John Haywood: Difference between revisions

Little is known about Haywood aside from that which is described in the context of their trial. Even then however, we still do get some insight as to how Haywood wanted to present themself. Haywood seems to have lived a considerable portion of their life as a woman when not living as a man, with both having been described as being for "many years".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PysCAAAAQAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&redir_esc=y|title=Courts of Requests, with a Variety of Cases Determined in that of Birmingham|last=Hutton|first=William|publisher=Pearson and Rollason|year=1787|location=Birmingham|pages=425|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Although Haywood did have a more feminine name given to them at birth, it is reported that they answered to John.<ref name=":0" />

Haywood was described as appearing before the court as "rather elegant, of a moderate size, tolerably handsome, about thirty-two, [with] a firm countenance and manly step, no beard, eyes susceptible of love, a voice tending to the masculine, with manners engaging, and [as] rather sensible."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PysCAAAAQAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&redir_esc=y|title=Courts of Requests, with a Variety of Cases Determined in that of Birmingham|last=Hutton|first=William|publisher=Pearson and Rollason|year=1787|location=Birmingham|pages=426|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

According to the narrative which has been documented, it seems as though Haywood was married to a man from Shropshire while they were a woman, but, despite the marriage, they later became involved with a woman while they were a man. During the period of Haywood's life when they were a man, they are described as taking part in activities considered generally male:<blockquote>When the defendant carried a male dress, [they] spent [their] evenings at the public with [their] male companions, and could, like them, swear with a tolerable grace, get drunk, smoak [''sic''] tobacco, kiss the girls, and now and then kick a bully.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PysCAAAAQAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&redir_esc=y|title=Courts of Requests, with a Variety of Cases Determined in that of Birmingham|last=Hutton|first=William|publisher=Pearson and Rollason|year=1787|location=Birmingham|pages=427|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref></blockquote>During Haywood's trial there seems to have been overall confusion regarding their gender, especially since they previously presented themself both as a man and as a woman. It is not known what ever became of Haywood after the trial, although it seems that they may have been pressured to be a woman when "returned" to their (alleged) husband after their release from prison.

Little seems to have been written about Haywood ever since the initial documentation of their trial in 1787. In 1883 the Montreal legal magazine ''The Legal News'' republished Haywood's story, creating a slight resurgence in interest.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Of4uAAAAIAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&redir_esc=y|title=The Legal News|last=Kirby|first=James|publisher=The Gazette Printing Company|year=1883|volume=6|location=Montreal|pages=352|language=en|archive-url=False|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Publications with syndication agreements around the world republished Haywood's story as well (these being the same as what ''The Legal News'' wrote, however).