Gideon LOWELL & Miriam SWETT
Father: Gideon LOWELL, (son of Percival LOWELL), b. 3 Sep 1672, Newsbury Essex MA
Note: Information is from 'The Historic Genealogy of the Lowells ofAmerica,' by Delmar R. Lowell, 1 899. In 1696, he was a 'cordwainer,' while by 1706 he was called a'mariner' and a 'coaster. ' In his will of 1748 he called himself'yeoman,' but when his will was executed in 1753, h e was called 'captain.' Gideon purchased 53 acres of land (upland, butting on the Powow andMerrimac Rivers) fro m Fawne Clements in 'Almesbury,' MA on 19 Jan 1718.In 1719 he sold his land in Newbury and i n the deed is called 'coaster ofAlmesbury;' it must have been about this time he moved with h is familyfrom Newbury to Amesbury, settlling at what was called the 'Ferry.'Tradition says h e opened a street which became known as Lowell Streetthrough his land in Amesbury, buildin g a house there for each of hisseven sons. He was a sea captain who built, owned and commanded his vessels–onea 'sloupe' of 50 o r 60 tons burden. He sailed widely, taking his wifealong often. Some of his children were b orn on these voyages. Traditionsays son John was born in South Carolina while his parents we re therewith the ship. In 1728-9, he and brother Samuel purchased land in Falmouth (nowPortland), Maine. He wa s voted a freeman there, and had the ear-mark ofcattle recorded there, but did not move to Ma ine. He transferred hisland there to son Abner. Gideon was a soldier in the 1st expedition to Canada (Mass. Rec.,Vol 114, p. 178). He amassed considerable fortune on his voyages. 'Traditions make itprobable that in hi s voyages the King's revenue was not alwaysconsidered, nor did he hesitate to run up aside o f and board by force byforce a French or Spanish craft as the opportunity presented. Hisvess els were staunch and swift, though not showing as fine outlines assome more modern ones might .' The Custom House at Newbury burned in1811, destroying the shipping records. Gideon owne d a wharf near 'Ames'wharf,' at the mouth of the Powow River, where he landed his cargos of'R hum' and 'Shugar' from the West Indies, or rice, resin and tar from theCarolinas.
Mother: Miriam SWETT, b. 10 Apr 1672, Newsbury Essex MA
Married 7 Jul 1692, Newsbury Essex MA
Child:
- Moses LOWELL, b. 1705