Little Known Facts about Thomas Heyward, Jr.

I am a former Heyward and am the mother of two 7th generation descendants of Thomas Heyward, Jr.(My son looked like him as a baby, but has grown out of it.)I disliked history until I met my husband, Ned Watkins Heyward, Jr.Our first 4th of July together he told me how awed he was that, unlike the Central American rebels we always hear of who have nothing to lose, his ancestor was wealthy and could have led a life of ease, but instead stood in opposition to his father, and lent his good name, wealth, and youthful vigor to the cause of freedom from tyranny.It opened my eyes to how fascinating it must be to learn about one's ancestors, so I embarked on what will surely be a lifelong passion of ferreting out the little-known names, dates, facts, and personal characteristics.I find it noteworthy that he was the second youngest signer, and one of the minority that actually fought (the majority were rich old men.)

When we were engaged, he took me to visit Thomas' grave (as my own father, also a Thomas, had died when I was five, I have always enjoyed cemeteries).As we strolled around the grounds of where Old House stood, my eyes fell on a partially buried diamond-shaped piece of rusted iron.We found out later that it was a rice-hoe blade.I was thrilled, feeling that it was there specifically for me.My fiance was incredulous that he had visited that very place many times and no one had ever seen such a thing.Indeed, my former husband, coveted it so that he won't let me have it back since our divorce.It is my earnest hope that he will donate it to the South Carolina Historical Society for preservation and display in the Fireproof Buildling.

I haven't had time to write a formal article, but would like to share some information I have discovered in my two decades of research on the family.I was dismissed out of hand by my father-in-law who said, "It's already been done."He was referring to the dark red book published last century (I believe its author was Edward Barnwell Hewyard - again, I don't live with this book anymore.)Like many families, especially those with an illustrious name, the book is largely a record of those of the name, and the brides that married into the family.As a mother, I know that every child is half his mother's, so I have pursued the collateral lines with some extraordinary success.

I have done extensive research at the South Carolina Historical Society, Caroliniana Library of the University of South Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia State Archives, National Archives in Washington, Southeastern Repository of the National Archives in East Point, Camden Historical Society and Public Library, Magnolia Cemeteries in both Charleston and Spartanburg, Spartanburg Library and Historical Association, Georgetown Historical Society and Public Library, Greenville Public Library, Atlanta Public Library, Philadelphia Historical Society, and countless churches, graveyards and homeplaces.

I have even been to the Mormon's Family History Library in Salt Lake City twice.My book is 1-1/2" thick and they were drooling for me to get it on diskette.It was there that I traced a Boykin line back to a Welsh king in AD 68 (the time of the Gospel of Luke!)The most exciting place I've visited was the village of Little Eaton, near Derby, England.I took a photograph of a pub that was sure to have been frequented by the Heywards.(I took a photograph of the road sign of Little Eaton and of the pub.Unfortunately, it was closed, so I didn't get to go inside.)I called a couple of Haywards in the village, but none were home.(There were no Heywards.)I even left a self-addressed stamped envelope for one, but he never responded.Guess they still think of Daniel Heyward as a black sheep line of the family!I also squeezed off a quick snapshot of the Middle Temple in London, where he read law.

There are many fascinating items in the Fireproof Building in Charleston.I spent a painstaking 45 minutes reading a 1766 letter from Thomas to Daniel, his father.He spoke of slipping around on the snow and ice - a new experience for a boy from the Low Country!He sat in on a Parliament session and reported, "Already they are starting to call Americans rebels.Where this will lead, I cannot say."All the hair stood up on the back of my neck, it was so clearly the germination of the seed of revolution.When I turned to the next page in the folder, I found a typewritten transcript of the letter, so if you go, just look at the handwritten one, but read the newer one.A decade to the year prior to the Revolution!

A Heyward cousin, who was a missionary, sent me a snippet of an epic 16th century poem, that noted "when Heyward was brent."Sounds like he got on the wrong side of Henry VIII!It really makes history so personal when you can imagine a devout, principled man (who probably looked like Thomas Heyward, Jr.) preferring to sacrifice his life to espousing a lie.

