Thomas Hayward (abt. 1600 - bef. 1681)

Born about 1600 in Aylesford, Kent, England [uncertain]

Husband of Susanna (Towne) Hayward — married about 1624 in Aylesford, Kent, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 8 Mar 1681 before about age 81 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Julia Howard [send private message], and Susan Potts [send private message]

Thomas Hayward migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 3, p. 288) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Note: This is not the profile for Thomas Hayward/Howard who died in Ipswich in 1686.

Biography

Origin

The origin (last residence prior to emigrating to New England) of Thomas Hayward of Duxbury and Bridgewater was Aylesford, Kent. His place of origin is established by a record showing the enrollment for passage to New England aboard the Hercules, under a minister's certification dated March 14, 1634/5, of "Thos Hayward of Aylesford in Kent Taylor & Susanna his Wief" and children "Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Susan, and Martha."^[1][2][3][4]

Date and Place of Birth

Thomas's date and place of birth are uncertain. Many family trees state that Thomas was born in Aylesford, Kent. Since (as established by the Hercules passenger list referenced in "Origin" above) Thomas was living in Aylesford before he emigrated, it is reasonably plausible that he was born there. However, no record of his birth or baptism has been found. If Thomas was born and baptized in Aylesford, it is unlikely that any record of his birth or baptism will ever be found, as no records appear to exist for Aylesford, Saints Peter and Paul Parish prior to 1654.^[5]

Based on his estimated date of marriage (sometime in 1620-1628), Thomas was probably born sometime in 1595-1607. Anderson estimated his date of birth as "by about 1599," based on an estimated date of marriage of "by about 1624."^[6] An estimate of "about 1600" seems better, however, given his 1595-1607 estimated birth range and the false precision suggested by "about 1599."

Parentage

Thomas's parentage has not been established. A number of unsourced family trees claim that Thomas was the son of a Thomas Hayward and an Agnes (Beaumon) Hayward of Aylesford, Kent. However, no reliable source has been found for that parentage or even their existence.

Marriage

The Hercules passenger list referenced in "Origin" above establishes that Thomas was married to a woman named Susanna.^[1][3][4] As discussed in her profile, Susanna's maiden name may have been Towne, but that is uncertain.

Thomas and Susanna's date and place of marriage are uncertain. Since the Hercules passenger list establishes that Thomas and Susanna were residents of Aylesford, Kent, it is reasonably likely that they were married there or in a nearby parish. If they were married in Aylesford, it is unlikely that any marriage record will ever be found, since, as discussed above, no records appear to exist for Aylesford, Saints Peter and Paul Parish prior to 1654.^[5]

Based on the fact that the Hercules passenger list shows that Thomas and Susanna had 5 children as of March 1634/5, and assuming the first child was born 1 year after their marriage and assuming a 2-year gap between births, one derives an estimated marriage date of sometime in 1624-1627. Based on the possibility of miscarriages, still births, children who died young, and longer gaps between births, they could well have been married as early as, say, 1620. Based on the possibility of twins or shorter gaps between births, they could have been married as late as 1628. Anderson estimates that they were married "by about 1624,"^[6] although this suggests that 1624 was the later end of the possible range when, instead, it appears to be a reasonable midpoint.

Emigration to New England

As discussed above under "Origin," Thomas, his wife Susanna and his five eldest children, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Susan and Martha, emigrated to New England aboard the Hercules, which departed Sandwich, England for New England in March 1634/5.^[1][2][3][4]

The passenger list for the William & Francis, which embarked at London on March 7, 1631/2 and arrived in Boston on June 5, 1632, included a "Thomas Haeward."^[7][8] Savage suggested that this record might also relate to this profile's Thomas Hayward and might show that Thomas first came to New England with Winslow in 1632 and, satisfied with the prospects, went home to bring his family.^[9] Anderson found no evidence either for or against this proposition.^[8][10]

Residency at Cambridge; First Record in New England

Thomas and his family appear to have initially settled in Cambridge in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[4] The first known record of Thomas in New England is the grant to him on January 4, 1635 by the town of Cambridge of "about 2 Acks wthin wstend ffeild gate beyond the Clay pits."^[11] No further records have been found of Thomas or his family in Cambridge.

