- www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers
John Howland
Birth: About 1599 (see notes below), the son of Henry and MargaretHowland of Fenstanton, Huntington.
Marriage: Elizabeth Tilley, about 1624, Plymouth.
Death: 23 or 24 February 1672/3, Rocky Nook, Kingston.
Children: Desire, John, Hope, Elizabeth, Lydia, Hannah, Joseph, Jabez,Ruth, and Isaac.
Biographical Summary
John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington.He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor JohnCarver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard duringa storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions ofdescendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and GeorgeW. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of thetopsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with aboathook.
It has been traditionally reported that John Howland was born about1592, based on his reported age at death in the Plymouth ChurchRecords. However, ages at death were often overstated, and that isclearly the case here. John Howland came as a servant for JohnCarver, which means he was under 25 years old at the time (i.e. he wasborn after 1595). William Bradford, in the falling-overboardincident, refers to Howland as a "lusty young man", a term that wouldnot likely have applied to a 28-year old given that Bradford himselfwas only 30--Bradford did call 21-year old John Alden a "young man"though. Howland's wife Elizabeth was born in 1607: a 32-year oldmarrying a 17-year old is an unlikely circumstance. Howland's lastchild was born in 1649: a 57-year old Howland would be an unlikelyfather. All these taken together demonstrate that Howland's age waslikely overstated by at least 5 years. Since he signed the MayflowerCompact, we can assume he was probably about 21 in 1620, so the bestestimate for his birth would be about 1599.
John Howland had several brothers who also came to New England, namelyHenry Howland (an ancestor to both Presidents Richard Nixon and GeraldFord) and Arthur Howland (an ancestor to Winston Churchill).
Additional Resources
Will of John Howland
Mike Haywood's painting, "Pilgrim Overboard," depicts John Howlandnear-death experience when he fell overboard during a storm on theMayflower's voyage. This giclée print on canvas measures 32" x 22",and is meant to be stretched like a traditional canvas painting.Every Howland descendant should own a copy of this great piece of art! A great gift idea. Giclée Print, $240
(Internet extraction provided by David H. Drollinger 9 Apr 2012)
www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers
Will of John Howland
29 May 1672
The Last Will and Testament of mr John howland of Plymouth lateDeceased, exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift Day ofMarch Anno Dom 1672 on the oathes of mr Samuell ffuller and mr WilliamCrow as followeth
Know all men to whom these prsents shall Come That I John howlandsenir of the Towne of New Plymouth in the Collonie of New Plymouth inNew England in America, this twenty ninth Day of May one thousand sixhundred seaventy and two being of whole mind, and in Good and prfectmemory and Remembrance praised be God; being now Grown aged; haveingmany Infeirmities of body upon mee; and not Knowing how soon God willcall mee out of this world, Doe make and ordaine these prsents to bemy Testament Containing herein my last Will in manor and formefollowing;
Imp I Will and bequeath my body to the Dust and my soule to God thatGave it in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection unto Glory; and asConcerning my temporall estate, I Dispose thereof as followeth;
Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besideswhat lands I have alreddy given him, all my Right and Interest To thatone hundred acres of land graunted mee by the Court lying on theeastern side of Tauton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds andall the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge tohim and his heirs and assignes for ever; and if that Tract shouldfaile, then to have all my Right title and Interest by and in thatLast Court graunt to mee in any other place, To belonge to him hisheires and assignes for ever;
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all those my uplandand Meadow That I now posesse at Satuckett and Pamet, and placesadjacent, with all the appurtenances and privilidges, belongingtherunto, and all my right title and Interest therin, To belonge tohim his heires and assignes for ever,
Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all that my onepeece 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 theNorthsyde of a feild that is now Gyles Rickards senir To belonge tothe said Jabez his heirs and assignes for ever;
Item I give and bequeath unto Isacke howland my youngest sonne allthose my uplands and meddows Devided and undivided with all theappurtenances and priviliges unto them belonging, lying and being inthe Towne of Middlebery, and in a tract of Land Called the MajorsPurchase near Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased ofWilliam White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which mayor shall appeer by any Deed or writinges Together with theaformentioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heirs andassignes for ever;
Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Isacke howland the one halfeof my twelve acree lott of Meddow That I now have att WinnatucsettRiver within the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid To belonge to him and saidIsacke howland his heires and assignes for ever;
