John HOWLAND

Notes:

History from Life and Recollections of John Howland (Pres of R.I. Hist Soc) Preface...

REDO THIS TEXT FROM TEXT VERSION AT http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeandrecollec01stongoog/lifeandrecollec01stongoog_djvu.txt

HOWLAND numerous name in the United States, is of English origin. It is traced through ancient records, to " John Howland, of London, gentleman, citizen and salter," born (probably) between 1515 and 1518, early in the reign of Henry VIII. >He married Anne, daughter of - Grenway, of Clay, county of Norfolk. She died in 1588. The issue of this marriage was eleven sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Richard, born 1540, was made Bishop of Peterboro'. To him, by patent, dated June 10, 1584, family arms were confirmed, and allowed to all the posterity of his father. Sir Giles Howland, seventh son of John, married first, Anne, daughter of Sir John Hart, .and second, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Rivers, both wives being of London. The fruits of these unions were three sons and four daughters. His eldest son, Sir John Howland, of Streatham, Co. Surrey, Knt., died 1621, and was succeeded by his brother Geoffrey, as Lord of the Manor of Tooting Bec. Elizabeth Howland, grand daughter of Geoffrey, married Wrotherby Russell, Marquis of Tavistock, afterwards Duke of Bedford. He died 1711 ; she 1724; from whom the present Duke of Bedford and Baron Howland.
John Howland, brother of the Bishop, and second son of John of London, was born 1541. He married Emma, daughtcr and heiress of Nicholas Revell, citizen of London. In this line descended John Howland, born 1592, and one of the founders of the mouth Colony.
Whether he was one of the original company in Holland, or accompanied Carver on his second return from England to Lcydcn, is unknown. It is not improbable, however, that he mas among the number who waited at Southampton the return of the comp, preparatory to sailing for America. On that memorable voyage, during ld a mighty storm," he narrowly escaped drowning." At the time of his arrival at Plymouth, he was twentyeight years of agc. Prince, in his chronology, following Morton, speaks of him as d( of Carver's family." Governor Bradford, in his history of Plymouth Plantation, rcccntly published, calls him Carver's ser~anta, n expressson that may bear a legal definition, though it has been conjectured that Carrcr, having advanced him mcans with which to procure his outfit, thc young self-reliant adventurer had agreed to work out" the debt on arriving in the new world. Be that as it mn!-, hc was associated with the leaders in all tl~c ~bri~uary movements for effecting a settlement, ant1 \\-as carly called by the colonists to discharrc d11tic.4 requiring sound judgment, business talent, and ~ r c n t intrepidity. On Morton's list he is the tliirtccntli of the forty-one who signed tlie mcmornl~lc cnmpact formed on board the Ilayflowcr in Cnlw Cod harbor, and was one of the ten (. 1~rincil)nl men," who with eight scamen, mcrc *(scntc out" on the 6th December following, to disco\-cr n locality suitable for their future honic. Driven by storm into Plymouth harbor, the little bnli11 of erplorers went on shore, and thus was confcrrcd on them the distinction of having stood on ': Forefathers' Rock," since l1b ccomc an object of ycncration," five days before the 3la~-flowerw th thc residue of her company, cast anchor in tlie desired haven.
In 1627, he was associated with Governor Bradford and six other principal men of the colony, in a contract, made with the London inerchal~ta drenturers, in which they agreed to give the111 $1 8 0 for the relinquishment of their ims upon the Plymouth lands, and also to assume the colony debts, amounting to S2400 more. As s co,lsidcration for this, the lL undcrtakers," as t11c.j mcre called, were to have the ~nonopnly of the. ~ l ~ o l e trade of the colony for six year*. In 1;33 IIC \me elccted an assistant in thc government of tlie colony, which office he held for sercral years. Iie had the chief management of the undcrtakcr.3' trading establishment on tlic Kenncbec, wliere hie firmncss was signally tcsted by the headstrong and reckless Hocking," and for cightccn years he was a rcprcscntative of the town of Plymouth in the General Court of the colony. In the records he is honorably mentioned as " a godly man and an ancient professor in the ways of Christ," who ((livcd to the age of eighty ycars, and prored a uscful instrumcnt of good in his place." At the ordination of Mr. John Cotton jr., in 1667, he was appointcd by the church to join in thc imposition of hands." With one exception, (John Alden,) hc outlivcd all the signers of the BIayflomcr compact, and of tho entire body of pionecrs " by mllosc instrumentality the great qucstion was scttlcd as to what nation of Europe should predominate in North Aincrica," none, at his decease, were left in Plymouth. Governor Bradford says he became a useful lncinbcr
both in church and commonwealth," and the frequency
with which his name is mcntioncd in the
Plymouth colony records, as conncctcd with important
transactions, furnishes abundant evidence
that he was one of the most energetic and efficient
of the Pilgrim band.
Until the publication of Bradford's history it
had been supposed, and so stated by severs1 historians,
that the Pilgrim Howland married Governor
Carver's daughter. Gencral tradition, lianded
down in an unbrokcn line from the decease of the
former in 1672, had uniformly and without question
so declared. It is now said that Carver had
no daughter, which, if true, affords a remarkable
illustration of historic uncertainty. This state-
ment rests on the fact that in his enumeration of
Carver's family, written thirty years after his decease,
Bradford makes no mention of children ; and
further, that he says Howland married Elizabeth,
daughtcr of John Tilly. But this statement is not
so conclusive as would at first sight be supposed;
for we find that by the rule governing the allotment
of acre lots to each member of a family in
1623, he received four acres, which indicates the
numbcr of his own. Now if Elizabeth Tilly was
his first and only wifc, the marriagc could not have
occurred earlier than 1622, as she would then have
been only sixteen years of age, and could hardly
have been the motlicr of two children at two distinct
births, in 1623. In 1627, in the division of
the cattle, the names of his wifc and of their two
children, John and Desire, are mentioned, showing
that no increase of family had taken place. Mitchell
in his history of Bridgewater, says that Howland's
wife and two children came over in 1627,
but as lie gives no authority for the statemcnt, we
are left in uncertainty with regard to its accuracy.
Should it appear, on further research, that
lie was twice marricd, the apphrently conflicting
statements may bc reconciled. For the present,
it may suffice to say that his family consisted of
four sons and six daughters, viz. John, married
Mary Lee, Oct. 26,1651, and settled in Barnstable;
Jabez, married Bethia Thachcr, only daughter of
Anthony Thacher of Yarmouth, and settled in
Bristol, R. I. ; Isaac, marricd Elizabeth, daughter
of George Vaughan, and settled in Middleborough ;
Joseph, married Elizabeth Southworth, only child
of Thomas Southworth, 1664, and aettled in Plymouth
; Desire, second child, married John Gorham,
1643, who died Peb. 5, 1676--she died Oct. 13,
1683 ; Hope, married John Chipman, of Barnstable ;
Elizabeth, married first, Ephraim Hicks, of Plymouth,
Sept. 13,1649, and second, John Dickerson,
of Barnstable; Lydia, married James Brown, of
Swansea ; Hannah, married Nathaniel Bosworth,
of Hull, afterwards of Swansea; Ruth, married
Thomas Cushman, of Plymouth, November, 17,
1664. (less footnotes/credits, etc.)

