John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley
John Howland was born about 1592 and was of Fen Stanton, Huntingdon, England. John married Elizabeth Tilley. She was baptized 30 Aug 1607 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England, the daughter of John Tilley and Joan Hurst.
John came to America on the Mayflower as the servant of John Carver. He was called “a lusty young man” by Bradford. John went above deck during a bad storm and was swept overboard. He was able to get a hold of the topsail halyards and keep hokding on, even though he was underwater. Others pulled the rope until he was at the surface of the water and then brought him back on board with a boat hook.
Elizabeth also came on the Mayflower with her parents, uncle, and aunt. All of the Tilley family who came on the Mayflower, except Elizabeth, died shortly after arriving. John and Kathrine Carver took the orphaned Elizabeth in. Mr. Carver, however, died the first spring after their arrival and Mrs. Carver died the following summer.
John was listed as a freeman in 1633. He held offices, including that of Plymouth Colony Assistant and Deputy for Plymouth to the General Court. He was in charge of the fur trading post at Kennebec in 1634 and on the Committee on the fur trade in 1659.
John died 23 or 24 February 1672 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts and buried 25 Feb 1672 in Plymouth. Elizabeth died 21/31 December 1687 at her daughter Lidia’s home, in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts.John and Elizabeth's children are:
1. Desire Howland, married Capt. John Gorham.
2. John Howland, Jr., born 24 April 1627 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, married Mary Lee in Oct 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
3. Hope Howland, born 30 August 1629 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, married John Chipman, died 8 January 1683 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, buried in the Lothrop Hill Cemetery, Barnstable.
4. Elisabeth Howland, married 1) Ephraim Hicks 13 Sep 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts and 2) John Dickenson 10 July 1651in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
5. Lidia Howland, married James Browne.
6. Hannah Howland, married Jonathan Bosworth 6 Jul 1661 Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts.
7. Capt. Joseph Howland, married Elizabeth Southworth[1] 7 Dec 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, will proved 10 Mar 1703, died Jan 1703/4 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
8. Jabez Howland, born about 1644 (according to deposition was 36 on 19 July 1680), married Bethiah Thatcher.
9. Ruth Howland, married Thomas Cushman 17 Nov 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
10. Isaac Howland, born 15 Nov 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, married Elizabeth Vaughn, will dated 6 Feb 1717/8 and proved 6 Apr 1724, died 9 Mar 1723/4 in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts.Souces:
1. International Genealogical Index (records extracted from original source by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Christening record: (Batch # P003861, Dates: 1558 – 1812, Source Call #Q942.565 B4E V.26, Type: Book, Printout Call #6905926, Type: Film).
2. Bradford, William, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, Samuel Eliot Morison edition (New York: Knopf, 1991).
3. Mourt's Relation, 1622, Jordan D. Fiore edition (Plymouth, MA: Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1985), p. 27-28.
4. Plymouth Colony Records, Deeds, etc., Vol. I, 1627-1651.
5. “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan 1900, pgs. 10-11.
6. MacDonough, Rodney, “Phineas Pratt of Plymouth and Charlestown”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 4, No. 2, Apr 1902, p. 97.
7. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. (ed.), Records of Plymouth Colony: Births, Marriages, Deaths, Burials and Other Records, 1633-1689, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976.
8. Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXII, Collections : Plymouth Church Records 1620-1859, Part I (Boston : The Society, 1920), p. 144, 147. See also, Bowman, George Ernest (transcriber), “Plymouth First Church Records”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 4, No. 4, Oct 1902, Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, p. 216.
9. Carlson, Robert Paine, Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cemetery Up To 1729, http://www.capecodgravestones.com/barnloth.html, citing the transcriptions of Gustavus Hinckley.
10. Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Old Colony Records, Vol. 4, p. 393.
11. Bowman, George Ernest, “John Howland’s Will and Inventory”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2, No. 2, Apr 1900, pgs. 70-77.
12. Bowman, George Ernest, “Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland’s Will”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan 1901, pgs. 54-57.
13. Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
14. Bowman, George Ernest, “Captain Joseph2 Howland’s Will and Inventory”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 6, No. 2, Apr 1904, pgs. 86-90.
15. Bowman, George Ernest, “Isaac2 Howland’s Will and Inventory”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 6, No. 3, Jul 1904, pgs. 147-52.Images:
Map of the English homes of the Pilgrims: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mosmd/england.htm
The Excavation of the Howland home: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/users/deetz/Plymouth/Fieldschool/fieldsc1.htm
John Howland Memorial:
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/users/deetz/images/addison-039.GIF
Picture of John Howland's tasset (piece of armor):
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ArmsPiker%20.htm
ELIZABETH TILLY Extracted Christening Records
Christening: 30 AUG 1607
Henlow, Bedford, England
Father: JOHN TILLY Mother: JOANSource: International Genealogical Index (records above extracted from original source by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
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 (lay-to) 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 (roll) of the ship, thrown into 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 a 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.
Source: William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, Samuel Eliot Morison edition (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 59.
