Frances Cater Swift (1834–1908) was a native-born Southerner and influential female lay leader in the early days of the spread of Unitarianism in the South.
Green had successful careers as a farmer, Justice of the Peace, attorney, and Alabama State Representative.
They moved to Milton, Florida, where they had two children, William Edwin Cater (1852–1930) and Iola (sometimes Jola) Aquilar (1853–1863).
Her husband served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865) as a 1st Lieutenant but resigned in 1863 to become the State Senator for Santa Rosa County, Florida.
After the American Civil War, they continued to live in Milton, Florida, where it appears her husband was a grocer.
It has been difficult to determine her husband's profession, which has been noted in historical records as a merchant, broker, and travel agent.
In an 1893 article in The Southern Unitarian Swift wrote that her father had a personal library that he continued to expand despite the steep cost of purchasing and transporting books.
At this time, only occasional services were provided whenever a Presbyterian, Methodist, or Baptist circuit rider was in the area.
[8]After years of studying the scriptures, he came to a Universalist point of view, rejecting the eternal torment of hell in the afterlife.
Such a belief in the rural isolation of Alabama was considered blasphemy and traveling ministers subsequently shunned him.
Stearns said of the senior Green This gentleman, I can say in justice, is the father of the blessed doctrine of Universalism in this section of the State of Alabama.
He is allowed to be, even by those who oppose his sentiments, a man of unimpeachable character, a worthy citizen, and a kind, obliging neighbor.
That year, she was an alternate delegate to the National Conference of Unitarian and Other Christian Churches held in Saratoga, New York.
Swift would continue to serve in other capacities on the ladies' auxiliary, ways and means, and ministerial search committee to replace the departing Rev.
On March 28, 1894, the inaugural meeting of the Atlanta Equal Suffrage Association was held in the parlor of the Church of Our Father.
In her address at the meeting, Swift said, Ladies and friends — if I did not feel so deeply the need of an organized effort on the part of women everywhere, I could not accept the office with which you have honored me.
[15] Also that year, Swift was elected president of Georgia's statewide Woman's Suffrage Association, serving from 1895 to 1896.
The other bill cut to the heart of the suffrage movement, lobbying for Georgia women to be placed on legal and political equity with men.
[19] In 1896 or 1897, Swift paused her activities with the Atlanta Equal Suffrage Association when she moved to Pensacola, Florida.
[20] In February 1900, Swift, as the president of the Atlanta Equal Suffrage Association, again represented Atlanta as a delegate to the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention held in Washington, D.C.[21] This convention marked the end of an era with Susan B. Anthony delivering her farewell address, ending her presidency of the national organization.
With this work, Chaney replicated the conference structure he had helped establish in the mid-1860s during his pastorate at the Hollis Street Church in Boston.
In March 1893, Swift advertised in The Atlanta Constitution that she intended to gather a tour party to travel in Europe from June to September.
She died at the home of son William Edwin Cater on 805 North Alcaniz Street, Pensacola, Florida.