Howard Family Lineage
from John Howard (circa 1180) forward
Picture is of the Duke of Norfolk estate
in
Yorkshire, England
Home of the Howard's
The central issue regarding the Howard line is "Generation 13" as listed below. The generations from 1 to 12 are documented in English History. The Generations after Generation 13 are also documented fairly well in America.
Generation 13 (Matthew Howard) deals with the first "American" Howard in this line. Various studies have been performed to confirm the details of Matthew Howard's lineage. In this lineage I am "Generation 25" from John Howard in 1180AD.
My children are the 26th generation (from 1180AD). Links to other web sites are indicated below.
Individuals "46" (Chloe Osborne) and "48" (Samuel Howard, Jr) cross as they were Howard cousins who got married (her mother being a Howard).
Another interesting fact is that the Howard's also intermarried with my wife's family, the Wyatt's.
Items with a Black background and white letters are hyperlinks to other pages as follows:
Generation No. 1
1. JOHN1 HOWARD was born 1180. He married LUCY.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and LUCY is:
2. i. WILLIAM2 HOWARD, b. 1216; d. May 03, 1308.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM2 HOWARD - Sir Justice of Common Pleas - Sheriff of Cambridge (JOHN1) was born 1216, and died May 03, 1308. He married (1) GILLA DE TERRINGTON, daughter of WILLIAM DE TERRINGTON and GILLA. He married (2) ALICE DE UFFORD. She died June 01, 1326.
Child of WILLIAM HOWARD and GILLA DE TERRINGTON is:
3. i. JOHN3 HOWARD, d. April 28, 1340.
Child of WILLIAM HOWARD and ALICE DE UFFORD is:
ii. WILLIAM3 HOWARD, m. JOAN BALDWIN DAKENI.
Generation No. 3
3. JOHN3 HOWARD - Sheriff of Norfolk (WILLIAM2, JOHN1) died April 28, 1340. He married JOAN DE CORNWALL. She died 1348.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and JOAN DE CORNWALL is:
4. i. JOHN4 HOWARD.
Generation No. 4
4. JOHN4 HOWARD - Sheriff of Norfolk and Admiral of the British Navy (JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) He married ALICE DE BOYS 1334, daughter of ROBERT DE BOYS. She died 1372.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and ALICE DE BOYS is:
5. i. ROBERT5 HOWARD, b. 1336, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England; d. July 03, 1388.
Generation No. 5
5. ROBERT5 HOWARD (JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1336 in Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died July 03, 1388. He married MARGERY SCALES, daughter of ROBERT DE SCALES and CATHERINE DE UFFORD.
charged in 1378 with the abduction of Margery Narford, grand daughter and heir to Alice, Lady Neville. Such was the serious nature of the offence that Howard was not only sent to the Tower but also bound under substantial recognizances to do no harm to Lady Neville and his captor, Sis John Le Strange; furthermore, his case was brought to the attention of Parliament. But such animosity as possibly remained between Strange and Howard did not, in the following year, prevent Richard, earl of Arundel, from having both men act as witnesses to one of his transactions.
Child of ROBERT HOWARD and MARGERY SCALES is:
6. i. JOHN6 HOWARD, b. 1366, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England; d. November 17, 1436, The Crusades, Jerusalem.
Generation No. 6
6. JOHN6 HOWARD - Sheriff of Essex and Hertford (ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1366 in Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died November 17, 1436 in The Crusades, Jerusalem. He married (1) ALICE TENDRING, daughter of WILLIAM TENDERING and CATHERINE CLOPTON. She died October 18, 1426. He married (2) MARGARET PLAIZ.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and ALICE TENDRING is:
7. i. ROBERT7 HOWARD, b. 1383, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England; d. 1436.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and MARGARET PLAIZ is:
ii. JOHN7 HOWARD.
Generation No. 7
7. ROBERT7 HOWARD (JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1383 in Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died 1436. He married MARGARET DELAWARE MOWBRAY. She was born 1388 in England.
Children of ROBERT HOWARD and MARGARET MOWBRAY are:
8. i. JOHN8 HOWARD, b. 1420, Tendring, Essex, England; d. August 22, 1485, Battle of Bosworth Field, Leicestershire, England.
9. ii. KATHERINE HOWARD, b. 1414.