Henry married Alice AYRES on 26 Apr 1600 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England. Alice was born between 1567 and 1575 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England; died on 30 Jul 1629 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Henry married Margaret Ann. Margaret was born in 1567 in Essex, England; died about 29 Jul 1629 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Until the publication of Bradford's history it had been supposed, and so stated by severs1 historians, that the Pilgrim Howland married Governor Carver's daughter. Gencral tradition, lianded down in an unbrokcn line from the decease of the former in 1672, had uniformly and without question so declared. It is now said that Carver had no daughter, which, if true, affords a remarkable illustration of historic uncertainty. "Life and Recoll of John Howland (of RI)" 1857, p.9.

John Howland's Will
The Last Will and Testament of mr John howland of Plymouth late Deceased, exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift Day of March Anno Dom 1672 on the oathes of mr Samuell ffuller and mr William Crow as followeth Know all men to whom these prsents shall Come That I John howland senir of the Towne of New Plymouth in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England in America, this twenty ninth Day of May one thousand six hundred seaventy and two being of whole mind, and in Good and prfect memory and Remembrance praised be God; being now Grown aged; haveing many Infeirmities of body upon mee; and not Knowing how soon God will call mee out of this world, Doe make and ordaine these prsents to be my Testament Containing herein my last Will in manor and forme following;
Imp I Will and bequeath my body to the Dust and my soule to God that Gave it in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection unto Glory; and as Concerning my temporall estate, I Dispose thereof as followeth; Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besides what lands I have alreddy given him, all my Right and Interest To that one hundred acres of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the eastern side of Tauton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge to him and his heirs and assignes for ever; and if that Tract should faile, then to have all my Right title and Interest by and in that Last Court graunt to mee in any other place, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all those my upland and Meadow That I now posesse at Satuckett and Paomett, and places adjacent, with all the appurtenances and privilidges, belonging therunto, and all my right title and Interest therin, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever, Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all that my one peece of land that I have lying on the southsyde of the Mill brooke, in the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid; be it more or lesse; and is on the Northsyde of a feild that is now Gyles Rickards senir To belonge to the said Jabez his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto Isacke howland my youngest sonne all those my uplands and meddows Devided and undivided with all the appurtenances and priviliges unto them belonging, lying and being in the Towne of Middlebery, and in a tract of Land Called the Majors Purchase near Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased of William White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which may or shall appeer by any Deed or writinges Together with the aformentioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Isacke howland the one halfe of my twelve acree lott of Meddow That I now have att Winnatucsett River within the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid To belonge to him and said Isacke howland his heires and assignes for ever, Item I Will and bequeath unto my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland the use and benifitt of my now Dwelling house in Rockey nooke in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid, with the outhousing lands, That is uplands uplands [sic] and meddow lands and all appurtenances and privilidges therunto belonging in the Towne of Plymouth and all other Lands housing and meddowes that I have in the said Towne of Plymouth excepting what meddow and upland I have before given To my sonnes Jabez and Isacke howland During her naturall life to Injoy make use of and Improve for her benifitt and Comfort; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph howland after the Decease of my loveing wife Elizabeth howland my aforsaid Dwelling house att Rockey nooke together with all the outhousing uplands and Medowes appurtenances and privilidges belonging therunto; and all other housing uplands and meddowes appurtenances and privilidges That I have within the aforsaid Towne of New Plymouth excepting what lands and meadowes I have before Given To my two sonnes Jabez and Isacke; To belong to him the said Joseph howland To him and his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Desire Gorum twenty shillings
Item I give and bequeath To my Daughter hope Chipman twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dickenson twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lydia Browne twenty shillings Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter hannah Bosworth twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Cushman twenty shillings Item I give to my Grandchild Elizabeth howland The Daughter of my son John howland twenty shillings Item my will is That these legacyes Given to my Daughters, be payed by my exequitrix in such species as shee thinketh meet; Item I will and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth howland, my Debts and legacyes being first payed my whole estate: vis: lands houses goods Chattles; or any thing else that belongeth or appertaineth unto mee, undisposed of be it either in Plymouth Duxburrow or Middlbery or any other place whatsoever; I Doe freely and absolutly give and bequeath it all to my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland whom I Doe by these prsents, make ordaine and Constitute to be the sole exequitrix of this my Last will and Testament to see the same truely and faithfully prformed according to the tenour therof; In witness whereof I the said John howland senir have heerunto sett my hand and seale the aforsaid twenty ninth Day of May, one thousand six hundred seaventy and two 1672 Signed and sealed in the prsence of Samuel ffuller John Howland William Crow And a seale
Passenger list, Mayflower

