The Origin and Nature of the Three-Rank Organization of the Town of Swansea, Colony of New Plymouth, in 1671

On March 5, 1668, the General Court of New Plymouth colony granted town rights to the inhabitants then dwelling in the neighborhood of Wannamoisett, an area of land lying on the east side of the river opposite the Providence Plantation of Roger Williams. This action represented a splitting-off and development of a new town from the parent town of Rehoboth, a community which had been in existence for twenty-five years.