Joseph Howland (abt. 1717 - bef. 1796)

Born about 1717 in Middleborough, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Mitchell) Howland — married 26 Oct 1743 in North Yarmouth, Maine

Descendants

Died before 23 Mar 1796 before about age 79 in Burton, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Steve Culmer [send private message], Ed Cavin [send private message], and Anthony Howland [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Howland Name Study.

Birth
Joseph Howland son of Isaac Howland (Isaac, John) and wife Sarah (Thomas) Howland (Lydia Howland, John) was born about 1717 at Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts. [Johnson et al quoting from Mayflower Descendant (MD) 17:188; Plymouth Co. Probate 4:388] ^{[1] [2]}

Joseph Howland's father died 26 Feb 1723/4 at Middleboro when Joseph was a child. [MD 17:188; Plymouth Co, Probate 4:388] On 19 June 1724, his grandfather, Jeremiah Thomas was appointed his guardian.^[3]

His widowed mother Sarah Howland married second Samuel Wood. On 19 June1724 Sarah's father "Mr. Jeremiah Thomas, was appointed guardian for her sons Isaac, Jeremiah and Joseph Howland "minors under 14 yrs of age" [Johnson quoting from Plymouth Co. Probate 4:444]. ^[1]

On 17 Mar 1725/6 Joseph's uncle Seth Howland of Middleboro, as executor of the estate of Joseph's paternal grandfather Isaac Howland, Sr. deeded property to the three sons of this deceased brother, Isaac Howland, Jr. [johnson quoting from Plymouth Co. Deeds 56:45.] ^[1]

In 1735, between the age of 14 and 21, Joseph made the choice of Mr. Samuel Wood of Middleborough to be his guardian.^[4]

Marriage and Children
Joseph is described in the Mayflower Descendant Quarterly as being "a wanderer". [Johnson et al, p. 71.] Records show that in addition to residing at several Maine locations after reaching adulthood he traveled between Dartmouth, Massachusetts and North Yarmouth, York county, Maine later relocating to Sunbury county, New Brunswick after the birth of his first five children. He married Elizabeth Mitchell 26 October 1743, North Yarmouth. [Johnson et al quoting from: North Yarmouth VRs Vol.1:779. No. Yarm. Church Records. Sunbury County, NB. Probate Records.] ^[1] Elizabeth was the daughter of Jacob Mitchell (Jacob, Jane Cooke, Francis) and his second wife Rebecca Cushman (Isaac, Mary Allerton, Isaac). [Johnson et al quoting from York Co., ME., Probate 6:182 quoting from Underhill, Lora A.W. "Desc. of Edward Small" (Boston 1934) 1:428] ^[1] Joseph and Elizabeth Howland's children were: ^[1][5]

"Isaac, & Jacob the sons of Joseph Howland baptized in Infancy Nov.4th. 1764."The Records of the Congregational Church of Christ in Harpswell, Samuel Eaton, Bowdoin College Collection, p. 1 https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/109681569

