Eliakim Howe (1723 - abt. 1812)

Born 17 Jan 1723 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca Howe — married 15 Dec 1747 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died about Jan 1812 at about age 88 in Bradford, Orange, Vermont, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

From the Howe Genealogies by Daniel Wait Howe: In June 1763, Eliakim Howe left Marlborough and settled in what is now the town of Henniker, N, H. He was the second settler in the town and located in the south-east part of it, (a little easterly from the residence of the late David Plummer) where he built the first frame house in the town in 1765. It is thus described by Col. Cogswell: "It was one story and a half in height in front, the long slanting roof upon the back side reaching nearly to the ground. It had but few windows and those very small, the glass being six by eight inches in size and very strong and heavy." The well was there as late as the summer of 1889, and also portions of the stone walls of the cellar.

On the 6 March 1768, divers inhabitants, including Eliakim, "of the place called number six of the line of towns, or New Marlborough in the province aforesaid" petitioned for permission to incorporate. This petition was signed by twenty-six petitioners, including "Eliakim How" 12 N. W. Town Papers 189-190.

The petition was granted and a charter issued by the Governor and Council on 10 Nov. 1768. A copy of the charter is given in the History of Henniker, (p. 50-2). Acccording to Col. Cogswell, "Capt. Howe was one of the most prominent men of the town for years." He was one of the selectmen, and the frequent references to him in the history of Henniker show that for many years he took an active part in all public affairs.

On 12 April 1776, the New Hampshire Committee of Safety addressed a circular to the selectmen of the various towns requesting them "to desire all males above twenty-one years of age (Lunaticks, Idiots and Negroes excepted) to sign the Declaration on this paper and when so done to make return thereof together with the name or-names, of all who shall refuse to sign the same to the General Assembly, or Committee of Safety of this Colony."

The accompanying declaration recited that "We the subscribers do solemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our power at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies." This was called in New Hampshire the "Association Test," the object of which was to "smoke out" Tories. Among the signers in Henniker were "Eliakim How" and "Otis How." Amer. Arch. (4th Ser. Vol. 5 p. 873-888; 8 N. H. State Papers 203, 240.) On 21 May 1776, Eliakim How was named as Captain of the "alarm list" for Henniker. It would be gratifying to some of the descendants of Eliakim to know he was in advance of the times in his ideas of religious toleration, but truth compels the admission that in this respect he was no better (nor any worse) than his neighbors. In the summer of 1784 some Shakers came to Henniker with the intention of settling there, but the prejudice against them was too strong, and their pious neighbors at once proceeded to "take care" of them. A town meeting was held 21 Sept. 1784, the record of which is as follows : "Voted To Due something relative To those People Called Shakering Quakers. Voted to Choose a Committy to take care of the Shakering Quakers. Chose Cap How, James Wallace, Elisha Barnes, John Goodenow, Sam1 Kimball for the Committy. Voted that any person Not being Town Resident shall have no Residence in the Town of the Denomination of Shakering Quakers. Voted that we will not have any Dealing with the Shakering Quakers living in this town."

"Voted that they shall not stroul about the Town without giving an account to the Committy if Called on Tue." History of Henniker 90-1. fhe author of this history adds that "these people left the town soon after this meeting was held and nevermore returned." He adds his opinion, which will probably command universal assent at this day, that the town probably lost a valuable acquisition, as the people driven out were honest, industrious and thrifty. About 1800 Eliakim moved to Brownfield, Me., and probably died there.

From FindaGrave: Eliakim Howe was the son of Jonathan Howe and Lydia Brigham. He was second cousin to Peter Howe (the father of Rebecca Howe his bride). Eliakim and Rebecca was married on 15 Dec 1747 in Marlborough. Together they had twelve children. Seven was born in Marlborough,Middlesex,Ma and five was born in Henniker,Merrimack,NH. It is all over the internet that Eliakim died about 1804 in Brownfield, Maine. This is wrong! wrong! wrong! In January 1812 a newspaper printed death notices of several individual including Capt. Eliakim How. He died in Bradford, Orange County, Vermont the same place where his wife died in 1804. He never lived in Brownfield, Maine but his son Tillius Howe lived there and died there in 1830.

Children: Otis Howe b.3 Oct 1748-d.2 Oct 1822; Tilly Howe b.1 May 1750-d.3 Sep 1830; Rhene Howe b.2 Jul 1752- ?; Anna Howe b.20 Aug 1754-d.18 Sep 1807; Molly Howe b.28 Sep 1757-d.15 Nov 1818; Prudence Howe b.16 Sep 1759-d.3 Jan 1762; Jonathan Howe b.29 Oct 1761-d.27 Feb 1835; Persis Howe b.3 Dec 1763-d. aft 1820; Ruth Howe b.27 May 1766-d.9 Feb 1807; Eliakim Howe Jr. b.19 Apr 1768-d. 1830-1840; Penn Howe b.7 Mar 1770-d. aft 1801; Mathilda Howe b.18 Jul 1775- ?

Newspaper Archive - Eliakim How News Articles Found. Date: January 11, 1812 Paper: Brattleboro Messenger Article Type: Mortuary Notice - Deaths In Bradford, Vermont - Capt. Eliakim How 90. Note: If Eliakim died at 90 and being born in 1722/23 (due to calendar changed), he would have died in 1812-1813. But the Newspaper clipping was dated January 11, 1812.

Sources

• Daniel Wait Howe, Howe Genealogies, the Genealogy of John Howe of Sudbury and Marlborough, Massachusetts", Vol. 1, (Boston: NEHGS, 1929), pp.34, 66-68.

• History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880; with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker, by Cogswell, Leander W. (Leander Winslow), b. 1825). Published 1880

• "Find A Grave, database and images," (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81152726): accessed 13 March 2019)

• Newspaper: The Essex Register (Salem, MA), Saturday, January 11, 1812 ; Vol. XII, Issue 4, Page 3

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 27 October 2020. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City. Note: this reference lists birth year as 1722 instead on 1723 and last name for all as "How"
• book - "John Howe of Sudbury and Marlborough" by Daniel Wait Howe.

Newspaper Article book - "John Howe of Sudbury and some of his descendants" by Mark M. Howe.