Margaret Howland

Margaret (unknown)

• Howland, aka Walker
• Birth: about 1597 - England
• Death: before 22 Jan 1684 before about age 87 in Marshfield, Plymouth Colony
• Burial: cenotaph in Old Winslow Burying Ground Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA
• Parents: unknown
• Wife of Unknown Walker — married before 1628 in England
• Wife of Arthur Howland — married before 1640 in England

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She was the sole executrix of her husbands will in 1675.

Biography

Updated 25 December 2022

Disputed Origins

The origin of Margaret is unknown.

Some think that Margaret was from Fenstanton where she married Arthur Howland, but there is no evidence of her residence or marriage in Fenstanton. Some speculate that she was from London where she married Arthur Howland before they emigrated from England to Plymouth Colony sometime before 1640, but there is no evidence of her residence in London. Some believe that she was from England and emigrated to Plymouth Colony where she married him, but there is no evidence of her residence in Plymouth Colony between 1620 and 1640.

How and where did she meet and marry him remains unknown, so she had to be born in England.

If Arthur Howland lived close to St. Giles Cripplegate, London where he buried his five children between 1616 and 1639, and his wife in 1635, it is possible that Margaret, a widow of Walker, and her surviving son, John Walker lived in the vicinity of St. Giles Cripplegate, and probably, she met and married Arthur Howland in London sometime between 1635 and 1639, so did his brother, Humphrey Howland, a draper, who did marry twice in London.

Disputed Last Name at Birth

In 1854, "widow Margaret Read" was first mentioned in the section "Howland" in the book, Memorials of Marshfield.[12]

In 1860, "Margaret Read, a wid." was again mentioned in the book, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came before May, 1692.[13]

In 1861, "Margaret (Reed) Howland" was again mentioned in the section, "John Walker, of Marshfield, and His Descendants" in the book, Memorial of the Walkers of the Old Plymouth Colony.[14]

However, those 19th-century books contained no sources or references for her last name at birth. Even in 1885, Franklyn Howland, the author of A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants made no references to "Widow Margaret Reed". It has stayed undisputed for 129 years.

In 1983, two renowned genealogists, 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. They wanted to correct two long-standing errors because they noticed a conflict between the statement there that John Walker and Lydia Reed married before 1643 and the record of their marriage in Marshfield in 1654. They reconciled these contradictory statements to provide evidence that Margaret was a widow Walker before she married Arthur Howland, not a widow Reed, as has been stated many times for more than a century, perhaps more recently in 1975 by Carl Boyer 3rd. Regrettably, Walter Goodwin Davis' 1945 correction of this point has gone relatively unnoticed.

Confusion about Margaret's name has also abounded. A 1643 agreement by John Walker “sonn in law of Arthur Howland”[1] and John Walker's marriage to Lydia Reed in 1654 have been interpreted to mean that Margaret was the mother of Lydia Reed, and therefore became a widow of a Reed before her marriage to Arthur Howland. BUT Lydia Reed did not marry John Walker until 1654, eleven years after John Walker was called “son-in-law” of Arthur Howland. Therefore, Margaret never was the widow of a Reed but was actually the widow of a Walker.

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:

“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...”[2][3]

Bottom line: the maiden name of Margaret, who married first a Walker, then Arthur Howland, remains unknown. She was never a Reed or never married a Reed.[3] She is NOT confirmed to be the daughter of Thomas Walker, Esquire, and Margaret Bardsley because it requires the probate records in England to prove the relationship between them. Any baptism record can’t prove the identity of Margaret who married a Walker and later married second, Arthur Howland.

Issues

The unknown man surnamed Walker and Margaret (—) had the following child:

1. John Walker, m. Lydia Reed in 1654.

Arthur Howland and Margaret (—) had the following children:

1. [Probable] Martha Howland, bur. 30 May 1639, St. Giles Cripplegate, London. [Martha could have been by wife Grace also].[4][5]
2. Martha Howland, b. say 1640; m. John Damon, 15 January 1658, Scituate,[6] and 2nd m. Peter Bacon.[7] She had to be at least 18 years old to marry him in 1658, so she would be born before 1640.
3. Elizabeth Howland, m. John Low.[5]
4. Arthur Howland [Jr], b. say 1642;[5] m. Elizabeth Prince, 9 December 1667, Marshfield.[7] He was mentioned in Quaker records.[8] and in his father’s will. Only Arthur is confirmed to be son of Margaret (—) Howland in her will.