Generation No. 8
8. JOHN8 HOWARD - Ist Duke of Norfolk (ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1420 in Tendring, Essex, England, and died August 22, 1485 in Battle of Bosworth Field, Leicestershire, England. He married (1) CATHERINE DE MOLYENS 1442, daughter of WILLIAM DE MOLYENS and ANNE WHALESBOROUGH. She was born 1424 in Stoke Pogis, Buckinghamshire, England, and died November 03, 1465 in Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England. He married (2) MARGARET CHEDWORTH February 01, 1454/55. She was born 1436 in Yorkshire, England.
Born around 1420, John Howard was the son and heir of Sir Robert Howard and Margaret, daughter of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Through his mother and her female line, he was descended from Edward I, thus making him the premier Duke and heir to the title of Earl Marshall. Nothing is known of his childhood.
His first recorded service was in 1451, when he followed Lord L’Isle to Guienne. He was also present at the Battle of Chatillon in Jul two years later. It was at this time that he entered the service of John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.
On the first accession of Edward IV, Howard was knighted and appointed Constable of Colchester Castle, Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. He was also one of the King’s Carvers.
Howard took an active part in John Mowbray’s quarrel with John Paston. In Aug 1461, he was involved in a violent brawl with Paston and used his influence with Edward IV against Paston. In Nov of the same year, Howard was imprisoned after giving offence at the election of Paston, causing many complaints against him.
The following year, he was appointed Constable of Norwich Castle and received grants of several manors forfeited by the Earl of Wiltshire. He was joined by William Neville, Baron Fauconberg and Lord Clinton to "keep the seas", taking Croquet and the Isle of Rhe. Later in the year, he was sent to help the Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick at Warkworth.
In the Spring of 1464, Howard helped Norfolk secure Wales for Edward IV. He bought the reversion of Bamburgh Castle in Jun of the same year and was with Edward IV and his court at Reading by the year’s end.
Howard was appointed Vice Admiral for Norfolk and Suffolk in 1466, and was charged with conveying envoys from England to France and the Duke of Burgundy. He remained in Calais from 15 May to 27 Sep.
He was elected Knight of the Shire for Suffolk in Apr 1467, having been elected Knight of the Shire for Norfolk in 1455. Nov 1467 saw him as an appointed Envoy to France as well as Treasurer to the Household, a post which he held until 1474. The following Jun (1468) he attended Margaret of York to Flanders for her marriage to Charles, Duke of Burgundy.
On the restoration of Henry VI, he was created Baron de Howard (15 Oct 1470). However, when Edward IV landed back in England in Mar 1471, after living in exile in Bruges, Howard proclaimed Edward to be King.
The following Jun, he was appointed Deputy Governor of Calais. When Edward IV invaded France in Jul 1474, he was accompanied by John Howard, who was one of the commissioners who made a truce at Amiens. Howard received a pension from Louis XI and remained in France, briefly, as a hostage after Edward’s departure. On Howard’s return to England, he was granted manors in Suffolk and Oxfordshire forfeited by John de Vere, Earl of Oxford.
John Howard was also sent by Edward to treat with France on several occasions – Jul 1477, Mar 1478, and Jan 1479. Also, in 1479, he was put in charge of the fleet which was sent to Scotland.
At Edward IV’s funeral in Apr 1483, he carried Edward’s Banner. He then attached himself to Richard III. On 13 May 1483, he was appointed High Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster and wa made a Privy Councillor. A month later, John Howard was created Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshall.
He persuaded Elizabeth Woodville to let the young Duke of York join his brother Edward V in the Tower. He was possibly involved in the murder of the two princes in the Tower of London. At Richard III’s coronation, Howard performed many functions – he acted as High Steward, bore the crown, and, as Earl Marshall, was the King’s Champion. Shortly afterwards, he was created Admiral of England, Ireland, and Aquitaine, and was appointed Chief of Commissioners to negotiate with James III of Scotland on 12 Sep 1484 at Nottingham.
In Aug 1485, he summoned his retainers to Bury St. Edmunds and commanded the vanguard at the Battle of Bosworth, where he was killed. Howard was attainted at Henry VII’s first Parliament. He was buried in the conventual church at Thetford, Norfolk.
Children of JOHN HOWARD and CATHERINE DE MOLYENS are:
10. i. THOMAS9 HOWARD, b. 1443, Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England; d. May 21, 1524, Framlingham Castle, Norfolk, England.
ii. ANNE HOWARD.
iii. ISABEL HOWARD.
iv. JANE HOWARD.
v. MARGARET HOWARD.
vi. ELIZABETH HOWARD.
vii. NICHOLAS HOWARD.
Child of JOHN HOWARD and MARGARET CHEDWORTH is:
viii. CATHERINE9 HOWARD, b. 1467.
