John HOWLAND

HUSBAND:
[F4430a]. John HOWLAND.
Born in 1592 in Fen Stanton, Huntingdonshire, England; son of Henry HOWLAND [F8860a] and Anne-Margaret Aires [F8861a]. He was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. He came over as a servant to Gov. John Carver. They set sail form England with two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell. They found shortly that the "Speedwell" leaked so badly that they had to turn back for repairs. Eventually they decided to leave the Speedwell behind and go on with just the Mayflower, setting out on 23 AUG 1620.

Bradford related it so:
"So, after they had tooke out such provisions as ye other ship could well stow, and concluded both what number and what persons to send back, they made another sad parting, ye one ship going back to London, and ye others was to proceede on hier viage. those that went bak were for the most parte such as were willing so to doe, either out of some discontent or feare they conceived of ye ill success of ye viage, seeing so crosses befale, and the yaere time so far spente; but others in regarde to their own weakness, and charge of many yonge children were thought least usefull, and most unfite to bear ye brunte of this hard adventure, unto which worke of God, and judgement of their brethren they were contented to submit."

According to the words of Captain Jones, the voyage continued thusly:
"The vessel was so overcrowded with passengers and supplies (which must be made to serve them until a crop could be raised) that the greatest discomfort prevailed, and the delay in their departure brought upon them the fury of the equinoctial storms. `...Many fierce stormes' shook the ship `and her upper works (were) made very leakie; and one of the main beames in the middships was bowed and craked' but its buckling was overcome by the use of `a great iron scrue (which) the passengers brought out of Holland' by which they raised `the beame into his place.' So they commited them selves to the will of God, and resolved to proseede. In sundrie of these stormes the winds were so feirce, and the seas so high as they could not beare a knote of saile, but were force to hull [lying at hull meant striking all sails and allowing the ship to be tossed to and fro by the waves until the wind moderated], for diverce days together. During one such experience, when John HOWLAND [4430A] `a lustie yonge man,' came on deck, he was washed overboard as the vessel pitched, but `he caughte hould of the top saile halliards, which hung overboard, and though he was sundrie fadomes under water ... he was hald up by the same rope to the brime of the water, and then with a boathooke and other means got into the shipe againe...'

signed on 11 NOV 1620, before the Pilgrims went ashore, and became the first expression of government in the new frontier. John was the thirteenth signer.

After many such trying experiences during the sixty-five day voyage, they reached land on 11 NOV 1620. Before they set foot on land they made a covenant, the Mayflower Compact, which became the first expression of government in the new world and set the tone for a government by the people. John HOWLAND was the thirteenth signer on this day.

The pilgrims explored along the shores of Cape Cod to find a suitable place to settle. John Howland was one of the ten chosen on 6 DEC 1620 to make the third exploration along the shore. On this expedition they were attacked by the Indians at Eastham, Cape Cod. Also, during this expedition, the mast of the shallop broke during a sudden squall, and the sail was lost overboard. AThe weather was very cold, and it froze so hard...the spray of the sea lighting on their coats, they were as if they had been glazed.@ (Bradford's History).

The Pilgrims finally embarked at Plymouth Harbor on 11 DEC 1620. Upon reaching the Plymouth, the company divided into nineteen groups, or "families," in order to reduce the number of houses needed to shelter them for the winter. John Howland was part of Governor Carver's "family." Then they cast lots for locations. However, both Governor Carver and his wife were among the fifty Pilgrims who died during the first winter. It is believed that John Howland inherited John Carver=s estate, as the Carvers had no children of their own.

He married 25 MAR 1623 to Elizabeth TILEY [4431a]. He became a key leader in the church and a prominent man in the colony. In 1626 he was one of the men (including Bradford, Brewster, and Standish) who assumed the Colony=s debt to the Merchant Adventurers of 1800 pounds.

In 1627 he was elected one of the 12 companies that divided the livestock and was also one of eight "undertakers" who were responsible for repaying the debt to the Virginia Company. In 1633 he was on the "freeman's list, and his debt was paid. In 1634, he was placed in charge of the colony=s trading post on the Kennebec River in Maine, and was an elected deputy (Representative) of Plymouth Colony. He was an Assistant of the Governor (a member of the Governor=s Council) from 1633 through 1635.

From 6141 through 1670, he was frequently a deputy or representative to the General Court. On 7 DEC 1659 He witnessed the will of Francis COOKE. John Howland's will was dated 29 MAY 1672. In it he names his ten children.

"Hee was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the wayes of Christ. Hee was one of the first comers into this land and was the last man that was left of those that came over in the Shipp called the Mayflower and lived in Plymouth." Plymouth Records. (S9).

