Swift, Job

Swift, Job a Congregational minister, was born at Sandwich, Mass., June 17 (0. S.), 1743, and removed in early youth to Kent, Conn. He graduated from Yale College in 1765, having made a profession of religion while in college. He studied theology under Dr. Bellamy, was licensed to preach in 1766, and in 1767 became pastor of the Church in Richmond, Mass. After a pastorate of seven years he left Richmond, and, having preached in different places for about a year, became pastor in Amenia, N. Y. In the spring of 1783 he removed to Manchester, Vt., where he preached between two and three years. On May 31, 1786, he was settled over the Church in Belington, from which he made many missionary tours into the western and northern sections of the state. Leaving Bennington June 7, 1801, he removed to Addison, on Lake Champlain, where he purchased a farm. He established a Church there and officiated as its pastor, and also continued his missionary labor. He died on- a missionary tour at Enosburg, Oct. 20, 1804. Mr. Swift acted as a chaplain in the army during most of the Revolutionary war. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 1, 640.