Family of Henry Howland
(This person
can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)
1. HENRY2
HOWLAND (JOHN1)
was born Abt. 1574 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England, and died May 17,
1635 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire,
More About HENRY HOWLAND and MARGARET UNKNOWN:
Marriage: Bef. 1593, Fen
Children of HENRY HOWLAND and MARGARET UNKNOWN
are:
i. CAPT. JOHN HOWLAND,
b. Bef. February 23, 1592/93, Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England; d.
February 23, 1672/73, Rocky Nook, Plymouth Co., MA; m. ELIZABETH TILLEY,
February 20, 1642/43, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; b. Bef. August 30,
1607, Henlow, Huntingdonshire, England; d. December 21, 1687, Swansea, Bristol
Co., MA.
Notes for CAPT. JOHN HOWLAND:
1. The traditional birth date that has been ascribed
to John Howland's birth is 1592, and this date has not been questioned even in
scholarly journal publications and books such as Elizabeth White's "John
Howland of the Mayflower" or "The Great Migration Begins" by
Robert C. Anderson. This date may be significantly faulty for the following
reasons:
John Howland's wife was born in 1607, and it seems
difficult to imagine having a first wife that is 15 years younger.
Most men married first between the ages of 21 and 25.
John Howland was married about 1624. This would put his birth range at
1599-1603. A first marriage at age 32 is most unlikely.
John Howland is called a "manservant" in
William Bradford's passenger list, suggesting he was an apprentice in 1620.
Apprentices (servants) were almost always under 25 years old, meaning Howland
must have been born after 1595.
John Howland's last child was born in 1649. If the
1592 date is accepted, he would have been an unlikely 57 years old..
William Bradford writes in that John Howland was a
"lusty young man" in 1620. Unlikely
John Howland signed the Mayflower Compact, and to do
so he would have had to be at least 18 years old, and probably 21. This means
he was at least born before 1602.
2. John came on the Mayflower as a servant to John
Carver. He is best remembered for having fallen off the Mayflower during a
mighty storm, as recorded by
"In sundry of these storms the winds were so
fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a know of sail, but were
forced to hull for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay
at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon
some occasion above the gratings was, with a seele of the ship, thrown into the
sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung
overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry
fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the
water, and then with boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his
life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years
after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth."
John Howland's wife was Elizabeth Tilley, the
daughter of John Tilley and Joan (
3. John Howland's Will:
The Last Will and Testament of mr John howland of
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 hereunto 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
4. The following is an abbreviated sample of some
clothing, tools and books in the possession of various Pilgrims at their time
of death:, taken from their probate inventories - in this accounting for John
Howland:
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.
5. The ancestry of John Howland is discussed in
"John Howland of the Mayflower through Desire Howland for Five
Generations", Vol. 1, by Elizabeth Pearson White, available from Picton
Press of Rockport, Maine, or through the General Society of Mayflower
Descendants. John Howland is the son of Henry Howland and Margaret (----) of
Fenstanton,
6. The "Mayflower Compact" signed by John:
"Ye Compacte
Signed in Ye Cabin of Ye Mayflower
Ye 11 of November Anno Dominie 1620
In ye name of God, Amen.--We whofe names are
underwrtitten, the loyall subjects of our dread and foveraigne Lord, King
James, by ye grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, & Yreland king,
defender of ye faith, &c., haveing undertaken for ye glorie of God, and
advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour to our king and countrie, a voyage
to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by thefe
prefents solemnly and mutually in ye prefense of God, and one of another,
covenant and combine ourfelves togeather into a civill body politick, for our
better ordering & prefervation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and
by vertue hearof to enacte, conftitute, and frame fuch just & equall lawes,
ordinances, Acts, conftitutions, & offices from time to time, as fhall be
thought most meete & convenient for ye generall goode of ye Colonie, unto
which we promife all due submiffiion and obedience. Yn witnefs whereof we have
hereunder subfcribed our names at Cap-Codd ye 11. of November, in ye year of ye raigne of our
soveraigne lord, King James, of
John Carver
Edward Winflow
Ifaac Allerton
John Alden
Chriftopher Martin
William White
John Howland
Edward Tilley
Francif Cooke
Thomas Tinker
Edward Fuller
Francis Eaton
John Cracfton
Mofes Fletcher
Degory Prieft
Gilbert Winflow
Peter Brown
George Soule
Richard Gardiner
Thomas Englifh
William Bradford
William Brewfter
Myles Standifh
Samuel Fuller
William Mullins
Richard Warren
Stephen Hopkins
John Tilley
Thomas Rogers
John Rigdale
John Turner
James Chilton
John Billington
John Goodman
Thomas Williams
Richard Britterige
Richard Clark
John Allerton
Edward Doty
Edward Leifter
7. John is an ancestor of President George Bush, and
First Lady Edith (Carrow) Roosevelt (Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt).
President Richard Nixon and Vice President Gerald
Ford are descendants of John's brother Henry.
