Elizabeth Howland

Biography

Elizabeth Prence was the daughter of Thomas Prence; however, her mother could be Apphia Quick (abt. 1604–bef. 1668).[1]

It is not certain whether Thomas Prence's letter of 1647 is referring to his second wife, Mary Collier, or to his third wife, Apphia Quick. In his letter, he described his experience, saying that he likened his wife, who gave birth to Elizabeth Prence, to Jacob's wife, Rachel, who gave birth to Joseph and died.[2]

From a biography of John and Elizabeth Howland, by Robert Jennings Heinsohn, PhD, published by the Pilgrim John Howland Society:

http://www.pilgrimjohnhowlandsociety.org/john_howland_john_elizabet...

Governor Prence's actions toward Quakers took an ironic twist that can be appreciated by parents today. In 1657 Arthur Howland Jr., an ardent Quaker, was brought before the court. Thomas Prince's daughter and Arthur Howland Jr., fell in love. The relationship blossomed and matrimony seemed inevitable. However, it was illegal and punishable by court sanction for couples to marry without parental consent. Thomas Prence urged Elizabeth to break off the relationship, but to no avail. He then used powers available to him as Governor. Arthur Howland, Jr., was brought before the General Court and fined five pounds for "inveigling of Mistris Elizabeth Prence and making motion of marriage to her, and prosecuting the same contrary to her parents likeing, and without theire mind and will...[and] in speciall that hee desist from the use of any meanes to obtaine or retaine her affections as aforesaid."

On July 2, 1667 Arthur Howland, Jr., was brought before the General Court again where he "did sollemly and seriously engage before the Court, that he will wholly desist and never apply himself for the future as formerly he hath done, to Mistris Elizabeth Prence in reference unto marriage."

Guess what happened! They were married on December 9, 1667 and in time had a daughter and four sons. Thus a reluctant Thomas Prence acquired a Quaker son-in-law, Quaker grandchildren and innumerable Quaker in-laws of Henry Howland.

Children

Children of Arthur and Elizabeth (Prence) Howland:

1. Mary Howland, b. February 22, 1668 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.[19] She married Henry Goddard on August 12, 1693, in Jamestown, Rhode Island.
2. Ebenezer Howland, b. December 17, 1671 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.[20]
3. Thomas Howland, b. September 26, 1672 in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.[21] He married Mary.
4. Arthur Howland, b. about 1674, possibly in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.
5. Prince Howland, b. 24 March 1685, in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Plymouth Colony.[22] He married Deborah Barker on February 13, 1707, in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.[23][24] His widow married Benjamin Keen.
6. Elizabeth Howland married Robert Saunders on "4th month, 6th day, 1701" in Jamestown, Rhode Island.[25]
7. Hannah Howland married John Smith.[26]

Evidently, the births of the first three children were preserved together on one page in the original record book in Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay.[27] However, the last four children could have been recorded later together somewhere on some already worn pages of the original record book in Marshfield; unfortunately, the births of the last four children were not preserved due to worn pages because the Marshfield town records were in a very dilapidated condition at that time.[28]

Death

Her death probably was recorded somewhere on worn pages of the original town records of Marshfield; unfortunately, the record of her death was not preserved due to worn pages. The date of her death was not known; however, she was not mentioned in her husband's will in 1721. She likely died in Marshfield, where her husband, Arthur Howland, had lived since 1708 and made his will in 1721.

Elizabeth Howland was alive when she witnessed the wedding of her son Prince Howland and Deborah Barker and signed her name along with her husband Arthur Howland on their marriage certificate on 13 February 1706/7 at the Friends meeting house at Duxbury. It infers that she died sometime between 1707 and 1721.[18]

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Prence
2. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Howland-21
3. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Prence-21
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Marshfield,_Massachusetts In 1685, Plymouth Colony was divided into counties. Marshfield was designated part of Plymouth County. Marshfield did not become part of Massachusetts until 1692, when the English Crown forced the Pilgrim's Plymouth Colony to merge with the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was seated to the north in Boston.