Jacob Howry, of Howrytown

Three of his sons have matching Y-DNA, Johann, Samuel and rev. Daniel, all belonging to haplogroup G, likely sub-group G-Y11074.

He was a farmer. He first appears in records on 25 August 1755 when he and his mother Ursula were granted Letters of Administration for the estate of his father Jacob, who died intestate.

As Jacob Howry he is named on a 1769 tax list at Paradise. He appears as Jacob Howrey on the 1779 tax list of York County, Pennsylvania with 110 acres. He appears as Jacob Howry on the 1781 and 1782 tax lists of York County. [Pennsylvania Archives.] As Jacob Howrey, he appears on a 1783 Census of York County, Pennyslvania with 11 people in his household. [Pennsylvania Archives.]

He might have been the Jacob Howry mentioned in 1782 as a Private, 6th Company, Capt. Andrew Bolley commanding, 5th Battalion, York County Militia. [Pennsylvania Archives, 2:532.] The same Jacob Howry is also mentioned in 1782 in the 7th Company, under Lt. Andrew Pawley and Capt. Jacob Ament, York County Militia. [Pennsylvania Archives, 2:692.] In December 1840 Catherine, widow of Jacob Howry, applied for a pension based on the American Revolution service of her first husband. This fact might indicate that her husband Jacob Howry did not serve in the American Revolution, or the service of her first husband might have entitled her to a larger pension, or the service of her first husband might have been easier to prove.

In the mid-1700s the Pennsylvania Germans began moving into Maryland and Virginia. About 1784 Jacob and his family followed The Old Trading Path south from York County, Pennsylvania to Botetourt County, Virginia. The Old Trading Path runs from Pennsylvania into Virginia, crosses the James River above Buchanan, follows Looney Mill Creek south and then along Milligan's Run (a north branch of Looney Mill Creek), passes Howrytown near the divide, between Looney's and Tinker Creeks (a branch of the Roanoke River) to Amsterdam, then becomes The Old Wilderness Road into Kentucky. Fincastle in Botetourt County lies in a break in the Blue Ridge Mountains east of the Alleghenies.

Many settlers who followed this path lived for a number of years in western Maryland (Carroll and Frederick Counties) before moving into Virginia. Those who moved into Virginia settled primarily in three areas. The German New River Settlement in what are now Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties was the oldest and the first legitimate settlement beyond the Alleghenies. It was settled by Germans from the Palatinate. The primary source of information for this settlement is the records of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, which contains many of the names given in Rupp's immigration lists. The Middle New River Settlement was contiguous to the German New River Settlement, but not a part of it. The Draper's Meadow Settlement, which was then in Augusta County, was not primarily a German settlement.

Augusta County was formed in 1738/45 from Orange County. Botetourt County was formed in 1769 from Augusta. Between 1772 and 1777 an abortive attempt was made to form Fincastle County from Botetourt. Montgomery County was formed in 1776/7 from parts of Botetourt, Fincastle and Pulaski Counties. Jacob Howry is believed to have been living in Botetourt County as early as 1784. There is a Jacob Howry on the 1790 census of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but that Jacob was a descendant of Hans. On 8 August 1786 Jacob Howry bought 350 acres "on Branches of Looneys Mill Creek Branch of James River" from John and Marthy McElvain for £200. This is his first documented appearance in Botetourt County. He was listed on a 1787 tax list with one male over the age of 21 and one male between 16 and 20 in his household. He voted in 1792, a privilege then reserved for landowners. On 22 April 1794 he bought an additional 405 acres "on Looneys Creek a Branch of James River" for £200 from John and Eleanor Preston. This purchase had to be re-confirmed in 1802 by James Preston because of an apparent interference with an adjoining tract called Greenfield.

In 1795 Jacob Howry laid out a settlement "on the big rode in Botetourt County", which he named Howrytown. On 1 June 1795 he began selling lots there. The buyers were Christopher Bauer, Michael Bishop, etc. [Deed Bk. 5:264-81.] In all, he sold 40 lots to 23 people. Although he conveyed the lots in fee simple, for each lot he required a quit rent of three shillings on May 1st of each year in perpetuity. The name Howrytown was retained as late as 1841, but the area is now a "suburb" of Greenville.

