Swartwout, Peter

PETER P. SWARTWOUT.

The Swartwout family are one of the oldest in Orange County, and the name is closely allied to its early history. Its members were stanch patriots during the Revolution, and suffered much from Indian and Tory invasions as a consequence. The progenitor of the race in America was Ruloff Swartwout, who left the dikes and fertile flats of his native Holland about the year 1750, as nearly as can be determined. He possessed all the heroic virtues peculiar to the sons of the Fatherland, which have in a marked degree been transmitted to successive generations of the family. Ruloff Swartwout had a family of children, the exact number of which is not known. It is, however, probable that among them were Anthony, Thomas, and Gerardus, each of whom settled at Peenpack Flats, in 1690. Peter P., the subject of this biography, traces his descent directly from Anthony, who had three children,— Samuel, James, and Jane.

Among the children of James was Philip, who located on land now occupied by Peter P., which has been for more than two centuries in possession of members of the family. Philip as early as 1751 married Miss Antje Wynkoop, also of Holland ancestry, who was among the early inhabitants of Ulster County. During the conflict between New York and New Jersey, involving the settlement of the boundary line, she was taken prisoner and suffered death as the result of illness and exposure. Philip had children,— Gerardus, Cornelius, Philip Jr., and Jacobus, by the first marriage, and by a second, to Miss Schoonover, one son, Peter. The latter was married Jan. 24, 1788, to Miss Jane Westfall, their children being Simeon, Philip, Sallie, James D., Samuel, David, and Deborah. Of this number, Philip, the father of Peter P., was united in marriage to Mrs. Esther Westbrook Westfall, and had six children,— Peter P., Jane, Catharine, Henry B., Elizabeth, and Sarah. Of this number but four— Peter P. and three sisters— survive. The former was born in Sussex Co., N.J., May 25, 1817, and spent his early life upon the homestead in Deerpark,— the home hallowed by associations of the past, and bearing in indelible bloodstains evidence of the conflicts and struggles of his heroic forefathers during the French and Indian wars. The common schools afforded him all the educational advantages at the time available, and his early training guided his tastes in the direction of agriculture as a vocation. He has since continued to cultivate the soil, and been a conspicuous’ example of the industry and practical wisdom which are the certain forerunners of success in life.

Mr. Swartwout was married, Nov. 10, 1842, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Cuddeback, of Port Jervis, and the following year removed to his present home, where he has since resided. They have had nine children— Catharine (Mrs. D.S. DeWitt), Jemima, Jane (Mrs. H.J. Bidwell), Elizabeth, Philip, Esther, Ellen, Benjamin, and Henry. Six of these are still living, and four reside under the parental roof. Mr. Swartwout is not an aspirant for political honors. He has, however, filled two terms as supervisor of his township, has been elected justice of the peace, and has been a director in both the National Bank and the First National Bank of Port Jervis. He was during the existence of the militia law of the State a skillful military tactician, and held the rank of lieutenant- colonel when the law was repealed. His religious preferences are for the Reformed Dutch Church, of which he is a cordial supporter.