| Notes |
- The first reference that we have been able to find concerning the
Swindler or Swingler ancestry who was a resident of the English
Colonies in North America, is a Henry Swingler who witnessed an
indenture dated 18 February 1720 for land in what is now Hunterdon
County, New Jersey.1 The next place we found him was as a resident of
Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey. On 10 March 1723/24, he
deposited five pounds with William Lawrence Jr., the town clerk.2 We
believe that the five pounds was in the form a of surety bond
deposited with the town as a condition for an individual taking up
residence in a town. If the individual became unemployed or destitute,
he would not become a burden on the other residents of the town. In
July 1725 Henry Swingler died at Middletown and William Lawrence Jr.
was appointed administrator of his estate because, according to the
estate record, Henry was in debt to him.3 We may assume from the items
listed in the inventory that Henry was well dressed as his clothing
was valued at four pounds seventeen shillings. He was literate as his
possessions included an inkhorn, a seal, several books, including a
book of common prayer. It is possible that he was a member of the
Church of England. Also listed was a quilling wheel for making quill
pens. Although listed with his possessions were a saddle and bridle,
there were no livestock in the inventory.4 We do not find any
reference to a wife or children. The proof that this Henry Swingler
was the father of the following Henry Swingler is lacking and all we
have is the similarity of the two surnames and the proximate location
of the two Swinglers in New Jersey. ie. Middletown and Freehold
1.Phyllis B D'Autrechy,Some Records of old Hunterdon County
1701- 1838, (Trenton, N.j..: Trenton Publishing Company, 1979), p. 11.
Copies are available from the author at the Hunterdon County
Courthouse, Flemington, N.j.. Copy in the possession of the Author.
(Hereafter, "Author", shall mean copies are in the possession of the
author).
2.Middletown, New Jersey Record Book Number 2, p. 23.
Located: Monmouth County Historical Society, Freehold, N.j... Author.
3.A. Vandoren Honeyman ed.,Documents Relating to the Colonial
History of the State of New Jersey, First Series, 32
vols.,(Sommerville, N.j.. : The Unionist Gazette Association Printers,
1924) vol. 23, p. 450. Located: Libraries throughout New Jersey.
Author.
4.Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Will Book A, p. 307. Located: New
Jersey State Library, Archives Department, Trenton, N.j.. Author.
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Bef 1699 - 1725 (26 years)