James Howard (abt. 1660 - aft. 1729)

Born about 1660 in Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 9 Oct 1729 after about age 69 in Bertie Precinct, Province of North Carolina

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James Howard resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

This is the profile of James Howard of Bertie North Carolina who left a Will dated 1729.

Biography

James Howard was born about 1660, presumably in Virginia.^{[1][citation needed]}

In 1691, James Howard married Sarah Titus in Nansemond County, Virginia.^[2]

At the time he wrote his Will on 6 October 1729, James was married to Sarah.^[3]

He died after 9 October 1729, presumably in Bertie Precinct, North Carolina.^[3]

Siblings of James

1. James (this profile). James widow, Sarah Howard remarried after his death to Thomas CREA in 1744. Their sons John and Edward went to Onslow Co. after the death of their father, settling there by 1739.^[4]
2. Edward d. 1745. Brother Edward named in will.^[3]
3. Stephen d. 1745.^[4]
4. John. Brother John named in will^[3]
   1. James of Fredericks Creek, Hampstead area^[4]
   2. John^[4]
   3. Josiah^[4]
   4. Bartholomew^[4]
5. Joseph^[4]

James Howard and his wife Sarah had formerly lived in Nansemond Co. Virginia. His brothers, mentioned in the will (John, Edward, Stephen, and Joseph Howard) all evidently living in Bertie Precinct NC at the date of Will.^[3]

Isle of Wight, Virginia

At some point in the period 1600-1705, he lived at Isle of Wight, Virginia.^[2]

1729 Will and Death

Last Will and Testament of James Howard^[3][5][6]
Bertie Precinct, North Carolina.
6 October 1729.
[not listed] (proved).

In the name of God Amen. James Howard of Bertie Precinct in North Carolina, Gent. The sixth day of October 1729 - being sick in body.

• Imprimis - That my just Debts and Contracts be honestly paid.
• To my beloved wife Sarah - that part of the plantation whereon I now live being in Bertie Precinct, containing about 300 acres of upland and also half the meaders ground with all the buildings and appurtenances there to belonging - beginning at the Black Walnut Branch at ye mouth thereof and so running up the north side to a marked white oak standing near the line of the plantation afad and from thence by a line drawn through the plantation afsd and through the Land I bought of Richd WILLIAMS to the head line thereof and that equal division of the same be made in two parts. That my wife afsd have the improvements as afed on her part of the afsd division. To hold the same land and premises with the improvements and profits during her widowhood and provided she marries before my son Solomon comes of age twenty years then my will is that she may live on the land afsd committing no waste & keeping ye plantation & buildings in good repair until my afsd son sollomom arrives to the age of twenty years.
• And a the afsd land & premises after my wife's Decease or widowhood or at his arrival to ye full age of twenty years which shall first happen I give my afsd son Sollomon & to the heirs of his body - and for want of such heirs I give and bequeath the afsd land etc to my son Edward & to his heirs lawfully begotten - and for want of such heirs I give and bequeath the land etc to my son John and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten.
• To my son James Howard - a plantation & improvements lying in Nansemond County Virginia, near the plantation of John SPEIGHT, which plantation I had with my beloved wife Sarah.
• To my son James Howard a plantation joyning upon my Mannor Plantation & my brother Edward Howard, containing 150 acres on the East side of the Black Swamp Branch - but if my son James is disposed to sell the afsd land then my will is that if he sells it to either of his brothers that hath land adjoining upon the afsd land then in such case I give the afsd land to my son James.
• To my daughter Sarah Howard - a tract of land lying on Ahorsky Swamp between Thomas DAVIS' land a& the land I bought of my brother Edward Howard containing some 350 acres.
• To my son Edward Howard - one half of my Mannor Plantation & the (torn) of the land I bought of Ricd WILLIAMS to be laid out & divided as before directed in this my Last Will & Testament - and further my will is that if he is minded to sell the sd land & do sell to one of his brothers then in such case I leave the afsd land to my son Edward.
• To my son Samuell Howard - a tract of land wihich I bought of my brother Stephen lying on Cooneriskratt Swamp containing 320 acres.
• To my son John Howard - a certain tract of land & plantation lying on Cooneriskratt Swamp where John SPEARS formerly lived with all the land I have joyning on the southern side of sd swamp containing 440 acres.
• To my wife - all that part of the tract of land where John SPEARS formerly lived lying on the eastern side of Cooneriskratt Swamp and being part of the same tract of land I have given to my son John -- to my said wife in order that the value be disposed of in bringing up and schooling my children.
• To my son James - a tract of land on the Horse Swamp containing s350 acres after the lightwood on same land is burned into Tarr, wch Tarr I order to be equally divided among all my sons.
• I give and bequeath a tract of land lying at Alligator Creek near New River containing 540 acres which I bought of my brother Joseph in manner following,
  • viz -
  • to my sone James 100 acres to be laid off next the Bay.
  • to my son Samuell 100 acres of afsd tract joyning my son James.
  • to my son Edward 100 acres of ye afsd tract binding on my son Samuell's line.
  • to my son John 100 acres of sd tract binding on my son Edward's line.
  • to my son Sollomon all the remainder of teh tract. (140 acres).
• To Francis SPEIGHT of Ch0uckatuck Parrish in Nansemond Co. Virginia for 100 lbs. of good feathers, five pounds silver money & two small Bibles - 400 acres of land on Cooneriskratt Swamp, which land is of my own taking up.
• Personally to be given each child at age 21 years: [Negroes, guns, Bibles, tools, etc. were devised to his wife and children. ^[7]
• Appoint my wife Sarah and my son James Howard Executors.

