John Sayles, son of John Sayles, of Manchester, England, was brought to this country, by his father, in 1635, at the age of two years, and, after living for a time at Portsmouth, RI, he came to Providence, where, about 1650, he married Mary Williams, daughter of Roger and Mary Williams, of Providence." (Source unknown).

Descendants of Roger Williams, Book III: The Sayles Line Through His Daughter Mary Williams. Roger Williams Family Association, East Greenwich, RI. White (2002) records that his two older sisters, Phoebe and Sarah, were born in Little Waldingfield Parish, Suffolk County, England but that he and his younger brother, Richard, were probably born at Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In 1653 he was treasurer of the Assembly which met at Providence, May 16. In 1656 he 'entered an anker of liquor.' The same year he assisted Thomas Angell in rescuing a prisoner from the custody of a Massachusetts officer.

In 1657 he was empowered 'to treat with the Indians that lay claim to the meadows of Lohusqussuck, and clear it for the town and the above mentioned be accommodated therein.' In 1677 he was fined twenty shillings for not attending grand jury. During the thirty years or thereabouts, from the time of his marriage till his death, he was at different times commissioner, town clerk, town treasurer, warden, grand juror, a member of the town council, and he was twelve times chosen assistant or deputy.