Originally part of the large Saugus land grant and later the eastern part of Lynn’s Ward One, Swampscott was settled and established in 1629 when Francis Ingalls came and built the first Massachusetts Bay Colony tannery on Humphrey’s Brook. Long known as a seafaring fishing village, Swampscott hosted a large commercial fishing fleet which sailed daily from our protected bay.
Ninety-seven petitioners filed a request to the Massachusetts Court to separate from the city of Lynn and eventually the legislature passed an enabling act which authorized the organization of a separate town government under the date of May 21, 1852. On October 9, 1852 Lynn was paid $5,450.00 for the land it lost to the new community now known as the Town of Swampscott. In 1857 land at the far western edge of Salem known as the “Salem Finger” was annexed to Swampscott bringing the total land area to 3.05 square miles.
Aside from its fishing heritage, Swampscott has become one of the prime summer vacation spots along the coast of Massachusetts.
The town also hosts a wide variety of historical homes and buildings . For example, John Humphrey, the first deputy governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, lived in an attractive saltbox home in 1637 which is now home to the Swampscott Historical Society at 99 Paradise Road and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stately homes which evolved in Swampscott include Professor Elihu Thomson’s Georgian revival mansion with its unique and ornate interior carvings. Professor Thomson founded the Thomson-Houston Electric Company which is now the General Electric Company. The building, designed by James T. Kelley, now serves as the Town Administration Building and is also listed on the National Historic Register.
Swampscott USGenWeb project is part of the Essex County USGenWeb Project. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, or at the Essex County site, please visit the Massachusetts USGenWeb Project Home page for additional resource links.
And also check out Swampscott's neighboring USGenWeb home pages for additional information which may be useful in your research !
LYNN & NAHANT MARBLEHEAD SALEM
Swampscott is in need of a Town Coordinator. If you have a little extra spare time, and a willingness to share genealogical information with other researchers, for free, you might be a good host for Swampscott's USGenWeb Project ! Please email John & Jodi, the Essex County Coordinators, for more details.
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Last update: March 17, 2008
