Historic Sites

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Swales Cemetery

Historic Site #:12-152   (Exists)   Type: B1 Town:Sodus
Site Name:Swales CemeteryGPS Coordinates:43.263042, -77.060307
Address:8324 Lake Rd. Sodus New York
Description:
Swales Cemetery on Lake Road of early pioneering family responsible for many cobblestone buildings in that area


 
Photo from Edith Farrington (2018)Photo from Edith Farrington (2018)
Photo from Cobblestone Buildings in Wayne County BlogPhoto from Edith Farrington (2018)
 
Historic narrative:

The Swales family was an early pioneering family that was responsible for many cobblestone buildings in our area.

From NYSGEN web info:

Located about three miles west of Sodus Point on Lake Road.

2005 Driving Directions - Maple Ave North out of Sodus. Right onto Lake road heading East. Cemetery is on the immediate Left in the woods, just off from the highway.

SWALES
William, Sept. 26, 1776-Jan. 28, 1855, native of Yorkshire, Eng
Jane Ann, dau. J. & M., Jan. 2, 1845, 2y
William, son J. & M., Oct. 29, 1847, 13d

WEEKS
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, July 30, 1859, 18y 8m

NEAL
Moses, March 15, 1871, 33y 15th N. Y. Engrs.

From Clark records:

SWALES
William, B. Sept. 26, 1776, was a native of Hutten, Cranswick, Yorkshire, England, d. Jan. 28, 1855, 78y 4m 22d

"This I got by my hand labor
To lie here it was my favor."


Jane Ann, dau. J. & M., Jan. 2, 1845, 2y
William, son J. & M., Oct. 29, 1847, 13d
John, Nov. 25, 1857, 42y 7m 9d

WEEKS
? William, wife of Thomas, July 31, 1859, 18y 8m

"Come stricken weeper
Come to the bed
Gaze on the sleeper
Our idol is dead.
Smooth out the ringlets
Close the blue eye
No wonder such beauty
Was claimed in the sky."

Cemetery Records


William Swales ( Sept. 26, 1776, Hutten, Cranswick, Yorkshire, England - Jan. 28, 1855 - Swales Cemetery)
William Swales Jr. (1806-1857 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
Elizabeth Swales Preston (Born Sept. 18, 1813 -  Died Dec. 26, 1903 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
John Swales (1815-1857 - Swales Cemetery)
William Swales Jr. (1833-1912 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
Sarah S. Swales Gibson (1839-1927 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
Maria Swales Nash (1843-1918 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
Joseph Swales (1843-1907 - Sodus Rural Cemetery)
Elizabeth Swales Weeks (1841 - July 30, 1859 - Swales Cemetery)
Jame Ann Swales (1843- Jan. 2, 1845 - Swales Cemetery)



Ella G. Swales Vosburgh (1879-1976 Sodus Rural Cemetery)


William Swales Cobblestone Houses


William Swayles built 11 or 12 cobblestone houses for himself, his children and for tenants on what later became Sodus Fruit Farm.
These included:
1. Preston house (Gaylord) for his daughter, Elizabeth, wife of John Preston (Buried Sodus Rural Cemetery).
2. Maulendyke house (Dufloo Road) for his son, John, (buried, Swayles Cemetery).
3. Gibson - Lake Road, for son, William Jr., buried Sodus Rural Cemetery.
4 - 5.  (Two) Sodus Fruit Farm, for himself, buried Sodus Rural Cemetery.
6.  Monar House, Lake Road (formerly Swales) built for son, George.
7. Miller's house, south of Preston's - not known for whom built.
8.  Dearlove House - south side of Halcus Road for daughter Sarah, now in ruins.
9. Three or four houses built on Sodus Fruit Farm, now gone.


 (This above information from his great-granddaughter, Emma Potwine, ca.1955).





References:

Cobblestone Buildings in Wayne County Blog

NYSGENWEB web site