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Arrive in 1620 on the Mayflower
The line below is currently for the progenitor of the United State branch of this family line.
The immigrant, John Howland, came to the United States in 1620.
The English branch is not presently included.
Generation One:
John Howland- abt. 1602 assumed at Fenstanton, Huntingdon, England; m. 14 August 1623 Elizabeth Tilley; d. 23 February 1673 at Rocky Nook, Kingston, Kingston, Plymouth, MA
Their children:
Desire b. abt. February 1626 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 1643 Captain John Gorham; d. 13 October 1683 at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA, aged 57 years.
John b. 24 February 1627 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 26 October 1621 Mary Lee at West Barnstable, Barnstable, MA; d. abt 1702 aged 74 years
Hope b. 20 August 1629 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. abt 1646 John Chipman; d. 8 January 1684 aged 54 year
Jabez b.abt 1631 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. abt 1660 Bethiah Thatcher; d. 7 April 1708 at Bristol, Bristol, Rhode Island aged 77 years
Elizabeth b. Feb 1633 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m (1) 13 September 1649 Ephraim Hicks at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m (2) 10 July 1651 John Dickerson; d. 26 January 1683 at Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. Aged 49 years
LYDIA b. abt 1634 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. abt 1655 JAMES BROWN; d. 10 October 1710 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA, aged 76 years. 💙
HANNAH b. abt 1639 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 6 July 1661 JONATHAN BOSWORTH at Swansea, Bristol, MA; 💙
Joseph b. abt 1637 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 7 December 1664 Elizabeth Southworth; d. 1 January 1704, aged 67 years
Ruth b. abt 1642 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 17 December 1664 Thomas Cushman at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
Isaac b. 15 November 1649 at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; m. 1672 Elizabeth Vaughan at Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; d. 9 March 1724
John Howland was baptized on 16 Jan 1603 at Ely, Cambridge, England. John Howland boarded the Mayflower in England in September 1620.He was the 13th name on the list of 41 who signed the Mayflower Compact. He was 28 years old at that time. He was a servant or sometimes considered a member of Governor Carver’s family.
His travel across the Atlantic was not without danger. Governor Bradford wrote:
“ In sundrie of these stormes the winds were so fierce and ye seas so high, as they could not beare a knote of saile, but were forced to hull for diverce days together. And in one of them, as they lay thus at hull, in a mightie storme, a lustie yonge man (called John Howland_ coming upon some occasion above ye gratings, was, hould of he top-saile halliards which hunge overboard, and rane out at length; yet he hild his hold (though he was sundrie fndomes under water) till he was hald up by ye same rope to ye brime of ye water, and then with a boat hooke and other means got into ye ship againe, and his life was saved; and though he was some thing ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable member both in church and commone wealth.” 1p. 316
When the Mayflower was yet in Cape Cod Harbor, ten of her "principal men", including John, were sent out in a boat, manned by eight sailors, to select a place to establish a home. A storm drove them into Plymouth harbor, and Plymouth was selected as the place of settlement.
The winter of 1620-21 saw half of the 102 (+2 newborns) die. John was one of the few not ill who cared for the sick and buried the dead. His employer, Gov. John Carver, died of sunstroke, now presumed to be a stroke or heart attack. John was given the responsibility of managing the household. When Carver’s wife died in May of 1621 only a month after the Governor, the household, originally of eight: John Carver, Katherine, his wife, John Howland, Desire Minter, Roger Wilder, man servant, Jasper More, the boy, William Latham, the boy, and the servant maid. Roger Wilder had already passed before Carver, and the maid servant died in a year or so after. Jasper died on 6 December 1621. The remaining members, John, Desire, and William were the only ones left.
In the 1623 division of land, John was allotted four acres “lying on the south side of the borook to the woodward.” It is assumed that he and Elizabeth married around 1625, when she was about 16 years for in 1627, the division of cattle allotted to him, his wife, son John and daughter, Desire one of the 4 heifers that came in the Jacob called Ragborn.
