Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas Samuel "Maas" Swartwout (1660, Beverwyck, New Netherland – c. 1723, Machackemeck, New York) was one of the earliest settlers of the Delaware River Valley, early landowner of America, holder of the Pennpack (Minisink) Magheckemeck land patent, and a founder of Deerpark, Orange County, New York. He married Elizabeth Jacobse Jansen Gardenier onFebruary 4, 1683 in New York, United States
Family
Thomas Swartwout was the eldest son of Roelof Swartwout and Eva Brandt de Hooges and grandson of Tomys Swartwout.He was the brother of Antoni Swartwout & Bernardus Swartwout; brother in law to Jacob Kip and grandfather of Brigadier General Jacobus Swartwout.
Early settler of Delaware River Valley, founder of Deerpark, New York and Orange County, New York
On October 14, 1697 Thomas Swartwout, along with his brothers Antoni and Bernardus were granted 1200 acres of Patent land along with Pierre Guimard, Jacques Caudebec, Jan Tyse and David Jamison onMagheckemeck or Wagheckemeck, later called the Peenpack patent. This is current day Deerpark, New York and Orange County, New York.There lands extended into present day New Jersey and the Delaware River and formed what is referred to as the Minisink Angle.The current borders of Ulster and Orange County, as well 3 state lines.
New York–New Jersey border establishment
Desiring to have verifiable evidence that their land lay within the bounds of the province of New York, Thomas Swartwout and his co-partners petitioned the General Assembly to take immediate action for the establishment of a boundary between New York and East Jersey. On November 1, 1700, the members of the House of Representatives collectively sent a petition to his Excellency Richard the Earl of Bellamont, governor of the province, setting
"forth this request of the settlers in the Minnessinck" valley : "Whereas, some differences do arise between the county of Orange, within this province, and the province of East-New Jersey, [we] therefore humbly pray your excellency to take into your consideration the settling of the bounds between the province and the said province of East-New Jersey."The same indefinite knowledge regarding the position of the boundary line between Orange and Ulster counties existed. In order to define the situation of Maghaghkemeck and that of Great and Little Minisink, the General Assembly, in 1701, enacted that that part of Orange County should be annexed immediately to the county of Ulster until the bounds between the two counties should be settled, and that in the interval the freeholders of the three districts should cast their votes for representatives in the County of Ulster "as if they actually lived in the said county." It may further be remarked that the first boundary line separating the two counties extended across the territory of the present town of Deerpark not far south of the village of Huguenot to a point on "the northwardmost branch" of the Delaware River, near Sparrowbush. The boundary between the two provinces was surveyed and documented in 1769.
On the death of Thomas Swartwout, about the year 1723, Samuel, his son, took charge of the family property.