Residency at Duxbury and Bridgewater

Thomas appears to have moved from Cambridge to Duxbury in the Plymouth Colony by 1638. The first record of Thomas at Duxbury is a grant to him by the Plymouth Colony Court of Assistant held on November 5, 1638 of 10 acres of land "lying on the Duxborrow side."^[12] He received additional grants of land in Duxbury in 1640.^[13][14]

Thomas was admitted as a Freeman in 1647^[15] and was chosen as constable of Duxbury in 1648.^[16]

Thomas was one of the original proprietors of the Duxborrow new plantation,^[17][18] which was incorporated as the town of Bridgewater in 1656.^[19]

By 1658, Thomas was living in Bridgewater. He was included in lists of freemen of Bridgewater in 1658^[20] and 1670.^[21]

Children

Thomas and Susanna had the following children:

1. Thomas, b. in England perhaps about 1624,^[6] m. Sarah _______,^[6] d.s.p. before April 17, 1699^[6][22]
2. John, b. in England perhaps about 1626,^[6] m. by 1661 Sarah Mitchell.^[6] Commonly called John of the Plain to distinguish him from John Haward/Howard, the husband of his sister Martha.^[23]
3. Elizabeth, b. in England perhaps about 1628,^[6] m. October 20, 1645 John Ames,^[6] d.s.p. before May 28, 1705^[22]
4. Susanna, b. in England perhaps about 1632,^[10] m. by 1654 John Richmond,^[10] d. before May 28, 1705 leaving issue^[22]
5. Martha, b. in England perhaps about 1634, m. about 1653 John Haward/Howard in Duxbury, d. before September 1703 (see sources in Martha's profile)
6. Nathaniel, b. perhaps about 1639^[10] presumably in Duxbury,^[24] m. by 1664 Hannah Willis,^[10] d. after May 28, 1705^[10]
7. Elisha, born probably about 1642^[10] presumably in Duxbury,^[24] never married,^[10] d. by September 22, 1710^[10]
8. Joseph, b. perhaps about 1646^[10] presumably in Duxbury,^[24] m. 1st by 1673 Alice Brett,^[10] m. 2d by 1682 Hannah Mitchell.^[10] Mitchell says there was an additional wife between Alice Brett and Hannah Mitchell.^[23]
9. Mary, b. probably about 1648^[10] presumably in Duxbury,^[24] m. about 1668 Edward Mitchell^[10]

The 1907 Dunham Genealogy states, without providing any source or explanation, that Thomas also had a daughter named Mehitable, born about 1643, who married Daniel Dunham in 1668.^[25] No reliable evidence has been found for Thomas having had any such daughter, however, and Anderson doesn't even mention the theory. A 1954 article in TAG concluded that, contrary to the assertion in Dunham Genealogy, Daniel Dunham's wife was named Hannah and that her maiden name was undetermined.^[26]

Will; Death; Estate

Thomas made his will on June 29, 1678. In his will, he described himself as "Thomas Heyward Senior of Bridgwater of Bridgewater in ye Colony of New Plymouth yeoman." He made bequests to his son Joseph, son Elisha, and grandson Joseph Heyward, and mentioned lands he had previously given to his son Nathaniel. He named his son Joseph as his executor. The will was witnessed by William Brett Sr and Thomas Hayward Junr.^[27] A copy of his will available at FamilySearch.org.

The inventory of Thomas's estate was taken on March 8, 1680/1 by Elder Brett and Lieutenant Hayward and totaled £46 11s 9d, with no real estate listed. The Inventory shows that he possessed "Mr. Sheppards book upon ye parable of ye ten virgins and Mr. Sheppard upon ye sincere Convert. Mr. Ralph Allen of ye riches of the covenant of grace, also his victory over ye world: and doctor pressons of gods alsufficiency and severall other sermons Annexed there unto and Mr. Dod upon ye Commandements and Mr Coopers book of Jacobs wrestling with God[,] Mr. Byfield his marrow & his principles," along with a Bible and "some other smale books."^[28]

Thomas's will was probated on June 7, 1681.^[27]

Based on the March 8, 1680/1 date of his inventory, Thomas probably died in about February 1680/81.

