John Howerton

DAR Ancestor #: A058698 

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HOWERTONS

In the American Revolutionary War

By Bryan R. Howerton

Those who have searched for records of individual service during the American Revolutionary War are aware of the scarcity of factual evidence. The primary problem being that practically all those records maintained by the federal government were destroyed when the British sacked our capitol during the War of 1812. The National Archives in Washington does have "compiled" records of military service of some, but by no means all, those who served in the war. These records were generally compiled from data contained in requests for bounty land warrants and pension claims submitted after the War of 1812 by veterans of the Revolutionary War. Howertons serving in the war must have been true patriots, as few of them ever requested pensions for that service; a commendable attitude, but one which has resulted in little knowledge or record of their military service.

JOHN HOWERTON born ca 1760, son of William Howerton and Mary Hayes. He enlisted as a Private on 10 February 1778 in Parker's 5th Virginia Regiment of Foot. At least part of the time he was a Waggoner. He was at White Plains and West Point in New York and also served in the 3rd and 9th Virginia Regiments of Foot. John was discharged 28 February 1779. His patriotic service included the contribution of beef for use by the army on several occasions.

Source:

Howerton Heritage - Spring 1996

http://howertonheritage.com/HowertonHeritageSpring1996.htm

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• from http://howertonheritage.com/HowertonHeritageSummer1996.htm

JOHN HOWERTON was born about 1760 in Essex County to William Howerton and Mary Hayes. He married Nancy Lumpkin of King & Queen County, Virginia. During the American Revolution he served in the 3rd, 5th and 9th Virginia Regiments. Following the war he operated an inn called Howerton's Ordinary, at Howertons in Essex County. John was also a land owner and farmer until his death on 18 February 1811.

Besides his service as a soldier during the war, John also sold beef to the Army occasionally. The records mention his name on the tax lists and on several legal documents.

John was appointed Captain of a militia company in Essex County and served as a deputy sheriff.

According to the records, in 1798 John was involved in a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court, Fredericksburg, Virginia (Howerton vs. Beale, File 34). Peter Taff said in a deposition that he was keeping a public house at Bowler's in Essex County where a card game took place following an oyster feast. The suit resulted from a debt incurred by John H. Beale who lost a large sum to John Howerton. The case did not end until about 1807. The documents detailing the case are between 50 and 75 handwritten sheets.

The District Court that serves five Virginia counties, including Essex, met on 23 July 1803 and reported that John Howerton had sought the arrest of John H. Beale for nonpayment of a debt incurred on 18 September 1799 in South Farnham Parish. Peter Taff agreed that Beale became drunk while in the company of several others in his public house. According to Taff, John Howerton was in the group but remained sober. The group left Taff's place and went another house. Either John Howerton or a Mr. Wood took a deck of cards from their pocket and Taff, Beale, Wood and Howerton began to play cards. Taff and Beale were partners and drank heavily. It was claimed Wood and Howerton scarcely drank. After a time, it was stated that Beale went to bed but was aroused and returned to the game where he lost heavily.

A jury was selected to hear the case and it determined that Beale should pay John Howerton 120 at six per cent interest from 1 March 1802. They made the finding on 20 April 1805.

Beale then sued Howerton. Apparently, Beale wanted his debt to John reduced. Beale had made a bond in 1801 to pay his debt. John Howerton had sold Beale property including a mahogany table. Beale's debt was a result of property purchased, the gambling debt, and an account at Howerton Tavern in Essex. Vincent Gordon who worked in Captain John Howerton's Tavern said he saw Beale's bond in 1801 and it was partly for gaming and partly for his account at the tavern. John states he is a tavern keeper in Essex County and had been for more than twenty years as was his father before him. Beale gambled with John and drank in his establishment. The record showed Beale regularly lost large sums to Captain Howerton.

A number of affidavits given by leading citizens of the area appear in the file. The citizens were characterized as men of truth. They all supported John Howerton in the case.

(NOTE! The data for the above article came from the research records of Bryan R. Howerton.)