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Nothing is known of Hayward's early life, or the lives of his 10 siblings, but the family probably had some means, and certainly a few connections. The eldest daughter, Ann, was a friend of Betsy Betham, who in 1781, married a young and quickly rising young Naval Lieutenant, William Bligh. It was at Betsy's suggestion, in the summer of 1787, that Bligh chose the 20-year-old Thomas to sail on his forthcoming scientific expedition to the South Pacific. That was on August 20th, and on the first of December, Thomas was named senior midshipman and third lieutenant of the H.M.S. Bounty.

Sadly, that was about the high point of the voyage for young Hayward. His performance aboard ship has been described as lackluster, and he was soon labeled as lazy. He was pointedly unpopular with crew and officers alike. It is likely that this was simply the behavior of a young man not quite ready for the responsibilities of command.

After the mutiny had occurred on 28 Apr 1789, Hayward was the first person ordered into the Launch by Christian, whom he had alienated on numerous occasions. Throughout the incident and during the voyage of the Launch, he remained thoroughly loyal to his commanding officer.

Hayward, after his return to England, was promoted to Lieutenant, and was attached to the HMS Pandora to assist in the search for his former crewmates. By this time, he was becoming a very skilled navigator, and was familiar with Tahitian waters. Indeed, he seems to have become the right hand man of Capt. Edwards, although he was not the ranking Lieutenant. Hayward's performance during the sinking of the HMS Pandora was level-headed and responsible. It was he and the sailing master who risked their own lives to save the instruments and charts that they would need to reach safety.

On the return voyage to England from Batavia, one incident sheds some little light on Hayward's character. A number of prisoners were being transported to England on board his ship. One of them, James Cox, either fell, jumped, or was pushed overboard. The master instinctively shouted orders to launch the boat, but Hayward is quoted as shouting, 'No No! Sail on! He may escape the gallows, but not the sharks!'

The Bounty and Pandora disasters behind him, Hayward continued his Naval career. Research by Peter Gill has uncovered the following listing of his assignments:

The Swift's last muster book entry is too faint to copy, and, in many cases, to read. But it appears to list Hayward as an officer. From the "Chronological Guide":