He was the eldest son of Isaac Cornelise Swits. At the destruction of the village in 1690, he was carried away to Canada but returned the following summer.
He married Hester Visscher of Albany and took up his residence there, about 1702.
On the 7th July, 1702, he purchased of Evert Bancker for 42 pounds [$105] current money of the province, "a certain lott of ground lyeing at Shennechtady aforesaid to ye North of Cattelyn Noorman's [Bratt] and to ye south of ye hills, being behynde to the east of the way and before to the west of Pieter Adriaensen's, in length fifteen rodd and four foote [184 ft], and in breath (sic) fifteen rodd and three foote [183 ft.], all which ye said Evert Banker doth convey unto ye said Cornelis Swits, by virtue of a patent granted by ye late Governor Richard Nicolls unto ye aforesaid Gerrit Banker bearing date ye 7th of Aprill, 1667." (149-2)
This lot was on the south corner of Washington and Union streets. It is not probable that Swits ever resided here; long afterwards, it came into possession of John Duncan and John and Henry Glen.