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James How |
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Elizabeth Dane |
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John Dane |
James How ★ (Robert) was born circa 1598 WO4, 1601 DO19, 1604 TH31, 1605 DO13, DA5, or 1606 CU16 in Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, England TH31, BE7. He was the son of Robert Howe, of “Broad Oak Hatfield” CU16, HO17. The baptismal record for St. Mary the Virgin Church in that parish lacked about ninety years, as record-keeping began in January 1558/9, and ended in April of that year, and began again, albeit sporadically, in 1650. In a deposition given at the Ipswich Quarterly Court by “James How, sr.”, on March 27, 1666, he stated that he was sixty-one years old DO13, which indicates that he was probably born in 1605, and in a deposition given on November 28, 1681, he stated that he was about eighty, making his birth year approximately 1601 DO19. James How, Sr. of Ipswich stated that he was about ninety-four years old when he gave a statement on June 28, 1692 on behalf of his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth How, who was on trial for witchcraft WO4.
James How married Elizabeth Dane on June 28, 1628 EN6 or June 27, 1628 HO17, AN8 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England EN6, HO17, AN8. According to the account book which was later kept by his son, Abraham, James lived in Hockerill in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England HO17. The area of Hockerill and Hockerill Street are both on the eastern side of the River Stort. James How and his unnamed wife were admitted to the Church of Roxbury (led by Reverend John Elliot HO17) in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts probably in 1635; their entries of admission were positioned after those who were admitted in 1635 and before those who were admitted in 1636 CI6.
He was probably the “G. H4w” whom Samuel Rogers visited on November 23, 1635, as documented in Samuel’s diary; Samuel often substituted the numbers one through five for vowels, and so the number “4” would equate to the letter “o” WE1. He and James How met again in Essex on December 13, 1635, and on March 7, 1636, Samuel wrote that on that day, he parted with “honest G. How to N. E:” WE1. James immigrated to Massachusetts either on or after March 7, but before August 18, 1636, when Samuel wrote that he had received news from New England from “J. How” and “Mr. Harlak:” WE1.
James was a weaver SA21, TH31, HO17, AN8 and a farmer HO17, and on May 17, 1637 he was admitted as a freeman in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts SH17, HO17, CU16, which is now a part of Boston, Massachusetts. The name “James Howe” was written in a list of “The Names of Such as are Com[m]oners in Ipswich viz: that have right to Com[m]onage there: the last day of the last month 1641” IP2, indicating he was a resident of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts as early as 1641. According to Daniel Wait Howe, in 1641, James was granted six acres of upland in Ipswich HO17. James was a juror at the Ipswich Court in 1641 (probably on December 28 of that year) and on September 29, 1646 DO12. Jonathan Wade and James Howe witnessed the will of John Satchwell of Ipswich, which was written on February 11, 1646; they proved his will on March 30, 1647 TH26. James How was granted six acres of salt marsh “next the hunddreads” in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on February 7, 1647 (perhaps 1647/8) IP3. James How, Thomas Howlett, and John Wyatt conducted an inventory of the estate of the deceased Luke Herd of Ipswich, and at a court held at Ipswich on September 28, 1647, John How and John Wyatt swore it was a true inventory SA21.
Jeames How and Thomas Wells were chosen as constables for Ipswich at a town meeting held probably on February 9, 1646/7 SC4. He and Thomas were sworn as the constables for Ipswich on March 30, 1647 DO12 and they were called constables of Ipswich on April 3, 1647 and again on August 31, 1648 SC4. He served as a juror at the Ipswich Court on September 28, 1647 and on September 25, 1649 DO12. At an Ipswich town meeting on December 22, 1648, “Goodman Howe, and Goodman Wells” were to be paid twenty shillings “for the loss of corne in the time of their Constableship”, in addition to the “six shillings which was over in their rate” SC4. “Jeames Howe” was also to be paid twelve pence for his horse and the expense of travelling to the bay SC4. At a general town meeting in Ipswich held on February 27, 1648 (probably 1648/9), Jeames Howe was one of the seven men chosen as selectmen for that year; the other men were Major Denison, Robert Lord, Ensign Howlett, John Knolton (Knowlton), John Andrew, Jr., and Thomas Treadwell SC4.
John Norton, William Hubbard, Jr., James How, and Hanniell Bosworth witnessed the undated will of John Whittingham of Ipswich, which was proved at a court held in Ipswich on March 27, 1649 SA21. At a general meeting for Ipswich on December 22, 1649, Jeames How was selected as one of the five men “to make the Elders [rate]” SC4. Probably on or about the same date, James How, Henry Kingsbery, and Richard Betts were appointed by the selectmen as fence viewers; they were “to looke to the fences of the Comon field on the north syde of the River” SC4.
At a general town meeting in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on January 11, 1650 (perhaps 1650/1; the date stated “Janu 11th 1650”), James How was granted “one of the Farmes of a hundred acres formerly reserved for mr Nortons friends by the motion of mr Norton” IP3. According to Daniel Wait Howe, this one-hundred-acre parcel at Ipswich Farms, on the western portion of Ipswich, later became Linebrook Parish HO17. He was mentioned in a receipt from William Symons to Thomas Perry dated April 6, 1652; this receipt seems to indicate that William Symons may have borrowed four pounds from Thomas Perry to purchase a heifer and a calf from James How, and that William Symons had then repaid Thomas Perry SA21.
“James Hoow of Ipsige” and Thomas Scot were witnesses on September 28, 1652 in the court case of Mary Bidgood, who was presented to the Ipswich Court for living apart from her husband, but rather than pack her away on the next ship which was set to sail to (likely back to England), the court decided to wait until the spring, on account of the dangerous weather that stirred up the seas during the winter DO12. He was probably the James How who was part of a team of four men, including Richard Barker, Thomas Hale, and John Pickard, who reported to the General Court on May 18, 1653 that they laid out roads from Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, and Andover SH19.
