Philetus Swift
Encyclopedia
Philetus Swift was an American politician.
. On May 22, 1793, he married his second wife Sally Deane (1774-1820?) in Phelps, N.Y., and their son was Deane Swift (1794-1818). On November 26, 1823, he married his third wife Fanny (or Fauna, Fawnia, Faunia) Cole (ca. 1792-1880), and their daughter was Electra Jane Swift (1825-1904).
He was a member of the New York State Assembly
from Genesee
, Ontario and Allegany
Counties in 1807 and 1808, and from Ontario County in 1823.
He fought in the War of 1812
, and became a lieutenant colonel
.
He was a member from the Western District of the New York State Senate
from 1810 to 1815 and from 1816 to 1818. In February 1817, when John Tayler
became Acting Governor of New York
after the resignation of Daniel D. Tompkins
, Swift was elected President pro tempore
of the State Senate. He was Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York
until July 1, 1817.
Swift was a presidential elector in 1820
, voting for James Monroe
and Daniel D. Tompkins
.
Swift was originally buried at the Pioneer Cemetery at Phelps, N.Y.
However, in the early 1900s, his granddaughter had his remains reinterred in the Webster Rural Cemetery in Webster, N.Y.
Life
He was the son of Elisha Swift (b. 1731) and Mary Ransom (b. 1738). On April 4, 1786, he married his first wife Electra Goodrich in Sharon, ConnecticutSharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
. On May 22, 1793, he married his second wife Sally Deane (1774-1820?) in Phelps, N.Y., and their son was Deane Swift (1794-1818). On November 26, 1823, he married his third wife Fanny (or Fauna, Fawnia, Faunia) Cole (ca. 1792-1880), and their daughter was Electra Jane Swift (1825-1904).
He was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from Genesee
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, Ontario and Allegany
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
Counties in 1807 and 1808, and from Ontario County in 1823.
He fought in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and became a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
He was a member from the Western District of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1810 to 1815 and from 1816 to 1818. In February 1817, when John Tayler
John Tayler
John Tayler was a merchant and politician. He served nine years as Lieutenant Governor of New York, four months as Acting Governor of New York, and also in both houses of the New York State Legislature.-Life:...
became Acting Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
after the resignation of Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
, Swift was elected President pro tempore
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
of the State Senate. He was Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
until July 1, 1817.
Swift was a presidential elector in 1820
United States presidential election, 1820
The United States presidential election of 1820 was the third and last presidential election in United States history in which a candidate ran effectively unopposed. In 1820, President James Monroe and Vice President Daniel D...
, voting for James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
and Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
.
Swift was originally buried at the Pioneer Cemetery at Phelps, N.Y.
Phelps (village), New York
Phelps is a village in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,969 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an original proprietor, Oliver Phelps....
However, in the early 1900s, his granddaughter had his remains reinterred in the Webster Rural Cemetery in Webster, N.Y.
Webster (town), New York
Webster is a town in the northeast corner of Monroe County, New York, United States. The town is named after orator and statesman Daniel Webster. The population was 42,641 at the 2010 census....
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/sweetland-swinburne.html Political Graveyard
- http://books.google.com/books?id=E3sFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA121 The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 121ff, 180f, 199f; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.connecticut.counties.litchfield/796/mb.ashx Cole genealogy
- http://raims.com/historian/burials.html Burial records in Ontario County
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~abbefamily/big1/pafg1517.htm Swift/Cole genealogy, at RootsWeb
- http://books.google.com/books?hl=pt-BR&id=LBEoAAAAMAAJ&dq=philetus+swift+lieutenent+governor&q=philetus+swift&pgis=1 The Regents of the University of the State of New York: 1784-1959 compiled by Albert Bickmore Corey (University of the State of New York, 1959; page 31)
- http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/rev-ny-monroe-buried.htm Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Monroe County, New York -- lists Swift's burial in Webster Rural Cemetery