Left: “Mr John Carver, Kathrine his wife, Desire Minter & two man-servants John Howland, Roger Wilder, William Latham, a boy & a maid servant & a child tht was put to him called Jasper More”
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(From list of Mayflower passengers)Right: “Edward Tillie, and Ann his wife; and 2 childeren that were their cosens; Henery Samson, and Humillity Coper
John Tillie, and his wife; and Eelizabeth their daughter”…Mr Carver and his wife, dyed the first year, he in ye spring, she in ye somer, also his man Roger, and ye litle boy Jasper, dyed before either of them, of ye common Infection. Desire Minter returned to her freind & proved not very well, and dyed in England. His servant boy Latham after more than .20. years stay in the country went into England; and from thence to the Bahamy Ilands in ye West Indees; and ther with some others was stavred for want of food. His maid servant maried, &c dyed a year or tow after here in this place. His servant John Howland maried the doughter of John Tillie, Elizabeth, and they are both now living; and have .10. children now all living and their eldest doughter hath .4. children And ther .2. doughter, one, all living and other of their Children mariagable. so .15. are come of them…
…Edward Tillie, and his wife both dyed soon after their arrivall; and the girle Humility their cousen, was sent for unto Ento England, and dyed ther But the youth Henery Sampson, is still liveing, and is maried, & hath .7. children.
John Tilley and his wife both dyed, a litle after they came ashore; and their daughter Elizabeth maried with John Howland and hath Isue as is before noted…Source: Bradford, William, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647.
For images of the complete and original Mayflower passengers list by Bradford, click here: http://members.aol.com/calebj/passenger.html
"In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, Franc, and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc. The Mayflower Compact
Haveing undertaken, for ye glorie of God, and advancemente of ye Christian faith, and honour of our king & countrie, a voyage to plant ye first colonie in ye Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation & furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by vertue hearof to enacte lawes, ordinances, acts constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cap-Codd ye 11th. of November, in ye year of ye raigne of our soveraigne lord, King James, of England, France, & Ireland ye eighteenth, and of Scotland, ye fiftie fourth. Ano: Dom. 1620."
John Carver, Edward Tilly, Digery Priest,
William Bradford, John Tilly, Thomas Williams,
Edward Winslow, Francis Cooke, Gilbert Winslow,
William Brewster, Thomas Rogers, Edmund Margeson,
Isaac Allerton, Thomas Tinker, Peter Brown,
Miles Standish, John Rigdale, Richard Bitteridge,
John Alden, Edward Fuller, George Soule,
Samuel Fuller, John Turner, Richard Clark,
Christopher Martin, Francis Eaton, Richard Clark,
William Mullins, James Chilton, John Allerton,
William White, John Craxton, Thomas English,
Richard Warren, John Billington, Edward Doten,
John Howland, Moses Fletcher, Edward Leister
Stephen Hopkins John Goodman,Source: Bradford, William, Of Plimoth Plantation (Bradford recorded the text and Nathaniel Morton, nephew of Bradford, recorded the names).
Wednesday, the sixth of December [1620]. It was resolved our discoverers should set forth…So ten of our men were appointed who were of themselves willing to undertake it, to wit, Captain Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, John Tilley, Edward Tilley, John Howland, and three of London, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Doten, and two of our seamen, John Alderton, and Thomas English. Of the ship's company there went two of the master's mates, Master Clarke and Master Coppin, the master gunner, and three sailors… The First Encounter
Source: Mourt's Relation, 1622, Jordan D. Fiore edition (Plymouth, MA: Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1985), p. 27-28.
___________________________________…the 6th of December (1620) they sent out their shallop again with ten of their principal men and some seamen, upon further discovery, intending to circulate that deep bay of Cape Cod. The weather was very cold and it froze so hard as the spray of the sea lighting on their coats, they were as if they had been glazed. Yet that night betimes they got down into the bottom of the bay, and as they drew near the shore they saw some ten or twelve Indians very busy about something. They landed about a league or two from them…they made themselves a barricado with logs and boughs as well as they could in the time, and set out their sentinel and betook them to rest, and saw the smoke of the fire the savages made that night. When morning was come they divided their company, some to coast along the shore in the boat, and the rest marched through the woods to see the land, if any fit place might be for their dwelling. They came also to the place where they saw the Indians the night before, and found they had been cutting up a great fish like a grampus…So they ranged up and down all that day, but found no people, nor any place they liked. When the sun grew low, they hasted out of the woods to meet with their shallop…of which they were very glad, for they had not seen each other all that day since the morning. So they made them a barricado as usually they did every night, with logs, stakes and thick pine boughs, the height of a man, leaving it open to leeward, partly to shelter them from the cold and wind (making their fire in the middle and lying round about it) and partly to defend them from any sudden assaults of the savages, if they should surround them; so being very weary, they betook them to rest. But about midnight they heard a hideous and great cry, and their sentinel called "Arm! arm!" So they bestirred them and stood to their arms and shot off a couple of muskets, and then the noise ceased. They concluded it was a company of wolves or such like wild beasts, for one of the seamen told them he had often heard such noise in Newfoundland. "So they rested till about five of the clock in the morning; for the tide, and their purpose to go from thence, made them be stirring betimes. So after prayer they prepared for breakfast, and it being day dawning it was thought best to be carrying things down to the boat…
But presently, all on the sudden, they heard a great and strange cry, which they knew to be the same voices they heard in the night, though they varied their notes; and one of their company being abroad came running in and cried, "Men, Indians! Indians!" And withal, their arrows came flying amongst them. Their men ran with all speed to recover their arms, as by the good providence of God they did. In the meantime, of those that were there ready, two muskets were discharged at them, and two more stood ready in the entrance of their rendezvous but were commanded not to shoot till they could take full aim at them. And the other two charged again with all speed, for there were only four had arms there, and defended the barricado, which was first assaulted. The cry of the Indians was dreadful, especially when they saw their men run out of the rendezvous toward the shallop to recover their arms, the Indians wheeling about upon them. But some running out with coats of mail on, and cutlasses in their hands, they soon got their arms and let fly amongst them and quickly stopped their violence…
Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies and give them deliverance; and by his special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were either hurt or hit, though their arrows came close by them and on every side [of] them; and sundry of their coats, which hung up in the barricado, were shot through and through. Afterwards they gave God solemn thanks and praise for their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows and sent them into England afterward by the master of the ship, and called that place the First Encounter.Source: William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, Samuel Eliot Morison edition (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 68-72.
