Jonathan SAYWARD
Biography

3. Jonathan, the second son of Henry (1) and Mary Sayward, resided in York. Very little can be learned concerning him. The earliest record of him is in a grant of land from the town of York, viz;

At a Town Meeting held May 26, 1687. "Granted unto Jonathan Sayward twenty acres of Marsh or Swamp to make marsh of upon the northwest branch of Little River going to Wells, provided it be free from any former grant."

He died before 1699, as appears from the following town record of York, viz:

At a legal meeting Mch 29, 1699. "Granted unto Jonathan Saward's heirs all the right this town hath to the Land that sd Saward did formerly purchase."

The early records of the town and church were destroyed by the Indians in their raid on the town, Feb. 5, 1692, but from the court and probate records at Alfred, Me., it appears that he married Mary, the daughter of Matthew Austin of York, about 1684.

They had at least two children, as appears from the probate account of James Sayward, administrator of the estate of Sarah Sayward, viz:
1. Joseph, b. Dec, 1684.
2. Hannah, m. Swett, had a son Joseph.

After the death of Jonathan, his widow married Capt. Lewis Bean, of York, and he and his wife made the following agreement with her son Joseph:

"Whereas Capt. Lewis Bean married with Mary Sayward, Relict of Jonathan Sayward, deceased, and administratrix to said Saward's estate and her son, Joseph Saward, desiring to know what of said es tate belongs to him of his deceased father, Saward, that it may so be settled that no trouble may happen between sd Bean, Mary his wife and sd Joseph Saward.

"It is mutually agreed between sd Bean, Mary his wife, and sd Jo seph Saward, as follows : and first Lewis and Mary his wife doth by these presents Relinquish, renounce and deliver up unto sd Joseph Saward and forever quitclaim unto him all the lands belonging to Jonathan Saward (in the town of York) father of sd Joseph Saward and that it shall be in the liberty of sd Joseph to have, hold, possess, improve and enjoy all said lands as his own proper estate, without any let or hindrance or interruption of him the said Lewis Bean and Mary his wife, administratrix as aforesaid, Always provided and it is to be understood and the said Bean deth still refuse liberty to himself and his wife that it should happen that sd Joseph Saward shall be negligent and not improve sd land as it ought to be improved, or that sd Bean or his wife should have occassion, it shall be in either their Liberty to enter into, take, have, hold and enjoy ye sd Mary''s third part of said lands during her natural life as fully as if this agreement had never been made, for the consideration hereof each party have hereunto set their hands and seals this 8th day of January, 1706-7, and pray the Judge of Probate allow and confirm the same.

Lewis Bean, (seal)
Mary her mark, Bean, (seal)
Joseph Say ward, (seal)
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us as w1tnesses. Joseph Stover, Joseph Heath."

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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