1. Susanna, b. 1 Apr 1745, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Mass., bap. 10 May 1747, North Yarmouth, ME.; prob. his dau. who m. Simeon Porter who is mentioned in his father-in-law's Will [Johnson et al quoting from Burton, Sunbury Co., N.B. Probate filed 6 Apr 1796, Hubbard papers, Archives, St. john, M.B. Museum.] and other land and estate distribution records ; Simeon was included in the 1783 Gagetown, N.B. census.
2. Isaac, b. 27 Mar 1747, bap. 10 May 1747, North Yarmouth, ME. ; d. 25 Oct 1748, North Yarmouth, ME.
3. Jeremiah, b. 26 Jul 1749, bap. 20 Aug 1749, North Yarmouth, ME.; d. prob. Newtown, N.B. between 1786-1796; m. 20 May 1776, Maugerville, N.B., Polly (Mary) Bubier dau of Joseph & Martha (Groover) Bubier ; Grantee Maugerville twp.; included in the 1783 Newtown census.
4. Betty, b. 10 May 1752, bap. 14 Jun 1752, North Yarmouth, ME.; d. 13 Feb 1825, North Yarmouth, ME. ; m. 1777, Burton, N.B., Bethuel Wood who d. 28 Apr 1833, North Yarmouth; Bethuel Wood included in the 1783 Burton twp census.
5. Sarah, bap 9 Jun 1754, North Yarmouth, ME. ; m. Moses Esty; included in the 1783 Burton twp. census [among other documents]
6. Ichabod, b. abt 1756, [b. proven by father's Will: Burton, Sunbury Co., N.B. Probate filed 6 Apr 1796, Hubbard papers, Archives, St. john, M.B. Museum among other documents] ; included in the 1783 Burton twp census ; d. bef 18 Jan 1829, Burton, N.B.; m. abt 1780 Martha Bubier dau of Joseph & Martha (Groover) Bubier.
7. Rebecca, b. 1760 [her husband is mentioned in her father's Will]; d. prob. Oromocto, Sunbury, N.B., 16 Apr 1816; m. abt 1780, Burton, Sunbury, N.B., Elihu Cogswell (b. 11 Oct 1759, Cornwallis, N.S.) ; included in the 1783 Burton twp census; Caution: Eaton's History of Kings Co., N.S. in error when it states she was b. North Yarmouth, N.S. dau. of Ichabod Howland. [Johnson et al p.76]

Maine Residence
After the birth of daughter Susannah he is found back in North Yarmouth, Maine (Massachusetts Bay Colony). [Johnson et al quoting from Mayflower Descendant (MD) 17:189] ^[1] On 7 Dec 1746 he was received by letter into the First Church of North Yarmouth. ^[1]

28 Apr 1760 Joseph Howland, "labourer" bought land on Sabascadegon Island, Harpswell District, including a house with all improvements, from Stephen Dewolf, shipwright [Johnson et al quoting from Cumberland Co., ME., Deeds 3:220-1 & Deeds 2:363-4.]

1 June 1760 Joseph Howland, yeoman, and wife Elizabeth signed a deed selling to Barnabas Soul Equivalent Lot B36, drawn on the right of Home Log B91, in North Yarmouth, York county, Massachusetts which Elizabeth along with her sisters had inherited from her parents Jacob and Rebecca (Cushman) Mitchell. Her sisters, widow Susannah Baker and widow Mary Fellows, and Sarah with husband Andrew Tuck also signed the document. [Johnson et al quoting from Cumberland Co., ME., Deeds 3:220-1]

4 Apr 1763 Joseph Howland "of Harpswell, yeoman" sold this same land to William Haxey, innholder. Deed signed by Joseph at Lincoln, 9 May 1763. [Johnson et al quoting from Cumberland Co., ME., Deeds 2:363-4.]

Relocation to Saint John River Settlement, New Brunswick
1763 family settlement on the St. John River, Burton twp. He was one of the town grantees in 1765 although his name was misspelled as "Howard". [Johnson et al p.73.] ^[1] This land was generally claimed by those New Englanders whos served in the French and Indian Wars. Joseph is on record as serving as a private from North Yarmouth from 11 May 1747 to 10 May 1748 under Capt. George Berry [Johnson et al quoting from Robert E. MacKay, "Massachusetts Soldiers in the French & Indian Wars" (Boston 1978) p.236.]

7 Jun 1774 Joseph Howland, "Husbandman of the Town of Burton, Sunbury, Province of Nova Scotia" gave power of attorney to wife Elizabeth Howland, so she could return to North Yarmouth to sell to john Lewis a share of hundred-acre Lot B13 on Range 6, drawn by virtue of Home Lot B91 which she inherited from her father [Johnson et al quoting from Cumberland Co., Deeds 14:487, Deeds 17:377.] This power of attorney was also recorded at North Yarmouth, 18 Aug 1774 and conclusively identifies Joseph and Elizabeth Howland of Burton, New Brunswick. [Johnson et al, p.71-2]

24 May 1776 Joseph Howland's name is among those who signed a letter of "rebellious proclamation" "to the Congress and the General Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay for relief under their present distressed circumstances." [Johnson et al quoting from New Brunswick Historical Society Collections (St. John, N.B., 1894) 1:63-75.]