From Mayflower inventory: musket, long gun, cutlass and belt, cow bells, chain, padlock, sauce pan, brass skillet, two red waistcoats, Holland shirt, two silk neckties, three hats, sheets, towels, blankets, featherbed, candlesticks.

The Division of Cattle, 1627 listed Howland: John, Elizabeth, John Jr., Desire (The fourth lot fell to John Howland & his company Joyned to him his wife...to this lot fell one of the 4 heyfers Came in the Jacob Raghorne.

Division of Land 1623 - These lye on the South side of the brook to the woodward opposite to the former (baywards) - John Howland

Birth:
birth year also given as 1592

John married Elizabeth TILLEY on 25 Mar 1623 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. Elizabeth (daughter of John TILLEY and Joan HURST) was born in 1607. [Group Sheet]

Humphrey married Ann. [Group Sheet]

Margaret married Richard PHILLIPS on 26 Apr 1623 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Arthur married Margaret REED. Margaret was born about 1610. [Group Sheet]

Henry married Mary NEWLAND. Mary (daughter of John NEWLAND and Elizabeth) was born about 1603; died on 16 Jun 1674 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Henry married Ann. [Group Sheet]

Simon married Ann ULSTER in 1632. [Group Sheet]

Desire married John GORHAM about 1643. [Group Sheet]

John married Mary LEE on 26 Oct 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Hope married John CHIPMAN about 1647. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married John DICKINSON on 10 Jul 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Ephraim HICKS on 13 Sep 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Lydia married James BROWN about 1654. [Group Sheet]

Hannah married Jonathan BOSWORTH about 6 Jul 1661. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Elizabeth SOUTHWORTH on 7 Dec 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Jabez married Bethiah THACHER. Bethiah was born about 1668. [Group Sheet]

Ruth married Thomas CUSHMAN on 17 Nov 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Isaac married Elizabeth VAUGHAN. Elizabeth was born about 1676. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Jedidiah Allen. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Rebecca HUZZEY. [Group Sheet]

Mary married James CUDWORTH. [Group Sheet]

Samuel married Mary. [Group Sheet]

Sarah married Robert DENNIS. [Group Sheet]

Abigail married John YOUNG on 13 Dec 1648 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA. John was born about 1624 in England; died on 28 Jan 1691 in Eastham, Barnstable Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Julian and Gregorian calendar info required. The dates shown in the article in the NGSQ quarterly cited on the person page of Henry Howland are: Zoeth or Zoar Howland married Abigail [----] in the tenth month [December] 1656. (p. 108) p. 109 The children of Zoeth and Abigail Howland (except Nicholas, for whom no birth record has been found) are recorded in the Dartmouth Vital Records. Nathaniel born 1 8m [October] 1657 Benjamin born 8 3m [May] 1659 Daniel born 1m [March] 1661/62 Lydia born 23 9m [November] 1663 Mary born 23 12m [February] 1665/66 Sarah born 2m [April] 1668 Henry, twin, born 30 6m [August] 1672 Abigail, twin born 30 6m [August] 1672 Nicholas

Zoeth married Abigail. [Group Sheet]