He died 23 FEB 1673 at Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Plymouth County, Massachusetts, aged over 80. His death was recorded thusly: The 23th of February 1672 [1673 on the New Style calendar] Mr. John Howland senir of the Towne of Plymouth Deceased: hee was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the wayes of Christ hee lived until he attained above eighty yeares in the world, hee was one of the first Comers into this land and proved a useful Instrument of Good in his place & was the last man that was left of those that Came over in the shipp Called the May Flower, that lived in Plymouth hee was with honor Intered att the Towne of Plymouth on the 25 of February 1672." John Alden, who was living at Duxbury, was the last survivor of the Mayflower, but John Howland was the last survivor living at Plymouth. Rocky Nook was part of the town of Plymouth.

WIFE:
[F4431a]. Elizabeth TILEY.
Born on 30 Aug 1607 in Scroobay, Nottingham, England; daughter of John TILEY [8862a] and Joan HURST [8863a]. She was christened 30 AUG 1607 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England. She came to New England on the Mayflower with her mother and Father, who died in the sickness of the first winter. She married John HOWLAND [4430a] on 25 March 1623, when she was 18 years old. She died 21 February 1687 at Swansea, Massachusetts.

CHILDREN of John HOWLAND [F4430a] and Elizabeth TILEY [F4431a]:
  1. Desire HOWLAND. Born about 1625 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married in 1644 to Capt. John GORHAM. She was said to be "educated in the Puritan faith, and who, during her long life was a pattern of good works, a kind hearted woman, and a Christian in name and spirit." They resided in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Her husband was buried 5 FEB 1675 at Swansea, Massachusetts. She died 13 OCT 1683 at her sons house in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Her estate was settled on 5 MAR 1684. John HOWLAND, Jr. Born 24 FEB 1627 (1626-S5) in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He testified of this before Chief Justice Sewall when at Barnstable in 1702. He moved from Plymouth to Marshfield, and then to Barnstable about 1658, at which time he was admitted a freeman. His farm at West Barnstable contained about 90 acres. In 1672 he conveyed by deed the easterly half to his brother-in-law Elder John Chipman. He held many town offices and was a lieutenant of the military company. There is some evidence that in early life he favored the Quakers. He certainly was opposed to the intolerant party of which George Barlow of Sandwich was the leading man. He married 26 OCT 1651 at Plymouth, Massachusetts to Mary LEE, dau. of Robert LEE. She joined the church 22 NOV 1691. He joined the church 18 JUN 1699.
  2. [F2215a]. Hope HOWLAND. She married John CHIPMAN [2214a] about 1646. They had 11 children. She died on 8 January 1683.
  3. Elizabeth HOWLAND. Born in 1631, perhaps in Maine. She married (1) 13 SEP (The 9th month, which would be DEC-S5) 1649 to Ephraim HICKS and he died 3 months later, on 2 MAR 1649. They had no children. She married (2) 10 JUL (7th month, which would be OCT-S5) 1651 to Capt. John DICKENSON of Barnstable, Massachusetts. She was his second wife. She died in 1683 at Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.
  4. Lydia HOWLAND. Born in 1633, perhaps in Maine. She married James BROWN of Swansey, Massachusetts. She died after January 1711.
  5. Hannah HOWLAND. Born in 1637, in Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Massachusetts. She married 6 JUL 1661 to Nathaniel BOSWORTH.
  6. Joseph HOWLAND. Born in 1640, in Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Massachusetts. He married 7 DEC 1664 to Elizabeth SOUTHWORTH. He died in JAN 1704 at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
  7. Jabez HOWLAND. Born in 1644, in Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Massachusetts. He lived in Duxbury, Massachusetts. He married Bethia THACHER, dau. of Antony THACHER of Yarmouth, Massachusetts. They had nine children. Jabez was a lieutenant in King Phillip's War. afterwards, he moved to Bristol, where he kept a public house. He died before 21 FEB 1712.
  8. Ruth HOWLAND. Born in 1646, in Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Massachusetts. She married 17 NOV 1664 at Plymouth, Massachusetts to Thomas CUSHMAN. She died before OCT 1679.
  9. Isaac HOWLAND. Born 15 NOV 1649, in Rocky Nook (now Kingston), Massachusetts. He married about 1684 at Middleboro, Massachusetts to Elizabeth VAUGHN (VAUGHAM), who was born 8 APR 1653 in Marshfield, Massachusetts and died 29 OCT 1727 at Middleboro, Massachusetts. They had 8 children. He lived in Middleboro, Massachusetts. He was a soldier in King Philip's War. He kept and inn in 1684. He was often a representative to the Colony Court. He died 9 MAR 1724 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.


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