Arthur Howland, I, of Marshfield

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Arthur Howland, I

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire (Present Cambridgeshire, England
Death: October 30, 1675 (73)
Marshfield, (Present Plymouth County), Plymouth Colony (Present Massachusetts)
Place of Burial: Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of Henry Howland, of Fenstanton and Margaret Howland
Husband of Margaret Howland
Father of John Howland, I; Deborah Smith; Mary Stanford; Elizabeth (Howland) Low; Hannah Bosworth and 6 others
Brother of John Howland, "Mayflower" Passenger; Margaret Phillips; Humphrey Howland; Simon Howland; Henry Howland, Jr. of Duxbury and 3 others

Occupation: Planter, Freeman, Yeoman
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Arthur Howland, I, of Marshfield

It is thought that Arthur and his brother Henry came in either the FORTUNE in 1621 or the ANN 1623 (per "Certain Comeovers" by Henry Howland Crapo, Vol 1) Henry Howland Crapo's claim is in error. Checking the manifests of the Fortune in 1621 and the Ann in 1623 reveals that nowhere in both manfests say Arthur and Henry Howland were the passengers in either one of them. However, their brother, John was the first of the family to reach America, coming on the Mayflower in 1620.

His brother, Henry Howland's earliest Plymouth Colony record was a tax list dated 25 Mar 1633.

Shortly after his arrival, Arthur Howland, the planter showed up in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, by 28 August 1640, when he was first referenced in the notebook of Boston attorney, Thomas Lechford.

On 2 November 1640, fifty acres "and some meddow" was granted to him, and they were in what is now Marshfield. Arthur settled in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony.

Three hundred acres of upland in Marshfield were granted on July 3, 1638, to Captain Miles Standish and Mr. John Alden "lying on the north side of South River, bounded on the east by Beaver Pond, and on the west by a brook" which later for a consideration of 21 pounds sterling, was conveyed to Arthur Howland (13 pounds in money and the balance in corn & cattle) on 20 January 1647.

On his farm he lived and died, as did five generations of his descendants. Arthur married the widow Margaret (____) Walker, who outlived him. Arthur died and was buried on his farm on 30 October 1675. Margaret was buried there on 22 January 1683/4. Arthur and Margaret had a son and four daughters. The first daughter was Deborah, who married John Smith Jr. of Plymouth, and was the ancestor of Winston Churchill's mother, Jenny Jerome. Their second daughter was Mary, who married Timothy Williamson.

Arthur was a man of firmness, uprightness, full of Christian zeal, and though not actively interested in the civil affairs of the colony, was greatly respected for his wealth of character. He accepted at an early day t he doctrines and practices of the Society of Friends, and amidst the persecutions of them in the middle of the 17th century, was an earnest, faithful defender of their faith. His house at Marshfield, it appears, was the headquaters of the persecuted Friends and he courageously "entertayne d the forraigne Quakers who were goeing too and frow in some of the towns of the goument, producing great desturbance." (from "Howlands in America")

In 1657 the authorities, having forbidden meetings of Quakers anywhere, hearing of an intended meeting at Arthur Howland's home on Sunday, December 20, went to arrest Arthur but found "noe man at the ouse". At a later time he gave himself up and "was comitted to the custiddie of the cheife marshall". He was fined five pounds for resisting the constable at Marshfield. Not paying the fines, he was again committed to jail. His case was called at the Court of June 1, 1658, on the charge of harboring a Quaker. That trial was held in the John Alden house, before John Alden and three other men. Here, in the Alden house, Arthur Howland was fined, and he refused to pay, and then, considering his age and infirmities, the matter was dropped. (He lived 17 more years.)

Children of Arthur Howland and Margaret (____) Walker are:

i. Deborah Howland, born before 1629, died before 1674;, and married John Smith.

ii. Mary Howland, born 1629 in Marshfield, died 26 August 1690 in Marshfield, and buried in Winslow Burying Ground, Marshfield. She married (1) Timothy Williamson 6 June 1653 in Marshfield, and married (2) Robert Stanford about January 1678/79 in Marshfield.

iii. Arthur Howland, Jr.

Few families were more identified with the Quakers than those of Arthur and Henry Howland. As early as 19 December 1657, Mr. William Collier and Capt. Josias Winslow, having knowledge of a Quaker meeting to take place at Arthur Howland's house in Marshfield, gave a warrant to Constable John Phillips of Marshfield on his way to break up the meeting and arrest a Quaker minister but did not find anybody in his house. Next day, he returned to his house and found a Quaker leader, Robert Huchin in his house. As Phillips testified, he could not apprehend Huchin, being hindered by Howland, who told Phillips 'hee would have either a sword or a gun in the belly of him.' The constable left to get some assistance nearby, returned and did not find a Quaker minister in his house but arrested Arthur Howland next day for letting him to escape.

