Daniel Thomas Howell (1633 - 1686)

Born 26 May 1633 in Harlaston, Staffordshire, England

Husband of Katherine (Thomas) Howell — married 1659 in Staffordshire, England

Descendants

Died 9 Mar 1686 at age 52 in Cooper's Creek, Waterford Township, Gloucester County, Province of West Jersey

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Biography

Daniel Thomas was the son of Thomas Howell (ca. 1599–Deceased) and Charity Gill (1617–1660) Daniel "Thomas" was christened on 17 Feb 1638 in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.^[1]

Marriage

Married in England to Katharine in 1659, Haxleston, Stafford, England, Katherine passed away in New Jersey or Pennsylvania in Sept. or Oct. 1695.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Howell are believed to have been members of the Church of England. Their names, or those of their children, do not appear on the Friends' records, and it will be noticed that Mrs. Howell dated her will according to the computation of the Church of England, and not after the manner almost universally practised by the Friends. ^[2][3]

Children

Children of Thomas and Katharine Howell, all born in England :^[4][5]

1. Samuel Howell; remained in England
2. Daniel Howell, born circa 1660 ; died in bucks county, Pennsylvania, September, 1739; married Hannah Lakin in 1686. Daniel came into possession of the homestead, and in 1687, the year of his father's death, he sold to Mordecai two hundred and fifty acres of land, with the buildings, on Coopers Creek. In 1688 he conveyed one hundred acres of the homestead to Moses Lakin, probably a brother of his wife, and, in 1690, sixty acres of the same tract to Josiah Appleton. adjoining other lands of John and Richard Appleton, at a place then called "Appletown," a little village entirely lost. In 1691 Daniel moved from Coopers Creek to a place near Philadelphia, which he called Hartsfield, and after a short residence removed to Stacy's Mills, at the falls of the Delaware, around which the city of Trenton was afterwards built. He became, with Mahlon Stacy, one of the first and most active residents of that new thriving city.
3. Mordecai Howell, born circa 1662; married (1) Elizabeth -; (2) Frances Garret, widow ; (3) Elizabeth Morgan. Mordecai Howell, son of Thomas, was one of the witnesses in the controversy between the Penns and Lord Baltimore. He says he came to America in 1682, and ascended the Delaware River in company with the ship that brought William Penn, in November, 1682. After his father's death, in 1687, he returned to England and resided there three years. The ancestral home at Tamworth, in Staffordshire, in the division of the estate, was left to Daniel, who subsequently passed it to his brother, Mordecai, who retained it. He returned to this country in 1690, and lived on the homestead property on Coopers Creek. In 1697 he sold it to Henry Franklin, a bricklayer, of New York, who did not move to the place, but, May 13, 1700, sold it to John Champion, of Long Island, who settled upon it. The farm contained three hundred and thirty acres and was named " Livewell," probably changed from "Christianity" by Mordecai Howell, who resided there several years. Mordacai is said to have removed removed to Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1706;
4. Priscilla Howell, married Robert Stiles.
5. Miriam Howell, married Henry Johnson.
6. Catharine Howell, had a child with Mr. Shout (the child was mentioned in her mothers Will) and secondly married James Robinson."

Land Converyances

Benjamin Bartlett, the son-in-law of Edward Byllinge ... conveyed unto Thomas Howell by deeds of lease and release dated 31 August and 1 September, 1677, whereby the latter became seized of one-eighth of one-hundredth part or share of West New Jersey. ^[6] Both deeds are on record in the office of the secretary of state at Trenton. The deed of release expresses a consideration of twenty pounds.

Property

"21 Aug 1677, Benjamin Bartkett gentleman, of Westminster, Middlesex County, England to Thomas Howell, yeoman, of Harelston, Stafford County, England. £20, purchased 1 Mar 1676 of William Penn et al-

Wit: Harb Springett, Benjamin Griffith & John Burley."^[7]

Thomas Howell, yeoman of Haxelston, Staffordshire, acquired a 1/8th proprietary share in West New Jersey from Benjamin Bartlett, son-in-law of Governor Edward Byllinge [per Gloucester Deed Bk 2 pg 111]

01 SEP 1677

Gloucester County, NJ

Immigration

Mr. Howell remained satisfied with his purchase, and finally concluded to withdraw from his possessions in England to enjoy those in the New World. On 31 August, 1682, he, with his sons and daughters, (his wife remained behind) embarked at Deal, England, in the "Welcome," for the voyage made historic by the presence of William Penn. proprietor of Pennsylvania, then on the way to place himself at the head of the government established in his province.

