Abigail Moon was born on 2 May 1717 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Colony of Rhode Island. She was the daughter of John Moon and Abigail Briggs.
Abigail Moon married Samuel Howland on 27 November 1743 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Colony of Rhode Island.
Samuel Howland and Abigail Moon had the following two known children.
NOTE: Some genealogists in past claimed that they had another three children who were born between 1753 and 1757; however, it now presents the problems with the unknown identity of their father who was not on the record of the three children's births. It is not possible that Samuel Howland was the three children's father because he was presumed to be dead at sea sometime between 1748 and 1753.
On 29 April 1748, the Will of Samuel Howland (1686 - 1748) identified his daughter-in-law as Abigail Howland, the wife of his son, Samuel Howland (1709 - aft. 1748). It proved that his only two granddaughters, Abigail Howland and Elizabeth Howland were the daughters of Samuel and Abigail (Moon) Howland.
NOTE: Some family trees from Ancestry.com claim that Desire Howland (b. 1753), George Howland (b. 1755), and John Howland (b. 1757) were the children of Samuel Howland and Abigail Moon, but they seem not possible to be the children of Samuel Howland and Abigail Moon because Samuel Howland did not return home after his voyage on the sea and died at sea in 1748. Five years later, the book Wills, Inventories, &c. 1746-1793, No. 1, Town of Bristol on page 480 confirmed that Abigail Howland, widow of Samuel Howland had only two children. It said, "At a Town Council held at Bristol in the first monday of July A.D. 1753, being the second day of sd. month. Upon the request of Abigail Howland of Bristol, Wido. praying for the approbations of this Council on her Petition, lying before the General Assembly for the sale of the real estate belonging to her two children. Ordered that the Clerk certifie the General Assembly that it is their opinion considering all circumstances that it will be most for the advantage of said orp[h]ans that sd. real estate be sold provided sufficient bonds be given for securing the principal sum arising from sd. sale for the use of said children if they arrive to the age of twenty one years or otherwise to be disposed of according to will of ye Testator Saml. Howland Esqr. deceased."[1]
Evidently, Samuel Howland died sometime after 1748 because his wife waited too long for him upon his return home from the sea for five years, but he did not return home. In 1753, she requested that her husband's estate be sold and be given the money to her two children, Abigail and Elizabeth when they became 21 years old.
True, the births of Desire Howland, George Howland, and John Howland were recorded from 1753 to 1757 at Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island without mentioning their father's name but only mentioning their mother's name, Abigail Howland who was the widow at that time.[2]
The three children's father's true identity remains unknown. It cannot be ascertained to determine that Samuel Howland was the father. Also, the widow, Abigail Howland of Portsmouth cannot be identical to Abigail Howland of Bristol. Therefore, those three children cannot be the children of this Samuel Howland and Abigail Moon.
Widow Abigail Howland requested the Letters of Guardianship granted for her daughter Abigail Howland on 4 July 1748 in Bristol County, Colony of Rhode Island when she was a resident probably at St. Eustatia in the West Indies according to the probate records in Bristol County, Rhode Island.[3]
At a Town Council held at Bristol on the first Monday of July being ye fourth day of said month A.D. 1748 Abigail Howland wife of Sam'l. Howland appeared and presented a petition praying that she might have Letters of Guardianship granted her for her two children Abigail & Elizabeth Howland being minors their father being in ye West Indies. Which prayer was granted and ye said Abigail gave bond with sureties according to law. B. No. 1. P. 358.[4]
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