Item I Will and bequeath unto my Deare and loveing wife Elizabethhowland the use and benifitt of my now Dwelling house in Rockey nookein the Township of Plymouth aforsaid, with the outhousing lands, Thatis uplands uplands [sic] and meddow lands and all appurtenances andprivilidges therunto belonging in the Towne of Plymouth and all otherLands housing and meddowes that I have in the said Towne of Plymouthexcepting what meddow and upland I have before given To my sonnesJabez and Isacke howland During her naturall life to Injoy make use ofand Improve for her benifitt and Comfort;
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph howland after the Deceaseof my loveing wife Elizabeth howland my aforsaid Dwelling house attRockey nooke together with all the outhousing uplands and Medowesappurtenances and privilidges belonging therunto; and all otherhousing uplands and meddowes appurtenances and privilidges That I havewithin the aforsaid Towne of New Plymouth excepting what lands andmeadowes I have before Given To my two sonnes Jabez and Isacke; Tobelong to him the said Joseph howland To him and his heires andassignes for ever;
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Desire Gorum twentyshillings
Item I give and bequeath To my Daughter hope Chipman twenty shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dickenson twentyshillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lydia Browne twentyshillings
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter hannah Bosworth twenty shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Cushman twentyshillings
Item I give to my Grandchild Elizabeth howland The Daughter of my sonJohn howland twenty shillings
Item my will is That these legacyes Given to my Daughters, be payed bymy exequitrix in such species as shee thinketh meet;
Item I will and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth howland, myDebts and legacyes being first payed my whole estate: vis: landshouses goods Chattles; or any thing else that belongeth orappertaineth unto mee, undisposed of be it either in PlymouthDuxburrow or Middlbery or any other place whatsoever; I Doe freely andabsolutly give and bequeath it all to my Deare and loveing wifeElizabeth howland whom I Doe by these prsents, make ordaine andConstitute to be the sole exequitrix of this my Last will andTestament to see the same truely and faithfully prformed according tothe tenour therof; In witness whereof I the said John howland senirhave heerunto sett my hand and seale the aforsaid twenty ninth Day ofMay, one thousand six hundred seaventy and two 1672
Signed and sealed in the
prsence of Samuel ffuller John Howland
William Crow And a seale
(Internet extraction provided by David H. Drollinger 9 Apr 2012)
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- www.mayflowerhistory.com/Passengers
John Howland
Birth: About 1599 (see notes below), the son of Henry and MargaretHowland of Fenstanton, Huntington.
Marriage: Elizabeth Tilley, about 1624, Plymouth.
Death: 23 or 24 February 1672/3, Rocky Nook, Kingston.
Children: Desire, John, Hope, Elizabeth, Lydia, Hannah, Joseph, Jabez,Ruth, and Isaac.
Biographical Summary
John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington.He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor JohnCarver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard duringa storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions ofdescendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and GeorgeW. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of thetopsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with aboathook.
It has been traditionally reported that John Howland was born about1592, based on his reported age at death in the Plymouth ChurchRecords. However, ages at death were often overstated, and that isclearly the case here. John Howland came as a servant for JohnCarver, which means he was under 25 years old at the time (i.e. he wasborn after 1595). William Bradford, in the falling-overboardincident, refers to Howland as a "lusty young man", a term that wouldnot likely have applied to a 28-year old given that Bradford himselfwas only 30--Bradford did call 21-year old John Alden a "young man"though. Howland's wife Elizabeth was born in 1607: a 32-year oldmarrying a 17-year old is an unlikely circumstance. Howland's lastchild was born in 1649: a 57-year old Howland would be an unlikelyfather. All these taken together demonstrate that Howland's age waslikely overstated by at least 5 years. Since he signed the MayflowerCompact, we can assume he was probably about 21 in 1620, so the bestestimate for his birth would be about 1599.
John Howland had several brothers who also came to New England, namelyHenry Howland (an ancestor to both Presidents Richard Nixon and GeraldFord) and Arthur Howland (an ancestor to Winston Churchill).
Additional Resources
Will of John Howland
Mike Haywood's painting, "Pilgrim Overboard," depicts John Howlandnear-death experience when he fell overboard during a storm on theMayflower's voyage. This giclée print on canvas measures 32" x 22",and is meant to be stretched like a traditional canvas painting.Every Howland descendant should own a copy of this great piece of art! A great gift idea. Giclée Print, $240
(Internet extraction provided by David H. Drollinger 9 Apr 2012)
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Abt 1599 - 1673 (~ 74 years)