Burial

Margaret Howland, the widow of Arthur Howland, Sr., was buried on 22 January 1683.[9][10]

Probate Records

Arthur Howland's widow, Margaret Howland, of Marshfield, made her will on Janurary 19, 1683, and it was proved on March 5, 1683/4. In her will, she mentioned her grandson John Walker to inherit four acres of land, three grandchildren, son of her son Arthur, namely Ebenezer, Thomas, and Arthur to inherit her dwelling house and orchard and field to be possessed by them at the age of twenty-one. Residue to her son Arthur Howland, he to pay the legacies to her children and grandchildren given by her late husband in his last will. She appointed her son, Arthur Howland as her executor, and she chose John Rogers and Samuell Sprague as her witnesses for her will. The inventory of her estate was taken on January 25, 1683, and it amounted to £33 : 19 : 11.[11]

Will of Margaret Howland

The 19 Day of January Anno Domino 1683

I Margarett Howland of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England the Relict widdow of Arthur Howland late of Mar feild aforsaid deceased, being att present weake of Body but of Sound Judment and Memory Doe make and declare this my last Will & Testament in Manor follow: Imps: I Give and bequeath unto my Grandson John Walker four arees of land To him and his heires for ever; which said Land is to be Layed out to him Next adjoying unto him [one word, illegible] land; alsoe I Give and bequeath unto the said John Walker my bible, Item I Give and bequeath to my three Grandchildren the sonns of my son Arthur, Namely to Ebinezer Thomas and Arthur; my Dwelling house and my orchard and feild Next adjoying; to it home to the land above Given to John Walker, to be in equall [two words, illegible] between my said three grand children to be possessed by them when their attaine to the age of one and twenty yeers, further I give and bequeath all the Rest of my estate both Reall and personall Moveable and Immoveable to my son Arthur howland and to his heires and Assignes for ever; onely it is my will and meaning that my said son Arthur shall well and truely pay all those Legacyes given by my late husband above Named in his Last will To my Children grand children [one word, illegible] Named according to the true Intent and Meaning of said Will; and Lastly I aloe Nominate appoint my said son Arthur to be sole excecutor to this My will In Witnes whereof I the said Margarett howland have heerunto sett my hand and seale on the Day and year above written
The M mark of Margarett Howland and a {seal}

In the presence of us wittnesses
John Rogers
Samuell Sprague

Samuell Sprague above Named appeered and testifyed upon oath that hee was present and [one word, illegible] the above named Margaret howland signe and seale this Instrument, and heard her Declare it to be her last Will, and that according to the best of his understanding, shee was of sound Judgment, and Memory, when shee soe did, before the Court;
Samuell Sprague

John Rogers Took God to witness that the abovesaid and written Testimony of Samuell Sprague is [two words, illegible] did to his best understanding the said Margarett howland, was of Disposing Mind and Memory these Testimonyes were taken before the Court of his Matie holden att Plymouth the fist of March 1683/84
Attested by Nathaniell Morton Secretary

Inventory

Inventory of Margaret Howland, 25 January 1683/1684

Hickly Gour:
An Inventory of the estate of Mistris Margarett howland Relict widdow of Mr Arther Howland Late of Marsh-feild deceased,