Eventually, seventeen-year-old Samuel Hunt testified that Zoeth Howland, son of Henry, had told him he would not go to a church meeting with him 'to hear lyes, and that the devill could teach as good a sermon as the ministers.' Also, Henry Howland himself was disenfranchised... on 6 October 1659 for being an abettor and entertainer of Quakers.



By August 28, 1640 Arthur had come to America and was listed as a "Planter" in Duxbury.



Brother of Pilgrim John is first heard of as being "of Duxbury in New England, Planter... 28.6.1640" [28 August]. First mentioned in Plymouth Colony records in November 1640, when he was granted land at North River [now Marshfield]. He was propounded to be a freeman of Marshfield on 1 March 1641/2, where he spent the rest of his life.

In December 1657 he was charged with entertaining a Quaker and inviting others to hear him, as well as enabling him to escape arrest. On 2 March 1657/8 he was fined for holding a Quaker meeting at his house in Marshfield and inviting others to attend. In June 1658 he admitted that he had done evil in "a writing," which was filled with "seditious, slanderous passages"; this was overlooked on account of his age and infirmities. Charged for nonpayment of the rate for the ministry in October 1669, he was excused for his "age and low condition."



The Last Will and Testament of Arthur Howland deceased exhibited to the Court holden att Plymouth the seaventh of March Ann Dom. 1675 and ordered by the said Court here to be Recorded: In the name of God amen: I Arthur Howland, of marshfield in the collonie of new Plymouth in New England, yeoman, being weake of body but of sound and perfet memory, praised be Almighty God for the same, Knowing the uncertainty of [man's life] this short life and being desirous to settle that outward estate that the Lord hath lent mee, I doe make this my last will and testament in maner and form following: That is to say, first and principally, I Comend my soule to Almighty God my Creator, expecting to receive full pardon of all my sinnes, and salvation by Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my body to the earth To be buried in decent maner as to my executrix, hereafter named, shalbe thought meet and Convenient, and as concerning such worldly estate which the Lord hath lent mee, my will and meaning is the same shalbe Imployed and bestowed as hereafter in and by this my will is expressed. Imprimus: I doe revoak, Renounce all and make void all [former] wills by mee formerly made and declare and appoint this to be my last Will and Testament. Item: I will that all the debts that I justly owe any maner of person or persons whatsoever, shalbe well and truely payed or ordained to be payed in Convenient time after my decease by my executrix hereafter named, except only the debt, thirty shillings, which I owe to Edward Wanton, which said debt I will that the same be payed by Timothy Williamson in maner [and time] hereafter expressed. Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Arthur Howland, his heires and assignes for ever, fifty acres of upland and alsoe meddow sufficient to keep six head of Cattle which said Land is now in the tenure and occupation of my said son Arthur, and lyeth next unto John Moshers land, and Runneth fron the boundary marke that the Jury made, which the land of the mee the said Arthur Howland and the said John Mosher To the Ridge Northeast and southwest. Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Assadiah Smith the full sume of five pounds to be payed to her by the heires, executors, and administrators or assigns of my deare wife margarett Howland Imediately after her decease. Item: I Givc and bequeath unto the three brothers of the said Assadiah the sume of five pounds to be equally divided betwixt them and to be payed unto them by the heires, executors, Administrators and assignes of my said wife Imediately after her decease and incase any of the said Children die before by said Wiffe, my will is that the said sume shalbe equally devided betwixt the survivers of thern. Itern: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Williamson the sume of ten pounds To be payed to her by the heires, executors, Administrators or assignes of my said wife imediately after her decease. item: 1 Give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha, Damon the sume of ten pounds To be payed unto her by the heires, executors, administrators or assignes of my said wife Imediately after her decease. Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Low the sume of ten Pounds to be payed To her by the heires, executors, administrators or assignes of my said wile Irnediately after her decease. Item: I Give and bequeath unto my wifes Grandchild Mary Walker the full sume of ten poonds to be payed unto her by the heires, executors, Administrators or assignes of my said wife Imediately after her decease. Item. I Give and bequeath unto my Grandchild Timothy Williamson, his heires and assignes for ever, after my said wifes decease a Piece of meddow in the Township of Marshfeild aforesaid Containing f[ive?] acres be the Same more or lesse that lyetb between a Certaine Creek that comes out of the River there and a Great Rocke that stands in the Marrsh, hee paying unto Edward Wanton, his executors or assignes, for the term of three years next after hee comes to enjoy the said meddow the sume of ten shillings per annum. Item: I Give and bequeath the full Remainder of Reall and personall estate whatsoever it is or whatsoever it may he found unto my deare and welbeloved wife Margarett Howland and to her heires, Executors, Administrators and assignes for ever, And doe hereby Nominate, Constitute and appoint my said wife the sole executrix of this my last will and testament, In Witnes whereof whereof I, the said Arthur Howland, have hereunto sett my hand and seale the third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and foure, Ann. Regni Regis, Caroli Secundi nunc Anglia.