He was called a weaver when he purchased six acres of meadow for the sum of a bit over fifty-two shillings sometime in 1654 from Thomas Farnam, a tailor of Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts, in a deed that was dated March 16, 1662 SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Farnam of Andover, in ye county of Essex, taylour, for and in consideration of fifty two shillings and six pence to me in hand payd by James How sen’r. of the towne of Ipswich, weaver, have sold and by these presents do give, grant, bargaine, sell, assigne and sett over, six acres of meddow, be it more or less, lying about the middle of Mr. Baker’s pond, where the highwaye bridge comes, the common upland lying north & west, unto the sayd James How sen’r. To have and to hould, to him, his heires, executors and assignes forever; and I the sayd Thomas Farnam doe hereby covenant and promise to and with the said James, the he and his, shall from time to time & at all times forever, lawfully, quietly & peaceably possess and enjoye the said meddow, without any lett, trouble, claime or molestation, by or from me, my heires, executors, administrators or assignes, or by or from any other person or persons whatsoever, claiming in, through, by or from me, or any of mine. In witnes whereof I have heereunto sett my hand & seale, in the 16th day of March, 1662. I the said Thomas Farnam do acknowledge that I sold this meddow above specified to James How sen’r, in the year of our Lord one thousand, six hundred & fifty four.
Thomas Farnam & a seale.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in the presence of
Frances Dane.
Samuell Ingals.
James How paid a fine on March 27, 1655 for the “several misdemeanors” of his son, John, rather than see him tied to the pillory and whipped DO12. He was a juror at the Ipswich Court on September 28, 1658 and March 26, 1661 DO13, and a member of the Grand Jury at Ipswich on September 30, 1662, September 29, 1663 DO14, and September 24, 1672 DO16. James How and Robert Lord witnessed a deed from Samuell Younglove (the grantor) and Phillip Fowler (the grantee) on March 3, 1658 SA21. Elizabeth Pinder confirmed a land grant to her grandson, Edward Deare, on July 31, 1662 which mentioned eight acres of marsh which was bounded on the east by a creek had previously been owned by Goodman How SA21. The location of this eight acres was unstated, but may have been in Ipswich. James How, Sr. gave a sworn statement before Daniel Denison on June 14, 1664 for the case of Nehemiah Abbott (the plaintiff) vs. John Bridges (the defendant) in which Abbott stated that Bridges took away his horse, spoiled him, and failed to return him DO14. He stated that DO14:
John Bridges promised that if Abbott would lend him his horse, he would only go to his uncle’s at Linn, that none should ride on him but himself, that he would give him corn and would ride easily, although he pleaded that he must ride as fast as the company. Abbott told him that he must not ride faster than a gentle, false gallop, though he came a mile behind. Further, John Bridges promised to bring the hose home the next Wednesday, which was Jan. 6th, and agreed to stand all damage, etc.
“James How Sen.” was granted one and a half shares of the common land division of Plum Island, Hog Island, and Castle Neck on April 10, 1665 WA20. James Howe appraised a stray two-year-old black bull owned by Samuell Ayres at twenty-five shillings in an undated Ipswich record (but which probably was recorded between June 24, 1676 and October 28, 1676) SA21. He was appointed as one of several “Tythingmen” at the Ipswich Court on April 30, 1678 DO17, and he held the right to commonage at Ipswich on February 18, 1678 MA28 (probably 1678/9).
He may have been the man called “old father how” who pledged to donate one pound and ten shillings to help pay a debt to Jerimie Hobart, the prospective minister of Topsfield DO18. This particular Topsfield town record, from April 1679, itemized the amount each man could contribute, and James How, Jr. was included as well, but he was able to give just fifteen shillings DO18. If this “old father how” referred to James How, Sr., then he may have been helping on behalf of his son DO18, because James How, Sr. still lived in Ipswich, and not Topsfield. Nevertheless, James and Elizabeth were members of the Topsfield church in 1684 HO17.
James How, Sr. was about eighty years old when he and Abraham How gave sworn statements before Samuell Appleton on November 28, 1681 in the case of John How (the plaintiff) vs. Mr. Richard Collicut and Mr. Nathaniell Greenewood (the defendants) held in a court in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts November 29, 1681 DO19. This case pertained to the will of Hester “Seers” and in particular to a bed DO19. Hester (How) (Mason) Sears was the daughter of Abraham How, the brother of James How, Sr. AN8. James How, Sr. and Abrahm How stated that their cousins, Goodman “Seres” and his wife, visited them at their house four years previously, and “Hester Seers, formerly the wife of Henery Mason” informed them that even though her first husband had given the feather bed to her cousin, John How, “she could not spare it yet” DO19.
He granted buildings, land, and meadows in Ipswich to his son, Abraham, on June 1, 1688, which included the house in which Abraham already lived, the barn, the orchard, approximately twenty-five acres of land, “Pond Meadow” which was six acres, and four acres of meadow called “Pollipod Meadow” AN8. He made another grant of eighty acres of land in Ipswich to Abraham on July 10, 1689 AN8, and he granted a twenty-acre parcel of land and the meadow called “Further Meadow” in Ipswich to his son, James How, Jr., on December 6, 1699, in return for a payment of three pounds ES18. This deed also mentioned Mary and Abigail, who were two daughters of James How, Jr., and it concluded with James How, Sr. giving turf and twig to his son ES18. This was a symbolic gesture which demonstrated livery of seisin (delivery of possession). A transcription of this deed follows ES18:
To all Christian people to whom These presents Deed shall come James How senr of Ipswich in ye County of Essex in New England Sendeth Greeting Know ye that ye said James in Considerac[i]on of that parentall love & afection which hee hath to his son James How as also Considering Whc [the previous word is uncertain] Condition that hee is now in that he is Maintained by his Two daughers Labor Mary & Abigail & alsoe for thier Encouragement alsoe in Considerat[i]on of three pounds that the said James How shall pay to his said father How When hee shall see Cause to Call for it doth fully Exonerat Acquit & discharge his said sonn of any further payment his hiers Executors administrs. or assignes for Ever by these presents doth give Grant bargaine sell Enfeoffe Confirme & deliver unto said James his sonn his hiers Executors administrators & assignes for Ever Certain parcell of upland & Meadow ground scituate lying & being in ye bounds of Ipswich aforesaid One parcell being by Estimac[i]on Twenty acres bee it more or less as it is bounded by Stakes & Stones & as it hath been Occupied by ye Said James his sonn for Severall yeares alsoe a parcell of Meadow Calld ye further Meadow & by yt Name Knowne Joyning upon Abraham Fosters land upon ye One side & upon Rowley land upon ye other side alsoe after ye Decease of James How Senr Three acres of plow land as it is bounded by a highway Northwest: Easterly bounded by sd James How Senr his land Southerly and Westerly by land mentiond formerly in ye Occupation of sd James How Junr all ye said parcells of land with all ye severall benefits & priviledges appertaining or belonging thereunto To Have & To Hold for Ever free & Cleer as a good Estate in fee simple & that it shall bee lawfull for ye said James How Junr his hiers & assignes to use & Improve ye abovesaid premises for Ever without any act hindrance Molestation Interrupc[i]on or denial of me my hiers Executors administrators or assignes for Ever or any other person or persons whatsoever laying any Claime thereunto or any part or parcell thereof In Witness whereof I have sett to my hand & Seale this Sixth Day of December One Thousand Six hindred Ninety & nine & in the Eleventh yeare of his Maj.ties Reigne. And the said James How Senr then gave possession by Turfe & Twigg as part for the whole
James How Senr. & Seale
Signed sealed & Delivered in ye presents of us witnesses
Joseph Knowlton Senr.
