The Descendants of John Heywood of Concord, Massachusetts

From Skowhegan on the Kennebec
by Louise Helen Coburn (Skowhegan ME: Independent-Reporter Press, 1941)

Page 159, et. seq.

Peter Heywood was the first of the settlers of Canaan to be in touch with the Kennebec Proprietors. In 1769 the Company made a proposition ot him and Oliver Wright for a settlement on free lots in Norridgewock, and in January, 1779, "Peter Haywood and Joseph Wesson" received personally from the clerk of the Proprietors the proposal for a township "at Norridgwalk in the bend of the Kennebec river." In both cases the territory meant included what became Canaan. Heywood came to Canaan with Weston in the fall of 1771 and brought his family in the summer of 1772. He had a grant of two lots on the river, on the west bank, and made the most northerly one his home farm. He was for years the local agent of the Plymouth Company, assigning lots to settlers and seeing that settling duties were performed, and at least once after residence in Canaan he visited on business the office of the Company in Boston. Being a Justice, he was generally called Squire Heywood. In 1786 he attended the General Court in Boston for the purpose of trying to secure the incorporation of Canaan as a town.

The name was sometimes written Haywood and quite commonly Howard, but both Peter Sr. and Peter Jr. signed themselves Heywood.

Skowhegan Island belonged to Squire Heywood and he early had a sawmill and a grist-mill there, which were operated by Isaac Smith and later by Isaac's son, Abraham, although the ownership remained with Heywood until 1802 and in 1803 he sold the Island and the mills.

Peter Heywood was born in Concord, Mass., Apr. 24, 1726, the son of Josiah and Lydia Heywood. He married May 29, 1750, Sarah Weston, sister of Joseph, born Concord, Nov. 11, 1726, and they had seven children. Of these only Peter Jr. and Asa and daughters Sarah and Hannah lived to come to Canaan. Asa, born Aug. 25, 1754, died in 1782 at 28. Sarah, born Feb. 9, 1757, married Oliver Wilson, her next neighbor to the north, who had come with her family to Canaan. The marriage was the first one performed in the town, Nov. 11, 1773, and Oliver Wilson and wife soon removed to Norridgewock and then to Starks. Hannah married Isaac Smith, who also had come with the family, and the home farm came to this son-in-law in consideration of support of his parents-in-law. It used to be said that Peter Heywood imitated the old farmer in the song, "He gave the lad the land he had and his daughter for a bride." Peter Heywood died Apr. 3, 1803. His widow went with Isaac Smith and family to Palmyra. She is said to have recovered her youthful sight after 90 and to have lived to nearly 100.

from History of the old towns, Norridgewock and Canaan
by J.W. Hanson (Boston: pub. by the author, 1849)

Page 124

With Peter Heywood, sen. and Joseph Weston, aged 46 and 40 years, were John Heywood, brother of Peter Heywood, junr., aged 23 years, Isaac Smith, aged 16 years, and Eli Weston, son of Joseph, aged 11 years. Peter Heywood, junr. came down the next year.

As these individuals were conspicuous in the early settlement of the country, the following data may be interesting: Peter Heywood, sen. was born in Concord, Mass., April 24, 1726, and died April 3, 1803, aged 77 years; Mr. Heywood became quite eccentric in his old age. When the house was on fire he would not move until he had mated his stockings. His widow was Joseph Weston's sister, and lived to be between 90 and 100 years of age. After being nearly blind, her sight so far returned that she could read very fine Bible print. She died in Palmyra. ... Peter Heywood, junr., was born March 28, 1751, and was thrown from his carriage, in Norridgewock, and died July 17, 1822. John Heywood was born in 1759. He soon returned to Concord. Isaac Smith was born in 1756.

(footnote) "It is a singular fact, that Joseph Weston came here with seven sons and two daughters, from whom have descended in right line over six hundred, mostly of the name of Weston, while Peter Heywood came with three sons and two daughters, and soon after his brother Oliver, with three sons and four daughters, and though their descendants are somewhat extended, but one of the name of Heywood remains."

Page 197

Oliver Heywood, brother to Peter Heywood the elder, settled in Norridgewock, about 1777. He was born in Concord, August 12, 1728, and died October 13, 1806, aged 78 years. He settled in the neighborhood of Old Point, Norridgewock.