SAYLES family of Rhode Island is in lineal descent from John Sayles, who, tradition claims, came from England to Providence in 1645, in company with two brothers named Richard and Thomas.  He settled in Providence and married Mary, daughter of Roger and Mary Williams, and became distinguished in the affairs of both town and colony.  Jan. 27, 1651, he made his first purchase of real estate, buying a house and lot from John Throckmorton.  The following year he purchased land near West river from Ralph Earle.  On Feb. 19, 1665, he had lot 24 in the division of lands, and again on May 24, 1675, he drew lot 18.  Besides these his father-in-law, Roger Williams, gave him a thirteenth interest in an island called Vineyard of Pawtuxet, which he sold to Stephen Arnold, Jan. 24, 1670.  He was admitted a freeman in 1655, and was successively assistant, commissioner, town clerk, warden, town treasurer, member of the town council, and in 1669, 1671 to 1674, and 1676 to 1678 was a deputy.  On May 7, 1677, (styled John Sayles, Sr.) he was fined 20s. for not attending the grand jury.  He was born in 1633 and died in 1681, and is buried with his wife and son-in-law, William Greene, in the Easton burial ground, Middletown, R. I., near Sachuest beach.

Besides the children named below it is believed that he had a daughter Deborah:  Mary, b. July 11, 1652, married, first, Dec. 17, 1674, William Greene; second, Oct. 12, 1680, John Holmes; she d. 1717.  John, b. Aug. 17, 1654, d. Aug. 2, 1727.  Isabel, d. 1716, m. twice, first, John Tillinghast; second, Robert Hickes; Phebe, d. 1744, m. Job Greene; Eleanor, b. 1671, d. March 11, 1714, m. Richard Green; Catharine, b. 1671, d. Feb. 21, 1751, m. William Olney.