Joseph Knowlton Junr
John How
James How of Ipswich signed a deed which granted land and confirmed previously granted personal and real estate to his children on January 12, 1699/1700, which was witnessed by Nehemiah Jewett, Isaack Foster, Jr., and Love How ES18, AN8. He confirmed the deed he had previously granted to his son, James, of housing, land, and meadows, because the original deed was mislaid, and he granted a further sum of ten shillings to James ES18. This deed also mentioned the grant of real estate and personal items which he had formerly granted to his son, John How of Topsfield, and stated that this was John’s complete inheritance, as nothing further would be given unto him ES18. Likewise, James stated that because he had already given Mary Abbott, the wife of Nehemiah Abbott, her intended portion of his estate, he confirmed this same part to her, but debarred her from receiving any additional portion of his estate ES18. Next, he mentioned Rebeccah Barnard who resided at Andover, and he confirmed his earlier gift to her, but also bequeathed her one cow, and this was her complete inheritance ES18.
In this deed, James acknowledged the dutiful care shown to him by his son, Abraham How, as well as to Abraham’s mother when she had been alive, and to reward his son’s care and the expenditures and labor which were involved in his, James bequeathed all of his houses, barns, orchards, cropland, pasture, and meadowland in Ipswich, in addition to his plain land, old lot meadow, and upland which was bounded on one side by upland owned by the son of Nehemiah Abbott, and by land owned by James How, Jr. on another side ES18. He granted all of his personal estate, aside from a cow, a cloak, ten shillings, and his bed, to Abraham ES18. The cow was meant for Rebeccah Barnard, the cloak was intended for his son, John, which was then in John’s possession, the amount of ten shillings previously mentioned was for James How, Jr., to whom Abraham was to pay immediately after his father’s death, and the bed and bedding, with its curtain and valance, which belonged to James How, Sr., was to be given to Mary Abbott ES18. A memorandum to the deed stated that James gave his great chest to his granddaughter, Sarah Preston, who was the daughter of Sarah Bridges, but he gave nothing further, because he had already granted a portion of his estate to Sarah Bridges ES18. A transcription of this deed follows ES18:
To all Christian people to whome this present Deed of Gift shall Come James How of Ipswch in ye County of Essex within ye province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England sendeth greeting Know yee that whereas ye sd James hath by Deed of Gift Given & bequeathed unto his sonne James How years past housing and lands and Meadows which he hath before that time & Ever since possest and Enjoyed & he having lost sd deed not long since said James hath by another Deed Confirmed ye same to his said sonne wch. with other Moveable Estate is the whole portion of sd Estate that he Intends him & Therefore only now sd James bestows on his sd sonne Ten shillings money wch is all yt sd parents allows sd sonne to Claime or his heirs in his reale or personall Estate that he is now possessed off or that he shall dye seised off & whereas sd parent hath given to his son John How of Topsfield Reale & personal Estate which hee hath had Improvement of the same being ye part & Portion hee Intends to give him hee thereby & hereby debars him for Claiming any further pt. in his Real or personall Estate or any of his heirs for Ever: Except yt hereafter Mentioned And wras [whereas] said Parent hath Given to Mary Abbott ye wife of Nehemiah Abbott ye part of his Estate that he did Intend her as her portion of his Estate he Confirms ye same to her yt she May bee debarrd thereby & hereby of Claimeing any farther part of ye reall & psonall Estate that he dyeth seized off Except that hereafter Mentioned & wras sd parent hath given to his daughter Rebeccah Bernard at Andover yt part of his Estate that he did Intend her as her portion of his Estate that he did Intend her as her portion of his Estate [sic; this version of the deed repeated the phrase] hee now gives her One Cow & hereby & thereby debarrs her from Claiming any further part in his Estate. And Whereas Abraham How Sonn of said James hath taken Care of sd parent in his old age as well as of his Mother Deceased & hath discharged duty to said parents great satisfac[i]on & Content In Considerac[i]on of that parentall love & afection that he beareth to his sd son Abraham & yt he May in some Measure be rewarded for his Care paines Cost & labor & Tender Care that he hath had of sd parents said James by these presents In Considerac[i]on of ye premises & yt hee May be Enabled & Encouraged to ye Maintaining of said parent during his Naturall life with all things Necessary Comfortable & Credible & For the afording of sd parent an Honourable funerall after his decease. ye said James ye parent hereby Exonorats acquitts & dischargeth ye sd Abraham & his heirs Executors & administrators from any further payments by these presents hath Given Granted aliend Enfeoffed & Confirmed & doth by these presents give Grant Confirme & deliver unto said Abraham & his heirs Executors Admrs and assigns for Ever: all that sd parents houses Barnes Orchards tillage lands pasture lands Meadow Grounds lying being scituate in ye bounds of Ipswich aforesaid be Each pt & parcel more or less for Number of acres that is to say sd parents house lott boundd by Timothy Pearlys land & yt wch. was winthrops Farme & Mr Nortons Farme Formerly: allsoe all ye plaine land & old Lott Meadow & upland yt belongs to sd parent not given away by said parent bounded ye upland by Nehe: Abbott Senrs. land Easterly by James How Junrs land westerly by stakes & stones fixed all which is partly within in ye fence & partly without out ye fence bounded by Ipswich Common on ye westerly side & by Rowley Line on ye Northerly side ye Meadow is bounded Easterly by Abra[ham] Fosters Land & westerly by James How Junr.s Cove of Meadow as by ye boundes fixed & Joyneth to ye old Lott in pt all ye said parents Lands Mentioned or any other not Mentioned within in ye bounds of Ipswich aforesaid Not given & granted by said parent with all ye priviledges & appurtenances Common rights thereunto belonging with all ye Estate right Title Claime Intrest & demand of sd Parent in & to ye premises & Every part Thereof To have & To Hold all ye said Mentioned premises & appurtenances unto him the said Abraham and his hiers Executors administers. & assignes for Ever without any lett suit or deniall of him ye said parent James How or his hiers Executors admrs. or assignes for Ever Further in Considerac[i]on of ye premises ye said parent gives & Grants unto said Abraham How & his hiers for Ever all ye personall Estate yt hee shall dye seized & possest of Except his Cow before Mentioned which hee ye sd parent at his decease gives & bequeathes unto his daughter Rebeccah Barnard of Andover & his Cloak that his son John hath which he gives to his said son John: & the Ten shillings he hath given to his son James which Abraham is to pay Imediatly after sd parents decease & said parents bed and bedding upon it with Curtaines & Vallens as it shall bee found at said parents decease unto his Mary Abbot all which sd lands and housing ye sd parent reserves his Improvement of during his Naturall life if sd Abraham & his hiers Executors & Admrs. doe not peforme yt which sd parent shall stand in need off for his support & the pesonall Estate bequeathed to One or other of his Children to befor sd parents use during his Naturall life in Testimony hereof & for Confirmac[i]on of ye prmises sd parent hath hereunto set his hand & seale this Twelfth Day of January Anno Dom. One thousand Six hundred & Ninety & Nine or seventeen hundred.
