Family/Spouse: Susanna UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Other Events and Attributes:
Notes:
Religion: In 1649 Obadiah Holmes and others, of that part of Rehoboth, now a part of Swansea, having embraced the Baptist faith, withdrew from the Congregational church and set up a separate meeting of their own. The attempt to break themup and the persecutions they received increased the number of Baptists. It appears that sometime about 1662, the Rev. John Myles of Swansea, Wales, driven out by the "Act of Conformity" of Charles II, had come to America with a large number of his Welch church, and in 1663, at the home John Butterworth, in Rehoboth, (now East Providence), he organized the first Baptist church in Massachusetts, the fourth organized in America. "These and subsequent proceedings were deemed such an evil by the rest of the inhabitants of the town, and of the colony generally, that the court of Plymouth was called on to interfere. Each member of this new church was fined five pounds, prohibited from worship for the space of one month, and they were advised to remove from Rehoboth to some place where they might not prejudice any existing churh. They accordingly removed to(what is now) Barrington, Rhode Island." Jonathan Bosworth early became a member of this church and was one of those who assisted in the organization of the new town of Swansea, named from the old home of the pastor and some of his flock in Wales. The fact of Jonathans joining this church was very displeasing to his parents and on 30th day 10th mo. 1680 they executed an instrument, virtually disowning him and giving all their property to his younger brother. The instrument reads, in part, " I Jonathan Bozworth with my wife Elizabeth Bozworth have given and doe give unto my son Joseph Bozworth half of my house lott..............but for his Brother Jonathan he shall have nothing to doe with anything I have except he decline from that opinion of ye Anabaptists which he now holds the 30th day of ye 10th month 1680." Jonathan, Senior must have relented because a year later he deeds him land in "the North side of the Towneship of Rehoboth." Died: Find A Grave e-Memorial
Jonathon married Hannah HOWLAND on 6 Jul 1661 in Swansea, Bristol, MA. Hannah (daughter of John HOWLAND and Elizabeth TILLEY) was born about 1637 in ME; died on 6 Jul 1681 in Swansea, Bristol, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Birth: Possibly DNA: MKM Died: Find A Grave e-Memorial
DNA: MKM Emigration: Jonathon Bosworth took the "oath of fidelitie" in Rehoboth, Mass. Will: Be it known unto all men by these presents that I Jonathan Bozworth Senior of the Towne of Rehoboth in the County of Bristoll in his Majestys Teritorey and Dominion of New England: Being weake and aged yet through the goodness of god of a competent measure of understanding and memrye doe for the glory of god and the comfort and peace of my dearewiffe and Children and settelling of that small estate that god hath given me, make this my Last will and Testiment this twenty-fourth day of ffeabuary Anno dom. 1686/7. It is my desire to Humbly resigne up my Soule unto the Hands of my dear Redemer the Lord Jesus Christ; And it is my will that my bodey be decently buried." The will mentions his wife, eldest son Jonathan, son Joseph, daughter Rebeka Peck, daughter Bethia Peck, and daughter Bathsheba.
Jonathon + Elizabeth UNKNOWN. Elizabeth was born in 1614 in Lancaster, ENGLAND; died on 15 Jun 1705 in Swansea, Bristol, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Note: The traditional date that has been ascribed to John Howland's birth is 'about 1592', and this has never really been questioned. However, a birth about 1599 is clearly a better estimate for the following reasons:- John Howland is called a 'manservant' in William Bradford's passenger list. Servents were contracted out until the age of 25. Thus, Howland must have been under 25 in 1620, meaning he had to have been born after 1595. Since Howland signed the Mayflower Compact, he must have been born sometime before 1600 to have been legally old enough to sign. John Howland's wife was born in 1607, and it is most unlikely that he, at the age of 32, married a 17 year old girl as his first wife. Most men married about age 25, and since his marriage occurred about 1624, this would place his likely birth at 1599.- John Howland's last child was born in 1649. If the 1592 date were accepted, he would have fathered a child at the age of 57, a most unlikely circumstance. William Bradford writes in that John Howland was a 'lusty young man' in 1620. It is unlikely that Bradford would call a 28-yearold a 'young man'. The only other person Bradford called a 'young man' in 1620 was John Alden, who was born in 1599. John Howland came on the Mayflower as a servant to John Carver. He is best remembered for having fallen off the Mayflower during a mighty storm, as recorded by Bradford: 'In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a know 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 live 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.' "John Howland was born about 1599, probably in Fenstanton, Huntington. He came on the Mayflower in 1620 as a manservant for Governor John Carver. During the Mayflower's voyage, Howland fell overboard during a storm, and was almost lost at sea--but luckily for his millions of descendants living today (including Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt) he managed to grab ahold of the topsail halyards, giving the crew enough time to rescue him with a