“ In 1627 Isaac Allerton was sent to London to secure a patent for the Kennebec and the Pilgrims then erected a trading house on the river at Cuchenoc in what is now Augusta. This patent was superseded by another in January 1630 under which Plymouth received exclusive jurisdiction over the Kennebec within a limit of 15 miles down the river from the falls where they had built a house. In their trading they first used a shallop but soon found they needed a larger boat, so the Pilgrims cut the shallop in half, added six feet in the middle and decked it over. This vessel, called a barque, was used for the next seven years. John Howland was put in charge of the trading post and in 1634 he and John Alden were the magistrates in authority there.
In 1633, John’s tax was 18 shillings, the same as miles Standish. In 1634, Unfortunately, Pilgrims and Indians were not the only ones on the Kennebec. Agents of Lord Say and Seal and Lord Brooke also were on hand to make a fast pound or two. One April day John Howland found John Hocking riding at anchor within the area claimed by Plymouth. Hocking was from the nearby Piscataqua Plantation. Howland went up to him in their “barke” and politely asked Hocking to weigh anchors and depart. Apparently Hocking used some strong language and the two exchanged some words not recorded, but the result of the conversation was that Hocking would not leave and Howland would not let him stay.
Howland then sent three of his men—John Irish, Thomas Savory and William Rennoles (Reynolds?) — to cut the cables of Hocking’s boat. They severed one but the strong current prevented them from cutting the other cable so Howland called them back and ordered Moses Talbott to go with them. The four men were able to maneuver their canoe to the other cable, but Hocking was waiting on deck armed with a carbine and a pistol in his hand. He aimed first at Savory and then as the canoe swished about he put his gun almost to Talbott’s head. Seeing this, Howland called to Hocking not to shoot his man but to “take himself as his mark.” Saying his men were only doing what he had ordered them to do. If any wrong was being done it was he that did it, Howland shouted. Howland called again for Hocking to aim at him.
Hocking, however, would not even look at Howland and shortly afterwards Hocking shot Talbott in the head and then took up his pistol intending to shoot another of Howland’s men. Bradford continues the story in his history of Plymouth: Howland’s men were angered and naturally feared for their lives so one of the fellows in the canoe raised his musket and shot Hocking “who fell down dead and never spake word.”
The surviving poachers must have skedaddled for home where they soon wrote to the bigwigs in England but failed to tell the whole truth including the fact that Hocking had killed a Plymouth man first. The lords “were much offended” and must have made known their anger. The hocking affair did have severe international implications. Colonists feared that King Charles might use it as an excuse for sending over a royal governor to rule all New England. This was a real threat for early in 1634 the king had created a Commission for Regulating Plantations with power to legislate in both civil and religious matters and even to revoke charters.”
In the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 John Howland was assessed 18s., and in the list of 27 March 1634 £1 4s. [PCR 1:9, 27]. John Howland was a Purchaser [PCR 2:177].
On 4 December 1637 "forty acres of land are granted to Mr. John Howland, lying at the Island Creeke Pond at the western end thereof, with the marsh ground that he useth to mow there" [PCR 1:70]. On 5 November 1638 the "island called Spectacle, lying upon Green's Harbor, is granted to Mr. John Howland" [PCR 1:102, 110, 168]. Granted six acres of meadow "at the North Meadow by Jones River" [PCR 2:49].
The Howland family lived in a house that is still standing in Plymouth. It is know as the Carver House and is located on Sandwich Street. Originally the house was 6-8 foot post, but it appears to have had the roof raised at least three times. In 1638 they moved to Rocky Nook, Kingston, Kingston, MA.
John died at Plymouth, MA, on 23 February 1672. He was buried on 25 February 1672 in Plymouth, MA.