The meersteads & garden plotes of — which came first layd out 1620… Division of Land, 1623
The Falles of their grounds which came first over in the May Floure, according as thier lotes were cast 1623…
These lye one the South side of the brook to the woodward opposite to the former…
…these contain .29. akres.
John Howland 4…At a publique court held the 22th of May it was concluded by the whole Companie, that the cattell wch were the Companies, to wit, the Cowes & the Goates should be equally devided to all the psonts of the same company ... & so the lotts fell as followeth, thirteene psonts being pportioned to one lot ... Division of Cattle, 1627
The fourth lot fell to John Howland & his company
Joyned to him his wife
2 Elizabeth Howland
3 John Howland Junor
4 Desire Howland
5 William Wright
6 Thomas Morton Junor
7 John Alden
8 Prissilla Alden
9 Elizabeth Alden
10 Clemont Briggs
11 Edward Dolton
12 Edward Holdman
13 Joh. Alden.
To this lot fell one of the 4 heyfers Came in the Jacob Called Raghorne.Source: Plymouth Colony Records, Deeds, etc., Vol. I, 1627-1651.
[25] Plymouth Prenc Governor
1634
This deponent saieth that upon the — day of Aprill John Hocking Riding at ankor wth in our limitts above the howse mr John Howland went up to him w'th our barke and charged the said Hocking to waye his Ankcors and depart who answered hee would not wth foule speeches demaunding whie he spake not to them that sent him fourth: answere was mad by John Howland that the last yeare a boat was sent haveing no other busines to know whether it was theire mind that hee should thus wrong vs in our trade who returned answer they sent him not thether and therfore mr Howland tould him that hee would not now suffer him ther to ride, John Hocking demaunded what he would doe whether he would shout ; mr Howland answered no but he would put him from thence John Hocking said and swore he would not shoot but swore if we came abord him he would send us — thus passing by him we came to an ankcor sumthing nere his barke mr Howland bid three of his men goe cutt his Cable whose names weare John Irish Thomas Savory and William Rennoles who prsently cut one but were put by the other by the strength of the streme mr Howland seeing they could not well bring the Cannow to the other cable caled them abord and bad Moses Talbott go wth them who accordingly went very reddyly & brought the Canow to Hockings cable he being upon the deck came wth a carbine & a pistole in his hand & prsently prsented his peece at Thomas Savory but the canow wth the tide was put nere the bow of the barke wch Hocking seeing prsently put his peece almost to Moyses Talbotts head, wch mr Howland seeing called to him desiering him not to shut his man but take himselfe for his mark saying his men did but that wch hee commaunded them and therfore desiered him not to hurt any of them if any wrong was don it was himselfe that did it and therfore caled againe to him to take him for his marke saying he stod very fayer but Hocking would not heare nor looke toward our barke but prsently shooteth Moyses In the head, and prsently tooke up his pistell in his hand but the lord stayed him from doing any further hurt by a shot from our barke himselfe was presently strooke dead being shott neare the same place in the head wher he had murderously shot Moyses.Source: “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2, No. 1, Jan 1900, pgs. 10-11.
…1644, June 22. “At a Townes meeting the xxiith June 1644
“In Case of Alarume in tyme of warr or Danger these Divisions of the Towneship are to be observed & these companys to repaire togetherAt Joanes River { mr Bradfords famyly one
{ mr Princes one
{ mr Hanbury one
{ mr Howland one
{ ffrancis Cooke one
{ Phineas Pratt
{ Gregory Armestrong
{ John Winslow
{ mr Lee”…Source: MacDonough, Rodney, “Phineas Pratt of Plymouth and Charlestown”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 4, No. 2, Apr 1902, p. 97.
Page 8, 1649
Ephraim Hicks maried vnto Elizabeth Howland the 13th of September.
Ephraim Hicks died the 12th of December.Page 25
Thomas Cushman was married to Ruth Howland the 17th day of Nouember, 1664.