Generation No. 9
10. THOMAS9 HOWARD - 2nd Duke of Norfolk (JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1443 in Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died May 21, 1524 in Framlingham Castle, Norfolk, England. He married (1) ELIZABETH TILNEY April 30, 1472 in Norfolk, England. She was born 1450 in Ashwelthorpe, Norfolk, England. He married (2) AGNES TILNEY August 17, 1497 in Norfolk, England. She was born 1477 in Skirbeck, Lincolnshire, England.
Burial: Thetford Abbey, Norfolk
Note: Earl of Surrey. Earl Marshall of England
Occupation: Earl Marshall of England 1
Occupation: 2nd Duke of Norfolk 1
Occupation: Earl of Surrey 1
Occupation: Knight of the Garter
Earl of Surrey. Earl Marshall of England. The Complete Peerage vol.XIIpI,p.513. Fought on the wrong side at the battle of Bosworth, his father was killed and was taken prisoner by Henry VII, attainted, and placed in the Tower of London. Thomas Howard, stripped of his lands and titles, remained in prison for 3 years. Was released 1489. Henry VII needed a good general to fight the Scots. Thomas, who had been trained as a soldier all his life and was a good general, was released from prison and his title Earl of Surrey, which he had received in 1483, was restored. But his lands and the dukedom were not. He was entrusted by Henry VII with the care of the northern borders and in 1501 was made lord treasurer.
As the king's lieutenant of the north, Surrey suppressed the English rebels and advanced against the King of Scots seizing several castles along the border. The King of Scots refused to fight Surrey and disbanded his army.
As part of the peace settlement Henry VII's daughter Margaret married James, King of Scotland. Surrey escorted Margaret to Edinburgh and gave the bride away on behalf of Henry VII.
Early in his reign the new King Henry VIII crossed the Channel to France in an attempt to revive the English claim to the French throne. Fortunately he left the Earl of Surrey in England. The French campaign was a disaster. While Henry VIII was in France, King James of Scotland invaded England with an army 30,000. Surrey rushed to the defense with an army of about 20,000. The battle of Flodden was a disaster for James and the Scots. Over 10,000 of his men were killed, including many Scottish peers. King James died only a few feet from Surrey.
Although King Henry was most likely jealous of Surrey's success and his own failure, he restored the titles of Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshall to him. Surrey was the toast of England. And the Scottish border was secure for many years.
Although an influential member of Henry VIII’s privy council, he was gradually forced to relinquish much of his power to the ascending Thomas Wolsey. Norfolk was no courtier and didn't play much of a role in the affairs of state after that. Cardinal Wolsey held the power then and saw to it that men like Norfolk didn't gain too much influence with the King.
In 1517 Norfolk put down a revolt by the London apprentices. Afterward he persuaded Henry not to treat them harshly.
When King Henry returned to France for The Field of the Cloth of Gold he left Norfolk at home in charge of the country. He served as guardian of the realm during Henry’s absence in 1520. In 1521, acting as Lord High Steward, he was compelled to sentence his friend Edward Stafford, 3° Duke of Buckingham, to death.
In 1522 Norfolk was sent as ambassador to the Holy Roman Emperor, Carlos V who honored him by making his eldest son Admiral of the Imperial Dominions.
He died in 1524 in the great castle of Framlingham which had once been the seat of the Mowbray dukes of Norfolk and before that had been home to the Bigods, Earls for Norfolk during the Norman era. He was about 80.
Children of THOMAS HOWARD and ELIZABETH TILNEY are:
12. i. THOMAS10 HOWARD, b. 1473; d. August 25, 1554, Kenninghall, Norfolk, England.
13. ii. ELIZABETH HOWARD, b. 1483.
iii. EDWARD HOWARD, b. 1477.
iv. MURIEL HOWARD, b. 1485.
v. EDMUND HOWARD, b. 1477.
Children of THOMAS HOWARD and AGNES TILNEY are:
14. vi. THOMAS10 HOWARD, b. 1512, Ashwell Thorpe, Norfolk, England; d. 1537, Tower of London, London, Middlesex, England.
vii. ANNE HOWARD, b. 1500.
viii. WILLIAM HOWARD, b. 1510.
ix. CATHERINE HOWARD.
x. DOROTHY HOWARD, b. 1511.
Generation No. 10
12. THOMAS10 HOWARD - 3rd Duke of Norfolk (THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1473, and died August 25, 1554 in Kenninghall, Norfolk, England. He married (1) ANNE PLANTAGENET February 04, 1493/94 in Greenwich Palace, London, England. He married (2) ELIZABETH STAFFORD January 08, 1511/12.
English nobleman, a master of survival in the treacherous political climate of Henry VIII's Court, described by Ludovico Falieri, Venetian Ambassador in Nov 1531 as 'prudent, liberal, affable and astute; associates with everybody, has very great experience in political government, discusses the affairs of the world admirably, aspires to greater elevation, and bears ill-will to foreigners... small and spare in person, his hair is black...'. His own education and instincts were old fashioned; in religion and politics, Norfolk was a conservative, unimpressed by the new ideas of the reformers and uncomfortable with the low born "new men" of the Tudor Court. He claimed the deference due the leader of the traditional nobility, yet recognized uneasily that loyalty, ability and service counted as much as or more than ancient tittle to the Tudors.
Thomas was the first son of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey (afterwards the second Duke of Norfolk) and his first wife, Elizabeth Tilney, widow of Sir Humphrey Bourchier. Thomas and his brothers received a medieval education, studying Latin and French, and the usual course of grammar, rethoric, logic, some arithmetic and a bit of music. Thomas may have shared the latter stages of his education with his half brother, John Bourchier, second lord Berners, the translator of the french chronicler Jean Froissart.
Old enough at his grandfather death's to have spent time at John Howard's house at Tendring Hall, in 1484, Thomas Howard was brought to Court and bethroted to Anne Plantagenet, daughter of Edward IV and niece to Richard III. With his brother Edward, he was placed in Henry VII's household as a page. Married with Anne 4 Feb 1495 at Westminster Abbey, thus became brother-in-law to Henry VII. Howard would be landless and penniless until the death of the dowager duchess of Norfolk, and Anne had nothing but her name, so relatives had to provide for the couple. Queen Elizabeth provided her sister with twenty shillings a wek for food and drink, and paid for personal retinue of two women, a young maid, a gentleman, a yeoman and three grooms.
Although Thomas and Anne had a number of children, none lived to maturity. The longest lived, Thomas, was born about 1497, and died Aug 1508, buried in the Howard Chapel at Lambeth. Anne herself seems to have suffered poor health, and died early, for consumption, in 1512. After seventeen years of marriage, Thomas was left a childless widower.
The Howards overcame the disgrace of their support of Richard III because Surrey and his sons proved useful to Henry VII. Like Richard before him, Henry needed loyal support to establish and maintain his power. The Earl of Surrey was constantly at Court and in council, serving as the only prominent titled noble among the King's ecclesiastical circle. During the reign of Henry VII there are a little information about Howard. In 1503, when his father escorted Margaret Tudor to Scotland, the entire family went along. Thomas also accompanied his father on an embassy to Flanders in 1507.
He fought against the Scots at Flodden and became in 1514 Earl of Surrey when his father was made Duke of Norfolk. After his first wife’s death he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Stafford, 3d Duke of Buckingham. By his father and grandfather marriages, he was related to many noble families, including those of the earls of Derby, Oxford, Sussex, Bridgewater, Devon and Wiltshire; as well as baronial clans such the Lisles and Dacres. If second cousins and in-laws are considered, there was hardly a Tudor peer who was not Thomas Howard`s kin.
He served as lord lieutenant of Ireland (1520–21). Succeeding his father as lord high treasurer in 1522 and as Duke of Norfolk in 1524, Norfolk led the opposition to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
He supported Henry VIII’s divorce from Catalina de Aragón and his marriage to his niece Anne Boleyn. Norfolk brought her to court in the hopes of attracting the King, actively campaigned for her advancement in the hopes of furthering his own political fortunes, and when she fell from grace, jumped to the side of her accusers and took part in her downfall. He was ready to do whatever it took, even sacrifice his religion and his family, to retain the King's favor and further his ambitions.
What were Norfolk's ambitions? First, to make the Howard family the most influential family in England; if possible, to place a Howard on the throne; to be in a position that was invulnerable to royal whims and rages; and in the darkest days, as one plan after another miscarried, to keep his head.
Although Norfolk conducted the campaign against the Pilgrimage of Grace, he remained Catholic. He was an enemy of Thomas Cromwell and instrumental in bringing about his fall.
After the execution in 1542 of another of his nieces, Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth queen, Norfolk’s influence waned, and he was forced back into the position of a mere military commander.
