Edward Sawyer, of Rowley

Possible parents: John Sawyer & Agnes Sawyer

5/9/2021 edit. As of today, the parents of Thomas Sawyer have not been proven. It is only circumstantial evidence that Thomas Sawyer, of Lancaster, Edward Sawyer, of Rowley, and William Sawyer, of Newbury were brothers.

Family history is that 3 Sawyer brothers came to Mass from Lincolnshire on a ship commanded by Capt. Parker, but no records in England have as yet been found, and there is no evidence in any wills reviewed so far in Mass that would support that story. However, DNA has shown similarities between Thomas and William, so they could have been brothers. The fact that Edward and Thomas arrived in Rowley near the same time and lived near each other, and William lived in adjacent Newberry is why people accept the story as true (but it hasn't been proven).

The parents were supposed to have been John Sawyer and Agnes Sharp if the family history is true.

Although he is probably the son of John and the father of James, neither of these relationships has yet been positively proven.

family

EDWARD SAWYER of ROWLEY, b. 1608, Lincolnshire, Eng., possibly the son of JOHN SAWYER who married in England., Mary PEASELEY, b. abt 1610, of Lincolnshire Co. Eng. dau. Joseph PEASELEY. Will proved 31 Mar 1674.

Children include: Surname SAWYER:

• . (i) Mary b. Eng. before 1636, m. 7 Nov 1648, William MITCHELL;
• . (ii) Henry, b. Eng. before 1636, m. Mary PEASLEY;
• . (iii) James b. before 1636, Eng., (it is this James that some authors identify as James SAWYER of Gloucester, who d. 31 May 1703 - however in the will of Edward proved 31 Mar 1674 he list only oldest son John and son Ezekiel); [it would be this James who is our ancestor.]
• . (iv) Samuel b. abt 1637, Prob. Ipswich, Mass.,
• . (v) Sarah, b. 19 Dec 1645, Rowley, bur 12 Feb 1646;
• . (vi) John, b. 17 Sep 1647, Rowley, d. 1647/8
• . (vii) John, b. 4 Aug 1648, Rowley, m. Mary PARRAT, d. 7 Apr 1722;
• . (viii) Ezekiel, b. abt 1650, of Rowley, d. 18 Sep 1675.

Reference: Mass. Genealogy, History & V.R. Rowley, Mass., and others."

origins

Following is from "The Sawyer Family of Elliotsville (Piscataquis Co., Maine), Descendants of James Sawyer of Gloucester, Mass. and Their Kinfolk, The Drakes" 3rd ed, revised 1978-79, by Fred E. Sawyer (p.iv):

"It seems difficult to determine with any degree of certainty the orign and relationship of the various immigrant ancestors of the SAWYERS in America. There seems to have been a legend that three SAWYER brothers, Thomas, Edward, and William, migrated from Lincolnshire, England, came on a ship with Capt. Parker, and settled in Mass. about 1636.

MAINE GENEALOGY VOL.: page 1444, gives the foIlowing information on the orgin of the SAWYER family:

"The ancestors of the SAWYERS, JOHN SAWYER, was a farmer in Lincolnshire, England, where he is supposed to have been a landholder also. He was the father of three sons: William, Edward, and Thomas, who left England on a ship commanded by Capt. Parker, and settled in Massachusetts about 1636. Edward, son of John SAWYER, brought over with him from England his wife, whose name was MARY PEASLEY, and their children, Mary, Henry, and James, and settled first in Ipswich and then in Rowley, Mass. No more is known of Edward or his wife." . . .
Links

• Stevens/Mansfield/Southworth/Medieval Database on WorldConnect

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GEDCOM Source

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1 of 3 brothers who came to Mass Bay colony