Signed: James Howard.
Witnesses: Mary W. Burkett, Geo. Otway.
Executors: my wife Sarah, my son James Howard.

Codicil to Last Will and Testament of James Howard^[8][3][6]
Bertie Precinct, North Carolina.
9 October 1729.
[not listed] (proved).

Codicil dated 9 October 1729 appoints his brothers Edward and John Howard to oversee Executors in performance of Will.

Signed: James Howard.
Witnesses: Mary Burkett (her mark), Ann Stone (her mark), Geo. Otway.
Executors: my beloved Brothers Edward & John Howard.

1757 Tax List of Bertie Co., NC Lists

• Solomon Howard
• James Howard
• Edward Howard
• Samuel Howard
• Thomas Howard

Evidently all sons except John Howard still lived in Bertie at least until 1757.

Children

1. Samuel Hayward^[2] Samuel, son, named in 1729 will^[3] Samuell^[4]
2. James Howard^[2] James Howard, son. To receive plantation in Nansemond County, Virginia^[3] James, II b. 1707 Bertie Co, NC d. 1790 Bertie Co., NC, (my line).^[4] James and Sarah had a son named Samuel Howard, and he married Frances Dryden.^[4] Rebecca Howard was born 15 March 1756 in Cumberland County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Samuel and Frances Dryden Howard. She married Jesse Brock on June 8th, 1771 in Virginia. She died in 1841, aged 84 or 85, inWallins Creek, Harlan county, Kentucky, and is buried in the Old Masonic Cemtery in Wallins Creek. She was the mother of Barthena (Brock) Sloan, James Calvin Brock, Jesse Brock, John Brock, George Brock, Susannah (Brock) Blanton, Aaron Brock, Amon Brock, Mary (Brock) Helton, Sarah (Brock) Coldiron, Charlotte (Brock) Melton, and Hetty (Brock) Helton ^[9][4]
3. Sarah Howard^[2] Sarah Howard, under 18 years at date of will. Sarah Howard, daughter, not married when her father wrote his will in 1729.^[3] Sarah^[4]
4. Edward Howard^[2] Edward, son, named in 1729 will^[3] Edward, was a Justice of Peace in Onslow Co., NC in 1739.^[4]
5. Samuel Ridgeway^[2]
6. John Howard^[2] John, son, named in 1729 will^[3] John, b. 1718 Nansemond Co, VA, was also a JP in Onslow Co. from 1739-51, d. 1772 in Bute Co., NC.^[4]
7. Samuel Howard^[2]
8. Soloman Howard^[2] At the time he wrote his will in 1729, his son Solomon was under age 21.^[3] Solomon Howard, son, named in will. To receive plantation at Black Walnut Branch in Bertie Precinct, North Carolina, after death of his mother Sarah.^[3] Sollomon, inherited the land in Bertie.^[4]

Research Notes

Place Creation

• Bertie Precinct, North Carolina, was created on 1722 from Chowen Precinct and Albemarle County. All Precincts designated Counties in 1739.

Vital Statistics

Name
Known all over the internet as James Obediah Howard, no primary source is known for this middle name.

Birth
No primary source is known for his date and place of birth, though Virginia seems likely.

An unsourced birth of 1660 in Kinsale, VA is presumed by some.^[6]

An unsourced birth of 1660 in Kingsdale, Virginia Colony is presumed by some.

An unsourced birth of 1660 in Province of Carolina was previously listed.

An unsourced birth of 12 Jul 1660 in Isle of Wight County, Colony of Virginia was previously (merged) listed. The exact date implies a source exists, but where is it?

An unsourced birth place of Nansemond CO., VA was previously listed.^[2]

An unsourced birth place of Liberty, Georgia, United States was removed (merged). Georgia was founded in 1733 and Liberty County was founded in 1777. Birth place is more likely Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

Marriage
An unsourced marriage of 1677 in Bertie, North Carolina was previously listed in the data field (merged), but did not agree with the source listed (deleted as unreliable Family Data Collection) which listed 1691 in Nansemond County, Virginia. Both appeared to be unsourced however. Bertie Precinct, North Carolina, did not exist until 1722.