Joseph Howland was married to Elizabeth Southworth the seauenth day of December, anno 1664.Page 34
The 23th of February, 1672/3, Mr John Howland, Seni'r, of the towne of Plymouth, deceased. Hee was a godly man and an ancient professor in the wayes of Christ ; hee liued vntill hee attained aboue eighty yeares in the world. Hee was one of the first comers into this land, and proued a vsefull instrument of good in his place, & was the last man that was left of those that came ouer in the shipp called the May Flower, that liued in Plymouth ; hee was with honor intered att the towne of Plymouth on the 25 of February, 1672/3.Page 73, 1651
John Dickarson married to Elizabeth Hickes the 10 of July.
John Howland married to Mary Lee the 26th of October.Source: Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. (ed.), Records of Plymouth Colony: Births, Marriages, Deaths, Burials and Other Records, 1633-1689, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976.
on February, 24 : dyed Mr John Howland in his eightieth yeare, he was a good old disciple, & had bin sometime a magistrate here, a plaine-hearted christian
Source: Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXII, Collections : Plymouth Church Records 1620-1859, Part I (Boston : The Society, 1920), p. 144, 147. See also, Bowman, George Ernest (transcriber), “Plymouth First Church Records”, Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 4, No. 4, Oct 1902, Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, p. 216.
Here Lyeth Interred ye Body of Mrs Hope Chipman ye Wife of Elder John Chipman Aged 54 Years Who Changed This Life For A Beter ye 8 of January 1683
Source: Carlson, Robert Paine, Barnstable Lothrop Hill Cemetery Up To 1729, http://www.capecodgravestones.com/barnloth.html, citing the transcriptions of Gustavus Hinckley.
Jabez Howland of Plymouth a Blacksmith in consideration of 50 Lbs. current silver money paid by Elkanah Watson a Blacksmith to him and his Heirs forever hath sold all the my house and land called by the Name of a garden spot. Be it one-half acre that I bought and purchased of Jacob Mitchell lying and being on the south side of the house and garden of Gyles Rickard senior with all other edifices, buildings and fences that have and are New Made and set upon said Gorden spot and also all the my tow acres of Upland that was given unto me by my father Mr. John Howland in his last will and lying and being on the west end of the aforesaid garden between the said Town Brook and the lands of said GyIes Rickard senior and all theat my two or three acres of Upland given, granted and exchanged unto me by aforesaid town of Plymouth lying and being between the aforesaid Town Brook and the said GyIes Rickard his land and adjoynes unto the aforesaid Upland given me by will. Deed
10 Jan 1680Jabez HowlandElizabeth Howland senior yeilded up her free right also in the house and land above mentioned, Before mee William Bradford AssistantBethyah Howland wife of Jabez Howland above mentioned gave her free consent to this deed the 15th of January 1680 before mee William Bradford Assistant
Source: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Old Colony Records, Vol. 4, p. 393.
For images of the Jabez Howland House (including the bedroom where John and Elizabeth stayed), click here: http://www.ocmayflower.org/howland.htm
John Howland died at Plymouth, on the twenty third of February 1672-3 and his will and inventory were recorded in Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume III, Part I, pages 49 to 54. John Howland’s Will and Inventory.
Transcribed from the original records.
By George Ernest Bowman_________________________ (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 oaths 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 estates, I Dispos(e) therof 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 acrees of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the easter(n) side of Taunton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge to him and his heires and assignes for ever; and if that Tract should faile, then to ha(ve) 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 Medow 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 Plymou(th) aforsaid; be it more or less; and is on the Northsyde of a fei(ld) 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 appurtena(n)ce(s) 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 William 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 half 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 [p.50] uplands 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 amy 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 and 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 Middlebery 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 thereof; In witness wherof 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 John Howland
prsence of Samuell ffuller And a seale
