James SAYWARD
Biography

James, the youngest son, and probably the youngest child of of Henry (1) and Mary Sayward, was born at York, Me., 1667.

The earliest record of him is the appointment of a guardian, Sept. 9, 1685. (p. 30)

At a town meeting at York, March 15, 1 680-1: "Given and granted unto James Sayward. the son of Henry Say ward deceased, any land near the saw-mill at York which the Town hath power to grant and which hath not been granted unto any other person by the Town of York."

He moved to Gloucester, Mass., and settled about 1693 or 4- The birth of his daughter Deborah is re corded in Gloucester, June 14, 1694. In a deed, dated May 23, 1727, he describes himself as follows:
"James Sayward of Gloucester in the County of Essex, in the Province of Mass. Bay, in New England, the only surviving son of Henry Sayward, late of York, deceased, whereas my Hon. Father, Henry Sayward, had a tract of land in York aforesaid on the south side of York river containing the Quantity of three hundred and fifty acres as by articles of agreement made & concluded upon between the Selectmen of the Town of York & the aforesaid Henry Sayward, which sd tract of land was in part for building a meeting house for the town of York as by articles of agreement bearing date the 2nd day of March 1665, may appear."

March 16, 1696, he had a grant of land from the town of Gloucester, of "half an acre of ground be tween the run that runs to Cripple Cove and Cripple Cove Hill situate on the south side of the hill and north side of the run; butting house to high-water mark."

"On this spot he was bound to build a home with in twelve months or forfeit his grant on failure to do so without sufficient reason. By subsequent grants and purchases, he became a large owner of pasturage and other lands in that section of the town, and his descendants still own the land first granted to him and there perpetuate the name."

He served the town of Gloucester as Selectman for the years 1 720-1-2-8. He was elected to represent the town in the legislature for the years 1720-3-4-6-7 & 8 and 1733.

He was one of the Ruling Elders of the First Church in Gloucester for many years.

He married about 1691 and resided at York for two or three years where his first child was born. His wife's name was Deborah, but no trace of her maiden name can be found.

Children: 1. Elizabeth, b. 1692, m. Elias Wise, Dec. 22, 1722. 2. Deborah, b. June 14, 1694. m. James Stevens, July 15. 1717 3. James, b. Nov. 15, 1697, d. Nov. 26, 1697. 4. James, b. Aug. 18, 1699, d. at York, Me., Nov. 30. 1724. unm. 5. Samuel, b. April 21, 1701. 6. Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1704. 7. Mary, b. June 14 , 1706, m. Moses Bradstreet, Jan. 16, 1731- 8. Joseph, b. March 1 1708. 9. Hannah, b. July 31, 1712, m. John Sanders, Jan. 22, 1735.

Elder James Sayward married Mary, widow of Ebenezer Davis, of Gloucester, Jan. 30, 1735. Her maiden name was Wharf.

He died in the sixty-eighth year of his life and was buried in the old burying-ground in Gloucester beside his first wife.

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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