William Slade of Swansea, Massachusetts

William Slade, reputedly son of Edward S. Slade of Wales, is first mentioned as of Newport, Rhode Island in 1659. By 1680 he was in Swansea, Massachusetts, in that part later known as Somerset. He was a large land owner and operated Slade’s Ferry across the Taunton River. Ownership of the ferry remained in the family until 1876. 

While many of the descendants of William remained in the area of Swansea, Massachusetts, others removed to Troy, New York and later westward.

A good genealogy of this family is found in The Slade-Babcock Genealogy, pub 1970 and the more recent Ancestral Lines: 206 Families in England, pub 2003. both authored by Carl Boyer, III, Newhall, CA.  Copies are available at NGS Library, LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City and other libraries.

Another source for this family history is found in the book: Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts : containing historical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families.  J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1912, 2105 pgs.

For pictures and more information about this Slade branch, visit the website: 
The Slade Family of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York

Susan Carter White Pieroth has compiled a nice history of this family on her web page:   click here.

Roger W. Phillips also has info about this family branch: click here