Memorandum sd parent gives to his Grand child Sarah Preston daughter of Sarah Bridges his great Chest & no More having given her Mother her portion
James How JH his marke & seale
Signed sealed & dd in presence of Witnesses
Isaack Foster Junr
Love How
Nehemiah Jewett
James outlived his eldest son, James How, Jr.; James How, Sr. died on May 17, 1702 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. The diary of Samuel Sewall included an entry dated May 19, 1702 which stated “Mr. James How, a good Man of Ipswich, 104 years old, is buried. Died I think on Lords-Day night, just about the time the News of the Kings Death was brought from Madera” SE14.
Elizabeth Dane ★ (John) was probably born in Berkhamsted or Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England DA5. Her birth occurred around the year 1614, according to her age, fifty, which was stated in her deposition on June 27, 1664 DO13. Elizabeth was likely the mother of an unnamed child who was buried in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England on May 14, 1629 HO17 and she was also probably the mother of Elizabeth, James, John, Mary, Sarah, Abraham, and Rebecca.
Elizabeth How, the daughter of James How, was christened on March 13, 1630 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England EN4.
James Howe, Jr., the son of James Howe, was christened on March 23, 1633 (perhaps 1633/4) in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England EN4. James How married Elizabeth Jackson on April 13, 1658 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. James How, Jr. was the father of four children whose births were recorded in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. These were Elizabeth, born on June 1, 1661, Mary, born on February 25, 1664, John, born on April 17, 1671, and Abigaill, born on December 3, 1673 VI23. James, the son of James How, Jr., died in July 1664 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. His son may have been the John How who died on May 22, 1697 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. His will named his children, Elizabeth, Dabora, Mary, and Abigall AM1.
James How was about thirty years old in his sworn deposition before Daniel Denison on June 25, 1664 for the trespass case of Nehemiah Abbott (the plaintiff) vs. John Bridges (the defendant) court held in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on June 28, 1664 DO14. This record stated that Elisabeth, the wife of James How, Jr. was also deposed DO14. James Howe, Jr. was still “about thirty years” old in his sworn deposition before Daniel Denison on June 18, 1666 regarding a fence built by Edward Neland (or Nealand) DO14. He stated that he “helped to break up the land, and that Joseph Metcalfe told him that he had received from Neland in payment for the land half a mare”, and that “Neland was to work for Metcalfe four pence per day cheaper than for another man” DO14. This was in reference to a trespass case of Elizabeth Medcalfe (the plaintiff) vs. Edward Nealand (the defendant) held in a court in Salem on June 26, 1666 DO14. John Dane and James How, Jr. witnessed a deed between Charles Haseltine of Ipswich (the grantor) and William Goodhue of Ipswich (the grantee) on June 18, 1666 SA21. James How, Jr. was thirty-four years old when he testified in a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on September 28, 1669 in the case of Tobiah Colman (the plaintiff) vs. Allen Perly (the defendant) DO15. He stated that the previous June, Timothy Perly rode up to him at his work on a colt owned by Tobiah Coleman DO15. James How, Jr. and Abraham Foster appraised a stray two-year-old red heifer owned by Nehemiah Abbott at fifty shillings in an Ipswich record entered on December 23, 1669 SA21.
On May 28, 1692, Ephraim Wildes, the constable of Topsfield, was issued a warrant to apprehend Elizabeth How, the wife of James How, a husbandman of Topsfield, because she was accused of witchcraft WO4. The constable was ordered to bring Elizabeth to the house of Lieutenant Nathaniell Ingersolls of Salem Village at 10:00am on Tuesday, May 31st WO4. The transcription of the accusation against Elizabeth stated (because this transcription was published in 1864, the publishers sometimes used “ſ” instead of “s” and “J” instead of “I”, which will be noticed in the various excerpts) WO4:
The Jurors for our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen Prſents That Elizabeth How wife of James How of Ipſwich the thirty firſt day of May in the forth year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady, William & Mary… and Divers other dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Deteſtable Arts called witchcraft, and ſorceries wickedly and ffelloniouſly hath vſed Practiſed and Exerciſed at and within the Towneſhip of Salem in the county of Eſſex aforeſaid in upon and againſt one Mary Wolcott of Salem Villiage ſinglewoman by which ſaid wicked arts the ſaid Mary Walcott the 31st day of May in the forth year as aboueſaid and Divers other Dayes and times as well before as after was and is Tortured Afflicted Pined Conſumed waſted and Tormented and alſo for ſundrey other Acts of witchcraft by ſaid Elizabeth How Committed and Done before and ſince that time, agt the Peace of our Sovereigne Lord and Lady the King and Queen, and againſt the forme of the Statute in that caſe made and Provided.
Elizabeth How was examined on May 31, 1692 and a copy of a transcription of the examination follows WO4:
Mercy Lewis and Mary Walcot fell in a fit quickly after the examinant came in.
Mary Walcot ſaid that this woman the examinant had pinchd her and choakt this month. Ann Putman ſaid ſhe had hurt her three times. What ſay you to this charge? Here are them that charge you with witchcraft.
If it was the laſt moment I was to live, God knows J am innocent of any thing in this nature.
Did not you take notice that now when you lookt upon Mercy Lewis ſhe was ſtruck down?