boathook. It has been traditionally reported that John Howland was born about 1592, based on his reported age at death in the Plymouth Church Records. However, ages at death were often overstated, and that is clearly the case here. John Howland came as a servant for John Carver, which means he was under 25 years old at the time (i.e. he was born after 1595). William Bradford, in the falling-overboard incident, refers to Howland as a "lusty young man", a term that would not likely have applied to a 28-year old given that Bradford himself was only 30--Bradford did call 21-year old John Alden a "young man" though. Howland's wife Elizabeth was born in 1607: a 32-year old marrying a 17-year old is an unlikely circumstance. Howland's last child was born in 1649: a 57-year old Howland would be an unlikely father. All these taken together demonstrate that Howland's age was likely overstated by at least 5 years. Since he signed the Mayflower Compact, we can assume he was probably about 21 in 1620, so the best estimate for his birth would be about 1599. John Howland had several brothers who also came to New England, namely Henry Howland (an ancestor to both Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford) and Arthur Howland (an ancestor to Winston Churchill). John Howland is an ancestor to Presidents George and George W. Bush as well as First Lady Edith (Carrow) Roosevelt (Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt). Will: The Last Will and Testament of mr John howland of Plymouth late Deceased, exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth the fift Day of March Anno Dom 1672 on the oathes of mr Samuell ffuller and mr William Crow as followeth Know all men to whom these prsents shall Come That I John howland senir of the Towne of New Plymouth in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England in America, this twenty ninth Day of May one thousand six hundred seaventy and two being of whole mind, and in Good and prfect memory and Remembrance praised be God; being now Grown aged; haveing many Infeirmities of body upon mee; and not Knowing how soon God will call mee out of this world, Doe make and ordaine these prsents to be my Testament Containing herein my last Will in manor and forme following; Imp I Will and bequeath my body to the Dust and my soule to God that Gave it in hopes of a Joyfull Resurrection unto Glory; and as Concerning my temporall estate, I Dispose thereof as followeth; Item I Doe give and bequeath unto John howland my eldest sonne besides what lands I have alreddy given him, all my Right and Interest To that one hundred acres of land graunted mee by the Court lying on the eastern side of Tauton River; between Teticutt and Taunton bounds and all the appurtenances and privilidges Therunto belonging, T belonge to him and his heirs and assignes for ever; and if that Tract should faile, then to have all my Right title and Interest by and in that Last Court graunt to mee in any other place, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all those my upland and Meadow That I now posesse at Satuckett and Pamet, and places adjacent, with all the appurtenances and privilidges, belonging therunto, and all my right title and Interest therin, To belonge to him his heires and assignes for ever, Item I Give and bequeath unto my son Jabez howland all that my one peece of land that I have lying on the southsyde of the Mill brooke, in the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid; be it more or lesse; and is on the Northsyde of a feild that is now Gyles Rickards senir To belonge to the said Jabez his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto Isacke howland my youngest sonne all those my uplands and meddows Devided and undivided with all the appurtenances and priviliges unto them belonging, lying and being in the Towne of Middlebery, and in a tract of Land Called the Majors Purchase near Namassakett Ponds; which I have bought and purchased of William White of Marshfeild in the Collonie of New Plymouth; which may or shall appeer by any Deed or writinges Together with the aformentioned prticulares To belonge to the said Isacke his heirs and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Isacke howland the one halfe of my twelve acree lott of Meddow That I now have att Winnatucsett River within the Towne of Plymouth aforsaid To belonge to him and said Isacke howland his heires and assignes for ever; Item I Will and bequeath unto my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland the use and benifitt of my now Dwelling house in Rockey nooke in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid, with the outhousing lands, That is uplands uplands [sic] and meddow lands and all appurtenances and privilidges therunto belonging in the Towne of Plymouth and all other Lands housing and meddowes that I have in the said Towne of Plymouth excepting what meddow and upland I have before given To my sonnes Jabez and Isacke howland During her naturall life to Injoy make use of and Improve for her benifitt and Comfort; Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph howland after the Decease of my loveing wife Elizabeth howland my aforsaid Dwelling house att Rockey nooke together with all the outhousing uplands and Medowes appurtenances and privilidges belonging therunto; and all other housing uplands and meddowes appurtenances and privilidges That I have within the aforsaid Towne of New Plymouth excepting what lands and meadowes I have before Given To my two sonnes Jabez and Isacke; To belong to him the said Joseph howland To him