The work of James Savage in 1860 discusses about the father of John³ Howland and his family.
"John, Barnstable, eldest s. of the preced. m. 26 Oct. 1651, Mary, d. of Robert Lee, and prob. Mary; Eliz. b. 17 May 1655 ; Lydia, 9 Jan. 1665 ; Experience, 18 July 1668 ; Ann, 9 Sept. 1670 ; Shubael, 30 Sept. 1672 ; and John, 32 Dec. 1674. He liv. first at Marshfield, but at B. spent most of his days, was lieut. and selectman."[1]
The work of William Thomas Davis in 1883 provides information about the family of John³ (John², John¹ Howland of Mayflower).
"John, Barnstable, son of above, by a 1st wife, had George Gill, 1705, m. Abigail Crocker; Hannah, 1708; Mary, 1711; Joanna, 1715. He m., 2d, 1719, Mary Crocker, and had John, 1721, m. a d. of Daniel Lewis of Pembroke; and Job, 1726"[2]
The work of Franklyn Howland in 1885 expands the information about the biography of John³ (John², John¹ Howland of Mayflower) and his issues.[3]
"John,³ (John,² John,¹) born 31, 12, 1764 [sic], in Barnstable; m. 1st, Abigail Crocker, writes one, another says Mary Walker;*{footnote: I have no doubt it was Abigail Crocker.} m. 2d, 11, 6, 1719. Mary Crocker,†{footnote: William and Mary Crocker had a son Job, b. 9, 3, 1644, who was probably the father of Mary.} b. 29, 6, 1681. John lived and died in Barnstable. His will, in which all his children are mentioned, was dated 8, 2, 1738, and proved 29, 3, 1738. The estate inventoried £1088 8s. His will says, "My will is that if my son John should fail of being brought up to college, then he shall become an equal partner with my son Job in the real estate." His son John graduated at Harvard. Children (from Barnstable T.R.):
i. George Gill, b. 30, 12, 1705: d. —; m. Abigail Crocker.
ii. Hannah, b. 2, 2, 1708; d. 1738, unmarried.
iii. Mary, b. 11, 8, 1711; d. 1738, unmarried.
iv. Joanna, b. 26, 1, 1715; d. —; m. 1st, 12, 4, 1750, James Lewis (his 3d wife); m. 2d, 28, 12, 1752, John Allen, of Hingham.
Children by second wife:
v. John, b. 13, 2, 1721: d. 4, 11, 1804.
vi. Job, b. 18, 6, 1726; d. 1, 5, 1794."
Identity of First Wife
The work of William Thomas Davis correctly provides information about the unknown identity of the first wife of John Howland because he probably has consulted the Barnstable Town Record to find out the identity of John Howland's wife.
The Barnstable Town Record Volume 1 Part B on page 417 says:
However, the work of Franklyn Howland on page 331 is in error to identify the first wife of John Howland to be Abigail Crocker or Mary Walker.[3]
The identity of the first wife of John³ Howland can be found in North Purchase and Proprietors Record.
"20 May 1714. Josiah Howland for what Land is due Joannah the wife of John Howland whose maiden name was Shove, Pitches to take it Joyning to what he hath already Pitch for that is due to his wife between the first Minister's Lot and Briant's Lott." (Vol. V, Page 20, North Purchase and Proprietors Records).
"17 May 1715. John Howland and Josiah Howland May the 17, 1715 Pitches for what Land that may conveniently Have Joyning to what they have already Pitcht for near the ministry Lott on the sixty acre division." (Vol. V, Page 34, North Purchase and Proprietors Records).
The above identifies Joanna Shove, a sister of Yet Mercy Shove, as the wife of a John Howland. This John³ Howland made his will Feb. 8,1737-8.[5] There were two daughters, Mary and Joanna, by his 1st wife, who were single. Concerning them, he made the following special bequest: "to my Other two Daughters Mary and Joanna all the household goods that came by their own Mother to be Equally Divided between them."
The above identifies Joanna Shove as the 1st wife of John³ Howland.
Identity of Second Wife
Both works of William Thomas Davis and Franklyn Howland are correct to identify the second wife of John Howland to be Mary Crocker. The Barnstable Town Record Volume I Part B on page 417 continues:
Children of John Howland and his first wife, Joanna Shove, all born in Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay:
George Howland, b. 30 December 1705.
Hannah Howland, b. 2 February 1708.
Mary Howland, b. 11 August 1711.
Joannah Howland, b. 8 January 1715.
Children of John Howland and his second wife, Mary Crocker, all born in Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay:
John Howland, b. 13 February 1720/21.
Job Howland, b. June 1726.
Burial
John Howland was buried at West Barnstable Cemetery in West Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts Bay.[6]
The stone is broken off at the base and is in very poor condition. The inscription on the stone is damaged as follows:
[HERE LYES] INTERRED
[Ye BODY OF] MR.
[JOH]N HOWLAND
[DEC'D] FEB'RY Ye
[14th 173]8
[IN Ye 63d YEAR]
[OF HIS AGE.]
Probate
John Howland signed his will on 8 February 1737/38, and his will was proved on 20 February 1737/[38] in Barnstable County, Massachusetts Bay.[7]
Sources
↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register, in Four Volumes. Vol. II. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860, p. 480.
↑ Davis, William T. Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth: Part I. Historical Sketch and Titles of Estates. Part II. Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families. Boston: A. Williams and Co, 1883, p. 151 - 152.
↑ 3.03.1 Howland, Franklyn. A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants, of the United States and Canada: Together with an Account of the Efforts Made in England to Learn of Their English Ancestry, Etc. New Bedford, Mass: Howland, 1885, p. 331.
↑ 4.04.1Barnstable Town Record, Volume I, Book B. 2003 transcription by Eben Lennart Johnson, Ph.D., p. 417.
↑ Probate Records, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Vol. V, pp. 326 - 328.
The Snow-Estes Ancestry, Volume One: The Snow Family, by Nora E. Snow, compiled by Myrtle M. Jillson, Hillburn, New York, 1939.
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