History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

74 History of Swansea
favor towards those holding Baptist views is the fundamental
fact in the origin of Swansea.
A plain house of worship was at once built, just over the
southern border of Rehoboth, in New Meadow Neck, the members
gradually settling near it. The catholic spirit of Mr. Myles
drew thither not only Baptists, but others who were tolerant of
their opinions.
Being without town government, these settlers thought
to secure for themselves that measure of civil autonomy. Previous
to Oct. 3d, 1667, Plymouth granted to Thomas Willett and
his neighbors of Wannamoisett the privilege of becoming a
town. On the above date they signified their desire for incorporation.
To the new town was given the name borne by the
place in Wales whence Pastor Myles had been driven, Swansea,
the Sea of Swans. It lay between the two upper forks of
Narragansett Bay, south of the Rehoboth and Taunton lines,
and extended from Taunton to Providence river. It consists
of a series of five main peninsulas or necks projecting southward,
and separated by arms of the bay and the streams flowing
into them. The first neck on the east is Shewamet, now
Somerset, lying between Taunton and Lee's rivers; the next
is Metapoiset, now known as Gardner's Neck, between Lee's
and Cole's rivers; the third is Kickemuit, between Cole's and
Warren rivers. This tract is traversed by the Kickemuit river,
which, where it broadens towards the bay, divides the tract
into Toweset and Monthaup (or Mount Hope) Necks. The
fourth is New Meadow Neck, between Warren and Barrington
rivers; and the fifth is Wannamoisett Neck, between Barrington
and Providence rivers. The area of the old town has
been three times reduced: first in 1717, by the separate incorporation
of Barrington ; second by the settlement of the line between
Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 1747, whereby Little
Compton, Tiverton, Barrington, Cumberland and the part of
Swansea now known as Warren fell to Rhode Island; and third
in 1790, when the tract known as Shewamet was made a
separate town by the name of Somerset.
As we have seen, the motive to this settlement was religious.
Ecclesiastical freedom was the goal which led the
founders hither. The church was thus the basis of the town,
and the town organization was in order that, in gaining ecclesiastical
liberty, they need not sacrifice the high privilege of
American citizenship. Some of those who were active in planting
the church and town were not Baptists. They, however, saw
that underneath the difference which separates Baptists from
their fellow Christians, there was a fundamental adhesion to
the essentials of the faith. Hence they were willing to co-oper-