and his heires and assignes for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Desire Gorum twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath To my Daughter hope Chipman twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Dickenson twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lydia Browne twenty shillings Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter hannah Bosworth twenty shillings Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Cushman twenty shillings Item I give to my Grandchild Elizabeth howland The Daughter of my son John howland twenty shillings Item my will is That these legacyes Given to my Daughters, be payed by my exequitrix in such species as shee thinketh meet; Item I will and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth howland, my Debts and legacyes being first payed my whole estate: vis: lands houses goods Chattles; or any thing else that belongeth or appertaineth unto mee, undisposed of be it either in Plymouth Duxburrow or Middlbery or any other place whatsoever; I Doe freely and absolutly give and bequeath it all to my Deare and loveing wife Elizabeth howland whom I Doe by these prsents, make ordaine and Constitute to be the sole exequitrix of this my Last will and Testament to see the same truely and faithfully prformed according to the tenour therof; In witness whereof I the said John howland senir have heerunto sett my hand and seale the aforsaid twenty ninth Day of May, one thousand six hundred seaventy and two 1672 Signed and sealed in the prsence of Samuel ffuller John Howland William Crow And a seale Died: "The 23th of ffebruary 1672 Mr. John Howland Senior of the Towne of Plymouth deceased hee was a Godly man and an ancient professor in the ways of Christ hee lived untill hee attained above eighty yeares in the world hee was one of the first comers into this land and proved a faithful Instrument of God in his place and was the last man that was left of those that came over in the shipp Called the Mayfflower that lived in Plymouth hee was with honor interred in the Town of Plymouth on the 25 of ffebruary 1672." Buried: John Howlands grave is marked with a large purplish colored stone on which is carved the above extract from the old records, and at the top of which is cut of the ship Mayflower. Find A Grave e-Memorial
John married Elizabeth TILLEY on 25 Mar 1623 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. Elizabeth (daughter of John TILLEY and Joan Hurst ROGERS) was christened on 30 Aug 1607 in Henlow, Bedford, ENGLAND; died on 21 Dec 1687 in Swansea, Bristol, MA; was buried in Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Note: Elizabeth was on Mayflower as a girl of 12-14 years of age. Will: In ye Name of God Amen I Elizabeth Howland of Swanzey in ye County of Bristoll in ye Collony of Plymouth in New Engld being Seventy nine yeares of Age but of good & perfect memory thanks be to Allmighty God & calling to Remembrance ye uncertain Estate of this transitory Life & that all fflesh must Yeild unto Death when it shall please God to call Doe make constitute & ordaine & Declare This my last Will & Testament, in manner & forme following Revoking and Anulling by these prsents all & every Testamt & Testamts Will & Wills heretofore by me made & declared either by Word or Writing And this to be taken only for my last Will & Testament & none other. And first being penitent & sorry from ye bottom of my heart for all my sinns past most humbly desiring forgivenesse for ye same I give & Committ my soule unto Allmighty God my Savior & redeemer in whome & by ye meritts of Jesus Christ I trust & believe assuredly to be saved & to have full remission & forgivenesse of all my sins & that my Soule wt my Body at the generall Day of Resurrection shall rise againe wt Joy & through ye meritts of Christs Death & passion possesse & inheritt ye Kingdome of heaven prepared for his Elect & Chosen & my Body to be buryed in such place where it shall please my Executrs hereafter named to appoint And now for ye settling my temporall Estate & such goodes Chattells & Debts as it hath pleased God far above my Deserts to bestow upon me I Do Dispose order & give ye same in manner & forme following (That is to say) First that after my funerall Expences & Debts paid wc I owe either of right or in Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever in Convenient tyme after my Decease by my Execrs hereafter named I Give & bequeath unto my Eldest Son John Howland ye sum of five pounds to be paid out of my Estate & my Booke called Mr Tindale's Workes & also one pair of sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres & one pr of Bedblanketts, Item I give unto my son Joseph Howland my Stillyards & also one pr of sheetes & one pr of pillobeeres Item I give unto my son Jabez Howland my ffetherbed & boulster yt is in his Custody & also one Rugg & two Blanketts yt belongeth to ye said Bed & also my great Iron pott & potthookes Item I give unto my son Isaack Howland my Booke called Willson on ye Romanes & one pr of sheetes & one paire of pillowbeeres & also my great Brasse Kettle already in his possession Item I give unto my Son in Law Mr James Browne my great Bible Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Lidia Browne my best ffeatherbed & Boulster two pillowes & three Blanketts & a green Rugg & my small Cupboard one pr of AndyIrons & my lesser brasse Kettle & my small Bible & my booke of mr Robbinsons Workes called Observations Divine & Morrall & allso my finest pr of Sheetes & my holland pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my