William Crow[p. 51] A trew Inventory of all the goods Cattles Chattles and lands of Mr John howland, lately Deceasd taken and aprised by Elder Thomas Cushman Serjeant Tinkham and William Crow the third of March Anno 1672/73 and exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift of March 1672/73 on the oathe of mrs Elizabeth howland widdow as followeth
In the outward or fier Rome £ s d
Impr 1 muskett 1 long Gun 1 Cutlas 1 belt att 02 10 00
Item 1 Chimney Iron barr 2 paire of pot hangers 00 09 00
Item 1 fier shovell 1 paire of tonges 1 paire of Cob }
irons } 00 07 00
Item 1 frying pan 1 smoothing box and Irons 00 05 06
Item 1 adds 2 axes 1 mortising axe 1 hoe 00 11 06
Item 3 augers 1 pikaxe 00 05 00
Item 1 hammer 1 paire of Pincers 1 Drawing knife }
1 spliting knife } 00 02 00
Item 2 Cow bells 1 old Chaine, and Divers peeces }
of old Iron Aules & a box } 00 05 00
Item 2 presshookes 1 paire of sheep sheers 2 sickles 00 04 00
Item 1 pruning Instrument 1 peece of steele 00 02 00
Item 2 staples 1 peec of a Chaine 00 01 06
Item 2 staples 4 peeces of a chaine 00 01 06
Item 1 Dagger three knives 2 paire of sissers 1 }
paire of stilliyards } 00 06 00
Item 1 padlock 1 thwart saw 3 wedges 1 ploughshare 00 10 00
Item 3 Iron potts 1 paire of pothookes 1 Iron kettle 01 06 00
Item 2 brasse kittles 1 warming pan 01 15 00
Item 1 skimer 1 ladle 1 sawsse pan 1 brasse skillet 00 04 06
Item 6 pewter platters 3 basons 3 smale pewter thinges 01 07 00
Item a quart pot 1 candlesticke 1 beer bowle 00 05 00
Item 3 porringers 1 Dram cupp 1 Tunnell 00 03 00
Item 2 salt sellers 2 chamber potts 7 spoones 00 10 00
Item 1 Iron candlesticke 1 latten pott 1 Ironsockett 00 02 00
Item 1 shove Iron 2 washers 2 old sikles and old Iron 00 02 00
Item 4 earthen potts 1 pan and 1 Jugg and earthen }
ware } 00 02 00
Item 1 hatchell 00 05 00
Item 1 great bible and Annotations on the 5 bookes }
of Moses } 01 00 00
Item mr Tindalls workes mr Wilsons workes 7 more }
bookes } 01 00 00
Item 3 wheeles 1 cherne 1 straning Dish 00 13 00
Item 3 cheesfatts 11 trayes 1 kimnell 00 05 06
Item 3 pailes six tubbs 1 ladle 1 cheese ladder 00 14 06
Item trenchers Roleing pins and some smale things 00 02 00
Item 3 Chaires stooles old barrells 3 Cushens 00 07 00
Item 3 beer vessels 00 04 00
16 06 00[p.52] In the Inward Rome or bedchamber
his wearing apparell
Item 3 hatts 00 16 00
Item 3 great coates 02 00 00
Item 1 suite of cloth 03 00 00
Item 1 serge suite 01 10 00
Item 1 homespon suite and wastcoate 00 15 00
Item 1 suite 00 12 00
Item old clothes 00 06 00
Item 2 red wastcoates 01 05 00
Item 6 paire of Stokens 01 00 00
Item 1 Jackett and one paire of Mittnes 00 13 06
Item 1 holland shirt 00 12 00
Item 4 shirts 00 18 00
Item 4 holland capps 4 Dowlis capps and 4 other capps 00 10 00
Item 2 silke Neckclothes 00 07 06
Item 1 paire of bootes 2 paire of shooes 01 00 00
15 11 00Item 4 remnants of clothe 00 19 00 In the said Rome
Item 2 yards of serge 00 10 00
Item 3 yards ½ of carsey 01 15 00
Item 4 Dozen of buttons ½ 10 skines of silke 3 yards }
of Manchester } 00 04 00
Item 17 yards of fflax and cotton cloth att 02 11 00
Item 1 peece of fine Dowlis 00 08 06
Item 1 remnant of lincye woolsey 00 08 00
Item about 16 yards of several remnants of homade }
Cloth vallued att } 03 10 00
10 05 06Item 1 pound of woolen yerne 00 03 00 In the aforsaid Inward Roome
Item 1 paire of sheets 01 05 00
Item 2 paire of sheets 01 10 00
Item 1 paire of sheets 1 halfe sheet 01 05 00
Item 1 paire of sheets att 00 10 00
Item a paire of holland pillowbeers 00 08 09
Item 2 paire of pillowbeers 00 08 09
Item 3 pillowbeers 00 06 00
Item 1 Table cloth and 7 napkins 00 13 00
Item 10 towells 00 07 00
Item 4 smale Table clothes 00 04 00
Item 2 smale pillowbeers 00 01 06
Item 1 Table and 2 formes 00 10 00
Item 1 cobbert and a framed chaire 00 08 00
Item 4 chest and 1 settle 01 00 00
Item 1 bedsted and box and coard 00 12 00
Item 1 seifting trough and 2 seives 00 04 00
Item 1 glass 2 glasse bottles 2 earthen potts 00 03 00
Item 1 wineglasse gallipotts and spectacles 00 02 00
Item 2 paire of coards one bed cord 1 fishing line 00 05 06
Item some hobnailes & twelvepeny nailes 00 02 00
Item 5 peeces of Dresed lether one peece of taned }
lether } 00 06 00
Item a smale prcell of hemp and hopps 00 02 00
Item 3 or 4 basketts 1 brush 1 file 00 01 00
[p. 53] Item Cotton woole about a Dozen pound 00 12 00
Item 3 old caske 00 02 00
Item 1 feather bed and bolster 3 great & 2 smale }
pillowes } 05 00 00
Item 5 blanketts 03 15 00
Item 1 rugg and one blankett 01 15 00
Item 1 blankett att 00 15 00
Item in reddy mony 01 19 00
Item a smale prcell of powder shott and bulletts 00 03 00
Item 1 Inkhorn 00 00 06
24 14 03Item 1 feather bed bolster and pillow 04 00 00 In the uper Roome or Chamber
Item 2 blanketts and a Rugg 01 05 00
Item 1 woole or fflocke bed 2 feather bolsters and a }
pillow } 02 00 00
Item 2 blanketts 00 15 00
Item 1 bedstead cord and box 00 10 00
Item 1 prcell of sheeps woole about fifteene pound 00 25 00
Item a prcell of feathers about 15 or 16 pound 00 15 00
Item a cupple of old hogsheds and an old candlesticke 00 02 00
Item 20 bushells or therabouts of Indian corne 03 00 00
Item 4 bushells of Mault or thereabouts 00 16 00
