Legends of The Swetnam Family
There are a number of legends as to where the Swetnam family originates. For more than 250 years, we have solid, recorded history of the Swetnams in America. Prior to John Swetnam of Virginia, however, little is known. These legends suggest that the Swetnam family originates from either Ireland or England.
The only know legend of the Swetnams coming from Ireland is this, not so glamorous story. A man by the name of Swetnam was working on a farm in County Cork. This was in the 1700’s and as the story goes, he was sent with a load of grain to the mill to be ground. While on this journey, he bartered the grain for rye whiskey and went on a drinking binge. When he awoke from his drunken stupor, he found himself on a boat sailing to Boston. Upon arriving in Boston, and having been charged as a stowaway, he was sold into servitude for seven years to pay for his passage to America. Once he had served his seven years, he moved to Virginia. It is believed his descendants later came to Kentucky.
The remaining legends all suggest that the first Swetnam came from England. The first of these is similar to the Ireland legend. It says that there was a young Swetnam in England in the 1700’s that was taking part in a bon voyage party for some friends that were sailing to America. The party carried on aboard ship and lasted until high tide when the ship set sail. Young Swetnam had passed out in an obscure corner and when he awoke, he found himself at sea. The ship was bound for the Virginia Colony, and this is said to be how the Swetnams came to be in Virginia.
The next legend was suggested by Dallas Swetnam of Morehead, Kentucky. In the late 1950’s to early 1960’s, while stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador, he met an officer in the Canadian Air Force by the name of Swetnam. The officer said, it had been told in his family that there were three Swetnam brothers on a sailing ship out of England bound for Hudson Bay. The ship made first port in Boston and one of the brothers jumped ship. It is said this was how the Swetnams came to be in America. He went on to say that the other brothers continued on to Canada and left ship there. This started the line of Swetnams in Canada.
There are two addition legends that suggest the Swetnam family comes from England. Both are more glamorous than those above. The following legends are also supported, unlike those above, by some documented records. The first legend says there was an ancient family in England with the name of Swetenham. The Swetenhams resided at Somerford Booths from the end of the 12th century until the death of Edmond Swetenham, the last male heir who passed away in 1768. Roger Comerback born in 1758 become heir to his grandfather Edmond’s estate, and in compliance with his grandfather’s will, took the name of Swetenham. It is believed that, prior to Edmond's death, a descendent of this family came to America and took the americanized spelling of the name, which would be as it is today, Swetnam. (Note: The spelling “Swetnam” is used throughout this book, however the name is spelled numerous ways in historical documents found pertaining to this family. I have used only the single spelling to eliminate confusion.)
The last, and most popular, family legend states that late in the 17th century, about 1692, there lived in England a Lord Swettenham, who was a member of the House of Lords. He had a son named John, who had fallen in love with an actress. This was very unfashionable at the time, and his father bitterly opposed the upcoming marriage. The Lord told his son that if he married this actress, he would give him a few thousand pounds and then cut him of from any future inheritance. The son defied his father and married. He brought his new bride to the Virginia Colony and settled in what is today Stafford County. It was then that he changed the spelling of his name.
This legend goes on to say that in the early part of the 1800’s, a Lord Swettenham died in England without heirs. Believing an heir to be in America, an agent of the Crown was sent to investigate. After searching available records, the heir was found. He was told of his inheritance, but in order to claim the estate, he would have to go to England, swear allegiance to the Crown and take back the former spelling of his name. He was told if he did not meet these stipulations, the estate would revert to the Crown. He refused to comply and remained in America. The heir was said to have been John Swetnam (see chapter three), who was a grandson of the first Swetnam in America, and had been born in the 1740’s.
Both the Swetenhams and the Swettenhams of England did in fact exist and their lines are recorded in several books and records. These ancient families’ family trees and heraldry are found in the book East Cheshire: Past and Present; or A History of The Hundred of Macclesfield, in the County Palatine of Chester. There are also numerous mentions of the Swettenham family in the Dane Valley Story.
In support of the Swettenham legend, it is a matter of record that Peter de Swettenham, living in the early 13th century, was the first of the long line of the family of this name. Peter de Swettenham was so fond of the township and manor in Cheshire, England where he lived he called them Sweet Home. The conjunction of the two Saxon words for Sweet Home is Swettenham. This was the name later assumed by the Lord of the manor, as well as the name that was given to the township and manor. Thomas Swettenham was the last of the male line, with his death on July 23, 1768, the line was broken. A grandson fell heir to the estate. His name was John Eaton and one of the conditions of his grandfathers will was to take his grandfathers last name, therefore the line through John Eaton Swettenham would continue the ancient family name. It would be reasonably assumed, with this in mind, that Thomas Swettenham, with old age approaching, would have had a deep concern over the family name and estate. He might have searched out, or stipulated in his will that such a search be made for, any male heir that carried his family name. This search to be carried out before John Eaton would fall heir to his estate.
In his book, Cheshire Country Houses, author Peter de Figueiredo describes Swettenham Hall as “...a 17th century house remodeled in the early 19th century with stucco, canted bays and a castellated entrance. Some of the outbuildings date from the 17th century: a coat of arms and a plaque inscribed TFS 1696 for Thomas Swettenham and his wife Frances is on the stables, a handsome range of brick with stone quoins and mullioned windows.” Title Page, Swetnam the Women Hater
There is but one bit of tangible evidence existing today that might shed some light on these Legends. It was found in Neri Swetnam’s Bible which he passed on to his son Dr. Hamilton S. Swetnam. It was a note written to Dr. Swettenham by Maria Vertegans on September 22, 1860. It is thought that the family lineage was positively known at that time and possibly some of the intimates of the family at times had used the spelling. The note in itself might be supportive of the Swettenham legend.
It is also of interest to note that phonetically, Swetnam is pronounced in America the same as Swettenham is in England. This might be the key to the origin of the Swetnam spelling of this name, a mere shortening of the name during the early years in the Virginia Colony.
It is interesting to note, however there is no evidence that connects him to the Swetnams now in America, that there did live a Joseph Swetnam in England in the Early 1600’s who was a fencing master. Little is known about Joseph Swetnam. He was the instructor of Charles I of England and it is believed he was a member of the Masters of Defense of London. Joseph authored several books, among them; “The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence” . Apparently, Swetnam wrote a pamphlet defaming “woman-kind” and was in trouble with many. A play was written about him called Swetnam the Woman Hater in 1620.