J cannot help it,
You are charged here, what doe you ſay?
J am innocent of any thing of this nature.
Is this the firſt time that ever you were accuſed
Yes Sr
Do not you know that one at Ipſwich hath accuſed you?
This is the firt time that ever J heard of it.
You ſay that you never heard of theſe folks before.
Mercy Lewis at length ſpake and charged this woman with hurting and pinching her. And then Abigail Williams cryed ſhe had hurt me a great many times, a great while and ſhe hath brought me the book, Ann Putman had a pin ſtuck in her hand.
What do you ſay to this
J cannot help it.
What conſent have you given?
Mary Warren cryed out ſhe was prickt
Abig Williams cryed out that ſhe was pincht, and great prints were ſeen in her arm.
Have not you ſeen ſome apparition?
No, never in all my life.
Thoſe that haue confeſſed, they tell us they uſed images and pins, now tell us what you haue uſed.
You would not haue me confeſs that which J know not.
She lookt upon Mary Warren, and ſaid Warren violently fell down. Look vpon this maid viz: Mary Walcot, her back being towards the Examinant, Mary Warren and Ann Putman ſaid they ſaw this woman upon her, Suſan Sheldon ſaith this was the woman that carryed her yeſterday to the Pond, Sus. Sheldon carried to the examinant in a fit and was well upon graſping her arm.
You ſaid you never heard before of theſe people.
Not before the warrant was ſerved upon me laſt Sabbath day, John Jndian cryed out O ſhe bites, and fell into a grevious fit; and ſo carried to her in his fit and was well upon her graſping him,
What do you ſay to theſe things, they can not come to you?
Sr I am not able to give account of it.
Cannot you tell what keeps them off from your body?
J cannot tell, J know not what it is?
That is ſtrange that you ſhould do theſe things and not be able to tell how.
This a true account of the examination of Eliz: How taken from my characters written at the time thereof.
Witneſs my hand
Sam. Parris.
While on trial, Elizabeth was held in prison in Salem WO4. There was a list of twelve witnesses against Elizabeth How, but the sworn statement of those who testified against Elizabeth included Timothy and Deborah Perley, Samuel Perley and his wife, Isaac Cummins, Sr. and Isaac Cummins, Jr. (whose testimony was extraordinarily bizarre and pertained to his horse, and not to Elizabeth whatsoever), Mary Cummings, Francis Lane, John How, Jacob Foster, Joseph Safford, and Thomas Andrews WO4. The testimony of some of the twelve witnesses (Joseph Andrews, Sarah Andrews, Thomas Heason, John Sherring, and the wife of Abram Howe) was either not included in the court record or has been lost WO4. Quite a lot of the testimony of these witnesses was due to superstition and often pertained to the horses or pigs they owned which suffered and/or died WO4. For example, Jacob Foster implied that Elizabeth How caused injury to his horse because Jacob’s father had prevented her from being admitted to the church of Ipswich, but in his own testimony, he stated that he repeatedly hit his mare WO4:
…I found my mare ſtanding leaning with her butocks againſt a tree I hit her with a ſmall whip ſhe gave a heave from a tree and fell back to the tree again then I took of her fetters and ſtruck her again ſhe did the ſame again then J ſet my ſhoulder to her ſide and thruſt her of from the tree and moued her feet then ſhe went home and leapt into the pauſture and my mare lookt as if ſhe had been miſerably beaten and abuſed
John How testified against his sister-in-law WO4:
The Teſtimony of John How aged about 50 yers ſaith that one that day that my brother James his wife was Caried to Salem farmes upon examination ſhe was at my houſe and would a have had me to go with her to Salem farmes J tould hur: that if ſhe had ben ſent for vpon allmoſt any aCount but witchcraft J would a have gone with hur bvt one that aCount I would not for ten pounds but ſaid I If you are a witch tell me how long you have ben a witch and what miſcheve you have done and then J will go with you for ſaid I to hur you have ben acuſied by Samuell pearleys Child and ſuſpacted by Daken Cumins for witchcraft: ſhe ſemed to be aingry with me, ſtell aſked me to come on the morow I told hur I did not know but I might com to morow but my ocaſhons caled me to go to Ipſwich one the morow and came whome a bout ſun ſaet and ſtanding nere my door talking with one of my Naibours, I had a ſow with ſix ſmall pigs in the yard the ſow was as well ſo fare as I know as ever one a ſuding ſhe leaped up about three or fouer foot hie and turned about and gave one ſqueake and fell downe daed I told my naibour that was with me I thought my ſow was bewitched for ſaied I think ſhe is daed he lafed at me but It proued true for ſhe fell downe daed he bed me cut of hur eare the which I did and my hand I had my knif in was ſo numb and full of paine that night and ſauerall days after that I could not doe any work and is not wholy wall now and I ſoſpected no other perſon by ſd ſiſter Elizabeth How.
Capt Jno How declared ye above written evidence to be ye truth before ye Jury of inqueſt.
June 30th 1692. upon his oath in court,
Witnesses who testified on Elizabeth How’s behalf included Samuel Phillips (a minister of Rowley who was then sixty-seven years old), Edward Paison (another minister of Rowley), Deborah Hadley (a neighbor of James and Elizabeth How who was then seventy years old), Daniel Warner, John Warner, and Sarah Warner (who were from Ipswich and stated they had known Elizabeth for about twenty years), Simon and Mary Chapman (Simon, aged forty-eight, had been a neighbor for about a decade), Joseph and Mary Knowlton (Joseph, aged forty-two, stated he occassionaly lived in James and Elizabeth’s house and had known her for a decade), and James How, Sr. (her father-in-law who was then ninety-four) WO4. James How, Sr. testified on behalf of his daughter-in-law, stating WO4:
information for Elizebeth How the wife of Iames How Iunr Jams How Senr aged about 94 ſayth that he liuing by her for about thirty years hath taken notes that ſhe hath caried it well becoming her place as a daughter as a wife in all Relation ſeting a ſide humain infurmitys as becometh a Chriſtion with Reſpect to myſelf as a father very dutyfully and a wifiſe to my ſon uery Carefull loveing obediant and kind conſidering his want of eye fight tenderly leading him about by the hand now deſiering god may guide your honours to ſe a differans between predigous and Conſentes. I Reſt yours to Sarve
James How ſenr of Ipſwich.
Dated this 28 day of June 1692.
A warrant for her execution was dated Tuesday, July 19, 1692 WO4.
