Descendants of Howland

Generation No. 1

1.  HENRY¹ HOWLAND¹ died Unknown.  He married MARGARET¹.  She died Unknown.

Child of HENRY HOWLAND and MARGARET is:

2.                i.    JOHN² HOWLAND, b. Abt. 1599, Fenstanton, County Huntingdon, England; d. Bet. 23 - 24 Feb 1673, Rocky Nook, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Generation No. 2

2.  JOHN² HOWLAND (HENRY¹)¹ was born Abt. 1599 in Fenstanton, County Huntingdon, England¹, and died Bet. 23 - 24 Feb 1673 in Rocky Nook, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts².  He married ELIZABETH TILLEY³ Abt. 1625 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts^3,4.  She was born 30 Aug 1607 in Henlow, County Bedfordshire, England⁴, and died 21 Dec 1687 in Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts⁵.

Notes for JOHN HOWLAND:

[Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."]

"The traditional date that has been ascribed to John Howland's birth is 'about 1592', and this has never really been questioned. However, a birth about 1599 is clearly a better estimate for the following reasons:
     John Howland is called a "manservant" in William Bradford's passenger list.  Servants were contracted out until the age of 25.  Thus, Howland must have been under 25 in 1620, meaning he had to have been born after 1595.  Since Howland signed the Mayflower Compact, he must have been born sometime before 1600 to have been legally old enough to sign.
     John Howland's wife was born in 1607, and it is most unlikely that he, at the age of 32, married a 17 year old girl as his first wife.  Most men married about age 25, and since his marriage occurred about 1624, this would place his likely birth at 1599.
     John Howland's last child was born in 1649.  If the 1592 date were accepted, he would have fathered a child at the age of 57, a most unlikely circumstance.
     William Bradford writes in that John Howland was a "lusty young man" in 1620.  It is unlikely that Bradford would call a 28-year old a "young man".  The only other person Bradford called a "young man" in 1620 was John Alden, who was born in 1599."

ANCESTRAL SUMMARY:

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 the Mayflower Web Page bookstore.  John Howland is the son of Henry and Margaret Howland of Fenstanton, Huntingdon, England.  Henry died on 17 May 1635 in Fenstanton, and Margaret was buried on 31 July 1629. Besides son John, who came to America on the Mayflower, they also had Humphrey, Arthur, Henry, George, and Margaret. Henry came to Plymouth sometime before 1633, and Arthur came sometime before 1640. For information on Arthur Howland, see the National Genealogical Society Quarterly 71:84+, and for information on Henry Howland see NGSQ 75:105-116, 216-225.

John Howland is an ancestor to President George Bush, and to First Lady Edith (Carrow) Roosevelt (Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt).  Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford are descendants of John Howland's brother Henry.  Winston Churchill is descended from John Howland's brother Arthur.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY:
John Howland came to America 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 Bradford:

In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot 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 (Hurst) Rogers (all were Mayflower passengers). Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland died on 21 December 1687, in Swansea, Massachusetts.

JOHN HOWLAND'S WILL
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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

Emigration: 1620, Arrived in America on the Mayflower⁵

Notes for ELIZABETH TILLEY:

Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

WILL OF ELIZABETH (TILLEY) HOWLAND
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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

Emigration: 1620, Arrived in America on the Mayflower⁵

Children of JOHN HOWLAND and ELIZABETH TILLEY are:

                   i.    DESIRE³ HOWLAND⁵, b. 1625, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts⁵; d. 13 Nov 1683, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts⁵; m. JOHN GORHAM⁵, 1643⁵; d. Unknown.

                  ii.    JOHN HOWLAND⁶, b. 24 Apr 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts^6,7; d. Aft. 1699⁷; m. MARY LEE⁸, 26 Oct 1651, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts^8,9; b. 1630, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts¹⁰; d. 06 Oct 1693, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹⁰.

                 iii.    HOPE HOWLAND¹¹, b. 30 Aug 1629, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. 08 Jan 1684, Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts¹¹; m. JOHN CHIPMAN¹¹, 1647¹¹; d. Unknown.

                 iv.    ELIZABETH HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1631, probably Maine¹¹; d. 1691, Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York¹¹; m. (1) EPHRAIM HICKS¹¹, 13 Sep 1649, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Unknown; m. (2) JOHN DICKINSON¹¹, 10 Jul 1651, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Unknown.

                  v.    LYDIA HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1633, probably Maine¹¹; d. Aft. 11 Jan 1711¹¹; m. JAMES BROWN¹¹, 1654¹¹; d. Unknown.

                 vi.    HANNAH HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1637, probably Maine¹¹; d. Unknown; m. JONATHAN BOSWORTH¹¹, 06 Jul 1661¹¹; d. Unknown.

                vii.    JOSEPH HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1640, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Jan 1704, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; m. ELIZABETH SOUTHWORTH¹¹, 07 Dec 1664, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Unknown.

               viii.    JABEZ HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1644, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Bet. 1708 - 1712¹¹; m. BETHIAH THACHER¹¹, 1668¹¹; d. Unknown.

                  ix.    RUTH HOWLAND¹¹, b. 1646, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Bet. 1672 - 16 Oct 1679¹¹; m. THOMAS CUSHMAN¹¹, 17 Nov 1664, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Unknown.

                   x.    ISAAC HOWLAND¹¹, b. 15 Nov 1649, Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. 09 Mar 1724, Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; m. ELIZABETH VAUGHN¹¹, 1676, probably Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts¹¹; d. Unknown.

Endnotes

1.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

2.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic," "...the Plymouth Colony Court Records say he died on 23 February, the Plymouth Church Records say he died 24 February..."

3.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

4.  Caleb Johnson, John Tilley from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

5.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

6.  Heather Cummings [heifer21@yahoo.com], E-mail from Heather Cummings 12/31/2001,  (Monday, December 31, 2001 7:41 AM), "Electronic."

7.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

8.  Heather Cummings [heifer21@yahoo.com], E-mail from Heather Cummings 12/31/2001,  (Monday, December 31, 2001 7:41 AM), "Electronic."

9.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

10.  Heather Cummings [heifer21@yahoo.com], E-mail from Heather Cummings 12/31/2001,  (Monday, December 31, 2001 7:41 AM), "Electronic."

11.  Caleb Johnson, John Howland from the Alphabetical Listing of Mayflower Passengers,  (Mayflower Web Pages, 1995-1999), "Electronic."

[Howland Family Tree]

This page was last updated on 05/28/2006