Obadiah Swatell was born 14 September 1648 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Sawtell. He married Hannah Lawrence, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Crispe) Lawrence, in about 1680 in Groton, Massachusetts. He died 20 March 1740/1741 in Groton, Middlesex, Massachusetts and is buried in the Old Burying Ground in Groton.