The government of Virginia collected government quit rents on all lands within the colony, but the collection of private quit rents does not seem to have been common. It was common, however, in the Northern Neck of Virginia, an area far removed from where the Howrys lived. Beginning about 1742 Lord Fairfax began granting lands in the Northern Neck subject at a price of 10 shillings per 50 acres for issuing the patent (composition) and to an annual rent of 2 shillings per 100 acres (quit rents). The state legislature discontinued in 1779 and outlawed the collection of composition and private quit rents in 1785, but only in the Northern Neck. [I Henings 351.] Further research would be required to determine whether the collection of private quit rents was common in other areas of the state. In 1845 Virginia abolished the manorial system [the collection of private quit rents?] and coincidentally that same year the Howerys moved to Wisconsin.

A Lutheran congregation was established at Howrytown in 1796 by Rev. J. G. Butler, who replaced Rev. Paul Henkel, a Lutheran minister who preached for many years at New Market in Shenandoah County. When Rev. Butler left Howrytown in 1805 the community was without a Lutheran minister and the Howrys, like many other families, became Baptists. The Mill Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1804 by W. Moorman. There were 12 original members of this church, including Banks, Brough, Falls, Howrys, Jordans, Kemper, McNeels, Secrist, and Simpsons. [Stoner, 393.] On 12 April 1805 Jacob bought an additional 390 acres.

Jacob died in April 1809 and a return on his estate was made in December, although the final division of his estate took some time. His widow Catherine appears on the 1810 census in Botetourt County with some of his children, or hers, still in her household. On 7 June 1811 Jacob's sons and sons-in-law Micheal Howry, Henry Fulhart, John Pawba, Samuel Howry, William Lampy, Daniel Howry, John Howry, and Henrey Howry conveyed 80 acres of land adjoining the town of Greenville to their brother Jacob Howry. [Botetourt Co. Deed Bk. 10:529-31.] This deed does not mention Jacob's son George Howry or his son-in-law Robert Carden, both of whom had already conveyed their interest in the estate to Daniel Howry.

Jacob's descendant, Louise Howry McRae, of Memphis, Tennessee, has in her possession (1993) a desk said to have been brought by the family from Pennsylvania to Virginia.

There is a Howery Field Park, a Little Leage park, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Deed of Heirs Howry/Howry Deed, 1811 - Botetourt Co. VA

