Hello K., I think that you can add the following to our lineage of the family. A Ralph Swift, who frequents the Swift GenForum, seems to have a real handle on our family, although it is not his. He has supplied, from my perspective, sufficient data to validate his opinion, especially supplying the birth data and christening date for our Rev. William Swift. You will notice the given name of Dean as one of William's brothers. That name appears in the family in America, especially in the family of Richard Swift, son of Rev. William, and husband of Mary Terrell. Their son, William, married Rebecca Swift, daughter of Thomas Swift and Amediah Duke, and had a son, John Dean Swift, born in Hanover County, VA. Because of his data, I believe that we can eliminate Dublin, Ireland from consideration for our Swift lineage. Best regards, John Fox Winston Salem, NC SWIFT FAMILY LINEAGE 1. Bryan SWYFTE Notes: In the early 1300's was given a grant of land in Co Durham by Godfrey Beaumont, Bishop of Durham (d: 1333) (All according to "Burke's Irish Family Records") Children: Sir. Humphrey 1.1 Sir. Humphrey SWYFT Spouse: Daughter Of Alxander Of Beddick Children: John 1.1.1 John SWYFT Spouse: Margaret HEDWORTH Children: Edmond 1.1.1.1 Edmond SWIFT Birth Place: Allergill, County, Durham Spouse: Margaret TROLLOPE Children: Anthony 1.1.1.1.1 Anthony SWIFT Spouse: Daughter SURTEES Spouse Father: Sir Richard SURTEES Children: Robert 1.1.1.1.1.1a Robert SWIFT* Birth Date: 1445 Spouse: Daughter HANSARDE Children: Thomas Other spouses: Agnes Anne UNKNOWN 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1 Thomas SWIFT Birth Date: Circa 1470 Children: Henry 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1 Henry SWIFT Birth Date: 1509 Children: Rev. Thomas 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1 Rev. Thomas SWIFT Birth Date: 1595 Death Date: 1658 Notes: Of Goodrich and Bridstow in Hereford, England. Four generations previous, he was descended from Robert Swyfte and his first wife, daughter of William Hansarde. Robert's second wife was Agnes Anne; were parents of Robert Swyfte of Rotherham[1478-1561] the rich mercer whose tomb is still to be seen in Rotherham Church in Yorkshire. Spouse: Elizabeth DRYDEN Spouse Notes: The exact relationship of Elizabeth Dryden ( Wife of Rev Thomas Swift 1595-1658)to John Dryden,the poet,is something I have not really investigated thoroughly myself but it can no doubt be ascertained with certainty if one should care to study the appropriate documentaion. Three seperate sources give a conflicting relationship, 1)"Burkes Irish Family Records" say of her that she is the daughter of John Dryden and sister of Sir Erasmus Dryden, 1st Bt of Canons Ashby. 2)Edmund Lenthall Swyfte in Extracts from his Grandfather's,(Deane Swift married to Mary Harrison and incidentally there is a whole generation missing from "Burkes" at this point)) manuscripts dated 1774 and using data from "Life of the Dean of St Patrick", published in 1734, says of Rev Thomas "He had married Elizabeth,the daughter of Sir Erasmus Dryden and Aunt of the poet" 3)The same Edmund Lenthall Swyfte in a contribution to 'Notes and Queries" on family history at a later date ( about 1874) and obviously trying to quote the same lineage and perhaps amending the earlier quote, says " He married Elizabeth, the grand-daughter of Sir Erasmus Dryden, and aunt of the poet" These are small but significant differences in personal accounts of the lineage and I am sure can be corrected with a little work ( which I have not done).The relationship is obviously close, but because it only confers bragging rights and does not impact the overall Swift line, except as a side bar,it is not something I have researched. I hope I have given you enough information to work on with the Dryden thing. Children: Godwin Dryden Thomas William Jonathan Adam 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.1 Godwin