James and his brothers arrived in New Jersey together in the early 1700s. They seem to have come from Barbados, as that is where older brother John’s birth is recorded, and were possibly sons of the John Haywood who is recorded as a member of St. Michaels parish with his wife and child in 1680. His father in turn may have been Thomas Haywood, who died in Barbados. Thomas’ wife was granted a ticket back to London in 1678 on the Submission., her husband having died.

James’ first mention is in the 1720s in Elizabethtown, when he was brought into court to pay bond for a child reputed to be his by Esther Crane. After his marriage, James is frequently logged with coastal vessels in and out of Perth Amboy to and from Rhode Island.

After purchasing “Barnagate” from Peter Sonmans, he moved there with his family, some of the Cranes, his son-in-law Jarvis Hazelton and some Fitzrandolphs. He became a land agent for the area and signed his occupation as “trader.”

For reasons unknown, they moved to Mt. Holly (the next county over) about 1762, where a deed is found where they purchased a house and two lots. He kept his land in Manahawkin, deeding large tracts to his sons before his death (in addition to 2000a that went to John in his will. William and Thomas were deeded lands on 10 Feb 1767, less than three months before the inventory of the will. [ [771]]

An anonymous account of the history of Manahawkin says James Haywood purchased the land in 1743, and helped start a church there. The area was named Stafford, possibly by James “whose family hailed originally from Staffordshire” and was set off from Shrewsbury Township in 1749. The History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties includes James, as well as Thomas, George and Willam Haywood on a list of early residents.

Will names wife Charity, sons Thomas, John, William, George, daughters Ann Pangborn, Elizabeth Fitzrandolph, Martha and Zipporah. Total land 2000 acreas at Manahawkin went to John. Other bequests totallying £620. Dated 3 Feb 1763, Inventory 29 Apr 1767, Proven 13 May 1767.[ [434]]

Her father’s will names his daughter Charity Haywood and requests that James Haywood serve as executor. (He refused.) [771]