On March 26, 1694, James How, Jr. of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts granted all his land, orchards, meadows, salt marsh, woodlots, houses, and barns to his son, John How of Ipswich “in Considerac[i]on of that parentall love & affection which he beareth to his son” ES18. This deed was witnessed by Abraham How, Timothy Perley, and Ebenezer Foster ES18. He also exonerated his son from any further payment aside from fifty pounds which was to be paid on or before James’ decease, or the whole to be paid within eight years of his decease ES18. He did this “for my Maintenance during my Naturall life… but if sd John should die before sd James then said Johns widdow and his hiers shall have One third of all ye said lands or value of it & ye rest to returne to me sd James & my hiers” ES18. An individual named John How died on May 22, 1697 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24, and John How was not named in the will of James How, Jr.
James How, Jr. wrote his will on November 19, 1701, which named his deceased daughter, Elizabeth “Jacson”, another daughter, Dabora How, another two daughters, Mary and Abigall How, his grandson, James How, and his two granddaughters, Martha How and Sa… (perhaps “Sarah”) AM1. A transcription of his will follows, but a great deal of the right side of this document has crumbled away AM1:
In the name of god Amen: finding my salf weak of body and groen [the previous word is unclear] into yers and not knowing the day of my dath I being in goo[d] understanding: doe make this my will: I doe Resigne my soull to god who gave it and my body to be deasantly buerid [buried] beleving that throu[gh] the merits of Jeasus Crist that thear shall be a Joyfull meting at the Reasoration [restoration or resurrection] of ye Just:
my will is first that all my Just depts be truly paied and funirall expencis: and than what the lord of his mercy hath Gevin me I doe dispes of as foloweth:
first my willis that my dafter Elizabeth Jacsons children shall have… Land that she died in position of the which she had of…
my will is that My Daughter Dabora How: shall have about… of madow. as it is laid out: be it more or leas: lieing in the wastm… so caled in the bounds of Ipswich:
I doe Give to my Granson James How five pounds in pa… to be paied to him If he live to the age of twanty one…
I doe give to my too grand daughters martha How and sa… twenty shilins appes in pay: whan thay com to the Age… yers or shall be maried:
my will is that I doe give to my other [the word between “other” and “daughters” might be “too”, but it is too faded to read] daughters Mary How and Abigall How as a Requtall of thair… thay have taken of me for severall yers and tha… tenanc: I doe Give to tham my hous barn… and salt march at Rowly to gether with all my mov…bells [the previous word might state “moveables”] both in dors and with out: to be equaly devided be tw et [the previous three groups of letters were spread out, but might mean “betwixt” or “between”] tham.
I does opint [appoint] my too daughters mary How and Abigall How… Exsacutrixis to this my will
Dated this 19 of November 1701
Jams how Juner
Signed sealed and declared before us
Witnesis:
Abraham How
A Abraham How Juner
John How:
James How, Jr. died on February 15, 1701 (probably 1701/2) in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. The inventory of his estate was conducted by John How and Abraham How on March 9, 1701/2 and included AM1:
his waring Clothes… Books thre bibells and other sarmon book… one father bead and beading belonging to it… chists and tabell and chairs and such lumbe [the previous word is uncertain]… for Peuter, bras and Ioren… six acers of madow in ye wast madows [West Meadows]… for salt march [marsh] in Rowly… the madow caled ye furder madow 18 acers… the whomstead upland and madow orchard and building… one know and one mear…
John How probably married Mary (Couper) Dorman TH26, TH27. Mary Cooper had previously married John Dorman on November 21, 1660 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10, who died by February 12, 1661, when the inventory of his estate was conducted TH26. According to the probate record of John Dorman, who died intestate, the administration of his estate was granted on March 25, 1662 to his widow, Mary Dorman TH26. This probate record referenced a debt from Thomas Dorman and a note that stated that Thomas Dorman of Topsfield made an agreement with Peter Couper regarding the settlement of an estate unto the daughter of Peter Couper, which he (Thomas Dorman) would give to Mary Dorman TH26. The will of Petter Couper of Rowley, dated January 3, 1667 and proved on March 31, 1668 mentioned his wife, Emm Couper, his children, Samuell, Mary, Deborah, and Sara, and then later mentioned his daughter “mary How” TH27.
He was the plaintiff against John Hutcheson in a court case held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on September 28, 1669 regarding a debt, for which the court ruled in his favor DO15. Amme Coper swore before Daniel Denison on September 28, 1669 that “John Hucheson was to pay John How for his horse in tobacco and sugar as it went from merchant to merchant” DO15. John Hucheson paid John How seventy-four pounds of tobacco and just over one hundred pounds of sugar, but acknowledged his debt of eight pounds and ten shillings DO15. Apparently, this debt was for a horse; “if the horse lived to Barbadoes, said How was to have his pay in tobacco and sugar, but if it died, he was to have but 4li., or if the horse was otherwise disposed of he was to have the money” DO15.
John How was the father of nine or ten children whose births or baptisms were recorded in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. These were Sarah, born on August 12, 1665, Mark, born on December 17, 1666, John, born on March 3, 1669/70, Ann, born on March 6, 1672/3, Samuell, born on March 27, 1676, Joseph, born on April 28, 1679, and Mary, born on January 31, 1680/1 VI10. Additionally, three children of John How, Sarah, Martha, and James How, were baptized on November 1, 1696 in Topsfield VI10.
Mary How, the wife of John How, died on March 2, 1676/7 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. Captain John How married Sarah Towne sometime before December 20, 1686 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10 (this was the date their daughter, Liddia, was born). They likely married between March 1677 and April 1679. Captain John How and his wife, Sarah “alias Sarah Towne” were the parents of six children whose births were recorded in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. These were Elizabeth, born on March 22, 1682/3, Liddia, born on December 20, 1686, Benjamen or Benjamin, born on January 5, 1688 or January 8, 1687/8, Hannah, who was born on March 1, 1690/1 and died on November 1, 1695, Abigell, born on August 6, 1692, and Joseph, born on September 30, 1697 VI10.