Norfolk was considered the leader of the Catholic party during the Reformation of the Church of England and as such was a friend of Sir Thomas More, and was patron of Sir William Roper, brother-in-law of William Dauntesey, both sons-in-law of Sir Thomas More.
The tomb of the third Duke of Norfolk in Framlingham Church, with his effigie and of his wife, Elizabeth Stafford, who separated from him in life was buried at Lambeth
In 1546 he and his son Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, were charged with treason. Norfolk's son was a man of learning often called "the Poet", who also had a reputation for skill at arms. He was charged with quartering the arms of Edward the Confessor with his own, which was like openly claiming the Throne, and was executed. King Henry VIII ordered Norfolk's execution as well, but died the day before the execution could be carried out.
He was released from prison on the accession of Mary I and restored to his dukedom. His first important service to the new Queen was to preside the trial of the Duke of Northumberland. He successfully led the forces against the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger.
After six weeks of failing health, he died at Kenninghall on 25 Aug 1555. A last minute bequest of L100 was made to Jane Goodman, a young girl living in Norfolk's London house when he made the final changes to his will in the previous Jul. She may have been a natural daughter; at any rate she was still a member of the Howard Household in 1571.
Nothing was left to Elizabeth Holland, even though her father, by now the Duke's secretary, wrote out the will.
The important will was witnessed by no less than eight trusted servants, headed by Thomas Gawdy. The executors included Stephen Gardiner, Archbishop of York, Lord Chancellor; Robert Brooke, Chief Justice of Common Pleas; Nicholas Heath, Bishop of Worcester and Robert Rochester, Controller of the Queen Household. Queen Mary was herself appointed supervisor of the will.
Children of THOMAS HOWARD and ANNE PLANTAGENET are:
i. THOMAS11 HOWARD, b. 1496.
ii. HENRY HOWARD.
iii. WILLIAM HOWARD.
iv. HOWARD.
v. MARGARET HOWARD.
Children of THOMAS HOWARD and ELIZABETH STAFFORD are:
vi. HENRY11 HOWARD.
vii. MARY HOWARD.
viii. THOMAS HOWARD.
ix. CATHERINE HOWARD.
x. ELIZABETH HOWARD.
xi. JANE HOWARD GOODMAN.
14. THOMAS10 HOWARD (THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1512 in Ashwell Thorpe, Norfolk, England, and died 1537 in Tower of London, London, Middlesex, England. He married MARGARET DOUGLAS April 15, 1536. She was born October 06, 1515 in Harbottle Castle, Northumberland, England.
Child of THOMAS HOWARD and MARGARET DOUGLAS is:
18. i. ROBERT11 HOWARD, b. January 01, 1535/36, Syon House, London, Middlesex, England; d. 1598.
Generation No. 11
18. ROBERT11 HOWARD (THOMAS10, THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born January 01, 1535/36 in Syon House, London, Middlesex, England, and died 1598. He married PHILLIPA BUXTON 1574 in All Saints Parish, Tybbenham, Norfolk, England. She was born 1539 in England.
Child of ROBERT HOWARD and PHILLIPA BUXTON is:
20. i. JOHN12 HOWARD, b. December 01, 1578, Brockdish Hall, Norfolk, England; d. April 04, 1642, Norwich, England
Generation No. 12
20. JOHN12 HOWARD (ROBERT11, THOMAS10, THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born December 01, 1578 in Brockdish Hall, Norfolk, England, and died April 04, 1642 in Norwich, England. He married ELIZABETH LOCK November 16, 1606 in England. She was born 1580.
Children of JOHN HOWARD and ELIZABETH LOCK are:
22. i. MATTHEW13 HOWARD, b. 1609, Wardour Castle, Wilshire, England; d. September 04, 1659, Norfolk, Lower Norforlk County, Virginia.
23. ii. FRANCIS JAMES HOWARD.
Generation No. 13
22. MATTHEW13 HOWARD (JOHN12, ROBERT11, THOMAS10, THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1609 in Wardour Castle, Wilshire, England, and died September 04, 1659 in Norfolk, Lower Norforlk County, Virginia. He married ANNE HALL, daughter of RICHARD HALL. She was born October 25, 1610 in Felmersham, Bedford, England, and died in Lower Norfolk, Virginia.
