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SETH HOWLAND (1715–1759), son of NATHAN HOWLAND and FRANCES COOMBS

LYDIA COBB (b. 1718), daughter of JAMES COBB and THANKFUL THOMAS

Seth Howland, the son of Nathan and Frances Howland, was born on 1 January 1714/5 in Middleborough.1 He died on 3 April 1759 in Middleborough.2 Seth Howland and Lydia Cobb, both of Middleborough, were married on 25 January 1738/9 in Middleborough.1

Lydia, the daughter of James and Thankful (Thomas) Cobb, was born on 17 October 1718 in Middleborough.2

The 6 April 1748 division of Lydia's father estate includes Lydia, the wife of Seth Howland.2

On 15 May 1736 Seth Howland, husbandman of Middleborough, sold a house and fifty acres that had belonged to his grandfather Mr. Isaac Howland and been left to his father Nathan Howland to Elkanah Leonard of Middleborough.2

On 3 April 1759 James Cobb of Middleborough was appointed the guardian Seth's minor son Nathan Howland.2

No probate records have been found for Seth Howland.2

Children of Seth Howland and Lydia Cobb: Recorded as the children of Seth and Lydia in Middleborough.1

i. Drusilla Howland was born on 22 August 1739. Mrs. Drusilla Howland of Middleborough married Archippus Cole of Middleborough on 19 November 1761 in Middleborough.1 Archippus died on 20 June 1819 and is buried in the Rock Cemetery in Middleborough.3

Lieutenant Archippus Cole of Middleborough served in Amos Wade's company in the Lexington Alarm.4

Moses Simmons attached Archippus Cole, forge man of Middleborough, on a note with interest at the April 1787 court of common pleas in Plymouth. At the same court, Zebulon Leonard attached Archippus, refiner of Middleborough, for a note for the delivery of "good Bloomery Bar Iron."5

Archippus was a juror at the April 1782 court of common pleas in Plymouth.5

Thomas Wood attached Archippus Cole, gentleman of Middleborough, for a note at the April 1786 court of common pleas in Plymouth.5

ii. Nathan Howland was born on 27 February 1741/2. He died on 20 June 1830 in Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont. He married Priscilla Drew.

iii. Deborah Howland was born on 18 March 1747/8. She married David Thomas on 7 September 1764 in Middleborough.2 David was probably the son of William and Mary Thomas, born on 23 March 1741/2 in Middleborough.1 Captain David Thomas died on 19 February 1820 and is buried in the Old Yard Cemetery in Stowe, Vermont.3,6

David received a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. On 13 April 1818, David—then of Stow—testified that he was 76 years old and that in July 1775 he had received a commission in Captain James Keith's company, Colonel Paul Sargent's regiment in the Massachusetts Line. He had joined at Cambridge for six months and at the end of that time he received a lieutenant's commission in the same company. He served until the end of 1776 and then returned home to Middleborough. He said that he was old and infirm; he had moved from place to place and had little property.7

iv. Betty Howland was born on 14 July 1754. Mrs. Betsey Miller, the wife of Mr. Jedidiah Miller died on 14 January 1832, age 81, in Middleborough.1 She married Jedidiah Miller on 13 February or 9 March 1772 in Middleborough.2 Mr. Jedidiah Miller died on 8 March 1838, age 94 years, in Middleborough.1

References:

1. Barbara Lambert Merrick and Alicia Crane Williams, Middleborough, Massachusetts Vital Records, 2 vols. (Boston: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1990, 1987), vol. 1: 21, 69 (births), vol. 1: 63, 147, 186; vol. 2: 70 (marriages); vol. 1: 436; vol. 2: 25 (deaths).

2. Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700–1880," digitized books, AmericanAncestors, vol. 8, Degory Priest, pp. 176–7, citing Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620 (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1975–2015).

3. "Archippus Cole," Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157096592/archippus-cole). "Capt. David Thomas,"Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65689124/david-thomas).

4. "Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620–1775," database with images, AmericanAncestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB494/i/13253/30/236084956) > Militia Companies and Officers in the Lexington Alarm, p. 30.

5. "Plymouth County, MA: Plymouth Court Records, 1686–1859," database with images, AmericanAncestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB213/i/7630/68/0), vol. 9: 97; vol. 10: 30, 68–69.

6. "Vermont Vital Records, 1720–1908," database with images, Ancestry > 1870 and prior > Thomas, A.–Thompson, K., image 447.

7. "Revolutionary War Pensions," database with images, Fold3 > Massachusetts > T > Thomas > David Thomas, citing NARA RG 15, M804 Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files.

Last revised: 17-Jan-2022