"The 23th of February 1672 Mr John Howland senir of the Towne of Plymouth Deceased: he was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the waves of Christ hee lived untill hee attained above eighty yeares in the world, hee was one of the first Comers into this land and proved a usefull Instrument of Good in his place & was the last man that was left of those that Came over in the shipp Called the Mayflower, that lived in Plymouth hee was with honor Intered att the Towne of Plymouth on the 25 of February 1672".
On Burial Hill is a monument to John Howland erected in 1897 with funds raised by Mrs. Joseph Howland. This replaces a stone erected about 1836 by John and Henry Howland of Providence, Rhode Island. The earlier stone was buried under the new one. This earlier stone stated that John Howland’s wife was “a daughter of Governor Carver”, but after the discovery in 1856 of Governor William Bradford’s manuscript Of Plimoth Plantation, it was known that he married Elizabeth Tilley, daughter of John and Joan Tilley who were also passengers of the Mayflower.
Notes: He had two brothers, Arthur and Henry who arrived a few years later. Arthur Howland married Margaret Reed, settled in Marshfield and had five children. Sir Winston Churchill, an honorary member of the Pilgrim John Howland Society, was one of his descendants. Henry Howland married Mary (Newland) and lived in Duxbury. They had eight children. Both brothers joined the Society of Friends. For many generations the descendants of these two men remained Quakers, many settled around Dartmouth, Massachusetts where they became very prosperous.
JOHN HOWLAND'S WILL AND INVENTORY.
Transcribed from the original records,
BY GEORGE ERNEST BOWMAN
John Howland died at Plymouth, on the twenty third of February 1672 - 3 and his will and inventory were recorded in the Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume III, Part I, pages 49 to 54.
[p. 49] 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 Willam 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 therof as followeth;
Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besides what lands I have already given him, all my Right and Interest To that one hundred acrees of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the eastern side of Taunton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, I belonge to him and his heires 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 Meddow 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 heires and assignes for ever;
Item I give and bequeath into Isacke howland my youngest sonne all those my uplands and meddowes 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 neare Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased of Willam White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which may or shall appeer by any Deed or writing that is Given under the said Whites hand all such Deeds or writinges Together with the aformensioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heires 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 the 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 [p. 50] uplands and meadow 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 meadow 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 Meddowes 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: viz: lands houses goods Chattles; or any thinge 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 witnes wherof 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 John howland prsence of Samuell ffuller And a seale Willam Crow
Elizabeth's Story:
John died at the Plymouth house, bought by their son, Jabez. John and Elizabeth would winter there. In 1673moved to Swansea to live with her daughter, Lydia Brown. But the Swansea home is in the middle of the conflict with King Phillip so Elizabeth fled to family in Barnstable. Around 1675 the Rocky Nook Farm house burned to the ground and Elizabeth moves in with Jabez' family. In 1680 Jabez sells the Plymouth house and Elizabeth signed the deed. When she died in Dec. 22, 1687, she was buried in the Brown Family plot in Little Neck Cemetery in what is now east Providence, Rhode Island. The monument and grave are maintained by the Pilgrim John Howland Society.
Her final will :
“And first being penitent & sorry from ye bottom of my heart for all my sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness for ye same I give & commit my soule unto Almighty God my Savior & Redeemer in whome & by ye merits of Jesus Christ I trust & believe assuedly to be saved & to have full remission & forgiveness of all my sins & that my Soule wt my Body at the generall day of resurrection shall rise againe wt Joy & through meritts of Christ’s Death & passion possesse & inherit ye Kingdome of Heaven…”
"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…”
Links:
3. John Howland- Mayflower History.com
Sources:
1. Great Migration
2. Plymouth Court Records
3. History of Bridgewater
4. Swain and Allied Families, William C. Swain. Swain and Tate Company Milwaukee, Wis. 1896
5. May flower Increasing Second Edition p. 67-
6. Pilgrim Village Sketches- http://www.newenglandancestors.org/research/services/articles_7078.asp
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