Arthur Howland senior

Signed, sealed and published by Arthur HowlandAnd a seale as his last will and Testament in the presence of us And was att the time of the ensealing Edward Pelhams acknowledged before Resolved White*Josiah Winslow Govnor.

Memorandum that before the signeing of this will by the Testator hee Revoaked the bequest of five acres more or lesse of Meddow above mentioned, Intended to have been Given to his Grandchild Timothy Williamson.



He was an ancestor to Winston Churchill.


Origins

Arthur Howland was born probably at Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England about 1590, son of Henry.

Some claim he was baptized on 16 Jan 1602 in Holy Trinity, Ely, Cambridge, England. This date actually belongs to the baptism of John Howland in Ely, Cambridge, England; apparently, it causes confusion from the internet for Arthur Howland's baptism date. There is no baptism or birth record for Arthur Howland in the parish registers of Fenstanton. 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.[1]

Arthur Howland was the brother to John Howland of the Mayflower,[2] Henry Howland and Humphrey Howland, draper in London. The evidence is found in the will of Humphry Howland, a member of the Draper Company, and he mentions his three other brothers, Arthur, Henry, and John, who are in New England and also he administers his brother, George Howland's estate.[3]

Another evidence is found that Humphrey has been documented as a son of Henry Howland of Fen Stanton (mother's name not clarified). “According to the records of the Draper Company, Humphry's father was Henry Howland, of Fen Stanton, Lancashire [later corrected to Huntingdon], England.”[4][5][6][7][8][9] Therefore, with the evidence of Humphrey Howland's will, Arthur Howland was the son of Henry Howland of Fen Stanton as well.

The DNA results have proved that Arthur Howland is genetically related to both John Howland and Henry Howland; therefore, they are sons of Henry Howland of Fenstanton.[10]

Disputed Marriages

Some believe he had two wives and did not marry Margaret until after 1640. Robert S. Wakefield and Robert M. Sherman published their article, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640" in the 71st volume of National Genealogical Society Quarterly in 1983, and they said, "But no supporting evidence has yet been found."[11]

However, in 2015, the Pilgrim John Howland Society Board voted to hire Mayflower scholar Caleb Johnson and British records researcher, Simon Neal to conduct research to find more information on Arthur Howland's family. Henry Howland of Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire: Father of Mayflower Passenger John Howland by Caleb H. Johnson is online. He said, "Arthur Howland was born about 1591, and may have been the eldest son, although it is not possible to determine this conclusively since no baptism records exist. His age is estimated based on the fact he buried a child, Azariell, at St. Giles Cripplegate, London, on 31 December 1616, at which time he would have likely been about 25 years old. While no baptism or marriage records exist in this parish for any Howlands, the family burials are recorded, and his occupation (glover, leather dresser) is given in those. His wife Grace was buried there on 4 December 1635, with a marginal note “Excomuni,” suggesting either she or her husband (or both) had been excommunicated.[12] The names of some of his children that were buried (Azariell, Zoheth) hint he may have taken on some religious viewpoints that differed from the Church of England, which the excommunication record would seem to further confirm. The last family burial recorded at St. Giles Cripplegate, London, was 30 May 1639 for daughter Martha."

In fact, it appears from a 1663 deed that his marriage to Margaret occurred in England, but no additional evidence has been found of that either. On 19 May 1663, Arthur Howland deeded twenty acres to his step-son John Walker, in consideration of £17 : 14 : 10 paid by his wife Margaret Howland for his use in old England, which money Margaret had given, or probably promised, during her widowhood to her son.[13] He was excused from paying rates in 1669, “respect to his age and low condition.“[14] Mrs. Margaret Walker became a widow sometime before she married Arthur Howland in England. Before June 6, 1643, when John Walker was called his son-in-law, Arthur Howland married Margaret Walker, a widow.[15] She must have been his second wife.[16]

Confusion about Margaret's name has also abounded. A 1643 agreement by John Walker ”sonn in law of Arthur Howland” and Walker's marriage to Lydia Reed has been interpreted to mean that Margaret was the mother of Lydia Reed, and therefore widow Reed before her marriage to Howland. BUT Lydia Reed did not marry John Walker until 1654, eleven years after John Walker was called "son-in-law" of Arthur Howland.[19]

”The term son-in-law had a broader meaning in the seventeenth century... including step-son. The fact that John Walker was a step-son of Arthur Howland is revealed in a deed dated 19 May 1663.”[19]

It said, ”Arthur Howland Senir of the towne of Marshfield... in Consideration of moneyes payed for my use in old England by my wife Margarett Howland... which said some was given by the said Margaret in the time of her widdowhood unto her son John Walker...”[17]

Bottom line: the maiden name of Margaret, who married first a Walker, then Arthur Howland, remains unknown. She was never a Reed.