THE HOWARD'S OF MARYLAND
(Howard Family Anne Arundel Gentry 975.202 A613NE V2 Page 225) The three outstanding, aristocratic Howard families of Maryland and their English background have presented a study for the family historian for the present as well as the past generations. Edmund Howard, of Charles County, Cornelius Howard of Baltimore County and Mathew Howard of Anne Arundel County all in some manner can claim descent from the family ranking next to the Royal House of England, but how they fit-in is a puzzle yet to be solved--- all three were conscious of their armorial rights and used the trappings in Maryland after they emigrated from their native England. Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, writing in 1873, made this statement: "Just four centuries of ducal rank and just eight centuries of unsullied ancestry are associated with the name of Howard [the family name of the Duke of Norfolk]. In the combination of antiquity of Delaware-scent, and the possession of the highest peerage honours with the most brilliant public services and the most illustrious alliances, the family of the Duke of Norfolk is unrivalled. Next to the blood-royal, Norfolk is not only the head of the titled ranks of this Empire,* (No longer a mighty Empire, but a series of more or less sovereign States holding alliance to the Queen, while other component States have declared their independence--226 Anne Arundel Gentry) but also I maintain at the head of European nobility,.... ,no less than nineteen Howards have been Knights of the Garter--no other family can boast as many--and full twenty distinct peerages have at various times been conferred on the Illustrious House'". Since Sir Bernard wrote his appraisal of the Howards in 1873, Missourire have been Knights of the Garter and others have been raised to the peerage, knighthood and other honours.
MATHEW HOWARD, GENT. 16-- - 165-
The English background Of Mathew Howard of the Severn in Mary-land has been the subject of much interest and not a little controversy as to the origin. That he was of the noble family of England cannot be denied, for, according to the ancient rules of heraldry and still adhered to by Lord Lyon of Scotland, any family which has been granted a coat-of-arms is deemed to be ennobled. Several fantastic theories, sworn by some descendants to be tile truth with gospel trimmings, have been put forth in the past.* [*In 1925 when research was being conducted on the Howards, I lent an ear to the story that he was the Mathew Howard whose legal name was Arundel, but changed it to Howard for political reasons. Furthermore, he was descended from an immediate line of the Duke of Norfolk, See "Anne Arundel Gentry'', 1st ed. All claims have since been found to have little foundation] Considerable American dollars have been paid by descendants to English researchers with no positive results, and even the College of Arms has not been able to throw much light on the ancestry. Many visible and invisible indicators point to the belief that he was not of too remote relationship to the Howards of the Peerage, but certainly no title or even a knighthood was possessed by him. But the use of the ancient Howard arms on documents in Maryland and the fact that all of his sons were literate place his family in the social picture above many of the British planters who settled in the Colonies. The date of his settlement in America and the political times at home all have some bearing on his life and the motive for his leaving England. His politics were of the Puritan variety, although it was at one time stated otherwise: They may have alienated him from the conservative opinions of other members of the family--though many peers espoused the liberality and revolutionary actions of Cromwell and his adherents. His associations in Virginia were definitely with the liberal non-Conformists which was the reason of his leaving that colony and coming to Maryland at the invitation of Lord Baltimore. He was among the first contingency to arrive and settled on the north shore of the Severn opposite the present town of Annapolis around present Greenbury Point more or less under the ancient rights of squatters until patents were granted after certain formalities. While Virginia historians claim with much gusto that their colony was settled by Cavaliers,* [*Defining Cavalier in its strictest sense as "An adherent of the Stuarts of England as opposed to the Puritans"] they overlook the truth. Virginia became a haven for Puritans and non-Conformists who were finding life uncomfortable while the Royalists held the upper hand in England. Claiborne, Bacon and others were all tainted with Puritanism and possessed revolutionary qualities.
The first record of Mathew Howard being in the Colony of Virginia was on February 8, 1637--8, when he was seated on the western branch of the Elizabeth River in the Upper County of New Norfolk. His emigration therefore ante-dates that year, but it is not believed to have been [Howard Family 227] too many years. At the time of his leaving England the Royalists held control and Archbishop Laud of Canterbury was offering his decrees to bring the Established Church back to more spirituality and ritualism, but at the same time offending the liberal churchmen who were rapidly forming themselves into a political party.
His being in Virginia by 1637 precludes his identity as the Mathew Howard, of County Essex, who matriculated at Magdalene, Cambride, at Easter 1634, and who later "migrated to Queens on November 1,1639", and who received his B.A. 1639/40, according to Alumni Cantabrigienses.* [*Approximately six years were rather a lengthy period of study at Cambridge for that time. Could the records be confused and there were two Mathew Howards, the one at Magdalene leaving before the conferment of the degree? The 1634 registration could fit the Maryland emigrant. All of his sons were literate, so it is evident that the father was likewise.] Throwing aside any political entanglement of Mathew Howard in England, his desire to settle in the Colonies may have been actuated by sheer adventure and the opportunities which a new world offered to younger sons without estates.