Records

• 1632. Passenger list for the William & Francis, which embarked at London on March 7, 1631/2 and arrived in Boston on June 5, 1632, included a "Thomas Haeward."^[7][8] (This record may not relate to this profile's Thomas Hayward.)
• 1635. Passenger list for the Hercules, which departed from Sandwich for New England in March 1634/5, included "Thos Hayward of Aylesford in Kent Taylor & Susanna his Wief" and children "Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Susan, and Martha."^[1][2][3][4]
• 1636. At a Cambridge town meeting on January 4, 1635/6, Thomas Hayward was granted "about 2 Acks wthin wstend ffeild gate beyond the Clay pits."^[11]
• 1638. The Plymouth Colony Court of Assistant held on November 5, 1638 granted "Thomas Heywood" 10 acres of land "lying on the Duxborrow side" which George Slawson had fenced in and sold to Thomas Heywood for iij sterling.^[12]
• 1640. The Court of Assistant held at Plymouth on April 6, 1640 granted 8 men, including Thomas Hayward, "the lands lying on the norwest side of the Northill in Duxborrow" including the "liberty to sett corne at Namassacussett, and to mowe grasse for their cattell there, and to build a house on the south side of the brooke there."^[13]
• 1640. The Court of Assistant held at Plymouth on August 31, 1640 granted land lying at the Namassacusett River to 9 men, including 50 acres to "Thom Heywood."^[14]
• 1643. The August 1643 list of males of the Plymouth Colony able to bear arms 16-60 years of age, included, at Duxbury, Thomas Heyward Senior and [his sons] John Heyward and Thomas Heyward Junior.^[29]
• 1645. The General Court held at Plymouth on October 28, 1645 order "Thomas Heyward of Duxborrow" to pay "Wannapooke, a Neipnet Indian," half of bushel of Indian corn for venison he took of him.^[30]
• 1646. At the General Court held at Plymouth on June 2, 1646, Thomas Heyward was among 5 men who were propounded to "take up their freedome" at the next Court.^[31]
• 1646. At the General Court held at Plymouth on June 2, 1646, Thomas Heyward was among the men who were members of the Grand Inquest.^[32]
• 1647. At the General Court held at Plymouth on June 1, 1647, Thomas Howes, Edward Jenkine, Thomas Hayward and John Allen were admitted as Freemen.^[15]
• 1648. "Thomas Heward" was selected as the constable for Duxbury.^[16]
• 1650. Thomas Heward Senior was among the 12 men who reported on having marked out a new way from Joaneses River to the Massachusetts Path.^[33]
• 1651. At the General Court at New Plymouth on March 4, 1650/1, the jury to decide an action of the case by James Cole Senior against James Shaw, included "Thomas Heward Senior."^[34]
• 1654. At the General Court of Election held at Plymouth on June 6, 1654, "Thomas Haward Senior" was among the men who were members of the Grand Inquest.^[35]
• 1658. A list of freemen of the Plymouth Colony, which appears to have been taken about 1658, includes, among the list of 10 freemen of Bridgewater, the names of Thomas Haward Senior and Thomas Haward Junior.^[20]
• 1660. The General Court at Plymouth held on June 6, 1660 ordered that a parcel of land lying between Tetacutt and Taunton be viewed and, if it is not within the bound of Taunton or too near Tetacutt, that William Brett, John WIllis, Thomas Haward Senior and Arther Harris "have a competency granted and confeirmed unto them."^[36]
• 1665. The General Court of Election at Plymouth on June 7, 1665 granted to each of William Brett, Thomas Haward Senior, Arther Harris, Richard Williams, John Willis and John Carey 60 acres of land lying between Taunton and Teticutt.^[37]
• 1667. Thomas Haward Senior and Lieutenant Thomas Howard [his son] are among 12 men appointed by the General Court of Election on June 5, 1667 as a jury to lay out all ways requisite in the township of Bridgewater.^[38]
• 1668. At the Court at Plymouth on July 7, 1668, William Bradford and Constant Southworth reported that they had laid out the 60 acre lots granted to William Brett, Thomas Haward Senior, Arther Harris, John Willis Senior and John Cary.^[39]
• 1668. At the Court at Plymouth on July 7, 1668, the jury appointed to lay out the ways requisite in the township of Bridgewater, including Thomas Haward Senior and Thomas Haward Junior, reported on the roads most suitable to the inhabitants of Bridgewater.^[40]
• 1670. The list of freemen of New Plymouth made in May 1670 included, in the list of freemen at Bridgewater, Thomas Haward Senior and [his son] Lieutenant Thomas Haward.^[21]
• 1678. Thomas Hayward made his will on June 29, 1678.^[27]
• 1681. Inventory of Thomas's will taken on March 8, 1680/1.^[28]
• 1681. Thomas's will probated on June 7, 1681.^[27]

