Mary (Howland) Stanford (bef. 1635 - 1690)

Born before 1635 in England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Timothy Williamson — married 6 Jun 1653 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony

Wife of Robert Stanford — married 22 Jan 1679 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1690 after age 55 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony

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Biography

This profile is part of the Howland Name Study.

Mary Howland was born before 1635 in England.^[1] The parish registers of Fenstanton do not start until 1612, but Bishop’s Transcripts exist for the years 1604-1605, 1608, and 1610, providing a few extra years of coverage not available in the surviving original registers. However, no birth or baptism record was found for Mary Howland either in the parish registers of London or in the parish registers of Fenstanton.

Mary Howland was a daughter of Arthur and Margaret Howland.^[2] However, in 1983, Robert S. Wakefield, and Robert M. Sherman in their article "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640, his wife Margaret (___) Walker, and their children" on page 83 acknowledged, "Unfortunately we have no evidence to show that all of Arthur's children were born to Margaret, only for sure the youngest, Arthur Jr., but perhaps some or all of the others."^[3] In addition, they wrote on page 85, "The will of "Margarett Howland of Marshfeild," relict and widow of Arther Howland late of Marshfield deceased, dated 19 January 1683, sworn 5 March 1683/4, mentions grandson John Walker; three grandchildren, sons of my son Arther: Ebenezer, Thomas, and Arther (not yet 21); residue to my son Arther Howland, he to pay legacies given by my late husband in his will to my children and grandchildren therein named [it is impossible to determine from this wording of her will just which Howland children are hers, excepting only Arthur]; and son Arthur to be executor."^[4]

She married first Timothy Williamson on 6 Jun 1653 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony. She had to be at least 18 years old to marry him, so she would be born sometime before 1635. She married second Robert Stanford/Standford/Sanford on July 22, 1679, at Marshfield, Plymouth Colony. She passed away in 1690.^[5]

Mary Howland was raised Quaker, but her name also appears on the list of Inn Keepers and Persons Licensed to Retail Spirituous Liquors, October 30, 1678. "Lycense is graunted by the Court v nto Mary Williamson, whoe keepeth an ordinary at Marshfield, to draw and sell beer, wine and liquours, soe as shee keep good orders in her house, that soe there benoe just cause of complaint in the respe."

Her father's will reads in part as follows: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Williamson, the sum of ten pounds to be payed her by the heires executors administrators or assigns of my said wife Immediately after her decease.

She married Timothy Williamson on 6 Jun 1653 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.^[6]Their third of fourteen children was Mary.

On 04 March 1673/74, Timothy was licensed as an innkeeper in Marshfield. Between 1655 and 1673, he was a Surveyor of Highways and, in 1656, was a Constable in Marshfield.

Timothy died in King Philips War. He was buried on 6 Aug 1676 in Winslow Burying Ground/Cedar Grove Cemetery Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Mary married Robert Stanford on 22 January 1678/79.^[7] Mary died on 26 Aug 1690 in Marshfield, Massachusetts.^[1] Mary, wife of Robert Stamford (sic) died at Marshfield, Massachusetts, August 26, 1690.^[8]

Children of Timothy and Mary (Howland) Williamson, all probably born at Marshfield:^[1]

1. Mary, b. 7 July 1654, m. Marshfield 10 March 1678/9, Josiah Clawson/Closson, later to R.I.
2. Timothy, b. 26 February 1655
3. Joanna, b. 21 March 1657
4. Caleb, b. 21 March 1657
5. Experience, [daughter]
6. Nathan, d. Marshfield before 1 May 1718
7. Martha, b. 1 May 1670
8. Abigail, b. 10 August 1672
9. George, b. 2 May 1675
10. possibly Elizabeth, wife of John Perry of Sandwich ^[9][1]
11. a daughter, added to provide seven daughters for the 1690 settlement

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Robert S. Wakefield, and Robert M. Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71, No. 2 (June 1983), pp. 86-89. Text: on page 86, "Mary Howland, b. before 1635." On page 87, "Mary² Howland was born before 1635." No mention of her birthplace is in this source.
2. ↑ Edes, Grace Williamson "Timothy Williamson of Marshfield, Mass, and his descendants" The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Reference Volume 81 (1927), page 73. Subscription
3. ↑ Robert S. Wakefield, and Robert M. Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71, No. 2 (June 1983), p. 83.
4. ↑ Robert S. Wakefield, and Robert M. Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71, No. 2 (June 1983), p. 85.
5. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Reference Volume 2, page 1431. Subscription
6. ↑ Vital Records of Marshfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Sherman & Sherman, Warwick RI, 1969, pg 1
7. ↑ Vital Records of Marshfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, Sherman & Sherman, Warwick RI, 1969, pg 16
8. ↑ Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010). Reference Volume 3 (1901), page 188. Subscription
9. ↑ NEHGR, vol 126, pg 279

See also

• The Needham Family
• England & Wales, FreeBMD Index.
• MA Town & Vital Records, 1620-1988.
• Steve Condarcure's New England Genealogy Index