Biography

Arthur’s brother John sailed to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620. Arthur and his brother Henry came later (as early as 1633).

Arthur's earliest known appearance in New England is 1640.[18][19]

The first mention of Arthur is in 1640 where he is described as a planter in Duxbury. Plymouth Colony.

Arthur and Henry were Quakers and settled at Marshfield, Plymouth Colony.[20][21]

Three hundred acres of upland in Marshfield were granted 2 July 1638, to Capt. Myles Standish and Mr. John Alden, “lying on the north side of South River, bounded on the east by Beaver Pond, and on the west by a brook,” which later for a consideration of £21 sterling was conveyed to Arthur Howland (13 pounds in money and the balance in corn & cattle) on 20 January 1647.[22][23]

Arthur Howland shows up in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony, by 6 August 1640, when he is referenced in the notebook of Boston attorney Thomas Lechford.[24]

He received a land grant of 50 acres and some meadow in what is now Marshfield on 2 November 1640.[25]

He became a Plymouth Colony freeman on 1 March 1641/2.[26]

He did military service in 1642 In Lieut. Thomas' Co., Colonial Wars.

He was on the list of men able to bear arms in Marshfield in 1643.

After the death of his first wife, Arthur Howland married his second wife, Margaret, the widow of a Walker sometime before 6 June 1643 when John Walker was called his son-in-law (step-son).[15] Either he married her in England or Marshfield, Plymouth Colony sometime before their son Arthur Howland was born about 1640.

On 5 November 1644, whereas "there was a suit commenced by Arthur Howland against Rob[er]te Mendam's wife brought for the said Arthur Howland out of England, and did not deliver them, but sold them, and converted the money to her own use, as was proved in court; and whereas the said Rob[er]te mendam hath authorized Thomas Clark, of the Eele River, to sell a parcel of land the said Rob[er]te Mendam hath at Duxborrow, viz. ten acres of upland, and two acres of meadow, the which the said Thomas Clark had performed for him, and made sale thereof unto Will[ia]m Hiller, of Duxborrow, for one Dutch cow, valued at six pounds, and hath confirmed the same unto the said Will[ia]m Hiller...; and that the said Arthur Howland commenced his suit as aforesaid by attaching the said cow," the court granted judgment upon the cow to Howland, and confirmed the land to Hiller.[27]

On 20 January 1647[/8?], "Mr. William Paddy of New Plymouth, merchant, in the behalf of Mr. Edmond Freeman Senior of Sandwidg, gent." sold to Mr. Arthur Howland of Marshfield, planter, "one half of a certain tract of upland and marsh meadow being estimated at about three hundred acres... which was formerly granted unto Captian Miles Standish and Mr. John Alden lying on the north side of South River."[28]

In 1650 he sued Walter Baker and won a verdict.[16]

Arthur Howland was in court on 7 October 1651 for not frequenting the public assemblies on the Lord's day.[16]

Arthur Howland was a member of the grand jury in 1654.[16]

His last public service was performed on 6 February 1654/5 with his nephew, John Howland, Jr, when he was foreman of a coroner's jury inquiring into the death of a boy named John Walker, apparently not his stepson of that name. The boy had been a servant of Robert Latham, and the jury decided that he had died from cruelty and hard usage, the evidence being distressed indeed.[16][29]

Arthur Howland had difficulties with Thomas Doggett over the bounds of the Freeman purchase, where he was then living, Arthur Howland petitioned that the court define the bounds on 3 July 1654. A surveyor was appointed and the matter did not reach an agreement until 3 July 1656.[16]

He was a member of the Society of Friends, the Quakers. Despite the fact that most of the Pilgrims emigrated to America to avoid religious and other persecution in England, they were intolerant of other religions in their midst in Plymouth Colony and especially intolerant of the Quakers, against whom they passed specific laws and carried out punishments (fines & jail time) against anyone who even associated with a Quaker.