More About CAPT. JOHN HOWLAND:
Immigration:
Notes for ELIZABETH TILLEY:
Will of Elizabeth Tilley
In ye Name of God Amen I Elizabeth Howland of Swanzey
in ye County of Bristoll in ye Collony of Plymouth in New Engld being Seventy
nine yeares of Age but of good & perfect memory thanks be to Allmighty God
& calling to Remembrance ye uncertain Estate of this transitory Life &
that all fflesh must Yeild unto Death when it shall please God to call Doe make
constitute & ordaine & Declare This my last Will & Testament, in
manner & forme following Revoking and Anulling by these prsents all &
every Testamt & Testamts Will & Wills heretofore by me made &
declared either by Word or Writing And this to be taken only for my last Will
& Testament & none other. And first being penitent & sorry from ye
bottom of my heart for all my sinns past most humbly desiring forgivenesse for
ye same I give & Committ my soule unto Allmighty God my Savior &
redeemer in whome & by ye meritts of Jesus Christ I trust & believe
assuredly to be saved & to have full remission & forgivenesse of all my
sins & that my Soule wt my Body at the generall Day of Resurrection shall
rise againe wt Joy & through ye meritts of Christs Death & passion
possesse & inheritt ye Kingdome of heaven prepared for his Elect &
Chosen & my Body to be buryed in such place where it shall please my
Executrs hereafter named to appoint And now for ye settling my temporall Estate
& such goodes Chattells & Debts as it hath pleased God far above my
Deserts to bestow upon me I Do Dispose order & give ye same in manner &
forme following (That is to say) First that after my funerall Expences &
Debts paid wc I owe either of right or in Conscience to any manner of person or
persons whatsoever in Convenient tyme after my Decease by my Execrs hereafter
named I Give & bequeath unto my Eldest Son John Howland ye sum of five
pounds to be paid out of my Estate & my Booke called Mr Tindale's Workes
& also one pair of sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres & one pr of
Bedblanketts, Item I give unto my son Joseph Howland my Stillyards & also
one pr of sheetes & one pr of pillobeeres Item I give unto my son Jabez
Howland my ffetherbed & boulster yt is in his Custody & also one Rugg
& two Blanketts yt belongeth to ye said Bed & also my great Iron pott
& potthookes Item I give unto my son Isaack Howland my Booke called Willson
on ye Romanes & one pr of sheetes & one paire of pillowbeeres &
also my great Brasse Kettle already in his possession Item I give unto my Son
in Law Mr James Browne my great Bible Item I give & bequeath unto my
Daughter Lidia Browne my best ffeatherbed & Boulster two pillowes &
three Blanketts & a green Rugg & my small Cupboard one pr of AndyIrons
& my lesser brasse Kettle & my small Bible & my booke of mr
Robbinsons Workes called Observations Divine & Morrall & allso my
finest pr of Sheetes & my holland pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my
Daughter Elisabeth Dickenson one pr of Sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres
& one Chest Item I give unto my Daughter Hannah Bosworth one pr of sheets
& one pr of pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth
Bursley one paire of sheets and one paire of Pillowbeeres Item I give &
bequeath unto my Grandson Nathaniel Howland (the son of Joseph Howland) and to
the heires of his owne Body lawfully begotten for ever all that my Lott of Land
with ye Meadow thereunto adjoyning & belonging lying in the Township of
Duxbury neare Jones River bridge, Item I give unto my Grandson James Browne One
Iron barr and on Iron Trammell now in his possession, Item I give unto my
Grandson Jabez Browne one Chest Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Dorothy
Browne my best Chest & my Warming pan Item I give unto my Grand Daughter
Desire Cushman four Sheep, Item I give & bequeath my wearing clothes linnen
and Woollen and all the rest of my Estate in mony Debts linnen or of what kind
or nature or sort soever it may be unto my three Daughters Elisabeth Dickenson,
Lidia Browne and Hannah Bosworth to be equally Devided amongst them, Item I
make constitute and ordaine my loving Son in Law James Browne and my loving son
Jabez Howland Executors of this my last Will and Testament, Item it is my Will
& Charge to all my Children that they walke in ye Feare of ye Lord, and in
Love and peace towards each other and endeavour the true performance of this my
last Will & Testament In Witnesse whereof I the said Elizabeth Howland have
hereunto sett my hand & seale this seventeenth Day of December Anno Dm one
thousand six hundred Eighty & six.
The mark of Elisabeth E H Howland
Signed Sealed & Delivd
in ye prsence of us Wittnesses
Hugh Cole
Samuel Vyall
John Browne
More About ELIZABETH TILLEY:
Immigration:
More About JOHN HOWLAND and ELIZABETH TILLEY:
Marriage:
ii. GEORGE HOWLAND, b. Abt. 1598, Fen Stanton,
iii. MARGARET HOWLAND, b. Abt. 1602, Fen Stanton,
iv. SIMON HOWLAND, b. Bef.
v. HENRY HOWLAND, b.
vi. HUMPHERY HOWLAND, b. Abt. 1606, Fen Stanton,
vii. ARTHUR HOWLAND, b. Abt. 1610, Fen Stanton,
Huntingdonshire, England; d. October 30, 1675, Marshfield, Plymouth Co., MA; m.
MARGARET WALKER, 1626, Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England; b. Abt. 1600, Fen
Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England.
More About ARTHUR HOWLAND and MARGARET WALKER:
Marriage: 1626, Fen Stanton,