John SAYWARD
Biography

2. JOHN, son of Henry (1) and Mary, was prob ably born about 1657 while his father was residing at Strawberry Bank, as Portsmouth was then called.

The earliest record of him is to be found in the town records of York, Me., June 26, 1679, when the town granted him "a Lott of land near about the folly." May 1, 1685, the town granted him the "Remainder of the ox Pasture." He was a mill-wright and carpenter and owned one fourth part of the saw-mill at Cape Neddick. He took the oath of allegiance with Samuel Sayward (probably his cousin) at a town meeting in York, March 22, 1680.

He was a grand juryman in 1684 and one of the Selectmen of York 1685. He married Mary, daughter of Edward Rishworth of York, about 1680.

This has been disputed, but Rishworth, in a deed to Mary Sayward, Oct. 16, 1682, Vol. 3, p. 12 1, York Co. Deeds, conveys cer tain land in consideration of the "love & affection which I bear unto my beloved daughter, Mar)- Say ward, wife of John Sayward." John Sayward, in a deed dated Oct. 17, 1682, recorded Vol. 3, p. 122, conveys land, "by me purchased of my father-in-law, Edw: Rishworth." These two witnesses seem to settle the matter beyond controversy.

Edward Rishworth was a very prominent man in Maine. He married Susan, daughter of John Wheelwright and was at Exeter with Wheelwright for a time where he was clerk of the Courts.

He held many important offices in Maine. He was a magistrate, recorder and one of the assistants and also representative from York for thirteen years.

He owned large tracts of real estate and was engaged in lumbering and milling.

Children: 8. 1. Mary, b. April 4, 16S1. 9. 11. Susannah, b. May 9, 1683. 10. 1n. Esther, b. March 7, 1685. 11. 1v. Hannah, b. June 21 , m. Joseph Swett. 12. v. John, b. Jan. 2, 1690

He died 1689.

The Sayward Family, Being the History and Genealogy of Henry Sayward of York, and His Descendants. With a Brief Account of Other Sayward by Charles Augustus Sayward, January 1, 1890, Independent Press, E.G. Hull



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