John Howland

     John Howland was born circa 1599 at Huntingdon Co, England; Many sources say John Howland was born in 1592, but he had to have been born after 1595 if he came over as a servant of Carver's (under age 25). Also, we know he married Elizabeth Tilley, who was born in 1607. It is unlikely a 31 year old man marrying a 17 year old. Since he signed the Mayflower Compact in 1620, he was probably about 21, so 1599 is the best estimate at this time.¹ He was the son of Henry Howland and Margaret (?) John Howland married Elizabeth Tilley, daughter of John Tilley and Joan Hurst, circa 1624 at Massachusetts; Following his marriage to Elizabeth, John built a house on First Street and as land was allotted to the families there, he acquired four aces on Watson's Hill in Plymouth and considerably more in Duxbury.^1,2 John Howland died on 23 February 1673 at Rocky Nook, Kingston, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts; John died at either Rocky Nook or the house of son Jabez.² He was buried at Old Burial Hill, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts; John Howland was buried in an unmarked grave. There have been several stones erected there since that time, last being 1897.²
     Originally from Fenstanton, Huntingdon Co, England, John Howland came to New England as a servant or attendant of Governor Carver. His name appears as the thirteenth signature on the Mayflower Covenant made 11 November 1620.

He is remembered in Bradford's account of the Mayflower's voyage when he fell of the ship:
" In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings was, with a seele of the ship, thrown into the sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth."

Mr. Howland resided in Plymouth until 1638 when he moved to Rocky Nook now part of Kingston. He was quite active in church even though his two brothers, Henry of Duxbury and Arthur of Marshfield, were Quakers. His brothers arrived in the colony later, about 1623/4.
He served as a representative and was an assistant to the Governor in 1633-4 and 1635.

His two brothers' families became practicing Quakers and several times were fined for holding Quaker meetings in their homes.

John and Elizabeth were highly respected in Plymouth. In 1657 and again in 1664, serious issues came up surrounding members of his family. This would have likely affected his standing in the community.

He may have inherited the Carver estate. His will is dated 29 May 1672.^3,4,2 He left a will on 29 May 1672 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts.