The Winter-Swift Connection
Fall River · New Bedford · Falmouth · Waquoit
Two families rooted in southeastern Massachusetts — the seafaring Swifts of Falmouth and the Winters of Fall River — joined when Le Roy Warren Swift married the daughter of Richmond C. Winter. Their story spans the Revolution, the Civil War, the whaling era, and two world wars.
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Before the War
Daguerreotypes & Ambrotypes · 1850s – 1860s
“My Mother’s mother. Elizabeth Arden.”
— written on tape label, teal ink
Elizabeth Arden— Richmond Winter’s wife, the annotator’s maternal grandmother. Ambrotype in thermoplastic case, ~1850s. Previously known only as “Granni Winter” — her maiden name was Arden.
Rachel Warren— Leroy E. Swift’s wife, the annotator’s paternal grandmother. Her maiden name became her son’s middle name: Le Roy Warren Swift.
“My father Le Roy W. Swift. His Father, a Navy Capt. Fr Camp.”
— written on case back, red ink
The label that changed everything. This inscription identified “Papa” as Le Roy W. Swift and his father as a Navy Captain — connecting the Winter photos to the Swift family of Falmouth. The Civil War officer is Leroy E. Swift (b. 1836, Falmouth). The boy beside him is Le Roy Warren Swift (b. 1869).
Three women— Tintype, ~1860s. Studio setting. Possibly Elizabeth Arden with sisters or friends from the Fall River / New Bedford area.
Unidentified toddler— Tintype, ~1870s. Possibly Le Roy Warren Swift as a baby, born 1869.
The Gilded Age
Cabinet Cards & Studio Portraits · 1870s – 1890s
Papa’s Father— Cabinet card, Ad Vivum studio, Hastings Building, New Bedford. Full beard, bow tie. The annotator labeled the back simply: “Papa’s father.”
Possibly Richmond C. Winter — Oval cabinet card. Long white beard, seated with hat. If this is Richmond (b. 1839), this portrait dates to the 1890s or early 1900s.
“Richmond C. Winter. Born in Fall River, June 25th 1839, Mass. Died in New Bedford, Mass., Jan 17th 1912. My grandfather — my Mother’s father.”
— vital data card, pencil and blue ink
Richmond C. Winter— The foundation stone of this collection. Two hands wrote on this card: an earlier pencil inscription with the formal vitals, and a later blue ink addition — “My grandfather — my Mother’s father” — written decades later by someone who wanted to make sure nobody forgot.
Summer at Waquoit
The Homestead · Turn of the Century
“Mama she was so pretty.”
— written beneath a group photo, blue ink
“My Mother in an old fashion dress she found in the attic.” — Mama wearing clothing from a previous generation, perhaps her grandmother’s. A playful moment preserved in a daguerreotype case.
“Papa & Mother” — Some twenty family members gathered on a lawn, Edwardian dress. The label identifies Mama and Papa among them. Waquoit, Falmouth, ~1900–1910.
The Next Generation
New Bedford & Beyond · 1920s – 1950s
Fair Haven, New Bedford— A family member stands before a large brick building. Oral history: a great-grandfather was involved in its construction. The family’s roots in New Bedford ran deep — from Richmond Winter’s death here in 1912 to the Ad Vivum portrait studio in the Hastings Building where three generations sat for their portraits.
The Family Tree
As Reconstructed from Photo Annotations & Records
Swift Branch — Paternal
Solomon Swift
1745 – 1807 · Falmouth, MA
Married Susannah Childs, 1769. Served in the Revolution, September 1778 — alarm at Dartmouth & Falmouth.
Revolutionary WarSAR Eligible
Capt. Nathaniel Swift
1775 – 1849 · Falmouth / Waquoit
Married Thankful Jenkins. Buried at Waquoit Cemetery. His children carry the Jenkins name: James Jenkins Swift, Mary Jenkins Swift, Weston Jenkins Swift.
Solomon Crowell Swift
b. ~1804 · Falmouth
Son of Nathaniel & Thankful Jenkins.
Leroy E. Swift
b. 1836 · Falmouth
Navy Captain, Civil War. Portrait in uniform survives in hinged daguerreotype case.
Civil War Navy
Rachel Warren
~1840s
Leroy's first wife. Oval portrait by Lotte Gützlaff. Her maiden name became her son's middle name.
Le Roy Warren Swift
b. 1869
“Papa.” Named for his mother. Cabinet card at Ad Vivum studio, New Bedford. Biked from New Bedford to Waquoit with Uncle Mort.