There is no record of his bringing-in children, but only his wife, Anne, and two man-servants. Consequently, it can be assumed that he had recently married and set out for Virginia shortly thereafter. He seemed to have left all connections behind him, and when he settled in Maryland neither he nor his sons commemorated any of his ancestoral estates by. the naming of their plantations to offer a clue to their life in England. As mentioned previously, he was seated on the western branch of the Elizabeth River in Upper Norfolk which is present Nansemond County, where a hot-bed of non-Conformists had developed through mutual interests.
It was not until May 27, 1638, that he applied for his head-rights in financing his own passage-and that of Anne his wife. He also-transported at his own expense two unnamed persons. If they were his children, the records fail to state, but the two transportees were probably past the infant stage, and are usually cited as servants. If they had been his children, the records would have most likely stated as such. He had a family by July 6, 1640, as the following human interest item will prove.
"Simon Peeter, aged 26, stated that Edy Hanklng said that Mathew Howard's wife went walking with Edward Lloide and left the children crying and her husband had to leave his work and quiet the children .... Eady Hanking shall acknowledge the accusations and as Howard's wife openely forgiveness both at the house of Mr. Wm Julian on Friday next and also at the Parish Church the Sunday following and defray the charges of the Court". [228 Anne Arundel Gentry]
By 1648 Mathew Howard was the father of six children. Richard Hall, of Lower Norfolk County, died testate in 1648 without issue and named Mathew Howard the Elder as the executor of his estate and bequeathed legacies to the Howard children. To Anne Howard he left a cow calf and a barrow shote; to Elizabeth Howard two cows and all their increase and a sow; to Mathew Howard the Younger a sow shote; to Cornelius Howard a sow and "my hat"; To John Howard "my wigg and new clothes"; and to Samuel Howard "my money and tobacco". He further- more left "Old Mathew" one yearling stear calf and "my best pair of breeches".
On November 15, 1648, Mathew Howard appeared at court and under oath declared that the last will and testament of Richard Hall as offered for probation was true and correct, thereupon administration was grant- ed.
On June 15, 1649, he witnessed the last will and testament of Edward Hodge, of Lower Norfolk County, Merchant.
On July 3, 1650, Robert Clark, Surveyor General of the Province, stated that' he had 'laid out for Mathew Howard of the Severn in the County of Ann Arundell planter a parcell of land lying on the south side of the River Severn near a creek called Marshes Creek........containing and now laid out in the whole for Six Hundred and fifty acres more or less". The 650 acres were undoubtedly due for his own personal adventure into the Province (100 acres) and the remainder for the transportation at his own expense eleven persons whose names unfortunately were not recorded. His younger children were certainly under age at that time, so it can be assumed that among the eleven were several of his children.
He perhaps returned to Virginia or his son and namesake remained behind, for on November 15, 1650, the Court of Lower Norfolk ordered that 100 lbs. tob. be paid to Mathew Howard for the killing of a wolf. It is also evident that he was a resident of Virginia as late as 1652. Lt. Coll. Cornelius Loyd in that year was appointed the Collector of the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River for 97 tithable persons with a quota of 31,880 lbs. tob. His remuneration was to be 4,150 lbs. tob. and Mathew Howard was to receive 100 lbs. tob. In the same year Robert Woody was ordered to pay Mathew Howard 500 lbs. tob.* [*Lower Norfolk County, Records 1651-54, folios 27, 32, 34, 39.] No record can be found of any last will and testament or even an inventory or administration of his estate. From the year 1650 to 1658 the Puritans were virtually in control of the Province of Maryland, and while records were kept during that period, none refer to Mathew Howard or his children. He was deceased by 1659, when Edward Lloyd who was the guardian of his youngest son, Philip, had "Howardstone" on the Severn surveyed for Philip Howard, stating that he was an orphan of Mathew Howard. It was not until 1660 or a little later that his sons appeared in the service and annals of the Province.
