I caused a lot of unhappiness in some relatives by researching this lineage and concluding that it doesn't fit our family. I began researching John Howell, Sr. in an effort to learn more about this, my oldest Howell ancestor. His is a remarkable story. I was thrilled. Until I got down to his 2nd great-grandson William Howell and realized there was a mistake. I will certainly share what I have with anyone who is interested. Just drop me a line.

John Howell, Sr.

John Howell, Sr. immigrated to the American colonies before 1623. He received his first land grant in 1637 and became wealthy and fairly prominent in the Virginia colony, primarily residing in Henrico County. The National Society of Colonial Dames of the XVII Century have accepted him into their society. They have documented his descendants, and their information is correct, except for when they link our Howells to this line.

John Howell, Jr.

Son of John Howell, Sr., John Howell, Jr. died intestate. In 1694, John Jr. received a land grant in Isle of Wight County, VA. He was identified as "John Howell, son of John Howell, deceased" and was being re-gifted with land his father and a Hopkin Howell had been granted.

John Howell, Jr. married Elizabeth, surname unknown, and had children: John, Joseph, Thomas, Robert, Hopkins, and William.

Joseph Howell

Joseph Howell, son of John Howell, died in Edgecombe County, NC between 10 JAN 1749 when he wrote his will and MAY 1750 when it was presented in court. Joseph Howell was a Representative for Edgecombe County in 1746/47 and was an Assemblyman in 1747/48.

In his will Joseph Howell remembered his loving wife Margaret, his son Joseph (under age 18), his son Thomas, daughter Mary, daughter Murphrey, and daughter Martha.

Joseph Howell, Jr., Revolutionary War soldier

Joseph Howell, Jr. was born about 1735 in Edgecombe County, NC and died at age 102 in Campbell (now DeKalb) County, GA. Joseph Howell, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, serving as Edgecombe County Representative in 1762, 1764, and 1765. In 1768 Joseph Howell was in Anson County, NC and petitioned the Governor about unfair taxation on the colonists.

Joseph Howell Jr. married Margaret Eleanor Garmon in Anson County, NC in 1768. They had 11 children: John, Joseph, Elizabeth (m. Eli Green, Jacob Smith), Henry, Eli (m. Nancy Love), Margaret (m. Edmund Smith), William, Isaac, Evan, Michael, and Eleanor (m. John Kiser). Evan Howell was the grandfather to Clark Howell who had this lineage researched.

Joseph Howell saw active service during the American Revolution in the militia of Mecklenburg County, NC. He enlisted 6 JUN 1776 as a foot soldier in Capt. Adam Alexander's Company, and fought at Guilford Courthouse and King's Mountain. He also furnished supplies and monies to the Continental Army. His duty and service have been recognized by the NSDAR.

Following his time in the NC militia, Joseph Howell is found in many land records in Cabarrus County, NC. It is not clear exactly when he moved to Georgia.

Joseph Howell wrote his will in Campbell County, GA on 10 MAY 1837. In the will he named: Eleanor Kizer, Evan Howell, and Michael Howell. Joseph was approximately 102 years of age and was blind, though he stated he was in "ordinary bodily health and of a sound composed and disposing mind and memory."

William Howell

William Howell, son of Joseph Howell, Jr. married Elizabeth Sides. He is recalled by family members as having died at age 35 or 40. (Letter in the Clark Howell book, dated 1889 by Evan Shelby Howell, son of Henry Howell, grandson of Joseph Howell, Jr).

I found a copy of notes used at the historical marker presentation in Sumter County, GA. This paperwork states that William Howell had married Elizabeth Sides, had a son James Ira Howell, and had died in 1822 in Georgia.

Working from the death date of 1822, I found the will of a William Howell in Oglethorpe County. This will was written on 9 SEP 1818. This William Howell leaves some of his estate to his "son James D. Howell should he live to return from the army." The War of 1812 had ended in 1815, and the Georgia militia was fighting Indians. In either case, our James Howell was too young (b. 1802 he would have been only 16 when this will was written) to have served in any army. This will was brought to court in NOV 1818. It was the only will for a William Howell in Georgia that I could find.

With no real results in the Georgia probate records, I moved back to North Carolina. NSDAR Application #748772 uses the line of descent from Joseph Howell, Jr. through his son William. This application states that William was born about 1780 in Mecklenburg County, NC and died in 1810 in Cabarrus County, NC. This William Howell was married to Elizabeth Sides and had a son Isaac born in SEP 1801.

In Cabarrus County, NC I found the will of William Howell written on 8 JAN 1810. William Howell states he is "frail and weak of body" and disposed of his property to: his beloved wife Elizabeth and his two children. He later mentions his "beloved son Isaac" who is a minor, and later a daughter. The will is witnessed by Joseph Howell, Henry Howell, and Margaret Howell. It was probated in JAN 1810.

I believe this will firmly disproves our connection to this line. William Howell, son of Joseph Howell the Revolutionary War soldier, died in North Carolina in 1810 with only one son, Isaac. William Howell never lived in Georgia.

James Howell

Our James Howell was born in 1802 and he always answered the census takers that he was born in Georgia. The Howell family Bible which records James Howell's birth was written after his death. However, that record clearly states that he was the son of "E & R Howell". I have him listed as son of Hezekiah Howell and Rachel Parker. Hezekiah Howell often appeared in records as Ezekiah, and it seems that the family used that pronunciation too. See the Howell Family page to see this other, correct lineage for James Howell.

Finally, much of the information known about the Daniel > Joseph > Hezekiah Howell lineage came from the journals of William Marion Howell. William M. Howell was a Baptist preacher in the late 1800s and was grandson of Hezekiah and Rachel (Parker) Howell. He wrote about his family and about his uncle James Howell in Sumter County. He also kept correspondence from his cousin Granberry who was James and Elizabeth (Pearce) Howell's son. This is the final proof for me that the Daniel Howell line is correct and that the John Howell, Sr. line is not.

Please contact me if you have questions or corrections.

Based on research in original records and from "GENEALOGY of the SOUTHERN LINE OF THE FAMILY OF HOWELL, FROM THE ORIGINAL PROGENITOR OF THE LINE IN AMERICA, JOHN HOWELL, VIRGINIA COLONIST", by Clark Howell, Atlanta, GA, 1930.