He married a widow named Sarah Dennis as his third wife ES18. Sarah Captain John How of Topsfield, Essex County wrote a contract dated December 25, 1706 which was witnessed by Daniel Rogers, Margaret Pynchon, and Sarah Rogers, which stated “that wheras a purpose of Marriage is Covntedd [probably “covenanted”] on & in a short time to be Consummated between Capt John How of Topsfield… & Mrs. Sarah Dennis relict widow of Mr Thomas Dennis late of Ipswich…” ES18. Captain John How of Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts wrote his will on May 19, 1725, which named his wife, Sarah, his sons, John, Benjamin, and Joseph, his daughters, Sarah, Amie (the will clearly stated the name “Amie”, and not “Ann”), and Lydia, and his minor grandson, Isaac (who was the son of Lydia) AM1. A transcription of his will follows AM1:
The Last will & Testament of Capt John How of Topsfield
In ye name of God Amen:
I John How of Topsfield in ye County of Essex in NewEngland being at this present of perfect understanding & memory but being far advanced in years & not knowing ye day of my death, have thought good to make such adesposall [probably “a disposal”] of my Temporall Estate which God of his grace hath given me in this world & in ye first place Committing my immortall soul into ye hands of my mercifull Creator & Redeemer whensoever it shall please God to take me out of this world & my body to a decent interment my will then is as followeth
Impr[imis] My will is yt my Dear & Loving wife Sarah How shall at my Decease shall have ye liberty of any one Room in my now dwelling house which she shall see good together with such priviledge in my cellar as she shall have occasion for, together with needfull firewood from time to time provided for her by my Executors here after Named, Also my will is yt at my Decease she shall have seven pound a year paid her in provision or in such things as she shall have occasion for during her widdow hood & in case she shall see cause to remove from where I now dwell she shall have liberty to take away some such necessary things as she shall have need of during her life & in case my wife shall die in my Name she shall have liberty to dispose of her wearing Apparrell of one sort or another as also of ye bed yt she now lies upon together with bedding & all needfull furniture thereunto belonging, & in case she shall see good to a bide where she now is she shall have ye improvement of all my houshold stuff during her pleasure, only such things as my wife is willing to spare shall be given to my Daughters here after mentioned as part of portion which I have orderd to be paid to them, also my will is yt my wife shall have ye use of profit of one cow during her abode here
2. my will is yt my son John shall have twenty pound in mony such as in passing among us paid to him by my executors as above said within four years afte[r] mine & my wife her decease & in Case my wife shall die within three years after my Decease then my son John shall have ye summ of Thirty pounds as mony paid him by my Executors or other wise Out [the previous word is unclear] as is before mentioned
3. My will is yt my two sons Benjamin & Joseph shall have ye whole of my Estate in lands & Housing as followeth, my son Benjamin shall have my dwelling house with half ye barn only my daughter Lydia shall have Liberty in my house to dwell therein until she shall or may be otherwise provided for, also my son Benjamin shall have all my upland on the side of the brook hard by my dwelling house, westward also that piece of meadow above ye bridge [the word after “bridge” was either scribbled out or the ink ran together and is now illegible] said brook & on ye westside of said brook as is aforesaid the orchard also on ye same side of ye brook already mentioned as also he shall have yt land which was Laid out to me by ye Commite Appointed by ye proprietors of Topsfield & laid out to me as a part of my Common Right adjoyning in part to my old orchard & also bounded Easterly by land of my Neighbour Perkins, & on ye Northerly on North East by land Laid out to Mr Capen as part of his common Right, also my son Benjamin shall have my piece of meadow with ye upland adjoyning to & lying hard [the previous two or three words are uncertain because they have been partially obscured by a small holes in the document] by ye dwelling house of m· John Capen also he shall have my other Land Laid out to me by ye Committee before said on ye still called Bare-hill about four or five acres, also he shall have two acres of my plow land on ye Easterly side of yt brook abovesaid & bordering on my new orchard, also he shall have half ye wood or timber being on my wood land on ye Easterly side of ye said brook adjoyning to land of Clark Perkins. And then my son Joseph shall have all my upland & meadow Lying on both sides of ye brook aforesaid, excepting only what is already mentioned, also my son Joseph shall have my new orchard & all my woodland before mentioned that is ye soil [the previous word is uncertain] of it with half ye woods or timber upon it, also my son Joseph shal have my Cottage Rights on ye south side of ye River called Ipswich River, also my son Joseph shall have Leberty to choos where he pleases such a part of my homestead ye upland on ye west side of said brook to set a dwelling house upon also my son Benjamin shall allow to my son Joseph fifteen pound in his Labor or otherwise towards building of him a dwelling house, as for my stock of cattell my two sons last mentioned shall have an Equall share therein only my son Joseph shall have one cow over & above as his brother Benjamin hath had already, also my will is yt in Case my sons Benjamin & Joseph shall see cause to sell their proportion of land they may do it provided they sell to one another my meaning is yt he of them yt is so minded to sell shall sell to his brother that is Benjamin to Joseph or Joseph to Benjamin & not to any other person with out ye liking or consent of ye other brother of those two mentioned, also my son Benjamin & Joseph shall have an Equall share in my Instrument of Husbandry. also my will is that both ye orchards mentioned they shall mak the Cider together & divede it Equaly between them, also my will is that these two of my sons Benjamin & Joseph shall be Executors of this my last will & & [sic] Testament & what corn or other provision shall be found in my house at my decease shall be at my wives dispose. also my son Joseph shall have ye other half of my barn
4. My will is yt my three Daughters Sarah, Amie & Lydia shall have all my houshold stuff equaly devided among them, my meaning is [the previous word is uncertain] so as to make up to each of them with what they have had already ye sum of twenty pounds or more if my within door moveable estate will hold out, also my will is yt my Daughter Lydia her child Isaac if he shall live to ye age of twenty one years shall have ten pounds as mony paid to him out of my estate by my executors above said who also shall be at ye cost of my own & my wife her buriall, also my will is yt where as I have five pound mony in ye hand of Capt Thomas Baker of Topsfield which if I do not call in before my death my Daughter Lydia shall have ye said five pounds toward ye bringing up of her child, also my will is yt my sons Benjamin & Joseph shall be helpfull to their sister Lydia as there shall be occasio[n] or as her necessity shall require, also my will is yt all my wearing apparel shall be Equally devided among my three sons above mentioned also my Bookes shall be equally deveded among all my Children; And in Testimony of ye truth of what is above written I ye said John How Senr have here unto set my hand & seal this nineteenth day of May Anno Domini one thouseand seven hundred & twenty five & in ye Eleventh year of ye Reign of George of great Brittain France & Ireland King
John How Sanr
Signed Sealed & declared to be as is abovesaid ye last will of Capt John How in presence of us witnesses
Israell Clarke
Dan Clarke
Joseph Capen
Captain John How died at age ninety-one on December 16, 1728 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10. Sarah How, a widow, died on May 6, 1730 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts VI10.
