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Matilda O. Gamans Swift

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Matilda O. Gamans Swift

Birth	:	27 Oct 1856 Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA
Death	:	8 Jun 1928 Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial	:	West Falmouth Friends Cemetery, Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.6010800, -70.6361900
Inscription	:	MATILDA O. SWIFT / 4 mo. 21, 1856. / 6 mo. 8, 1928. /
Description	:	Falmouth Enterprise, Thursday, June 14, 1928, page 9 OBITUARY Mrs. Matilda Octavia Swift Widespread sympathy was evoked in Falmouth by the death of Mrs. Matilda Octavia Swift, at Springfield, Massachusetts, on June 8, following a short illness with pneumonia, for Mrs. Swift in more than thirty years of teaching in the Falmouth schools had endeared herself to a large proportion of the townspeople. Born in Rochester, Massachusetts, one of the six children of the late George P. Gamans and Matilda Octavia (Swift) Gamans, from an early age when the family moved to East Falmouth, Mrs. Swift's life wasintimately associated with Falmouth. Graduating from the... Read More	Falmouth Enterprise, Thursday, June 14, 1928, page 9 OBITUARY Mrs. Matilda Octavia Swift Widespread sympathy was evoked in Falmouth by the death of Mrs. Matilda Octavia Swift, at Springfield, Massachusetts, on June 8, following a short illness with pneumonia, for Mrs. Swift in more than thirty years of teaching in the Falmouth schools had endeared herself to a large proportion of the townspeople. Born in Rochester, Massachusetts, one of the six children of the late George P. Gamans and Matilda Octavia (Swift) Gamans, from an early age when the family moved to East Falmouth, Mrs. Swift's life wasintimately associated with Falmouth. Graduating from the Falmouth schools and Bridgewater Normal School, she took up teaching here finally succeeding Miss Sarah B. Lewis as principal of the West Falmouth Village Grammar School. Later she made a signal success as principal of the West Falmouth school, which prior to her coming, had always had a man teacher. She resigned this post at her marriage to the late Silas F. Swift of West Falmouth, but when left a widow early, with one son, she returned to teaching in West Falmouth until her age forced automatic retirement. Some eight or nine years ago, on retiring from teaching, Mrs. Swift went to Springfield to make her home with her only son, Paul F. Swift, but had never broken the close ties with Falmouth and its people. Following services at her late home in Springfield on Saturday last, the body was brought to West Falmouth for burial in the Friends' Cemetery. Mrs. Swift had been a member and faithful worker for the Methodist church in East Falmouth until her marriage when she became affiliated with her husband's church, the Friends' Society of West Falmouth. Her character was of the finest order of womanhood. She was a gifted writer, and her poems have appeared from time to time in the Falmouth Enterprise. She is survived by her son, Paul F. Swift, and it is particularly sad that her death should have occurred only a fortnight before, his marriage for which she was making happy preparation. She also leaves two brothers; Samuel W. Gamans of Providence and Manton L. Gamans of East Falmouth; and two sisters; Mrs. Louise Baldwin of Wareham and Mrs. Frank_W. Crocker of Falmouth. Falmouth Enterprise, June 28, 1928, page 5 OBITUARY MATILDA O. GAMANS SWTFT Into the sanctuary of higher service Matilda O. Swift passed June 8, 1928, leaving behind the trailing radiance of a noble Christian life "So when a great man dies The light he leaves behind him For years beyond our ken Lies upon the paths of men." In her childhood home she was singularly dutiful and dearly beloved daughter and sister. In that home which later she entered a happy bride she was a tender and wise helpmeet, selfsacrificing devoted mother and kind friend and neighbor; maintaining the highest ideals of home life, counting children its most valuable asset and so mothering them as to keep their spirits happy and the characters generous; placing service above comfort and with loyalty to high purpose teaching them to supplant hatred with love. Never discouraged and ever co-operating with others she lost herself in her efforts for her homeland, community. "It is not any hap-hazard sort of character that can play brother successfully to the human race but rather one that is not neutral but virile." When the writer first knew Mrs. Swift more than a quarter of a century ago she was a busy housewife creating by patient toil an atmosphere of cheer, courage, loving service and Christian spirit. Mrs. Swift was an intelligent thinking, church member actively engaged in the best community building and maintaining high moral standards and the religious life which is the dynamic of man's best work and which elevates him to the highest plane of civilization. It cost Mrs. Swift an unusual struggle when for sufficient reasons she thought, it wise to change her church fellowship. She loved, as few love, the church of her early years, the church of her parents and children, the great Christian institution in which she had been reared and about which clustered the precious memories of her girlhood and youth. Nor did she hold its tenets lightly but these were deeply imbedded in her soul. It was not easy to break the bonds of dear associations and fondly cherished convictions, of truth; but when she became convinced that it was the right course for her to take for the help of those whom she loved she did not falter. She ever maintained a high regard for the denomination she left but this first love did not cool the ardor of the second into which she entered with entire consecration and spiritual enthusiasm. The new faith was strange and foreign to her at first but as time passed through earnest study and deep affection her theology changed so that she became thoroughly convinced that the change was the right one, opening up new vistas of religious truth and larger fields of Christian usefulness. Her testimony became noticeably loyal, heart-searching and joyous so that when the circumstances, that had induced the change no longer existed, she remained throughout life a member of her chosen religious fellowship. (The . Society of Friends). Mrs. Swift gave many evidences of unusual mental ability. She was long engaged in public affairs. As an active, member of the Village Library Association she assisted it with trained judgement and counsel enriched by years of training and experience. For more than thirty years, she was an esteemed, teacher in public schools in which she was commonly successful, developing many pupils whom she inspired with loftier ideals and desires to be better men and women, more cultured and more useful to the community. She was a speaker of no mean ability, a leader in many circles and a strong factor of different organizations. Perhaps the most beautiful expression of a beautiful soul was in the poems, which like rare jewels, were often hidden modestly away among her trusted friends to whom they were a source of lasting delight. It was a sad cross to leave the old home of many years in the village of her adoption but with undaunted courage and charming grace, Mrs. Swift again met hard change in her life's plans in which she manifested to those about her the conquest of misfortune by a wonderful Christian courage and the beauty of an unselfish Christian womanhood. Her spirit will live on multiplied in the lives of the host to whom Mrs. Swift was a holy inspiration and benefactor and beloved friend. Few lives have been more fruitful than hers, whose death seems an irreparable loss to all who knew her. As we think of her now gone in to the ^Unstormed life," Frances Willard's last words come softly to our hearts, "How beautiful to be with God." Elam Henderson, East "Vassalboro, Maine; June 18, 1928.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Matilda O. Gamans Swift's memorial?
Matilda O. Gamans Swift's memorial is located at: West Falmouth Friends Cemetery, Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA.
When did Matilda O. Gamans Swift death?
Matilda O. Gamans Swift death on 8 Jun 1928 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Matilda O. Gamans Swift's memorial?
Latitude: 41.6010800
Longitude: -70.6361900

