Thomas Hayward senior

Prospect Row

Occupation: Victualler

Thomas Hayward senior was born in about 1740. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a definite date or place of birth for him. The first recorded mention that we could find for him was in his marriage to Mary White in Deal in 1761 where the parish register states that they were both ‘of this parish’. We assume that the couple then set up home in Deal. Sadly though Mary died four years later in January in 1765.

Thomas rather quickly remarried just a month later, on 26 February, to Margaret Priest. Margaret must have been a family friend as she was one of the witnesses when Thomas had married Mary. Their marriage license states that Thomas was a ‘victualler’. It is probable that he was ‘victualling’ the navy and or shipping in the Downs.

Thomas and Margaret went on to have six children and they may havebeen born in a house on Prospect Row. There is as a map, dated 1806, that shows  Thomas, at least was living there at that time. The map also shows that his third child and name sake and well known boat-builder Thomas Hawyard jnr, was living almost opposite.

Prospect Row circa 1806

Sources and further reading:
Map – Deal Maritime & Local History Museum
Marriage License images courtesy of and thanks to a descendant of Thomas Hayward