History of Swansea, Massachusetts, USA

In 1667 the first Baptist church in Massachusetts relocated to Swansea from Rehoboth after experiencing religious intolerance there, and Swansea was incorporated as an independent town.

Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates

1675 - King Philip's War takes place between Native Americans and New England colonists
In colonial New England, King Philip's War begins when a band of Wampanoag warriors raid the border settlement of Swansee, Massachusetts, and massacre the English colonists there.

In the early 1670s, 50 years of peace between the Plymouth colony and the local Wampanoag Indians began to deteriorate when the rapidly expanding settlement forced land sales on the tribe. Reacting to increasing Native American hostility, the English met with King Philip, chief of the Wampanoag, and demanded that his forces surrender their arms. The Wampanoag did so, but in 1675 a Christian Native American who had been acting as an informer to the English was murdered, and three Wampanoag were tried and executed for the crime.

King Philip responded by ordering the attack on Swansee on June 24, which set off a series of Wampanoag raids in which several settlements were destroyed and scores of colonists massacred. The colonists retaliated by destroying a number of Indian villages...
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June 24, 1675

1717 - What is now Barrington, Rhode Island (part of Massachusetts until 1747) was separated from the rest of Swansea in 1717, over religious differences.

wikipedia.org

1839 - Swanzey
Swanzey [Swansea], Massachusetts
Bristol county. This town lies between Somerset, and Bristol, R.I. An arm of Mount Hope bay sets up some miles into the town, on which is some navigation and ship building.

There are two paper mills, a cotton and woolen mill in the town, and manufactures of vessels, boots and shoes: annual value, about $50,000.

Swanzey is a very pleasant town, and is interesting as the scene of much savage aggression. Here it was that Philip commenced his war, in 1675, by plunder and murder. It lies 46 miles S. by W. from Boston and 14 S.W. by S. from Taunton. Incorporated, 1667. Population, 1837, 1,627.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1845 - SWANSEY. [Pop. 1,484. Inc. 1667.]
The name of this town came from Swansea, in Wales. Part of it once belonged to Rehoboth, and part of it fell within the bounds of Rhode Island. Somerset was taken from it in 1790.

It was originally settled by Baptists, who seceded from the church in Rehoboth, and were obliged to retire hither.

The nearness of Swansey to Mount Hope, the residence of the Indian king Philip, caused it to be attacked early in Philip's War, and the first blood was shed in this town.

Something is done in navigation and shipbuilding, and there are a few factories on Palmer's river, which crosses the town before it enters Rhode Island.

Distance from Taunton, 14 miles; from Boston, 46.
An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
Get it HERE!

1854 - Swanzey
Swanzey, a post-township in Bristol co., Massachusetts, 46 miles S. by W. from Boston. Population, 1554.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

Swansey Massachusetts, 1890
Swansey lies on the line of Rhode Island, in the southwesterly part of Bristol County, 48 miles south of Boston. The post-offices are Swansey, North Swansey and Hortonville. Other village names are Luther's Corner in the south part of the town, and Swansey Factory in the northwest on Warren River, formerly Barneyville. The Warren and Bristol Branch of the Old Colony Railroad, connecting Providence and Bristol, has its Swansey station on Gardner's Neck, the extreme south of the town. Seekonk, Rehoboth, and Dighton bound it on the north, Somerset on the east; its southern angle lies on Mount Hope Bay; and Warren and Barrington, in Rhode Island, bound it on the west. The general form of the town is triangular, with a long parallelogram, constituting the "Two-mile Purchase," projecting between Rehoboth and Dighton.

The assessed area is 12,787 acres. There are nearly 5,000 acres, of woodland. Lee's River is partly on the Somerset line, and Cole's Brook is medial; both flowing southward... Read MORE...

In the late 1890s, trolleys connected the town of Swansea to Providence, Fall River and Taunton.

wikipedia.org

1899 - Swansea
...Swansea village is pleasantly situated on the southern border of the town and has a population of 590. It contains three stores, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a shoemaker shop, and newspaper, the Swansea Record, which is one of a number, all published in this county, started in 1885 by Samuel E. Fiske, the heading and local matter being different in each, while the same general matter is used in all. A half mile from the village is a bleachery and dye works on the site of a former paper mill. James Lloyd Wellington, M. D., practices medicine here and has during the past fifty-five years- a professional career that probably is not equaled in length by any other in the county. A new town hall, built of rough stone work, was erected in 1800, on the site of the former Union church; it was a gift of Frank Shaw Stevens, a sketch of whose life is given in another part of this work.

Barneysville is a hamlet in the extreme northeastern part of the town on Warren River, where there has ... Read MORE...

1906
Swansea, or Swanzey, a post-village of Bristol co., Mass., in Swansea township (town), 4 miles NNW. of Fall River, its banking point. Pop. of the town in 1900, 1645.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Swansea, Massachusetts:
Swansea Town Beach:

Start your visit with some relaxation at Swansea Town Beach. This beautiful beach on the shores of the Mount Hope Bay offers a serene setting for sunbathing, swimming, and picnicking. It's a great place for families and water enthusiasts.

Cole's River Family Fun Center:

This family-friendly center is packed with activities. You can go mini-golfing, bumper boating, play arcade games, and enjoy ice cream. It's perfect for a day of fun with the kids.

Simcock Farm:

Experience a taste of rural life at Simcock Farm. This working farm offers seasonal activities like apple picking, hayrides, and pumpkin picking in the fall. They also have a farm stand where you can buy fresh produce and homemade treats.

Gardner's Neck Road Vineyard:

If you're a wine enthusiast, don't miss a visit to Gardner's Neck Road Vineyard. You can take a tour of the vineyard, enjoy wine tastings, and relax with a glass of locally made wine while taking in the picturesque... Read MORE...