On 19 December 1657, Robert Huchin, an itinerant Quaker, held a meeting at Arthur Howland's house. William Collyare saw their practices and went over to tell Capt. Josias Winslow about what he saw. He made a warrant to give to John Phillips of Marshfield who was the constable to arrest Robert Huchin. After that, John Howland, Jr. went to warn Arthur Howland that Capt. Josias Winslow sent John Phillips of Marshfield, the constable, on his way to break up the gathering and arrest. Arthur Howland managed to help Huchin's escape. On Sunday, the 20th of December, the constable went to Arthur Howland's house and found no man at his house. Next day, on Monday, the 21st of December, Capt. Josias Winslow give a warrant to John Phillips to go over to Arthur Howland's house to warn him to appear personally tomorrow at the house of John Alden, the magistrate. He took Joseph Rogers and his brother with him and went over to Arthur Howland's house again. He found Robert Huchin inside his house. He told Arthur Howland to appear personally tomorrow at John Alden's house to answer him why he entertained with the Quaker, suffered and invited sundry to hear the Quaker into his house.[29] He was about to arrest Robert Huchin, but Arthur Howland would not let him and hindered his arrest. He pushed him out of his house and told him that he would have either a sword or a gun in his belly. Joseph Rogers refused to assist him in bringing him away, so he could not bring him away with him. John Phillips went down to the mills to get more assistance, and when he came up again, Robert Huchin was gone. The next day, 22nd of December, Tuesday, he was given up and taken before Mr. John Alden, the magistrate.[16][31]

Arthur Howland was sentenced to give bonds for his appearance at the General Court to be held at Plymouth the first Tuesday next in March, and in the meanwhile to be of good behavior toward all manner of people, he refused to give his own single bond and was committed to the custody of the chief Marshall,[32] and he was lodged in jail.

John Howland, Jr. summoned to appear at the court for giving intelligence to Arthur Howland and the Quaker with others met on the 19th of December on Lord's day.[32]

On 2 March 1657/8, Arthur Howland was fined £9 and bound for good behavior. While in jail he had composed “a writing” which he presented to the court and which the magistrates said was full of factious, seditious, and slanderous passages. He refused to pay the fines, and he was again committed to prison, but on 1 June 1658, he admitted that he had done evil and was released. However, he continued his adherence to Quaker teachings.[16]

In 1669 he was arrested for neglecting to pay his Minister Tax, but due to his advanced age, he was excused from paying.

On this farm, Arthur Howland lived and died, as did five generations of his descendants. He died and was buried on his farm at Marshfield, October 30, 1675 in Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.[33][34] His widow, Margaret Howland outlived him, and she died on 23 Oct 1683 in Marshfield. Now they are buried in unmarked graves.

However, on Winslow Cemetery Road, Marshfield, Massachusetts, there is a large monument dedicated to early settlers of Green Harbor, Massachusetts, and one of those listed is Arthur Howland and wife, Margaret. Arthur's daughter, Mary, and her husband, Timothy Williamson, are also listed.

Children

The children of Arthur and Grace (---) Howland:

  1. Azariell Howland, bur. 31 December 1616, St. Giles Cripplegate, London.[35][36]
  2. Zoheth Howland, bur. 10 August 1625, St. Giles Cripplegate, London.[35][36]
  3. Mary Howland, bur. 27 September 1625, St. Giles Cripplegate, London.[35][36]
  4. Elizabeth Howland, bur. 21 April 1634, St. Giles Cripplegate, London.[35][36]
  5. Deborah Howland, who m. John Smith, 4 January 1648/9, Plymouth.[36] She had to be at least 18 years old to marry him in 1649, so she would be born before 1631.
  6. Mary Howland, who m. first, Timothy Williamson, 6 January 1653, Marshfield and m. second, Robert Stanford.[36] She had to be at least 18 years old to marry him in 1653, so she would be born before 1635.

The children of Arthur and Margaret (---) Walker Howland:

  1. [Probable] Martha Howland, bur. 30 May 1639, St. Giles Cripplegate, London. [Martha could have been by wife Grace also].[35][36]
  2. Martha Howland, b. say 1640; m. John Damon, 15 January 1658, Scituate,[37] and 2nd m. Peter Bacon.[36] She had to be at least 18 years old to marry him in 1658, so she would be born before 1640.
  3. Elizabeth Howland, who m. John Low.[36]
  4. Arthur Howland [Jr], b. say 1642;[36] m. Elizabeth Prince, 9 December 1667, Marshfield.[38] He was mentioned in Quaker records.[39] and in his father’s will. Only Arthur is confirmed son of Margaret (---) Walker Howland.

Last Will & Testament

(Dated 3 July 1674; exhibited 7 Mar 1675/6)

The last will and testament of Arthur Howland deceased exhibited to the Court holden at Plymouth the fourteenth of March Anno Dom: sixteen hundred seventy-five, and ordered by the said Court to be recorded.

