Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 29 May 1672

Notes:

Note:
The traditional date that has been ascribed to John Howland's birth is 'about 1592', and this has never really been questioned. However, a birth about 1599 is clearly a better estimate for the following reasons:- John Howland is called a 'manservant' in William Bradford's passenger list. Servents were contracted out until the age of 25. Thus, Howland must have been under 25 in 1620, meaning he had to have been born after 1595. Since Howland signed the Mayflower Compact, he must have been born sometime before 1600 to have been legally old enough to sign. John Howland's wife was born in 1607, and it is most unlikely that he, at the age of 32, married a 17 year old girl as his first wife. Most men married about age 25, and since his marriage occurred about 1624, this would place his likely birth at 1599.- John Howland's last child was born in 1649. If the 1592 date were accepted, he would have fathered a child at the age of 57, a most unlikely circumstance. William Bradford writes in that John Howland was a 'lusty young man' in 1620. It is unlikely that Bradford would call a 28-yearold a 'young man'. The only other person Bradford called a 'young man' in 1620 was John Alden, who was born in 1599. John Howland came on the Mayflower as a servant to John Carver. He is best remembered for having fallen off the Mayflower during a mighty storm, as recorded by Bradford: 'In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a know of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together, And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings was, with a seele of the ship, thrown into the sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his live saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth.'
"John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington. He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor John Carver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard during a storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions of descendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of the topsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with a boathook.

It has been traditionally reported that John Howland was born about 1592, based on his reported age at death in the Plymouth Church Records. However, ages at death were often overstated, and that is clearly the case here. John Howland came as a servant for John Carver, which means he was under 25 years old at the time (i.e. he was born after 1595). William Bradford, in the falling-overboard incident, refers to Howland as a "lusty young man", a term that would not likely have applied to a 28-year old given that Bradford himself was only 30--Bradford did call 21-year old John Alden a "young man" though. Howland's wife Elizabeth was born in 1607: a 32-year old marrying a 17-year old is an unlikely circumstance. Howland's last child was born in 1649: a 57-year old Howland would be an unlikely father. All these taken together demonstrate that Howland's age was likely overstated by at least 5 years. Since he signed the Mayflower Compact, we can assume he was probably about 21 in 1620, so the best estimate for his birth would be about 1599.

John Howland had several brothers who also came to New England, namely Henry Howland (an ancestor to both Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford) and Arthur Howland (an ancestor to Winston Churchill). John Howland is an ancestor to Presidents George and George W. Bush as well as First Lady Edith (Carrow) Roosevelt (Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt).

Will:
The Last Will and Testament of mr John howland of Plymouth late Deceased, exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift Day of March Anno Dom 1672 on the oathes of mr Samuell ffuller and mr William Crow as followeth
Know all men to whom these prsents shall Come That I John howland senir of the Towne of New Plymouth in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England in America, this twenty ninth Day of May one thousand six hundred seaventy and two being of whole mind, and in Good and prfect memory and Remembrance praised be God; being now Grown aged; haveing many Infeirmities of body upon mee; and not Knowing how soon God will call mee out of this world, Doe make and ordaine these prsents to be my Testament Containing herein my last Will in manor and forme following;

Imp I Will and bequeath my body to the Dust and my soule to God that Gave it in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection unto Glory; and as Concerning my temporall estate, I Dispose thereof as followeth;

Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besides what lands I have alreddy given him, all my Right and Interest To that one hundred acres of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the eastern side of Tauton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge to him and his heirs and assignes for ever; and if that Tract should faile, then to have all my Right title and Interest by and in that Last Court graunt to mee in any other place, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever;

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all those my upland and Meadow That I now posesse at Satuckett and Pamet, and places adjacent, with all the appurtenances and privilidges, belonging therunto, and all my right title and Interest therin, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever,

Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all that my one peece of land that I have lying on the southsyde of the Mill brooke, in the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid; be it more or lesse; and is on the Northsyde of a feild that is now Gyles Rickards senir To belonge to the said Jabez his heirs and assignes for ever;

Item I give and bequeath unto Isacke howland my youngest sonne all those my uplands and meddows Devided and undivided with all the appurtenances and priviliges unto them belonging, lying and being in the Towne of Middlebery, and in a tract of Land Called the Majors Purchase near Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased of William White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which may or shall appeer by any Deed or writinges Together with the aformentioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heirs and assignes for ever;

Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Isacke howland the one halfe of my twelve acree lott of Meddow That I now have att Winnatucsett River within the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid To belonge to him and said Isacke howland his heires and assignes for ever;

Item I Will and bequeath unto my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland the use and benifitt of my now Dwelling house in Rockey nooke in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid, with the outhousing lands, That is uplands uplands [sic] and meddow lands and all appurtenances and privilidges therunto belonging in the Towne of Plymouth and all other Lands housing and meddowes that I have in the said Towne of Plymouth excepting what meddow and upland I have before given To my sonnes Jabez and Isacke howland During her naturall life to Injoy make use of and Improve for her benifitt and Comfort;

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph howland after the Decease of my loveing wife Elizabeth howland my aforsaid Dwelling house att Rockey nooke together with all the outhousing uplands and Medowes appurtenances and privilidges belonging therunto; and all other housing uplands and meddowes appurtenances and privilidges That I have within the aforsaid Towne of New Plymouth excepting what lands and meadowes I have before Given To my two sonnes Jabez and Isacke; To belong to him the said Joseph howland To him and his heires and assignes for ever;

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Desire Gorum twenty shillings

Item I give and bequeath To my Daughter hope Chipman twenty shillings

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dickenson twenty shillings

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lydia Browne twenty shillings

Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter hannah Bosworth twenty shillings

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Cushman twenty shillings

Item I give to my Grandchild Elizabeth howland The Daughter of my son John howland twenty shillings

Item my will is That these legacyes Given to my Daughters, be payed by my exequitrix in such species as shee thinketh meet;

Item I will and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth howland, my Debts and legacyes being first payed my whole estate: vis: lands houses goods Chattles; or any thing else that belongeth or appertaineth unto mee, undisposed of be it either in Plymouth Duxburrow or Middlbery or any other place whatsoever; I Doe freely and absolutly give and bequeath it all to my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland whom I Doe by these prsents, make ordaine and Constitute to be the sole exequitrix of this my Last will and Testament to see the same truely and faithfully prformed according to the tenour therof; In witness whereof I the said John howland senir have heerunto sett my hand and seale the aforsaid twenty ninth Day of May, one thousand six hundred seaventy and two 1672

Signed and sealed in the
prsence of Samuel ffuller John Howland
William Crow And a seale

Died:
"The 23th of ffebruary 1672 Mr. John Howland Senior of the Towne of Plymouth deceased hee was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the ways of Christ hee lived untill hee attained above eighty yeares in the world hee was one of the first comers into this land and proved a faithful Instrument of God in his place and was the last man that was left of those that came over in the shipp Called the Mayfflower that lived in Plymouth hee was with honor interred in the Town of Plymouth on the 25 of ffebruary 1672."

Buried:
John Howlands grave is marked with a large purplish colored stone on which is carved the above extract from the old records, and at the top of which is cut of the ship Mayflower.