Children of Mathew and Anne Howard 1. Samuel Howard married Catherine Warner. q.v. 2. John Howard married the Widow Stevens and the Widow Maccubin. q.v. 3. Cornelius Howard married Eilzabeth. Gorsuch, q.v. 4. Mathew married 'Sarah Dorsey. q.v. 5. Philip Howard married Ruth Baldwin. q.v. 6. Anne Howard married James Greeniffe.* [*James Greeniffee died testate A. A. County, will dated Feb. 21, 1686/7, named his wife, Anne. appointed "brother Samuel Howard the overseer", and left a legacy to "brother John Howard". Ref: Wills, Liber 2, filio 215.] 7. Eizabeth Howard married [Henry Ridgeley]. 8. [Mary Howard married Major General John Hammond.] q..v.
About 1667 or before appeared in Anne Arundel County Henry Howard whose interest in the new world was apparently commercial. The inventory of his estate proved definitely that he was a merchant. Until his death in 1684, he figured prominently in probate records, being appointed overseers of several estates. What relationship existed between him and Mathew Howard Sr. has not been determined, but he was acquainted with the sons and mentioned both John Howard and Mathew Howard Jr. in his last will and testament. His will was drawn up on December 31,1683 with Richard Howard as one of the witnesses. Richard can not be identified, as very little is known about him and no further record is available. While bearing the family name of Howard, he was not one of the legatees of Henry Howard who died without issue.
To Mr. John Bermitt and Sarah his wife, Henry Howard bequeathed "one sealed Ring marked with a coate-of-arms and one hopped Ring marked F C". He failed to state that the ring bore his coat-of-arms, though it is possible that it did. To John Howard he bequeathed a suit of wearing apparell, and to "John Howard and Mathew Howard of Anarundell County each a silver Seale a peice". As the last will and testament of John Howard contained the Howard arms beside his signature, it was probably the impression from the "silver seale". Mathew Howard Jr. displayed the arms of the Howards and a silver seale was listed in the inventory of his grandson. The records of Oxford and Cambridge do not reveal that any of the sons of Mathew Howard were sent back to England for their education, but all were literate and manifested a high degree of intellect. It is therefore apparent that they were tutored in Virginia and that the [23O Anne Arundel Gentry] younger ones were later schooled after settlement in Maryland.
It was a well-knit family, because only in a few cases does one find brothers in Maryland remembering one another in their will and their brother's wives as was the case among the Howards of the second generation. The family left its mark on Maryland and the scions intermarried with the county gentry of the Province. They were large land and slave owners which were symbols of wealth and position in those days. While the emigrant was undoubtedly of Puritan leanings, the sons conformed to the Established Church and even became members of the local vestries. The parentage of Mathew Howard at this publication still remains a mystery and is consistent with the mysteries of the family origin. The Genealogical Quarterly of London in its December 1934 issue stated "This noble name has been a sore puzzle to etymologists. A writer in the Quarterly Rev. (vol. CII) says the family may be Saxon, may be Danish. They are more probably of Norwegian origin. Havardor Haavard was a common personal name among the Northmen. It appears to be the English name Howard and left by them in Northumberland and East Anglia. Heimskringla, the seventeenth century genealogists, laboured hard to prove a Norman origin for this illustrious race, but authentic records extend back no further than the XIII cent., when the Howards rose into eminence in Norfolk, though Houardus, the Essex under-tenant of Domesday, may be cited on that side".
Children of MATTHEW HOWARD and ANNE HALL are:
25. i. CORNELIUS14 HOWARD, b. 1643, Lower Norfolk, Virginia; d. 1680, Ann Arundel County, Maryland.
ii. ANNE HOWARD, b. 1622; m. JAMES GREENIFFE.
iii. ELIZABETH HOWARD, b. 1638; m. HENRY RIDGELEY.
iv. MATTHEW HOWARD, b. 1640; m. SARAY DORSEY.
v. PHILLIP HOWARD, b. 1649; m. RUTH BALDWIN.
vi. MARY HOWARD, b. 1651; m. JOHN HAMMOND.
vii. ELEANOR HOWARD.
viii. SAMUEL HOWARD, m. CATHERINE WARNER.
ix. JOHN HOWARD, m. (1) STEVENS; m. (2) MACCUBIN.
23. FRANCIS JAMES13 HOWARD (JOHN12, ROBERT11, THOMAS10, THOMAS9, JOHN8, ROBERT7, JOHN6, ROBERT5, JOHN4, JOHN3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) He married MARY WARREN.
Child of FRANCIS HOWARD and MARY WARREN is:
26. i. JAMES OBADIAH14 HOWARD, b. 1610, Norwich, England.
Generation No. 14
25. CORNELIUS14 HOWARD (MATTHEW13, JOHN12, ROBERT11, THOMAS10, T