"In the name of God, Amen. I Arthur Howland of Marshfield in the colony of new Plymouth in New England yeoman, being weak of body but of sound and perfect memory, thanks to almighty goods for the same: knowing the uncertainty of this short life and being desirous to settle that outward estate that the Lord has lent me; I do make this my last will & testament in manner and form following: that is to say, first and principally I commend my soul to almighty God my creator expecting to receive full pardon of all my sinnes and salvation by Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body to the earth: to be buried in desent manner by my executrix hereinafter named as shall bee thought meet & convenient; and as concerning such worldly estate which the Lord has lent me my will and meaning is the same shall be employed and bestowed; as hereafter in and by this my will is expressed.

Imp. I do revoke and renounce all and make void all wills by me formerly made and declare and affirm this to be my last will and testament. Item. I will that all the debts I justly owe to all manner of persons whatsoever, shall be well and truly paid, or ordained to be paid in convenient time after my decease by my executrix hereafter named, except only the debt thirty schillings which I owe Edward Wanton, which said debt I will that the same be paid by Timothy Williamson in manner and time hereafter expressed.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Arthur Howland his heirs and assigns forever, fifty acres of upland and alsoe meddow to sufficient to keep six head of cattle which said land is now in the tenure and occupation of my said son Arthur, and lyeth next to John Moshers land, and runneth from the boundmark that the jury made, which the land of mee the said Arthur Howland and the said John Mosher to the Ridge N.E. and S.W.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Amadiah Smith the full sum of five pounds to be paid him by the friends executors administrators and assigns of my dear wife Mary Howland immediately after her decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto the three brothers of the said Amadiah the sum of five pounds to be equally divided among them, and to be payd unto them by the persons appointed administrators or executors of my said wife immediately after my decease, and should any of the said children die before my said wife, my will is that the five pounds shall be equally divided betwixt the rest of them.

Item. 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.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha Damon, the sum of ten pounds to be payed her by the heires executors administrators or assigns of my said wife immediately after her decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Low the sum of ten pounds to be payed her by the heires executors administrators or assigns of my said wife immediately after her decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Mary Walker the sum of ten pounds to be payed her by the heires executors administrators or assigns of my said wife immediately after her decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Timothy Williamson his heires and assigns forever after my said wifes decease a piece of meddow in the township of Marshfield above said, containing five acres, that lyeth between a certain creek that runs out of the river there and a great rock that stands in the grass, hee paying unto Edward Wanton his executors or assigns for the term of three years, the next after he comes to enjoy the said meddow the sum of ten shillings.

Item. I give and bequeath the full remainder of real and personal estate whatever it is or wherever it may be found unto my dear and noble souled wife Margaret Howland, and to her executors administrators and assigns forever.

And doe hereby constitute and appoint my wife sole executrix of this my last will and testament in witness thereof I the said Arthur Howland have here unto sett my hand and seal the third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and four. Anno, Regni, Regus, Secundiment Langlea 26. ARTHUR HOWLAND, Senor. and a seal. Signed sealed and published by Arthur Howland as his last will and testament in the presence of us. (Witness names are not plain) And was att time of the ensealing acknowledged before Josiah Winslow. Mem. That before signing this will by the testator hee revoked the bequeath of five acres of meddow, alsoe of meddow intended to have been given to his grandchild Timothy Williamson."

His widow's will was dated 19 January 1683, sworn 5 March 1683/4 and mentioned grandson, John Walker; three grandchildren, sons of my son Arther: Ebenezer, Thomas and Arthur (not yet 21); residue to my son Arther Howland. Inventoried 25 January 1683.

DNA

Y-DNA Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Results

Confirmed DNA results through the two Big Y-700 tests reveal that Arthur Howland's Haplogroup and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) is R-FT62874. His haplotree line is R-M269 >> R-U106 >> R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-FT62874.[40]

Two Howland male testers share two Y-DNA SNPs which are identified as FT62411 and FT62874 on the R-FT62874 block level on the Y haplotree, as reported by Family TreeDNA.

These two unique SNPs have occurred after the birth of Arthur Howland, and they are passed through his only son, Arthur Howland, Jr. and his male descendants; however, more unique SNPs have occurred through Arthur Howland, Jr's sons.[40]

These two SNPs FT62411 and FT62874 are confirmed from the Big Y test results of three individuals who are descended from Arthur Howland because two individuals who are descended from Henry Howland, Jr., and two individuals who are descended from John Howland do not have two unique SNPs in their results.[10] Officially, now two SNPs are grouped into a new subclade of R-FT62874 under the clade of R-A9703.

