Roger Jones SWIRE (1822 - 1870)

Birth record from his mother's family bible states he was born on December 7th, 1822 at 5 past 4 in the morning in St. Vincent. His christening is recorded on 01 September 1824 at St. George's Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. His death date is also noted in the same family bible. He died by drowning in the river at Agualta Vale, Metcalfe, St. Mary, Jamaica. Also lived in St. George, Portland Parish, Jamaica.

Roger J. Swire was Treasurer of the St. George Library Society, a registered voter from St. George Parish, Portland, Jamaica West Indies in 1860, a registered voter from Metcalfe, Jamaica West Indies in 1860, and a member of the House of Assembly with 37 votes. He also served as Adjutant and Ensign in the Metcalfe Militia in 1849, and as a Land Surveyor. [Source: "Official and Other Personages of Jamaica from 1655 to 1790" by Walter A. Fuertado found in the National Library of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica.]

Frank Swire Rutty in 'The Rutty Family' gives the following history - Ronald Coy Swire Rutty, the 6th and last child of Joseph Waterhouse Rutty, was born July 28th, 1883, at Barnstaple, Trelawny. He entered the planting line, then came to St. Mary to stay with me. Ronald was like his Uncle Roger Swire; they both took longer than the other family members to sow their 'wild oats'. Both had great personality. They would hit a man down with one hand and lift him up with the other. Hot-tempered, but good-natured to a fault.

Roger Jones Swire - 1870 JAMAICA ALMANAC, CIVIL LIST, JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENT, COMMISSION SURVEYORS
Roger Jones Swire - 1870 JAMAICA ALMANAC, PAROCHIAL OFFICERS, MAGISTRATES, ETC., ST. MARY
Roger J. Swire - 1870 JAMAICA ALMANAC, PAROCHIAL OFFICERS, MAGISTRATES, ETC., PORTLAND
Roger Swire - Magistrate, Metcalfe Parish, Annotto Bay, 1861 ALMANAC, WHO'S WHO? IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE JAMAICA ALMANAC

Roger Jones Swire died on May 16 or 17, 1870 in Metcalfe Parish, Jamaica. According to a family letter, he left four coloured children, whose mother was not named. Three of the children were girls, but their names were also not given. The male child who was also not named, is most likely John Cornelius Swire, who the same letter stated was taken in by Fred Barker. This might be the same Frederick H. Barker who was a prominent individual in the Metcalfe Parish area in the 1870's. John Cornelius Swire became a police officer, and his name is found in many local newspaper articles of the late 1800's in association with his work.

Roger Jones Swire is said to have died by drowning in the river at Agualta Vale, Metcalfe, St. Mary, Jamaica. However, a family letter points to the cause of death as a fever. His death is recorded as 17 May 1870 in his mother's bible, while a family letter states he died on 16 May 1870 and was buried on 18 May 1870. Metcalfe is now part of St. Mary's Parish, which neighbors Portland Parish. Roger Jones Swire also resided in St. George, Portland Parish, Jamaica.