Item 4 bushells of Rye or therabouts 00 14 00
Item 6 bushells of wheat or therabouts 01 07 00
Item 3 peckes of pease or therabouts 00 02 00
Item 2 bushells and a halfe of barly or therabouts 00 01 00
Item 2 ffliches of bacon and 1 third of a barrell of }
porke } 02 00 00
Item 1 halfe of a barrell of beeff and 2 empty barrells 00 15 00
Item 15 pound of Tallow and Candles 00 07 06
Item 34 pound of butter & lard 00 17 00
Item 14 pound of sugare 00 07 00
Item 1 halfe hogshed 00 03 00
Item 1 pad 1 pillian 1 bridle 1 sheepskin 00 05 00
Item 6 pound of Tobacco 1 pecke of beans 00 04 00
Item 1 grindstone and handles 1 ffan 00 09 00
Item 8 baggs 15s old Iron 1 shilling 00 16 00
22 14 06Item 2 mares and one colt 03 00 00 Cattle
Item 4 oxen 4 cowes 24 00 00
Item 2 heiffers and 3 steers of three years old 12 10 00
Item 2 two yeare old heiffers 2 yearling calves 03 10 00
Item 13 swine 04 15 00
Item 45 sheep young and old 15 00 00
Item the one halfe of a paire of Iron bound wheeles }
and cart and 12 bolts 2 shakles } 02 02 06
Item 1 paire of hookes and a staple 00 01 06
Item 1 bullockes hyde 00 14 00
Item a cannooe 00 05 00
65 18 00(p.54)
Debts Due to the Testator ffrom John Branch of Marshfeild att 2 severall payments }
the sume of } 08 00 00
Edward Gray 1 barrell of salt 00 12 00
Item a Debt Due from a frind 00 10 00
09 02 00
Brought from the other side 155 09 3
Sume 164 11 03To Elder Thomas Cushman 00 15 00 Debts owing by the Testator
To Thomas Cushman Junir 00 05 00
To John Clarke 00 10 06
To Edward Gray 00 08 03
To William Crow 00 02 00
To John Gorum 01 12 00
To two or three smale Debts about 00 02 00
ffunerall Charges 03 08 00
Debts Deducted 07 02 02
The totale of the estate prissed 157 08 08Wee find that the Testator Died posessed of these severall prcells of Land following;
Impr his Dwelling house with the outhousing uplands and meddow belonging therunto lying att Rockey nooke in the Towne of New Plymouth
Item a prcell of meddow att Jonses river meddow
Item the one halfe of a house and a prcell of meddow and upland belonging therunto lying and being att Colchester in the aforsaid Townshipp;
Itm a prcell of meddow and upland belonging therunto; lying neare Joness river bridge in the Towne of Duxburrow
Item one house and 2 shares of a tract of land and meddow that lyeth in the Towne of Middleberry that was purchased by Captaine Thomas Southworth of and from the Indian Sachem Josias Wampatucke
Item 2 Shares of a track of Land Called the Majors Purchase lying neare Namassakett pondspr nos Thomas Cushman senirSource: Bowman, George Ernest, “John Howland’s Will and Inventory”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2, No. 2, Apr 1900, pgs. 70-77.
Ephraim Tinkam senir
William Crow
Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland’s Will.
Transcribed from the original records,
By George Ernest Bowman.Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, widow of John Howland and daughter of John Tilley, died at Swansea on Wednesday, 21/31 December, 1687, at the house of her daughter Lydia, the wife of James Brown. Her will is recorded in the Bristol County, Mass., Probate Records, Volume 1, pages 13 and 14. No inventory is on record and the original will has disappeared from the files.
________________________ 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 flesh 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 & Comitt my soule unto Allmighty God my Saviour & 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 prof pillowbeeres & one pr of Bedblanketts, Item I give unto my son Joseph Howland my Stillyards & also one pr of sheetes & one pt 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 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 Nathanael 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 [p. 14] 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 Elisabeth 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 (sigittu)Signed Sealed & Delivdin ye prsence of Us Wittnesses
Hugh Cole
Samuel Vyall
John BrowneKnow all men that on ye tenth Day of Janry Anno Dm 1687/8 Before me Nathanl Byfield Esqr Judge of his Majties Inferiour Court of Plea’s for ye County of Bristoll, present Jno Walley Esqr one of ye Members of his Majties Councill in New England & Capt Benjam Church Justice of Peace The abovewritten Will of Elizabeth Howland was proved approved & allowed And ye Administracon of all & singuler ye goodes Rights and Creditts of ye said Deced was Committed unto James Browne & Jabez Howland Execrs in ye same Will named well & truly to Administer ye same according to the Will of ye Deced In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Sett ye Seale of ye Office for Probate of Wills & granting Lettrs of Admincon ye yeare & Day by me abovewritten
(Sigittu officij) Nathanael ByfieldThus Entred & ingrossed this 26: of Janry Anno Dm 1687/8 pr Steph Burton
Source: Bowman, George Ernest, “Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland’s Will”, The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan 1901, pgs. 54-57.
