John Howland

John Howland is my 10th great grandfather on the Sawyer tree.

John Howland was born in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire England.  He accompanied John Carver on the Mayflower as a manservant.  He was a signer of the Mayflower Compact on Nov. 11, 1620 as one of 41 adult males.

The Mayflower Compact 1620/J.L.G. Ferris, Library of Congress

He survived the first devastating winter and after the death of John Carver he may have inherited some of Carver's estate. "Once established in the Colony, Howland quickly rose to a position of responsibility and respectability.  He was one of the 8 Plymouth "undertakers" who assumed the colony's debt.  he also served as an Assistant to the governor, as a member of many committees and was placed in charge of the Colony's fur trading post at Kennebec, Maine."

"Beyond the Pilgrim Story" http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/john_howland.htm (2016).

During my research I found this article on John Howland's adventures in Kennebec and have included it here:


http://www.pilgrimjohnhowlandsociety.org/john-howland/articles/33-john-howland-courage-kennebec-maine

John Howland married Elizabeth Tilley and they had 10 children.  John and Elizabeth lived in Plymouth as well as Rocky Nook in Kingston Ma.  You can visit the site of their original homestead as well as the home where they lived with their son Jabez during later years and in the winters.

Jabez Howland House

John Howland lived to be 80 years old and passed away in 1673.  Elizabeth moved in with her son Jabez and lived an additional 14 years before passing away in 1687.