly broke his sword across his knee, and throwing it to the right and to the left, renounced all allegiance to the Dutch authorities. Shortly after the surrender he removed to Maryland. In April, 1669, he, his wife and two children, on their petition to Lord Baltimore, were naturalized by act of the general assembly held at St. Mary's in that province. He was an "innholder" at St. Marys and owned land in that county and also in Talbott County. In the proclamation of the charter of the city of St. Marys, issued by Lord Baltimore in 1668 he was appointed an alderman of the city. In 1674 he built the city's stocks and whipping post. He was appointed sheriff of the county in 1686 and again in 1687.[i]
The Swearingen family was one of the first families to settle in the Shepherdstown area having received a land grant in 1734. Thomas Swearingen established and operated the first ferry on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown. Before the community was known as Mecklenburg and later Shepherdstown, the community was called “Swearingen’s Ferry”. Thomas willed the ferry to his son Benoni Swearingen. Members of the Swearingen family married members of other families related to the Bedingers, namely the Rutherfords, Morgans, and Strodes.
[i] Swearingen, Henry Hartwell, 1884, Family Historical Register Sweringen, C. W. Brown, Washington, 117 p.
Gerret asked to be relieved from the company's service, as he intended to make his living there, and as there was "nothing more for him to do". His request was granted. He was married about 1659 to Barbarah de Barrette, who was born in Vallenciennes, France. He was sheriff, commissary, and a member of the Council and was also interested in the cultivation of some low lands, a duck pond, and trade.
After New Amsterdam was surrendered to the British in 1664, Sir Robert Carr was sent to demand the surrender of New Amstel (New Castle). Gerret says: ”The fort was brought under submission by Sir Robert Carr as deputed with two ships to that intent. Sir Robert Carr did protest often to me that he did not come as an enemy, but as a friend demanding only in friendship what was ye King's right in that Country. From the City and inhabitants were taken thereabouts one hundred sheep, and thirty of forty horses, fifty or sixty cows and oxen, the number of sixty or seventy negroes ... and the estate of the Governor and myself, except some house stuffe, and a negro gott away, and some other moveables Sir Robert Carr did permit me to sell."
It has been said that after the surrender of the colony to the English, Garret van Swearingens publicly broke his sword across his knee, and throwing it to the right and to the left, renounced all allegiance to the Dutch authorities. Shortly after the surrender he removed to Maryland. In April, 1669, he, his wife and two children, on their petition to Lord Baltimore, were naturalized by act of the general assembly held at St. Mary's in that province. He was an "innholder" at St. Marys and owned land in that county and also in Talbott County. In the proclamation of the charter of the city of St. Marys, issued by Lord Baltimore in 1668 he was appointed an alderman of the city. In 1674 he built the city's stocks and whipping post. He was appointed sheriff of the county in 1686 and again in 1687.[i]
The Swearingen family was one of the first families to settle in the Shepherdstown area having received a land grant in 1734. Thomas Swearingen established and operated the first ferry on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown. Before the community was known as Mecklenburg and later Shepherdstown, the community was called “Swearingen’s Ferry”. Thomas willed the ferry to his son Benoni Swearingen. Members of the Swearingen family married members of other families related to the Bedingers, namely the Rutherfords, Morgans, and Strodes.
[i] Swearingen, Henry Hartwell, 1884, Family Historical Register Sweringen, C. W. Brown, Washington, 117 p.