Family Members:

Parent

George P Gamans

(1825 - 1886)

Matilda Octavia Swift Gamans

(1826 - 1915)

Spouse

Silas F. Swift

(1835 - 1904)

Siblings

Sarah G. Gamans Crocker

(1864 - 1952)

Children

Paul G. Swift

(1890 - 1963)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. West Falmouth Friends Cemetery
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6010800, -70.6361900

2. Friends Ancient Cemetery
West Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6023300, -70.6331200

3. Crowell Cemetery
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6128900, -70.6258200

4. Oak Grove Cemetery
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5651016, -70.6182022

5. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5689011, -70.6063995

6. North Falmouth Burying Ground
North Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6425018, -70.6167984

7. Saint Barnabas Memorial Garden
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5533421, -70.6181547

8. East End Burying Ground
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6059400, -70.5682900

9. Falmouth Old Burying Ground
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5499001, -70.6251984

10. Falmouth Jewish Cemetery
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6080710, -70.5673800

11. Methodist Society Burying Ground
Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5533600, -70.6032200

12. Saint Anthonys Catholic Cemetery
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5768700, -70.5675888

13. Amrita Island Mausoleum
Bourne, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6593900, -70.6207900

14. Methodist Cemetery
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5775986, -70.5567017

15. Ennsbrook Cemetery
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5759750, -70.5477570

16. Davisville Cemetery
Davisville, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5524292, -70.5606766

17. Robinson Cemetery
East Falmouth, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5777300, -70.5409900

18. Otis Memorial
Bourne, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6596980, -70.5706980

19. Cataumet Cemetery
Bourne, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6768990, -70.6063995

20. Woods Hole Village Cemetery
Woods Hole, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5219100, -70.6628900

21. Bay View Cemetery
Waquoit Village, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5815720, -70.5268460

22. Massachusetts National Cemetery
Bourne, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6759987, -70.5824966

23. Pocasset Cemetery
Bourne, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6947260, -70.6034070

24. Great Neck Woods Cemetery
Mashpee, Barnstable County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6054000, -70.4835600