These two SNPs identify four generations starting with Arthur, Arthur, Jr., Thomas, Samuel. Two SNPs prove that the relationship between Samuel Howland's two sons Thomas Howland and Caleb Howland was genetically related.

Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA STR and SNP testing. They share the haplogroup of R-A9703, as reported by Family Tree DNA. This confirms their direct paternal lines back to their most recent common ancestor, Henry Howland, Sr.

A prospective male tester who is paternally descended from Arthur Howland is welcomed to take the Y-DNA SNP test at Family TreeDNA to discover where the two SNPs are found in this line. For additional information, see The Howland (Y-DNA) page from the Mayflower DNA Project and The Howland DNA Project from Family TreeDNA.

Y-DNA Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Marker Results

Four male descendants of Arthur Howland have shared one STR mutation in the 1-37 STR panel (from FTDNA): DYS464a=16.[42] This STR marker is known to have faster mutation rate and is likely to change within the genealogical time frame, but remarkably, it has not been changed for about 400 years. It is not certain whether it is ancestral value or derived value, and it seems the value at DYS464a is changed from 15 to 16 at some point between Arthur Howland and his grandson.

Sources

  1. Johnson, Caleb. Henry Howland of Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire: Father of Mayflower Passenger John Howland, 2015.
  2. Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, pg 1023 of 2386, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995).
  3. "Ancestry of the Pilgrim John Howland," in Howland Quarterly, Pilgrim John Howland Society, Inc.; 1937, v.1, no.3; p.1.
  4. The Howland Quarterly, Pilgrim John Howland Society, Inc.; v.2, no.2, 1938; p. (back page).
  5. Institute of Historical Research. “Event Details of Humphrey Howland.” Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Institute of Historical Research, 2018, https://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=drp&event_id=DREW8574.
  6. Institute of Historical Research. “Event Details of Humphrey Howland.” Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Institute of Historical Research, 2018, https://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=drp&event_id=DREW8575.
  7. Institute of Historical Research. “Event Details of Humphrey Howland.” Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Institute of Historical Research, 2018, https://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=drp&event_id=DREW8576.
  8. Institute of Historical Research. “Event Details of Humphrey Howland.” Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Institute of Historical Research, 2018, https://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=drp&event_id=DREW8578.
  9. Institute of Historical Research. “Event Details of Humphrey Howland.” Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Institute of Historical Research, 2018, https://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=drp&event_id=DREW8577.
  10. Howland DNA Project. Family TreeDNA, FamilyTreeDNA.com, 2020.
  11. Robert S. Wakefield, and Robert M. Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640," in National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 71 (1987): 84 - 93. Text: "It would appear likely, based on a deed of 1663 (see below), that the marriage occurred while Arthur and Margaret were still in England, and hence before 1640; but no supporting evidence has yet been found. Although Davis claims she must have been Howland's second wife, he provides no evidence and the authors have found nothing to indicate this in Plymouth Colony. 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. In any event, Margaret married, first, probably in England, [%E2%80%94?%E2%80%94] Walker, by whom she had at least one child before 1628."
  12. Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives. Reference Number: P69/GIS/A/002/MS06419/003. Saint Giles Cripplegate, 1634-46 https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1624/31281_a101525-00012.
  13. Mayflower Descendant, XVIII: 87.
  14. Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis, Vol. II. Gardner - Moses. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1996, p. 296.
  15. Records of Plymouth Colony, II:57.
  16. Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis, Vol. II. Gardner - Moses. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1996, p. 295.
  17. Wakefield & Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640, His Wife Margaret (_____) Walker, and Their Children," NGSQ (June 1983): 71:85.
  18. Wakefield & Sherman, "Henry Howland of Duxbury, Massachusetts 1633, his children and grandchildren," NGSQ, (June 1987): 75:105.
  19. Wakefield & Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640, His Wife Margaret (_____) Walker, and Their Children," NGSQ (June 1983): 71:84.
  20. Records of the colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Vol II, pg 174 Published 1855, by New Plymouth Colony; Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet, 1810-1874; Pulsifer, David, 1802-1894, [Link is to Vol 1 & Vol 2 together]: https://archive.org/stream/recordsofcolonyo0102newp#page/174/mode/2...
  21. Records of the colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by New Plymouth Colony, Vol III; Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet, 1810-1874; Pulsifer, David, 1802-1894, pg 124, [Link is to Vol III & Vol IV] https://archive.org/stream/recordsofcolonyo0304newp#page/n137/mode/2up
  22. Records of the colony of New Plymouth, in New England, W. White Publisher, page 151, https://archive.org/stream/recordscolonyne03courgoog#page/n168/mode...
  23. Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89Z7-5CXF : 22 May 2014), Plymouth County, Registry of Deeds, Deeds Vol. 1, 1620-1651, Part 2, p. 245, image 166 of 239; Plymouth County courthouse and clerk office, Massachusetts.
  24. Thomas Lechford, Edward Hale (ed.), Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638, to July 29, 1641 (Cambridge, 1885), pp. 297-299, original mss. pp. 168-9.
  25. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth (Boston, 1855-1861), 1:165.
  26. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth (Boston, 1855-1861), 2:34.
  27. Plymouth County Records 2:77-78; see also Plymouth County Records 7:38, 12:109-10, 139-40.
  28. Plymouth County Records 12:151-152.
  29. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B, and David Pulsifer. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England. "Court Orders: Vol. III. 1651-1661." Boston: Press of W. White, 1855. Print, p. 71, 72 , 73.
  30. Records of the colony of New Plymouth in New England : printed by order of the legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by New Plymouth Colony, Vol III; Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet, 1810-1874; Pulsifer, David, 1802-1894, p. 124, [Link is to Vol III & Vol IV].
  31. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B, and David Pulsifer. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England. "Court Orders: Vol. III. 1651-1661. Boston: Press of W. White, 1855. Print, p. 124, 125.
  32. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B, and David Pulsifer. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England. "Court Orders: Vol. III. 1651-1661. Boston: Press of W. White, 1855. Print, p. 125.
  33. The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 2, p. 181.
  34. Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : 20 May 2014), Plymouth County, Marshfield, Births, Marriages, Deaths, Town Records, 1645-1733, image 126 of 147; Marshfield town clerk office, Massachusetts. Text: "Arthur Howland Senior was Buried the 30. of october 1675."
  35. Parish registers of St. Giles Cripplegate, London (original images available on Ancestry.com).
  36. Johnson, Caleb H. Henry Howland of Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire: Father of Mayflower Passenger John Howland. The Pilgrim John Howland Society (www.pjhs.starchapter.com), 2016, https://pjhs.starchapter.com/images/downloads/henry_howland_of_fens....
  37. VR-Scituate, 154.
  38. VR-Marshfield, 10.
  39. Johnson, Caleb, ed., “Sufferings at Plymouth,” Mayflower Descendant, 62(2013):167-185.
  40. General Society of Mayflower Descendants. “Mayflower: Official Project of General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD).” FamilyTreeDNA, FamilyTreeDNA.com, 2019, www.familytreedna.com/groups/mayflowersociety/about. Mayflower DNA Project - Y-DNA Colorized Chart.
  41. Block Tree. Family TreeDNA, Family TreeDNA.com, 2020.
  42. Family TreeDNA. Howland DNA Project - Y-DNA Colorized Chart, 2020.

