Town of Swansea
Established March 5, 1668
Incorporated 1785

Swansea was founded because there was a need for sheltered seaports in order to get bigger profits from the Atlantic sea trade. There was also need for a refuge for Baptists from Swansea, Wales, currently not getting along with their disapproving Congregational neighbors in Rehoboth.

The area, originally including the present Somerset, was opened up carefully in 1667 by Captian Thomas Willett, well-known by both the Europeans and the Indians as a peacemaker. This taking over of still more territory was allowed by the Indians in spite of the fact that they were being crowded on all sides. Captain Willett kept a firm hand over the incoming settlers and by 1674 there were 40 "fair" dwellings (not log homes) set on high ground.

Willett died suddenly in 1674, though, and within the year Indians had burned much of Swansea.

Swansea was established on a foundation of religious toleration. Here was founded a Baptist church but those who wished to worship in the Congregational Church were encouraged to attend in Rehoboth without censure. Swansea's early religious independence prevailed in 1712 when, unwilling to vote 100 pounds for the salary of a Puritan minister by taxation, townsmen freely taxed themselved five times that amount to defend their right to worship as, and where, they chose.

The first school was voted into existence in December of 1673. The range of subjects demanded is suprising - grammar, rhetoric, arithmetic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and English. The school rotated thru the various areas of the town.

Although farming remained pretty much in favor over the years there was a good bit of sea activity as well. Barney Shipyard was started up in the latem 1700's. Here 137 ships were built before the yard closed in 1859. Many of these were major vessels, some over 1,000 ton capacity. There were numerous other smaller yards as well.

During the 1700's nets were cast for menhaden which were salted and packed for shipment to the West Indies. In a good year, 1500 barrels of the fish were shipped.

One native son worked up to a prestigious sea-going position. In 1853 Aaron Wood went to sea, went thru the ranks and ultimately became captain of the "pride of the U.S. merchant fleet", the SOVEREIGN OF THE SEA.

By 1815 trade developed - by cart to Boston and Albany, by ship to the souther states. Shoes and cotton cloth woven in homes were traded for rum, molasses, china, and spices.

Some of the other early products were paper, straw bonnets made in homes, and (1832) daquerreotypes.

Early industry in the Hortonville section of town included grist mills and yarn mills. By 1806 Swansea Cotton Manufacturing had 200 to 300 spindles working. In east Swansea there was a bog iron mine. By 1816 a tannery had been opened. In North Swansea a jewelry factory making collar buttons and cufflinks was founded in 1878 and continued thru World Was II. At Luther's Corners, the (1818) Luther Store still stands. It was once one of the principal trading places in the town.

Farming retained a continued interest and this led to the formation of the Swansea Agricultural Library Association. The group maintained their library from 1866 to 1902 when the inventory was given over to the Swansea Public Library.

The town was loyal to the cause in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Before the Civil War as in other towns, some slaves were bought and these is a slave graveyard on Gardeners Neck Road Bearing out this fact. There were no slaves at the time of the Civil War, however, and the town entered with vigor, sending men to serve while the women rolled bandages at home. A home militia was formed.

Swansea's population changed little for many years. In 1765 there were 1,840 residents and in 1900 the total was still under 2,000. The last 90 years have seen this number swell to almost eight times its 1900 figure.

At the turn of the century Ocean Grove in South Swansea was developed as a waterfront community with a park and grove. The railroad ran thru this development with a station there. Both bowling lanes and a skating rink were part of the complex. Some of the house lots were given away, deeds were released from hot air balloons. Lots were tiny in this tightly-packed community, some were about 30' by 70'. The "Grove" was very popular as a working man's resort and many people came each year from nearby Rhode Island cities. There is a well - maintained town beach and community center operating there today.

There's an interesting rock formation in the town called Hiding Rock. It is described as having a cleft midway in the rock which enables one to walk into the crevice from either side of the rock. About halfway thru, because of the way the cleft was formed, the person is hidden from view from the other either side. The hiding places is secured as there is a rock over the top of the crevice which cuts out sunlight.

Historical Sites

Martin House Farm (1728), G.A.R. Highway, North Swansea
Luther Store, corner Old Warren Road and Pearse Road