Mary How married Nehemiah Abbott on December 14, 1659 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Nehemiah Abbott was the father of two daughters named Mary who were born and who died in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; Mary was born on November 19, 1660, and another Mary was born on November 1, 1665 VI23, but died on December 12, 1668 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. Nehemiah Abbot of Ipswich died intestate; an inventory of his estate was conducted by John How and Abraham How on February 28, 1706/7 and included AM1:
Books… waring Cloaths… beads & beading [beds and bedding]… house & barn orchard & homstead… outLands... & meaddow... one ox & Two cows... two heifers & a colt… six sheep… Iron pots & tramels [trammels]… Iorn weadges fyer slise [fire slice] & tonges… hoops & Boxes chains yoak Iorn… plow shears [plow shares] axes hous [hoes] & fork… smothing [smoothing] Iron & other Iorns… fyer arms & sword… peuter plats platers & porrigers [porringers]… Loum [loom] & weaveing tools… Eathen ware wooden dishes trays… barills tubs & Lumbers… Chayers tables & wheells… Chest Cubberd & Boxes… sheets pillowbeers & table Lining…
His probate record stated that his widow was Mary and that his only child was Nehemiah AM1. Mary Abbot was called a widow when she died on January 11, 1730 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.
Sarah How was born about 1644 DO14.
Abraham How was born about 1649 DO15 or 1651 DO19. He was about twenty years old when he and John Bridges were deposed in a court held in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on September 28, 1669 in the case of Tobiah Colman (the plaintiff) vs. Allen Perly (the defendant) DO15. Abraham How married Sara Pabody on March 26, 1678 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24. He was about thirty years old when he and his father testified before Samuell Appleton on November 28, 1681 in the case of John How (the plaintiff) vs. Mr. Richard Collicut and Mr. Nathaniell Greenewood (the defendants) held in a court in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts November 29, 1681 DO19.
Abraham How was the father of Love How, born on January 15, 1678 (probably 1678/9), and Increase How, born on April 12, 1680 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. Abraham and Sarah How were the parents of two children whose births were recorded in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. These were Abraham, born on June 27, 1686, and Israell, born on January 24, 1692/3 VI23. He was also the father of Samson, Abijah, and Mark How AM1. According to Daniel Wait Howe, Samson How was born on November 13, 1682, Abijah How was born on August 17, 1689, and Mark How was born on March 28, 1695 HO17.
Abraham How died intestate on January 21, 1718/18 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24, AM1. Articles of agreement pertaining to the settlement of his estate were signed by Abijah How, Israell How, Mark How, Love How, Increase How, Samson How, and Abraham How in the presence of John Hobsen and Moses Davis, the witnesses, on March 10, 1717/18 AM1. The signers were called children of Abrah[am] How, deceased by John Appleton, the Judge of Probate for Essex County AM1.
Articles of Agrement made, and Concluded and fully agreed upon by us the Subscribers Children of our honrd father mr Abraham How Late of Ipswich in the County of Essex In the province of the Massachusets Bay In New England deceased Intestate, Is as folloeth:
Imp[rimi]s that our honred Mother, mrs Sarah How, shall have Left for here In our brother Marke Hows hands the valew of two hundred pounds, whare of Marke How is to have Annually tenn pounds out of the two hundred pounds, during our Mothers natural Life… and the said Mark How is to mainetaine our honred Mother and find here all things necessary for here age, during here natural Life,
And Love How together with what she had, and seaventy pounds more to be paide to here by sd Mark How In Goods as money as province she does Give up all here right In here fathers Estate;
And Increas How with what he hath already had Mark How fulfilling that bond or obligation his Honrd father Gave him upon Mariage that is that part not paide…
And Sampson How with what he hath all ready had of his father to gether with thirty pounds more to be paide him by sd mark How within the terme of fiften years after the date hear of does aquitt his whole Right In his fathers Estate to sd Mark How,
And Abiiah How, and Israell How whith what they have had all Ready to Gether with seaventy pounds to Each of us paid by by [sic] our brother mark How att or before the terme of tenn years doe aquitt our whole right In our fathers Estate to sd mark,
And Abraham how for what his Honrd father hath alredy Given him by deed baring date, Janaway [January] onethowsand seavenhourd and eleven, I am fully satisfied and Contentd, and doth here by aquitt my Right In my Honrd fathers Estate; mark How paying all my fathers Just Depts…
Sarah How, the widow of Abraham, died on September 29, 1732 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.
Rebecka How married Steven Barnerd on May 1, 1671 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Stephen and Rebekah (or Rebeckah) Barnard were the parents of five children whose births were recorded in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2. These were John, born on March 25, 1674, Hannah, born on March 7, 1677/8 or 1678/9, Nathaniell, born on November 31, 1682, James, born on December 28, 1686, and Robert, born on March 28, 1689 VI2. Stephen Barnard died at age seventy-four on February 12, 1721/2 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Rebeca Barnard, the widow of Stephen, died on April 15, 1725 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3.
Benjamin Muzzie and Elizabeth How witnessed the will of John Cross of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, which he wrote on November 1, 1650 SA21. This will was proved in a court held in Ipswich on March 25, 1651 on the oaths of Benjamin Muzzy, Elizabeth How, and Robert Lord SA21. She was probably the Elizabeth Howe who was deposed on December 26, 1650 before Samuel Symonds and swore that “she heard Joseph Muzzy say that John Broadstreet had three or four bastards at Roade Iland, and that he was going there and hoped to see them” DO12. Hers was one of several depositions given by witnesses for the slander case of John Broadstreet, the plaintiff, against Joseph Muzye, the defendant; the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff DO12. Elizabeth How was named in the will of her father, John Dane, which he wrote on September 7, 1658 (a partial transcription of his will follows) AM1:
I giv to my dafter Elizibeath How a black Cow which is now att Andiver in the hand of georg Abat to be delivered to her after my deseas Imediatly… I giv to my daftur Elizibeth How a litl kettle & un pewter Candlestick ther to bee delivered imediatly after my deseas
Elizabeth How was about fifty years old when she “testified in substance” before Daniel Denison on June 27, 1664 for the trespass case of Nehemiah Abbott (the plaintiff) vs. John Bridges (the defendant) court held in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on June 28, 1664 DO14. Elisabeth How, the wife of James How, Sr., died on January 21, 1693/4 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI24.