Impr: To one hate and hatt Case [.] 00 00
Item to a green Cloth Gowne 00 10 00
Item to an old Cloth wastcoat 00 01 00
Item to a New Red wastcoat 00 05 00
Item to an old Red Petticoat 00 02 00
Item an homspon petticoat 00 08 00
Item 1 paire of Shooes 00 01 06
It a Red Cloth petticoat and sundry linnin Clothes 00 08 00
Item an old silk handkerchiffe 00 02 00
Item Capps handkerchiffes and other Linine 00 05 00
Item two New Shifts 00 11 00
Item [crossed out: two] a New silk Capp for a Man 00 03 00
Item to 2 old Ruggs and old bed blanketts the Ruggs att 12s and the 5 bed blankets 35 02 07 00
Item an old feather bed 40 shillings 02 00 00
Item a New Pillow six shillings & six old pillowes six s [crossed out: shillings] 00 02 00
Item and old [crossed out: fficke] fflocke bed 3s shillings & old Curtaines 3s 00 06 00
Item Cotton woole and yarne 2s 00 04 00
Item more Table Linine & linnin Cloth [sic] to a new shirt 00 04 00
Item Mony of seuerall sorts of Coyne 04 07 2[1/2]
Item seuerall bookes 00 16 00
Item 1 siluer spoone 11s one siluer bodkin 3s 00 14 00
Item 2 siluer thimbles & one prsell of siluer buttons 00 06 00
Item to a Remnant of siluer and gold bonn Lase & Gold twist 00 05 00
Item 4 paire of spectacles & two Cases 00 02 00
Item a paire of silke garters & a tin gratters & bonlace 00 03 06
Item to thrid silke Tape and pines 00 07 00
Item to a looking Glasse & three Round Boxes 0[.] 0[.] 06
Item a New Iuory Combe & Combe Case 00 01 03
Item a Compas 3 & nine spoones 3s 00 06 00
Item seuerall old Chests & boxes 00 13 00
Item seuerall old Chairs & stooles 00 10 00
Item smale things in a little boxe and deske 00 02 00
Item a paire of Cards 18d and earthen ware 00 01 04
Item to belmettle spice Morter & pestee 00 05 00
Item Tin 3s & a Glasse bottles 00 08 00
Item To pewter 18 shillings and earthen ware 6s 00 04 00
17=5=11 1/2
Item to wooden dishes 2s and old Brasse ware 4s 00 06 00
Item with powdr shott and allom in it 2s 00 02 00
Item Iron potts kettles Cobb Irons and tramell and other Iron ware 01 05 00
Item a Chern a baskett and other wooden ware 00 10 00
Item to Corn and meat 21s=06 01 01 06
Item to lumber in the Chamber 00 02 00
Item to agreat spining wheel: 00 03 00
Item 2 bedsteads and one bed cord 00 07 00
Item a smale Cow and a heiffer 03 10 00
Item to poultree viz: 4 geese 2 Turkeyes 00 07 00
____ ____ _____
Item a dwelling house orchyard Sum 06 [.] 06
____ ____ _____
vpland and Meddow that the said widdow; seised of 27 19 11
____ ____ _____
sum totall 33 19 11
____ ____ _____
fiue shillings of the [blurred: est] of the estate mensioned in this Inventory appeered to belong to other prsents; and what the estate is Indebted is not yett fully discouered

Apprised the 25 day of Ianuary Ano: 1683

apprised by vs Samuell Sprague
Iosiah Snow
Iohn Rogers

Arthur howland Testifyed before the Court as in the prsence of God that this is a true Inventory of the estate of Margarett, howland deceased;

Plymouth Colony Wills, Vol. IV, Part II, folio 123.

Sources

1. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. Records of Plymouth Colony in New England. Court Orders: Vol. II. 1641-1651. Boston: William White, 1855, p. 57.
2. The Mayflower Descendant, Volume 18, 1916, Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, p. 87.
3. Wakefield, Robert S. and Robert M. Sherman, "Arthur Howland of Plymouth, Mass., 1640, His Wife Margaret (_____) Walker, and Their Children," National Genealogical Society Quarterly (June 1983), Vol. 71, No. 2, pp. 84-85.
4. Parish registers of St. Giles Cripplegate, London (original images available on Ancestry.com).
5. 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....
6. VR-Scituate, 154.
7. VR-Marshfield, 10.
8. Caleb Johnson, ed., “Sufferings at Plymouth,” The Mayflower Descendant, 62(2013):167-185.
9. The Mayflower Descendant, Volume 2, pg 252, "The Mayflower Descendant: A Magazine of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)
10. Vital Records from The NEHGS Register, Vol 8, pg 228, Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.)
11. Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967, images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-V34B : 20 May 2014), image 598 of 616, citing Plymouth Registry of Deeds, Plymouth Colony Records, Wills, 1683 - 1688, Vol. 4, p. 122; State Archives, Boston.
12. Thomas, Marcia Abiah. Memorials of Marshfield: And Guide Book to Its Localities at Green Harbor. United States, Dutton and Wentworth, 1854, p. 75.
13. Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came before May, 1692. United States, Little, Brown and Company, 1860, p. 478.
14. Walker, James Bradford Richmond. Memorial of the Walkers of the Old Plymouth Colony: Embracing Genealogical and Biographical Sketches of James, of Taunton; Philip, of Rehoboth; William of Eastham; John, of Marshfield; Thomas, of Bristol; and of Their Descendants from 1620 to 1860. United States, Metcalf & Company, Printers, 1861, p. 368.
15. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-254263
16. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22052409/margaret-howland (Has errors)