30 Jun 1783 Joseph Howland, son Ichabod and three son-in-law's Bethuel Wood, Moses Esty and Elihu "Conwell" [Cogswell] were included in the Burton township census; son-in-law Simeon Porter was listed in the Gagetown census; son Jeremiah Howland was in the Newtown census. [Johnson et al quoting from the New Brunswick Historical Society Collections (Saint john, N.B., 1894) 1:101, 106-8.]

22 Nov 1794 Joseph made his mark to execute a payment of L1.8 to Nathan Smith. Author's Johnson et al state "he must have been in ill health because he had previously always signed his name to deeds. [Johnson et al p.75.]

3 Mar 1796 son-in-law Simeon Porter paid a debt of L4.14 held against Joseph "Howelling". [Johnson et al p.75.]

Death and Will
By 23 March 1796 Joseph had died and his widow Elizabeth was appointed administratrix for his estate. Son Ichabod Howland was bondsmen and son-in-law Simeon Porter signed his name, all being "of the Parish of Burton in Sunbury county Province of New Brunswick". [Johnson et al p.75]

The inventory was filed 6 Apr 1796 the estate balance of L36.8.3. when division was made. [Johnson et al quoting Sunbury Co., N.B. Probate A:13.] Distribution of Joseph Howland's estate: ^[1]

Widow's thirds, L9.2.9

Five heirs, each, L5.9.1.

To heirs of Jeremiah Howland, a red-faced white cow, L5.10.0

To Llihu [Elihu] Coggshall, four sheep (etc.), L5.17.9

To Ichabod Howland, wearing apparel (etc.), L5.9.9.

To Moses Esty, an old cow, small gun, 2 kegs (etc.), L6.1.6.

To Simeon Porter, two sides of leather, one iron shovel (etc.) ::L2.2.6

Research Notes
---Based upon his Will, Joseph Howland had an unidentified son-in-law named Simeon Porter whose wife is unnamed but this Simeon Porter shouldn't be confused with the John Porter family from Lebanon, CT (Thomas, Richard Porter of Weymouth, MA.) who was the father of John and Simeon of Cornwallis, N.S. [Mayflower Quarterly, Vol. 45(1979): p.70]

---Incorrect source in the original gedcom profile upload: Mayflower Families Vol. 17 p. 118-119. Online review shows it doesn't appear to be pertinent to this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Johnson, Roberta H.; Walsh, Ruth B.; White, Elizabeth P., CG, FASG "Joseph Howland of North Yarmouth, Maine and Burton, (Sunbury) New Brunswick (1717-1796)" Printed in The Mayflower Quarterly" Vol. 45(1979): p.70-81. pub. General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1935-1985. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2019). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2760/i/58403/70/0
2. ↑ "Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genalogy & History" Vol. 17:188-189. "Estate of Isaac Howland, Jr." (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB407/i/12571/189/139433205
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-FNZ5 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q > image 243 of 485; State Archives, Boston.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-D2CN : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1732-1738 vol 7 > image 79 of 242; State Archives, Boston.
5. ↑ "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4F4-S2Z : 14 January 2020), Joseph Howland, 1743.

• Mayflower Society Application Database: "Community Trees," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:QVQV-D8J : accessed 1 January 2022), entry for Joseph Howland, cites sources; "Mayflower Pilgrim Genealogies" file (2:2:2:MMXD-DP8), submitted 24 February 2020 by FamilySearch. Source: Robert S. Wakefield, FASG; Margaret Harris Stover, CG, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations - Descendants of the Pilgrims Who Landed at Plymouth, Mass December 1620 (Vol. 17) ([Plymouth, Massachusetts]: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 199 Source: Ann Smith Lainhart, Robert S. Wakefield, FASG, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations - Descendants of the Pilgrims Who Landed at Plymouth, Mass December 1620 (Vol. 23 pt. 1) ([Plymouth, Massachusetts]: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006s Source: Elizabeth Pearson White, Edwin Wagner Coles, Roberta Gilbert Britti, John Howland of the Mayflower (Vol. 2) - The First Five Generations Through his second child John Howland and his wife, Mary Lee (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1993)