See also:

  • Davis, Walter Goodwin, "The Ancestry of Annis Spear, 1775-1858, of Litchfield, Maine. Portland, Maine: Southworth-Anthoensen Press (1945) pp. 104, 105-107, for further information on the Arthur Howland.
  • Wakefield and Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640, His Wife Margaret (____) Walker, and Their Children," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 71 (June 1983): 84-93.
  • Robert Charles Anderson, "Henry Howland", in The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol II, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (1995) pp. 1016 - 1022.
  • Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries.
  • William Richard Cutter, Genealogy - Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company (1908).
  • P. William Filby, ed., Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research (2010)
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22052315/arthur-howland : accessed 24 September 2021), memorial page for Arthur Howland (1591–30 Oct 1675), Find a Grave Memorial ID 22052315, citing Old Winslow Burying Ground, Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Scrib & Barb Kelly (contributor 46884407).
  • Godfrey Memorial Library, American Genealogical-Biographical Index, Middletown, CT, USA: Godfrey Memorial Library.
  • Ron V. Jackson, Massachusetts Census, 1790-1890; Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp., Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
  • Middlesex, England, Extracted Parish Records, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. Electronic databases created from variouspublications of parish and probate records.
  • Pilgrim John Howland Society, The Howland Quarterly.
  • Clarence Almon Torrey, "The Howland Ancestry," in The American Genealogist, 14(1937-8:pp 214 - 215. This article cites Boston Evening Transcript, Dec. 16, 1908. 105 - 113.
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Arthur Howland, I, of Marshfield's Timeline

1592
1592
England
1602
January 16, 1602
Holy Trinity, Ely, Cambridge, England
January 16, 1602
Holy Trinity, Ely, Cambridge, England
January 16, 1602
Holy Trinity, Ely, Cambridge, England
January 1602
Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire (Present Cambridgeshire, England
1627
1627
Marshfield, (Present Plymouth County), Plymouth Colony (Present Massachusetts), British Colonial America
1632
1632
Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England
1633
1633
Possibly Maine,,america