The " Welcome" arrived at New Castle "on the Delaware" 27 October, where her passengers, with the exception of Penn, immediately landed. Penn remained on the ship until the arrangements for the public ceremonies to attend his landing were completed, when he, too, came on shore and received the welcome of his people. Thomas Howell tarried with his family to witness the landing.

Thomas and his children then proceeded to West New Jersey, where he took up his residence on lands surveyed to him under his purchase, on the north side of Cooper's creek, in Waterford (now Delaware) township, Gloucester (now Camden) county. It was located for six hundred and fifty acres, but doubtless contained within its bounds a much larger quantity of land. Thomas Howell erected a dwelling house on the same, and there resided for the little time he lived after the settlement.

Settlement

"One of the earliest settlers in what is now Delaware township was Thomas Howell, who, although not of the Dublin colony, yet, in 1675, purchased part of a share of the property in West Jersey of Benjamin Bartlett, whose wife, Gracia, was a daughter of Edward Byllinge. Howell resided in Staffordshire, England. He came to this country and located a tract of six hundred and fifty acres of land, in 1682, on the north side of Coopers Creek, in Waterford (now Delaware) township, which included what is generally known as the Jacob Troth farm on the east, and extended down that stream nearly one mile, and back into the woods about the same distance." Upon this tract, which he called "Christianity," he built a house, in which he lived the short time he was in the settlement. The next year, 1683, he, with Samuel Coles, represented the territory which a few years later became Waterford township, and, with Mark Newbie and others from Newton township, represented the Third (or Irish) Tenth in the Legislature of the State. The house in which he lived is supposed to have been near the creek, on the Barton farm. He located other lands in Gloucester County, which soon after passed to others, as he died in 1687.

Legislative Council

Mr. Howell was heartily welcomed to his new home by the colonists who had preceded him, and his worth was such that almost immediately after his arrival he was chosen by his fellow-citizens to a seat in the legislative council of the colony. He met with the assembly which convened at Burlington, 2 May, 1683. and continued its sessions until the 15th of that month ; and also with the assembly which met from the 5th to the 8th of September, in the same year, during both of which meetings important laws were enacted. He was again honored by an election to the assembly in 1685 and but for his early decease he would no doubt have continued to figure prominently in the public affairs of the colony.

In a deed executed shortly before his decease he is described as planter. ... At the time Mr. Howell acquired lands in West New Jersey he was of Haxleston, county Stafford, England, but at the date of his emigration he probably resided at Tamworth, county Warwick, where he possessed a landed estate, which descended to his eldest son Daniel.

Elections

MAY 1683

Waterford Twp, 3rd 10th, West New Jersey (now Cherry Hill, Camden, NJ)

JUN 1684

Waterford Twp, 3rd 10th, West New Jersey (now Cherry Hill, Camden, NJ)

Elected to the Assembly of West New Jersey 1683 representing the "third tenth" of WJ

Elected to the Assembly of West New Jersey 1685 representing the "third tenth" of WJ

1685

Waterford Twp, 3rd 10th, West New Jersey (now Cherry Hill, Camden, NJ)

Thomas Howell is named one of the overseers of highways in the Third Tenth with William Cooper.

Indictments

In 1687 Thomas Howell, the father, erected a dam on Coopers Creek, probably with a view of building a mill. He was indicted by the grand jury for obstructing the stream, and abandoned the work. His son Mordecai, a few years later, built a saw-mill at the mouth of a small branch that emptied into Coopers Creek. This mill in time came to John Champion, and was in use many years. Appeared by summons to trial against the complaint of Richard Wright

17 JAN 1686

Gloucester County, New Jersey

1687

Gloucester, New Jersey, United States

His son, Mordecai Howell located a tract of fifty acres of land adjoining and below the present Evans mill.

Death and Legacy

Thomas passed away at his seat on Cooper's creek in 1687. His will, proved 1 November of that year, is on file in the office of the secretary of state at Trenton, New Jersey. (Will proved March 9, 1687-1688. N. J. Ar. Vol. 23, p. 242). ^[8] Abstract of Will:

Howell, Thomas, of Gloucester Co.; will of. Wife not living with testator, who does not know whether she is alive or dead, but who, if she comes, is to have the use of the household goods during her life. Children—Daniel, Mordecai and three daughters, names not given. A farm of 100 acres, another of 250 a. Personal property. Son Mordecai sole executor. Witnesses—Moses Lakin, Wm. Willis and Steph. Penston. Proved March 9, 1686-7. (in duplicate).

