Joseph Sayward, my 6X great grandfather, was born 1 March 1707/08 in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts, the son of James Sayward and Deborah Stover. Joseph married Sarah Giddings on 20 January 1730, in Gloucester. Sarah was the daughter of George Giddings and Elizabeth Eveleth and, like her husband, she was born in Gloucester, on 30 July 1710.
Joseph and Sarah had a large family – eleven children recorded in the vital records of Gloucester (plus son George, whose birth/baptism is not recorded), but not all of them lived to adulthood and one who did predeceased his father.
Children, all events in Gloucester unless noted otherwise:
- Sarah, born 14 November 1730; married Zebulon Parsons, 13 February 1751/52
- Joseph, born 10 September 1732; died 21 April 1814; married Abigail Smith, 13 September 1755
- James, born 5 November 1734; died c1760 in a foreign port; married Abigail Westway, 30 September 1756
- Deborah, born 10 April 1737; died 1802, New Gloucester, Cumberland, Maine; married Samuel Tarbox, 19 June 1755
- Elizabeth, born 5 June 1739; no further record
- Hannah, baptized 6 June 1742; no further record
- Mercy, baptized June 1744; died after 1762; married Henry Tarr, 14 November 1762
- Lydia, baptized 24 August 1746; married Andrew Woodbury, 14 January 1773
- John, baptized 10 September 1749; no further record
- Lucy, born 14 July 1751; likely died giving birth to daughter Lucy on 14 February 1781; married Benjamin Tarr, 9 August 1772. Benjamin married (2) Elizabeth Smith, 14 June 1781 (3) Lucy Pool, 28 February 1786.
- Moses, baptized 27 May 1753; no further record
- George, born no later than 1753; married Susanna Palfrey, 14 February 1774
Will of Joseph Sayward, 1779
In the name of God amen. I Joseph Sayword of Glouster in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts Bay
Being of Sound mind & perfect memory do this third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousant seven hundred & seventy nine make and publish this my last Will & Testament in man and form following Imprimis I Commend my Soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it and my Body to the earh from whence it came in hopes of a joyful resurrection through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ and as for that worldly estate wherein it has pleased God to bless me I disperse thereof as follows
First I give to my Son Joseph Sayward Six Acres of pasture Land in my pasture by my House after my desease
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Parsons Twenty Shillings
Item I give to my Daughter Deborah Tarbox Ten Shillings
Item I give to my Daughter Lydia Woodbery Twenty Shillings
Item I give to my Daughter Marcy Tarr Twenty shillings
Item I give to my Daughter Lucy Tarr Twenty shillings
Item I give to my two Grand Daughters Sarah daughter of Polly West
heirs of my Son James Sayword decd. Ten shillings each all the above Legacies to be paid by my son George Sayword
within three month after my decease
Item I give to my Son George Sayward all my Real and personal estate in Glouster after my Decease except the Six Acres of pasture
land above mentioned which I gave to my son Joseph Sayword
—and I make and ordain him my Said Son George Sayword Sole Executor of this my Last will & Testament to see my Body
buried in decent Christian Burial and to pay all Just Debts that may arise against said Estate.
In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Sayword have set my hand & seal the day & year above written—
Signed Sealed & delivered published
& declared by the said Joseph Sayword
as & for his last will & Testament in
the presence of us whose names are here
underwritten who did each of us Subscribe
our names as Witnesses at his request and in
his presence in the room where he then was
Samel Laymond
Enos Dodge
Examined (?)
My line of descent:
Joseph Sayward married Sarah Giddings
Deborah Sayward married Samuel Tarbox
William Tarbox married Judith Haskell
George Rogers Tarbox married Mary Elizabeth Scripture
Nellie F. Tarbox married Calvin Segee Adams
Charles Edwin Adams married Annie Maude Stewart
Vernon Tarbox Adams married Hazel Ethel Coleman
Doris Priscilla Adams married George Michael Sabo
Linda Anne Sabo Stufflebean – me!