Daughter Elisabeth Dickenson one pr of Sheetes & one pr of pillowbeeres & one Chest Item I give unto my Daughter Hannah Bosworth one pr of sheets & one pr of pillowbeeres, Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth Bursley one paire of sheets and one paire of Pillowbeeres Item I give & bequeath unto my Grandson Nathaniel Howland (the son of Joseph Howland) and to the heires of his owne Body lawfully begotten for ever all that my Lott of Land with ye Meadow thereunto adjoyning & belonging lying in the Township of Duxbury neare Jones River bridge, Item I give unto my Grandson James Browne One Iron barr and on Iron Trammell now in his possession, Item I give unto my Grandson Jabez Browne one Chest Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Dorothy Browne my best Chest & my Warming pan Item I give unto my Grand Daughter Desire Cushman four Sheep, Item I give & bequeath my wearing clothes linnen and Woollen and all the rest of my Estate in mony Debts linnen or of what kind or nature or sort soever it may be unto my three Daughters Elisabeth Dickenson, Lidia Browne and Hannah Bosworth to be equally Devided amongst them, Item I make constitute and ordaine my loving Son in Law James Browne and my loving son Jabez Howland Executors of this my last Will and Testament, Item it is my Will & Charge to all my Children that they walke in ye Feare of ye Lord, and in Love and peace towards each other and endeavour the true performance of this my last Will & Testament In Witnesse whereof I the said Elizabeth Howland have hereunto sett my hand & seale this seventeenth Day of December Anno Dm one thousand six hundred Eighty & six. The mark of Elisabeth E H Howland Signed Sealed & Delivd in ye prsence of us Wittnesses Hugh Cole Samuel Vyall John Browne Died: The original township of Swansea was settled in 1667/8. At that time it ran westerly from Naragansett Bay to the Taunton River on the east. The Wannamoisett area was located along the Naragansett Bay shoreline on the easterly side of Bullock's Cove. This was the original settlement of Swansea, later becoming part of Seekonk and when the state line was moved in 1862, it became part of East Providence, RI. Buried: Find A Grave e-Memorial
DNA: MKM Immigratn: Edward Bosworth, along with his wife, Mary, left England in the spring of 1634, sailing from the port of Gravesend, near the mouth of the Thames, in the ship Elizabeth Dorcas. They had with them their sons, Benjamin and Nathaniel, possibly a son Edward, a daughter Mary and her husband, William Buckland, and there may have been younger children, but no record has been found. An older son Jonathan, had come to America a year or more before and settled in Cambridge, then called "Newe Towne." Died: "The voyage from England was a long and tedious one and many died on the passage and their bodies thrown overboard. In his history of New England (Vol 1, p.161) John Winthrop writes, "..the Elizabeth Dorcas having a long passage and being hurt upon a rock at Scilly and very ill victualled, she lost sixty passengers at sea, and divers came sick on shore, who all recovered (through the mercy of God)." The Diary of Samuel Sewall (Vol. 3, p. 396) has the following: "Edward Bosworth came over to New England in the Elizabeth and Dorcas. Edward Bosworth, the Father, being ready to dye, ask'd to be carried upon the Deck, that he might see Canaan. When he had seen the Land he resigned his Soul and dyed: was carried ashoar and buried at Boston."
Edward + Mary UNKNOWN. Mary was born in ENGLAND; died on 18 May 1648 in Hingham, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
DNA: MKM Immigratn: Edward Bosworth, along with his wife, Mary, left England in the spring of 1634, sailing from the port of Gravesend, near the mouth of the Thames, in the ship Elizabeth Dorcas. They had with them their sons, Benjamin and Nathaniel, possibly a son Edward, a daughter Mary and her husband, William Buckland, and there may have been younger children, but no record has been found. An older son Jonathan, had come to America a year or more before and settled in Cambridge, then called "Newe Towne." Note: "It is evident that Edward having died and his wife being left a widow, she found it impossible having come into a new and strange land to sustain herself and family without assistance, for in Mass. Colony Records (Vol 1, p. 123) we find the following: "At a Court holden at Newe Towne (Cambridge) August 5, 1634, It was ordered that such moneyes as shalbe layde out for the maintenance of Widd. Bosworth and her famyly shalbe payde againe by the Treasurer." It is also noted in the record that Edward Bosworth had been loaned money by Mr. Henry Sewall for the passage of himself and family to America. The sons of Edward, Jonathan, Benjamin and Nathaniel are ordered to pay the debt. The sum amounted to twenty pounds or about $100.00.
Henry + Margaret UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Note: John Tilley was a passenger in the Mayflower and was one of those that died the first winter. His wife also died at that time, but it is understood that this was Joan Hurst, m. Henlow Eng. 20 Sep 1596, dau. of William and Rose Hurst. Buried: Find A Grave e-Memorial
John married Joan Hurst ROGERS on 20 Sep 1596 in Henlow, Bedford, ENGLAND. Joan (daughter of William HURST and Rose MARSHE) was christened on 13 Mar 1567 in Henlow, Bedford, ENGLAND; died in 1621 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA; was buried in Coles Hill Burial Ground, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