1687 Oct. 29. Inventory of the personal estate (£154.8.7); made by Stephen Penstone and Geo. Gouldsmith.

1687 Nov. 3. Bond of Mordecai Howell as administrator of his father's estate. Stephen Penstone of Gloucester Co. and James Hill of Burlington fellow bondsmen.

1687 Nov. 4. Mortgage of Mordecai Howell of Cooper's Creek, Gloucester Co., to his bondsmen Penstone and Hill on the farm of 250 acres, inherited from his father, to hold them harmless on account of preceding bond.

1687 . Letters of administration on the estate, with nuncupative will attached, granted to his son Mordecai Howell.

The will of Thomas clearly indicates that his wife did not accompany him to America. She doubtless preferred to remain at home until satisfied that the stay of her family here was likely to be permanent. Her son Mordecai went to England in 1687, and later returned, bringing with him his mother, who took up her residence in Philadelphia, where she died in September or October, 1695. In 1693 she conveyed eighty-eight acres of land on Cooper's creek unto Henry Johnson, who married her daughter Miriam, it being a part of the estate on which her son Mordecai then resided.

Per Our Family ancestry by Thomas Maxwell Potts; Thomas Howell is mentioned in Clements First Settlers in Newtown Township (N.J.). His widow Catherine died in 1695, and according to her will, left the following children; Daniel, Mordecai, Miriam, wife of Henrie Johnson, Catherine, wife of James Robinson. She also mentions Daniel's daughter Hannah, and her [testator's] daughter Catherine Shout.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J39C-PP6 : 3 February 2023), Thomas Howell, 1638.
2. ↑ Prowell, George Reeser. The History of Camden County, New Jersey. United States: Richards, 1886. p. 718. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/796409
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/?navigation=&perpage=&page=1&sort=_score&search=The+History+of+Camden+County%2C+New+Jersey.%C2%A0United+States%3A+Richards&fulltext=1&bookmarks=0#title
4. ↑ Prowell, George Reeser. The History of Camden County, New Jersey. United States: Richards, 1886. p. 718. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/796409
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/?navigation=&perpage=&page=1&sort=_score&search=The+History+of+Camden+County%2C+New+Jersey.%C2%A0United+States%3A+Richards&fulltext=1&bookmarks=0#title
6. ↑ Leach, Josiah Granville. Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes, Watts, Latham, and Elkins Families. United States: private circulation, 1898. pp. 137-143 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/254768
7. ↑ West Jersey, New Jersey Deed Records, 1676-1721. United States: Heritage Books, 2009. p. 17 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/145560
8. ↑ Thomas Howell of Gloucester County. Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. (Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey), volume 23, page 242 Citing Burlington Records, p. 13

• Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, vol. 23 on ExLibris Rosetta. ref pg. 242. https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE106591
• Our family ancestors by Potts, Thomas Maxwell, b. 1836. Canonsburg, Pa., 1895. Ref pg 392. https://archive.org/details/ourfamilyancesto1895pott/page/392
• Clement, John. Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey.]] (Camden, N.J, Sinnickson Chew, 1877), pages 223-229
• New Jersey State Archives. New Jersey, Published Archives Series, First Series. Trenton, New Jersey: John L Murphy Publishing Company .
• Yates Publishing: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 : Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 : Online publication, Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls
• The Organization and minutes of the Gloucester County Court, 1686-7 : some loose papers pertaining to our earliest court. Also, Gloucester County ear mark book, 1686-1728.
• The Burlington court book : a record of Quaker jurisprudence in West New Jersey, 1680-1709. Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association, 1944.
• Patents and Deeds and Other Early Records of New Jersey 1664-1703
• The West New Jersey Assembly 1683: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=32ad83f8-3186-40f9-9b6b-ff90cbdd4e04&tid=33858591&pid=2092
• FamilySearch Pedigree Resource File, "Electronic," note: has name Thomas HOWELL Compact Disc #59 Pin #537416 (AFN: 958S-N7).

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Heath Vogel for creating WikiTree profile Howell-1736 through the import of Vogel Wiki Upload.ged on Jan 22, 2013.