ORIGIN: Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire John Howland
MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower
FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth
FREEMAN: In the “1633” list of Plymouth freemen John Howland is near the head of the list, among the councillors [PCR 1:3]. In the 6 March 1636/7 list of Plymouth Colony freemen [PCR 1:52]. In the Plymouth section of the 1639, 1658 and 29 May 1670 lists of Plymouth Colony freemen [PCR 5:274, 8:173, 197].
EDUCATION: His inventory included “1 great Bible and Annotations on the 5 Books of Moses” valued at £1 and “Mr. Tindall’s Works, Mr. Wilson’s Works, 7 more books” valued at £1.
OFFICES: Plymouth Colony Assistant, 1 January 1632/3, 1 January 1633/4, 1 January 1634/5 [PCR 1:5, 21, 32]. Deputy for Plymouth to General Court, 1 June 1641, 28 October 1645, 1 June 1647, 7 June 1648, 8 June 1649, 4 June 1650, 5 June 1651, 3 June 1652, 7 June 1653, 7 March 1653/4, 6 June 1654, 1 August 1654, 8 June 1655, 3 June 1656, 1 June 1658, 4 June 1661, 1 June 1663, 1 June 1666, 5 June 1667 [PCR 2:16, 94, 117, 123, 144, 154, 167, 3:8, 31, 44, 49, 63, 79, 99, 135, 214, 4:37, 122, 148].
In charge of the fur trading post at Kennebec, 1634 [MD 2:10-11]. Committe on the fur trade, 3 October 1659 [PCR 3:170]. In the Plymouth section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms (as “John Howland Sen.”) [PCR 8:187].
ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land John Howland received four acres as a passenger on the Mayflower [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle John Howland, his wife Elizabeth Howland, John Howland Junior and Desire Howland were the first four persons in the fourth company [PCR 12:10].
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].
In his will, dated 29 May 1672 and proved 6 March 1672/3, “John Howland Seni[o]r of the town of New Plymouth ... being now grown aged, having many infirmities of body upon me,” bequeathed to “John Howland my eldest son besides what lands I have already given him, all my right and interest to that one hundred acres of land granted me by the court lying on the eastern side of Taunton River”; to “my son Jabez Howland all those my upland and meadow that I now possess at Satuckett and Paomett”; to “my son Jabez Howland all that my one piece of land that I have lying on the southside of the mill brook”; to “Isaac Howland my youngest son all those my uplands and meadows ... in the town of Middlebery and in a tract of land called the Major’s Purchase near Namassakett Ponds which I have bought and purchased of William White of Marshfield”; to “my said son Isacke Howland the one half of my twelve acre lot of meadow that I now have at Winnatucsett River”; to “my dear and loving wife Elizabeth Howland the use and benefit of my now dwelling house in Rockey Nooke in the township of Plymouth ... with the outhousing lands ... uplands and meadow lands ... in the town of Plymouth ... excepting what meadow and upland I have before given to my sons Jabez and Isacke Howland during her natural life”; to “my son Joseph Howland after the decease of my loving wife Elizabeth Howland my aforesaid dwelling house at Rockey Nooke”; to “my daughter Desire Gorum 20s.”; to “my daughter Hope Chipman 20s.”; to “my daughter Elizabeth Dickenson 20s.”; to “my daughter Lydia Browne 20s.”; to “my daughter Hannah Bosworth 20s.”; to “my daughter Ruth Cushman 20s.”; to “my grandchild Elizabeth Howland the daughter of my son John Howland 20s.”; “these legacies given to my daughters [to] be paid by my executrix”; to “my loving wife Elizabeth Howland my debts and legacies being first paid, my whole estate,” she to be executrix [MD 2:70-73, citing PCPR 3:1:49-50].
The inventory of “Mr. John Howland lately deceased” was taken 3 March 1672/3 and totalled £157 8s. 8d. [MD 2:73-77, citing PCPR 3:1:51-54]. After the inventory, the appraisers noted that “the testator died possessed of these several parcels of land following:” “his dwelling house with the outhousing, uplands and meadow belonging thereunto lying at Rockey Nooke in the town of New Plymouth,” “a parcel of meadow at Jones River meadow,” “the one half of a house and a parcel of meadow and upland belonging thereunto lying and being at Colchester in the aforesaid township,” “a parcel of meadow and upland belonging thereunto lying near Jones River bridge in the town of Duxburrow,” “one house and 2 shares of a tract of land and meadow that lyeth in the town of Middleberry that was purchased by Captain Thomas Southworth of and from the Indian Sachem Josias Wampatucke,” and “2 shares of a tract of land called the Major’s Purchase lying near Namassakett ponds” [MD 2:77, citing PCPR 3:1:54]. (See also PCR 5:108, 110, 127.)