Fictitious Descent from Henry Frederick Howard, Earl of Arundel

Many popular genealogies show James Howard as the son of Francis Edward Howard. For instance, one such genealogy ^[10]shows James Howard's father as Francis E. (Immigrant) Howard, born 1640 at London, Middlesex, England and died 19 APR 1722 at: Bertie, North Carolina. Francis E is shown in turn as the son of Henry Frederick Howard, III Earl of Arundel, and his wife Elizabeth Stewart. Francis E Howard is shown as the husband of Mary (Immigrant) Chowan, born 1640 in England and died 1722 at Bertie, North Carolina.

Sources

1. ↑ See Vital Statistics.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Ancestry.com, apparently not a reliable source.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13} Secretary of State, North Carolina, Howard, James (Bertie County); database with images, North Carolina Digital Collection (images 1-6).
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14} Marguerite Prince Songy, "Bertie County: Will - Howard, James - 1729," USGenWeb (http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/wills/howard1729.txt), especially Family Group Record.
5. ↑ Secretary of State, North Carolina, North Carolina wills, 1663-1789, Wills v. 13-15 Har-Jef; database with images, FamilySearch (image 510, image 511, image 512, image 513).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Marguerite Prince Songy, "Bertie County: Will - Howard, James - 1729," USGenWeb (http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/wills/howard1729.txt).
7. ↑ [Note: copy of this will came from a cousin who transcribed it years ago, apparently, she didn't think this information was worth elaborating on...]
8. ↑ Secretary of State, North Carolina, North Carolina wills, 1663-1789, Wills v. 13-15 Har-Jef; database with images, FamilySearch (image 514, image 515).
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #6299486 Accessed 2/7/2019 jhd
10. ↑ Eric F. James. St r a y L e a v e s: Since 1997, the Official Genealogy for the Family of Frank & Jesse James Francis E (Immigrant) Accessed 2/7/2019 jhd

See also:

• http://bluemountainheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/Columbia-County-WA-Families-HOWARD.pdf
• MY EASTERN KENTUCKY FAMILY
• Howard Hauser Genealogy
• (Maryland Howards) Family Howard (F01051), Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties Website

See also - broken links:

• broken link. Appears to be unreliable Ancestry.com source.
• broken link.Appears to be unreliable Ancestry.com source.
• broken link.Appears to be unreliable Ancestry.com source.
• broken link.Appears to be unreliable Ancestry.com source.

See also - unreliable sources:

• Family Data Collection - Births, Author: Edmund West, comp.; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Name: James Howard, Father: Francis Howard Birth Date: 1660, City: Kingsale, State: VA, Country: USA
• Family Data Collection - Marriages, Author: Edmund West, comp.; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Publisher date: 2001, Publisher location Provo, UT, USA; Name: James Howard, Spouse: Sarah Titus, Marriage Date (Day, Month, Year) 1691, City: Nansemond County, State: VA
• Family Data Collection - Deaths, Author: Edmund West, comp.; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Publisher date: 2001; Publisher location Provo, UT, USA, Name: James Howard, Death Date: 6 Oct 1729, City: Bertie, State: NC, Country: USA.

Sources for Further Research

• Discover Online Catalog - State Archives of North Carolina - See the DOC Search Guides here
• Magoffin County Historical Society (Kentucky). The Howards of Eastern Kentucky And Related Howard Families. (Salyersville, Kentucky: Magoffin County Historical Society, 1985).
• North Carolina Estate Files Search Engine - Family Search
• North Carolina Probate Records (1735 - 1970) - Family Search
• North Carolina Wills and Probate Records Search Engine - Ancestry.com
• Warren County, North Carolina Genealogy - FamilySearch.org
• Warren County, North Carolina Records Vol I.
• Warren County, North Carolina Records Vol II.
• Abstracted Records, Colonial Bute Co., NC, 1764-1779 (FHL#975.652 R2k).
• Deeds, Colonial Bute Co., NC (FHL#975.652 R2K).
• Abstracts Deed BK A, 1764-1766, (FHL#975.652 R2K)
• Weeks, Stephen B. et al. Index to The State Records of North Carolina (Charlotte, NC: Oberver Printing House, 1910), Vol. 2 F - L, pp. 291-293 Howard
• J m Howard family resources.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Howard-1745 created through the import of Edwards Family Tree.ged on May 29, 2011 by Kennon Edwards.
• WikiTree profile Howard-2195 created through the import of Rhodes 2011_2011-07-09_01_01.ged on Jul 9, 2011 by Tom Rhodes.
• WikiTree profile Howard-2020 created through the import of The Sammons Family Tree.ged on Jun 9, 2011 by Steve Sammons.
• Howard-7415 was created by Jesse Bannister through the import of Bannister-O_Dell Family Tree.ged on Aug 4, 2014.
• Thanks to Randolph Howard for starting this profile.
• Thanks to William Hauser for starting this profile.