Annes "Agnete" Howland

Annes "Agnete" married John Howland, of Newport (elsewhere called Newport Pond), Essex at some point before 1547.[1] Her birthplace or her early life remains unknown.

Her husband's will was dated 8 November 1547 and was proved 12 April 1550. The last paragraph in his will was written in Latin, and the Latin name was Agnete for John Howland’s wife.[1] However, John Howland wrote his will in English, and he called her Annes. She was misidentified, known as "Agnes Chavatie," as printed in Sweeting’s book in 1903.[2]

She was living at the date of her husband's will in 1547, and she was chosen as his executrix, but she died sometime before it was proved 12 April 1550 because her son, John Howland was chosen an executor for her to execute his father's will.[1] John Howland was her only son mentioned in her husband's will as she did not have any other children beside him listed in his will.

The surname of Annes “Agnete” who married John Howland was unknown, but misidentified as Chavatie.[2] The identity of her father remains unknown, but his surname never suggests a Agnette.

Research Notes

Identification of Mrs. Annes "Agnette" Howland

• Annes "Agnette" is not identical to Agnes Charitie.

In 1903, W. D. Sweeting, the author of Fenland Notes & Queries, a Quarterly Antiquarian Journal for the Fenland, in the Counties of Huntingdon, Cambridge, Lincoln, Northampton, Norfolk, and Suffolk in the fifth volume, states on page 329 that Agnes Chavatie married John Howland.[2] However, unfortunately, W.D. Sweeting made a mistake because he had not examined the marriage entry in the original registers of St. Mary the Virgin of Newport. The marriage entry reveals and confirms that she was Agnes Charitie, who married Johes Howland on November 20, 1575, so it is not Chavatie.[3]

The original record shows that the two letters "va" in black ink were slightly faded, and they made it look like "Chavatie," but the two letters show differently and can be compared with other similar letters, "ri." Studying and comparing the entries in the registers of St. Mary the Virgin shows it was Charitie rather than Chavatie.

The British records of baptisms, marriages, and burials in Greater London and Essex do not have a Chavatie; the research suggests it is a French surname, or it is a possibly corrupted name for Chevatier or Chevatte. However, they do have Charitie, and it is an English surname.

Unfortunately, Agnes Charitie is not identical to Annes "Agnette" who was mentioned in his will in 1547 and died before 1550 because Agnes Charitie married Johes Howland in 1575. Here is the following link to access the original document online: Essex Archives Online image. It requires a subscription to view it.

Identifying Agnes Charitie and Johes Howland is difficult to tie with other Charitie and Howland families in Newport and Henham in Essex.

In conclusion, they are different separate women at different times in the same vicinity of Newport.

Sources:

1. "Will of John Howlonde or Howland of Newport Pond, Essex." PROB 11/33/162. The National Archive. (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D951953 : accessed 23 Feb 2024).
2. Sweeting, W. D. Fenland Notes & Queries, a Quarterly Antiquarian Journal for the Fenland, in the Counties of Huntingdon, Cambridge, Lincoln, Northampton, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Vol. V. Peterborough: Geo. C. Caster, 1903, p. 329.
3. Essex Archives Online. Newport, St Mary the Virgin: register of baptisms and burials, 1558-1660, and marriages, 1559-1660. Reference: D/P 15/1/1. [Image 26.](https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecor... : accessed 23 Feb 2024).