SWIFT 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.2 Dryden SWIFT 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3 Thomas SWIFT Notes: Jonathan Swift in "Fragment of Autobiography" states that this Thomas was "bred in Oxford" and does not appear to have gone to Ireland with the other brothers. [As per Ralph S. Swift] If we look......... at the list of sons for Rev Thomas and Elizabeth Dryden we come across son number three, Thomas who married a daughter of Sir William Davenant and had a son named Thomas also, he was Rev Thomas Swift, Rector of Pattenham in Surrey in England (b1665 ;d 1752) Spouse: Daughter [Maria?] DAVENANT Birth Date: 1641 Spouse Father: Sir William DAVENANT Children: Rev. Thomas [Possibly] 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1 Rev. Thomas [Possibly] SWIFT Birth Date: 1665 Death Date: 1752 Occupation: Rector Of Puttenham Notes: Rev Thomas Swift, Rector of Pattenham had several children among whom was WILLIAM SWIFT born 1696 and Christened 22 Jan 1697, at Pattenham in Surrey (he had a brother Godwin christened 10 Apr 1705 and another ,Dean Swift, Christened 22 Jul 1706). I think you will find that this is your Rev William Swift who married Dianah Hodgkin in 1722 and began his first ministry in Bermuda and six years later moved with his wife and two children to Hanover , Virginia and became the Pastor of St Martins Parish Church Most of the ..... dates can be found in the LDS files and are mostly transcriptions of Parish Records i.e Batch Number P014281 and I see no reason to doubt their accuracy. Ralph S. Swift Spouse: Unknown UNKNOWN Children: Rev. William Davenant Dean Ann Godwin 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1.1 Rev. William SWIFT Birth Date: 1695/1696 Birth Place: Kent County, England; Possibly Pattenham In Surrey Christen Date: 22 January 1697 Christen Place: Pattenham In Surrey, Possibly Death Date: 24 March 1734(7) Notes: However, if we look further at the list of sons for Rev Thomas and Elizabeth Dryden we come across son number three, Thomas who married a daughter of Sir William Davenant and had a son named Thomas also, he was Rev Thomas Swift, Rector of Pattenham in Surrey in England (b1665 ;d 1752) Rev Thomas Swift, Rector of Pattenham had several children among whom was WILLIAM SWIFT born 1696 and Christened 22 Jan 1697, at Pattenham in Surrey (he had a brother Godwin christened 10 Apr 1705 and another ,Dean Swift, Christened 22 Jul 1706).[Data from Ralph Swift] 17 Sep 1731 PB 14:329-330 Wm Swift 400a -/brs of Deep Ck of Licking Hole 228 13 May 1732 PB 14:444-445 Wm Swift 400a -/brs of Deep Creek of Licking hole Pastor of St. Martins Parish Church. Spouse: Dianah HODGKIN Marriage Date: 12 January 1722 Marriage Place: St. Dunstan's Church In Kent County, England Children: William Jr. Thomas Richard 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1.2 Davenant SWIFT Birth Date: 1705 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1.3 Dean SWIFT Birth Date: Circa 1706 Christen Date: 22 July 1706 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1.4 Ann SWIFT Birth Date: 1709 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.3.1.5 Godwin SWIFT Birth Date: Circa 1705 Christen Date: 10 April 1705 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.4a William SWIFT* Death Date: 1705 Spouse: Frances KING Other spouses: Elizabeth ARROM 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.4b William SWIFT* (See above) Spouse: Elizabeth ARROM Children: William Other spouses: Frances KING 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.4b.1 William SWIFT Death Date: 1769 Spouse: Elizabeth LONGFIELD 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.5 Jonathan SWIFT 1.1.1.1.1.1a.1.1.1.6 Adam SWIFT 1.1.1.1.1.1b Robert SWIFT* (See above) Spouse: Agnes Anne UNKNOWN Other spouses: Daughter HANSARDE Reference Note 7 Letter to Bishop of London from Governor Gooch of Virginia.