Winter Branch — Maternal
Great-Grandmother Winter
~1810s · Fall River
Portrait at Gay's studio, 39 So. Main St., Fall River. Outdoor photo in the family yard.
Richmond C. Winter
June 25, 1839 – Jan 17, 1912
Born Fall River. Died New Bedford. “My grandfather — my Mother's father.” Vital data preserved in the annotator's own hand.
Elizabeth Arden
~1830s
Richmond's wife. “Granni Winter.” Maiden name Arden — a new research line. Ambrotype portrait survives in thermoplastic case.
“Mama”
~1870s
Daughter of Richmond & Elizabeth. Portrait at Ad Vivum studio, New Bedford. “She was so pretty.” Found her grandmother's dress in the attic and had her picture taken in it.
The aunts & uncles: Flora & Wallace, Nellie & Charles, Hattie & Mort. George Bourne. The Phenix and Faulkner families.
Le Roy Warren Swift ∞ “Mama” Winter
Their children — the blue ink annotators — preserved these photographs and labeled them from memory, decades later, so nobody would forget.
Research in Progress
Active Leads & Open Questions
confirmed
Solomon Swift — Revolutionary War Service
Private, Capt. Samuel Fish’s co., Col. Nathaniel Freeman’s regt. September 1778, alarm at Dartmouth & Falmouth. SAR/DAR eligible. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, Vol. 15. See Cincinnati page for eligibility analysis.
Private, Capt. Samuel Fish’s co., Col. Nathaniel Freeman’s regt. September 1778, alarm at Dartmouth & Falmouth. SAR/DAR eligible. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, Vol. 15. See Cincinnati page for eligibility analysis.
active
Jenkins Connection → Cincinnati
Capt. Nathaniel Swift married Thankful Jenkins, daughter of James Jenkins (1735–1807, DAR Patriot #A062063). If James is the son of John Jenkins (b. 1709), this connects to Lt. Joel Jenkins (MA) — a Society of the Cincinnati officer with a potentially vacant seat.
Capt. Nathaniel Swift married Thankful Jenkins, daughter of James Jenkins (1735–1807, DAR Patriot #A062063). If James is the son of John Jenkins (b. 1709), this connects to Lt. Joel Jenkins (MA) — a Society of the Cincinnati officer with a potentially vacant seat.
active
Rachel Warren’s Parents
If Rachel descends from the Plymouth/Bristol County Warrens, she may connect to Richard Warren of the Mayflower (already a documented ancestor). Her maiden name also opens Cincinnati officer searches under Warren.
If Rachel descends from the Plymouth/Bristol County Warrens, she may connect to Richard Warren of the Mayflower (already a documented ancestor). Her maiden name also opens Cincinnati officer searches under Warren.
new
Elizabeth Arden’s Family
Maiden name discovered from ambrotype case label. Completely unresearched. Fall River / New Bedford area, mid-1800s.
Maiden name discovered from ambrotype case label. Completely unresearched. Fall River / New Bedford area, mid-1800s.
new
Fair Haven Building
Oral history says a great-grandfather was involved in building the brick structure in the photograph. New Bedford city directories may identify a Winter, Swift, Wall, or Arden builder/contractor in Fair Haven.
Oral history says a great-grandfather was involved in building the brick structure in the photograph. New Bedford city directories may identify a Winter, Swift, Wall, or Arden builder/contractor in Fair Haven.
The Places
Southeastern Massachusetts
Fall River— Where Richmond C. Winter was born, 1839. Great-Grandmother Winter’s portrait at Gay’s studio, 39 So. Main St. The yard where she was photographed standing in her garden.
New Bedford— Where Richmond died, 1912. The Ad Vivum studio in the Hastings Building where three portraits were made. Dartmouth Street, where the family gathered in the living room. Fair Haven, where a great-grandfather helped build.
Falmouth — Waquoit— The Swift homestead. Where Capt. Nathaniel Swift is buried. Where the annotator spent summers from age 10 to 17. The horse-drawn carriage from Woods Hole. The beach. The bridge at Childs River.
Falmouth — Woods Hole — Starting point of the carriage ride to Waquoit.
Childs River— “My grandfather’s time it was a whaling port. During WWII it was a naval base.”
Related Lines
The Swifts of Falmouth→ /lines/swift
The Wall Connection→ /lines/wall
Society of the Cincinnati→ /lines/cincinnati
Mayflower Passengers→ /lines/mayflower
The Family Tree→ /lines/tree
The Migration Map→ /lines/map
Photos from the Warren-Winter family collection. Cataloged Session 43.
“Many many years ago when I was very little.”
“Many many years ago when I was very little.”