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John married Elizabeth TILLEY on 25 Mar 1623 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Elizabeth (daughter of John TILLEY and Joan Hurst ROGERS) was christened on 30 Aug 1607 in Henlow, Bedford, ENGLAND; died on 21 Dec 1687 in Swansea, Bristol, MA; was buried in Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Desire married John GORHAM in 1643 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. John was born on 28 Jan 1620 in Northhamptonshire, ENGLAND; was christened in Benefield, Northhamptonshire, ENGLAND; died on 5 Feb 1676 in Swansea, Bristol, MA; was buried on 7 Mar 1675 in Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary LEE on 26 Oct 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Mary was born between 1630 and 1632 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; died on 6 May 1693 in Barnstable, Barnstable, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hope married John CHIPMAN about 1647. John was born on 30 Aug 1629 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; died on 7 Apr 1708 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA; was buried in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Possibly

Note:
Ephraim, apparently b. 1624-7 in Plymouth, as Robert and Margaret Hicks apparently had three children with them in 1623-4 when the division of land was made, yet had four children when the division of cattle was made in 1627 (Samuel, Ephraim, Lidia and Phoebe.) Ephraim m. 13 Sep 1649, Elizabeth Howland and died 3 months later, 12 Dec 1649. It is this widow, Elizabeth (Howland) Hicks, who marries John Dickenson, 10 July 1651, and not the fictional eldest daughter often credited to Robert Hicks.

Elizabeth married Ephraim HICKS on 13 Sep 1649 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Ephraim (son of Robert HICKS and Margaret UNKNOWN) was born about 1625 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; died on 12 Dec 1649. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Possibly

Lydia married James BROWN about 1654. James was born in 1623; died on 29 Oct 1710. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Possibly

DNA:
MKM

Died:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Hannah married Jonathon BOSWORTH on 6 Jul 1661 in Swansea, Bristol, MA. Jonathon (son of Jonathon BOSWORTH and Elizabeth UNKNOWN) was born about 1635 in MA; died between 1708 and 1717 in Rehoboth, Bristol, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Elizabeth SOUTHWORTH on 7 Dec 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Elizabeth was born about 1645; died in Mar 1717 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jabez married Bethia THACHER about 1668. Bethia died in 1725. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
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Ruth married Thomas CUSHMAN on 17 Nov 1664 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Thomas was born on 16 Sep 1637; died on 23 Aug 1726; was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Plympton, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Elizabeth VAUGHAN about 1676 in Marshfield, Plymouth, MA. Elizabeth was born on 8 Apr 1653 in Marshfield, Plymouth, MA; died on 29 Oct 1717 in Middleborough, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Died young

Hannah married Major Major Nathaniel JENCKS on 4 Nov 1686 in Swansea, Bristol, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

David married Mercy STURTEVANT on 18 Aug 1698 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Mercy (daughter of Samuel STURTEVANT and Mercy CORNISH) was born in 1676 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA; was christened on 3 Mar 1689 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; died on 23 Apr 1707 in Halifax, Plymouth, MA; was buried in Plympton Burial Ground, Plympton, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Patience UNKNOWN in (by 1731). Patience was born in 1668; died on 10 Sep 1758; was buried in Sturtevant Cemetery, Halifax, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth TOOGOOD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Susanna UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Family/Spouse: Sarah STACY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Jonathon married Sarah ROUNDS on 26 Nov 1703. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Note: 29 Mar 1724/25, Plympton, Plymouth, MA

Notes:

Note:
David Bosworth was chosen 'Tythingman' of the town of Plympton, 29Mar1724/5.

David married Priscilla SHAW on 22 Dec 1720 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA. Priscilla (daughter of Jonathon SHAW and Mehitable PRATT) was born on 18 Aug 1702 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathon married Alice CUSHMAN on 19 Dec 1723 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA. Alice (daughter of Isaac CUSHMAN and Sarah Warner GIBBS) was born on 26 Jun 1705 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; died on 13 Aug 1724 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jonathon married Ruth TILSON on 30 Sep 1725 in Plympton, Plymouth, MA. Ruth (daughter of Edmund TILSON and Elizabeth WATERMAN) died on 3 Feb 1789 in Halifax, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nehemiah married Sarah TOMSON on 22 Dec 1762. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Susanna RING. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hannah married William RIPLEY on 24 Feb 1725 in Plymouth Co., MA. William was born on 10 Mar 1702 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]