^{[19] [24] [26] [25] [23] [18] [41] [17] [28] [27] [20] [29] [34] [21] [40] [39] [38] [37] [36] [35] [33] [16] [15] [32] [31] [30] [14] [13] [12] [11] [2] [9] [3] [7] [5] [1] [22] [10] [6] [8] [4]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Eben Putnam, Two Early Passenger Lists, 1635-1637, New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol 75 (1921), p 219. At americanancestors.org
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} William Boys, Collections for an History of Sandwich in Kent, with Notices of the Other Cinque Ports and Members, and of Richborough, 1792, 751. At archive.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} James Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700, 1874, p. xix. At archive.org.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume III G-H, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 2003, p 288. At ancestry.com.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Aylesford, Ss Peter And Paul Parish Records, Kent County Council, Kent History and Library Centre. The absence of Aylesford parish records prior to 1654 was confirmed through communications by Chase Ashley on December 17, 2018 with the Archive Collections Officer at the Kent History and Library Centre.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migrations: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume III G-H, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 2003, p 291. At ancestry.com.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} James Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700, 1874, p. 149. At archive.org.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volume II G-O, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 1995, p 900. At ancestry.com.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} James Savage, 'A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol. II, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1860, p 394. At archive.org.
10. ↑ ^{10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migrations: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume III G-H, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 2003, p 292. At ancestry.com.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} The Records of the Town of Cambridge (formerly Newtowne) Massachusetts 1630-1703, 1901, p 15. At archive.org.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. I 1633-1640, 1855, p 101. At hathitrust.org.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. I 1633-1640, 1855, p 144. At hathitrust.org.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. I 1633-1640, 1855, p 161. At hathitrust.org.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 114. At hathitrust.org.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 123. At hathitrust.org.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an Extensive Family Register, 1840, pp 10-11. At archive.org
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an Extensive Family Register, 1840, p 26. At archive.org.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. III 1651-1661, 1855, p 101. At hathitrust.org.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Miscellaneous Papers 1633-1689, 1857, p 202. At hathitrust.org.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. V 1668-1678, 1856, p 278. At hathitrust.org.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migrations: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume III G-H, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 2003, p 293. At ancestry.com.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2} Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an Extensive Family Register, 1840, p 177. At archive.org.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4} Based on parents' residency in Duxbury during time frame of estimated date of birth.
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} Isaac Watson Dunham, Dunham Genealogy: English and American Branches of the Dunham Family, 1907, p 300. At archive.org
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} Mrs. John E. Barclay, Notes on the Dunham Family of Plymouth, Mass., The American Genealogist, Vol 30 (1954), p 146. At americanancestors.org.
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4} Plymouth Colony Records, Wills, Vol. 4 1683-1686, Part 1, p 82. At familysearch.org.
28. ↑ ^{28.0 28.1 28.2} Plymouth Colony Records, Wills, Vol. 4 1683-1686, Part 1, p 84. At familysearch.org.
29. ↑ ^{29.0 29.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Miscellaneous Papers 1633-1689, 1857, p 190. At hathitrust.org.
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 89. At hathitrust.org.
31. ↑ ^{31.0 31.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 101. At hathitrust.org.
32. ↑ ^{32.0 32.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 102. At hathitrust.org.
33. ↑ ^{33.0 33.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. II 1641-1651, 1855, p 160. At hathitrust.org.
34. ↑ ^{34.0 34.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Judicial Acts 1636-1692, 1857, p 53. At hathitrust.org.
35. ↑ ^{35.0 35.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. III 1651-1661, 1855, p 49. At hathitrust.org.
36. ↑ ^{36.0 36.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. III 1651-1661, 1855, p 193. At hathitrust.org.
37. ↑ ^{37.0 37.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. IV 1661-1668, 1855, p 46. At hathitrust.org.
38. ↑ ^{38.0 38.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. IV 1661-1668, 1855, p 155. At hathitrust.org.
39. ↑ ^{39.0 39.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. IV 1661-1668, 1855, p 190. At hathitrust.org.
40. ↑ ^{40.0 40.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. IV 1661-1668, 1855, p 193. At hathitrust.org.
41. ↑ Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an Extensive Family Register, 1840, p 13. At archive.org.

See also:

• Lester D. Mapes, Thomas Hayward of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Mass. and His Family, 1943. At archive.org.
• Kingman, Bradford. History of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time, with Family Registers. (Boston, Massachusetts: Self published, Boston, 1866), p. 12. At archive.org. Thomas Hayward mentioned as one of North Bridgewater's first proprietors.
• Roberts, Gary Boyd. Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.