• Howry's deed } to } Howry } Examined* THIS INDENTURE made this Seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & eleven Between MICHAEL HOWRY, HENRY HOWRY HENRY FULHEART, JOHN PUWPA, SAM[UE]L HOWRY, WILLIAM LAMPY, DANIEL HOWRY, JOHN HOWRY, HENRY HOWRY heirs of JACOB HOWRY deceased late of Botetourt County & State of Virginia of the one part & JACOB HOWRY of the other. Witnesseth that the said Heirs for & in consideration of the sum of ten dollars to them in hand paid by the said JACOB HOWRY the receipt whereof they do by these presents acknowledge hath granted bargained & sold & by these presents doth release grant Bargain Sell allien [assign] & confirm unto the said JACOB HOWRY one certain tract or parcel of land lying in the said County of Botetourt joining the lotts in the Town of Greenville where the said JACOB HOWRY now lives and is part of a tract of 390 acres which was granted to the said JACOB HOWRY dec[ease]d by patent bearing date the 12th day of April 1805 & this said tract (now by these presents conveys to the s[ai]d JACOB) contains by Survey Eighty-Acres of land & is bounded as followeth to wit, BEGINNING at a black oak corner to the Grant & runeth thence with the line up the same & the land of JOHN KESLAR South Sixteen degrees West twenty four poles to a black oak & two white oaks. South forty West five poles two small white oaks. South twenty four & one half East one hundred & thirty six poles to a white oak corner to COLLIP BEAN* thence with BEAN division of the said Grant leaving. The outside lines thereof North Sixty four West Sixty one poles to three white oaks South twenty three East thirty seven poles to a stake on BEANS Line corner to HINERS Lot thence with the same South Sixty seven West ten poles & six feet to a stake South twenty three East fifteen poles to a stake in a gully thence leaving said lot South ten East three poles to in the great road South eighty seven & one half West five poles through the spring to a stake near this same South fifty West fourteen poles crossing the great road to the corner of the Lot No. 40 - thence (with the Town of Greenville) North twenty nine West eighteen poles crossing the road to a stake South Sixty one West fifty one & one half poles to the middle of cross street North twenty nine West Sixty poles to a stake in the end of a lane corner to GISH thence with the division laid offf for GISH North twenty seven West twenty one poles to a stake North Sixty five East Sixty three poles to two white oaks & a black oak North seven & one half West Seventy Six poles to the outside line of the said grant near a white oak & thence with said line N65E 65 poles to the BEGINNING. To have & to hold the said tract of eighty acres of land & premises together with all & singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said JACOB HOWRY & to the sole use & behoof* of the said JACOB & his heirs forever & the said MICHAEL HOWRY, HENRY FULHART, JOHN PAWPA, SAMUEL HOWRY, WILLIAM LAMPEY, DANIEL, JOHN & HENRY HOWRY heirs of JACOB HOWRY dec[ease]d for themselves & their heirs Executor & Administrator the said tract of land with every advantage & privilege to the same belonging from themselves & their & each of their heirs & all persons claiming by or under them or their heirs unto the said JACOB HOWRY his Heirs or assigns shall & will forever warrant & defend by their presents. In Testimony whereof the said MICHAEL HOWRY, HENRY FULHART, JOHN PAWPA, SAM[UE]L HOWRY, WILLIAM LAMPEY, GEORGE, DANIEL, JOHN & HENRY HOWRY & ROBERT CARDEN hath hereunto set their hands & seals the day & year first above written_. It is allways* to be understood that thirty Acres of the said tract was purchased by the said JACOB HOWRY from his Father, the said JACOB deceased in his lifetime and for the same he has obtained a Decree of Botetourt County Court the said JACOB dec[ease]d having received the vallue* of the same and the residue of the said Tract which is Fifty acres was laid off as the said JACOB HOWRY'S part of the land of his Father the said JACOB HOWRY dec[ease]d he being entitled to an equal moiety* of the said land, with the other heirs, & this deed is therefore to vest the title of the said Eighty Acres in the said JACOB HOWRY -- The words "late of Botetourt County & State of Virginia was interlined in seventh line & part of the thirty second & thirty third lines of this deed was crossed out before it was signed. Signed Sealed & delivered } in presence of_____________} MICHAEL HOWRY Seal HENRY * HOWRY Seal DANEIL HOWRY Seal /s/ MATH[IA]S Snyder SAMEUL HOWRY Seal /s/ ADAM RADER JOHN * PAWBA Seal /s/ JOHANNES KESSLER* HENRY * FULHART Seal * _________________Seal JOHN HOWRY Seal At Boutetourt February Court 1812

This indenture of Bargain & sale was proven in Court unto the within mentioned MICHAEL HOWRY, HENRY HOWRY, DANIEL HOWRY, SAM[UE]L HOWRY, JOHN PAWBA, HENRY FULHART & JOHN HOWRY by the oath of MATTHIAS SNIDER, ADAM RADER & JOHN KESLER witnesseth unto & subscribed & ordered to be recorded. /s/ LESLE? BOMEYER D.G. Transcriber's Notes:

• Top of document: Everything between the 2 astericks is written in left margin at beginning of document.
• Name could be Catlep Bear.
• Henry Howry's mark resembles 2 lower case "h" as written in the old Gothic script.
• The Marks of Michael Howry, John Pawpa and Henry Fulhart look like an upper case "X".
• Between mark/signature and seals of Henry Fulhart and John Howry, there is a blank space with a seal, but no signature.
• Moiety: Webster's Dictionary gives this definition: "1. One of two equal parts; a half. 2. About a half; a part."
• Behoof: Webster's Dictionary gives this definition: "for the use of, advantage, benefit".
• Words allways and vallue: the double "l" was underlined.
• Kessler: In the copy of the signature, the first letter resembles an "S". Original spelling and punctuation were retained. Commas were added between names for clarity. Surnames were typed in all upper case type. Letters inside square brackets [ ] were added by transcriber. Deed was not signed by George Howry, William Lampey or Robert Carden. The heirs of Jacob Howery, deceased, are listed 3 times within the main document, but George Howry and Robert Carden are only listed the last time. [Botetourt Co. Deed Bk. 10:529-31.]

Source

• Justin Swanström

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• Emigration: Circa 1784 - Botetourt Co, Virginia
• Census: 1794 - 2nd District, Botetourt Co, Virginia
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 28 2016, 17:58:53 UTC

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