It is said that he was a little man, and that when he turned into the plantation's oak alley, the little ones would cry out "Cousin Tom!" and he would take his feet out of the stirrups so they could swing from them as he made his way to house.(Sounds like his horse was very tolerant, as well!)I read a heart-broken entry in his diary about his beloved "Mauma" who had lost most of her sight and hearing, and tumbled into an irrigation ditch.It might easily be assumed that he might have loved her more than his birth-mother, who may have regarded children as a nuisance and was happy to turn over their care to one of the servants.

I cannot recall where I read it, but I saw that he scuttled a boat in Port Royal to prevent the British from entering.Within the past couple of years I heard that marine archaeologists had discovered a boat sunk during the Rev War, but they made no mention of him.

I have some extra details of how he almost drowned being exchanged during the war.He was sitting on deck on top of a chicken coop and fell asleep and went over.The water surely roused him, and he managed to grab on to the rudder and he was hauled back on board.This near miss sounds like the tragic death of Edwin Watkins Heyward in 1888.(He was the father of DuBose Heyward, the author.)Ned was working late at the mill one night and was inattentive enough to get his coat caught in the machinery and was crushed to death.His wife, Janie's diary is heart-rending.He was such a sweet man (she called him Boy).My children's grandfather was very like him, gentle and loving, but sometimes lost in his thoughts.He was named for him, but they called him Ned since birth (before Social Security), so when he was registered his name was entered as Ned Watkins Heyward.The mistake was perpetuated at the birth of my children's father, Ned Watkins Heyward, Jr.He has always been known as Kin.His nickname at Georgia Tech was Nebulous Ned.

Both Ned and Kin are phenomenal sleepers.Kin can fall asleep with the whites of his eyes showing.(This is very unnerving - trust me.)Our son Clayton is prone to get lost in his thoughts, but he didn't get the gift of sleep that Carlen has.(She was due on the Fourth of July, so we named her Carlen Thomas Heyward.)She can walk and talk in her sleep and is frequently found passed out on top of her textbooks.DuBose Heyward was famous for being sent on an errand and completely forgetting about it, and not even recalling speaking to neighbors while out.

The saddest thing I found in reading between the lines of the names and dates were the first Mrs. Heyward's bad luck with children.Thomas married Elizabeth Matthews in 1773 and ten months later she presented him with Daniel.Eighteen months after Daniel came Marie, who died at nine months - a month and a half before the signing of the Declaration.His frequent and long absences up in Philadelphia produced a lapse in child-bearing.Three years later, their first Thomas, was born, but he died five months later.A year and a half later, in 1779, John was born, but died the same month.They tried again to have another Junior.This was the only child to be born in Philadelphia.Research in the Philadelphia Historical Society showed that Philadelphia was the home of the first hospital.I don't know if she traveled pregnant, or got pregnant staying with him in Philadelphia, but I can imagine that they felt an extra measure of safety having a birth attended by a licensed physician (as opposed to their midwives on the plantation).Unfortunately, for many women this proved a deadly decision.It wasn't until much later that it was discovered that going from patient to patient without washing hands exposed birthing mothers to deadly pathogens.

I knew that she died on August 16, 1782, so I scoured two weeks' worth of The Philadelphia Inquirer on microfilm, looking for an obituary.A day or two after the baby was born, August 13, I chuckled at a front page ad:"Wanted:Nurfemaid with a good breaft of milk."It was later that it struck me with a chill down my spine.I believe that was placed by the desperate Tom Heyward, far away from his plantation where any number of healthy lactating women could be found to nurture the little one.The second little Thomas only lived two months.

Four years later, the grieving widower took a bride three years his junior.She was 28, and I believe she was a spinster.Being an old maid, perhaps she wasn't as beautiful as the delicate little Elizabeth Matthews.Surnames can sometimes have bearing on physical characteristics.In any event, Susanna Elizabeth Savage was a good strong woman and at long last, bore him the Thomas, III his heart desired.Three years after their marriage in 1786, Thomas arrived, and outlived his father by 20 years.Out of eight children born to him, four didn't survive infancy, one died at age 22, and only one lived to a ripe old age.Elizabeth Savage Heyward Parker died at age 60.James Hamilton died at 36 and Thomas at 40.

I must draw to a close. Any comments or questions should be directed to [email protected], as I will be changing my address soon.

Best regards,

Jemille Williams Caswell
Proud Heyward Mother