In her will, dated 17 December 1686 and proved 10 January 1687/8, “Elizabeth Howland of Swanzey ... being seventy nine years of age” bequeathed to “my eldest son John Howland the sum of £5 ... and my book called Mr. Tindale’s Works and also one pair of sheets & one pair of pillowbeers and one pair of bedblankets”; to “my son Joseph Howland my stilliards and also one pair of sheets and one pair of pillowbeers”; to “my son Jabez Howland my featherbed & bolster that is in his custody & also one rug & two blankets that belongeth to the said bed & also my great iron pot & pothooks”; to “my son Isaack Howland my book called Willson on the Romanes & one pair of sheets & one pair of pillowbeers & also my great brass kettle already in his possession”; to “my son-in-law Mr. James Browne my great Bible”; to “my daughter Lidia Browne my best featherbed & boulster two pillows & three blankets & a green rug & my small cupboard one pair of andirons & my lesser brass kettle & my small Bible & my book of Mr. Robbinson’s Works called Observations Divine & Moral & also my finest pair of sheets & my holland pillowbeers”; to “my daughter Elisabeth Dickenson one pair of sheets & one pair of pillowbeers & one chest”; to “my daughter Hannah Bosworth one pair of sheets & one pair of pillowbeers”; to “my granddaughter Elizabeth Bursley one pair of sheets and one pair of pillowbeers”; to “my grandson Nathanael Howland (the son of Joseph Howland) ... my lot of land with the meadow thereto adjoining ... in the township of Duxbury near Jones River Bridge”; to “my grandson James Browne one iron bar and one iron trammell now in his possession”; to “my grandson Jabez Browne one chest”; to “my granddaughter Dorothy Browne my best chest & my warming pan”; to “my granddaughter Desire Cushman four sheep”; “my wearing clothes linen and woollen” and the residue to “my three daughters Elisabeth Dickenson, Lidia Browne and Hannah Bosworth to be equally divided amongst them”; “my loving son-in-law James Browne and my loving son Jabez Howland” executors [MD 3:54-57, citing BrPR 1:13-14].
BIRTH: Say 1592, son of Henry and Margaret (_____) Howland of Fenstanton.
DEATH: Plymouth 23 February 1672/3 “above eighty years” [PCR 8:34].
MARRIAGE: Plymouth by about 1624 Elizabeth Tilley, baptized Henlow, Bedfordshire, 30 August 1607, daughter of JOHN TILLEY. She died at Swansea 22 December 1687, aged eighty [SwVR 27].
CHILDREN:
ii. DESIRE, b. say 1624; m. by 1644 John Gorham (eldest child b. Plymouth 2 April 1644 [MD
5:72]).
iii. JOHN, b. Plymouth 24 April 1627; m. Plymouth 26 October 1651 Mary Lee [PCR 8:13].
iv. HOPE, b. Plymouth 30 August 1629; m. by about 1646 John Chipman.
v. ELIZABETH, b. say 1631; m. (1) Plymouth 13 September 1649 Ephraim Hicks [PCR 8:8]; m.
(2) Plymouth 10 July 1651 John Dickerson [PCR 8:13].
vi. LYDIA, b. say 1633; m. by about 1655 James Brown.
vii. HANNAH, b. say 1637; m. Swansea 6 July 1661 Jonathan Bosworth [SwVR 23].
viii. JOSEPH, b. say 1640; m. Plymouth 7 December 1664 Elizabeth Southworth [PCR 8:25],
daughter of THOMAS SOUTHWORTH.
ix. JABEZ, b. about 1644 (deposed on 19 July 1680 aged 36 years [SJC #1915]); m. by 1669
Bethiah Thatcher, daughter of Anthony Thatcher (eldest child b. Plymouth 15 November 1669
[PVR 668; NYGBR 42:154-57]).
x. RUTH, b. say 1646; m. Plymouth 17 November 1664 Thomas Cushman [PCR 8:25], son of
Thomas Cushman.
xi. ISAAC, b. Plymouth 15 November 1649; m. by 1677 Elizabeth Vaughn, daughter of George
Vaughn [TAG 23:24-26].
ASSOCIATIONS: Brother of HENRY HOWLAND and Arthur Howland.
COMMENTS: In his list of passengers on the Mayflower Bradford tells us that John Howland was one of the “manservants” of JOHN CARVER [Bradford 441]. During a particularly bad storm on the crossing John Howland (characterized by Bradford as “a lusty young man”) went above deck and was swept overboard, 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 a 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 & commonwealth [Bradford 59].
In his 1651 accounting on the family of John Carver, Bradford reported that “[h]is servant John Howland married the daughter of John Tilley, Elizabeth, and they are both now living, and their eldest daughter hath four children; and their second daughter one, all living, and other of their children marriageable” [Bradford 444].
In an undated deposition we learn that in April 1634 John Hocking came to Kennebec and challenged the rights of the Plymouth men to their exclusive trade in that place. Mr. John Howland, in charge of the trading post, went out in their bark with several other men and warned Hocking off, but was taunted and defied. Howland “bid three of his men go cut his cable [Hocking
