Thomas Howlett

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210. Ensign Thomas Howlett (c. 1605/6–1677/8)

Thomas Howlett was born about 1605/6. [1] He died between 4 November 1677 and 10 September 1678. [2] He married Alice French by 1637. [3, 593] Thomas married second Rebecca Smith. [4] Rebecca was the widow of Thomas Smith and she died on 1 November 1680 in Newbury. [2]

211. Alice French (bp. 1610–1666), daughter of Thomas French

Alice, the daughter of Thomas French, was baptized on 9 April 1610 in Assington, Suffolk. [2] Alice, the wife of Ensign French, died on 26 June 1666 in Ipswich. [3, 593]

Thomas Howlett was admitted to the church in Boston on 1 April 1633. [5] He was a freeman on 4 March 1633/4. [6]

Thomas was apparently trained as a surveyer and was often called upon to lay out bounds. [2]

Thomas was one of those to go with John Winthrop, Jr. to form the plantation of Ipswich. [5] He was a deputy to the Massachusetts Bay general court for Ipswich on 6 May 1635. [2]

Thomas was referred to as sergeant as early as 13 March 1638/9. [2]

Mr. Bradstreet sued Sergeant Howlett "concerning herds of cows" at the 29: 1: 1642 court in Ipswich. [7, 1: 41]

In his will of 1 March 1643 Robert Andrews of Ipswich commended his son John unto Thomas Howlett as his guardian. [7, 3:163]

On 16 June 1644 Alice French, the wife of Thomas French of Ipswich, desired letters of dismission from the church in Ipswich. [2]

Thomas was confirmed as ensign at Ipswich on 14 May 1645. [2]

In his will of 27 February 1657, John Robinson, wheelwright of Ipswich, left Alice Howitt, wife of Thomas Howett, ten pounds. He left Thomas Howlett, Jr. his chest and tools. He left the rest of his estate to Thomas Howlett, Sr. [7, 2:70]

Thomas Smith chose his father-in-law [stepfather] Ensign Thomas Hewitt as his guardian on 28 March 1671. [7, 4:345]

Thomas wrote his will on $ November 1677; it was proved on 24 September 1678. He left his wife Rebecca a cow, two heifers, an annuity of five pounds and the goods that she brought to the marriage. He gave his son Samuel 50 acres that had been intended for his [deceased] son John, two 20-acre lots in the thick woods in Topsford and four acres of meadow; he was to pay part of Rebecca's annuity. He gave his daughter Sarah Cummings four acres of the Hasakey meadow; the rest of the meadow went to Samuel, and four pounds. He left Alice Cummings [the daugher of his son Thomas] 20 shillings. He said that he had given his daughter Mary Perley 23 pounds and left her another 22 pounds. He left Thomas's wife and daughters 100 acres. The residual was left to his son William, who was to be the executor. Inventory was taken on the estate of Deacon Thomas Howett on 10 September 1678 and it amounted to £452 11s. 4d. [2]

Just before her death, Rebecca Howlett tried to sue her stepson William Hewitt. In the course of the Thomas Dorman testified that Thomas Howlett had said that he did not meddle with the geese and turkeys of his second wife because she had been a good wife to him. [7, 8:10–11]

Inventory was taken on Rebecca's estate on 3 November 1680. [2]

Children of Thomas Howlett and Alice French:

i. Thomas Howlett was born say 1637. He on 22 December 1667 in Ipswich. He married Lydia Perley. [In Cummings Family pages]

ii. Sarah Howlett was born say 1639. She died on 7 December 1700 in Woburn. She married John Cummings.

iii. John Howlett was born about 1643. [5] He died in 1675. [4] He married Susanna Hudson [4] by 22 January 1670/1. [9] Susanna, the daughter of Francis and Mary Hudson was born on 15 December 1645, baptized on 21 December 1645 and died after 2 September 1704. [9] She married second Edmund Perkins [4] on 8 May 1678 in Boston. [9]. Edmund was probably born in England and died before 26 January 1693/4 in Boston. [9] She married third Christopher Sleg [4] after 30 October 1696 (int.). [9] Christopher died on 25 November 1697 in Boston; his first wife, Elizabeth Unknown, died on 10 August 1696 in Boston. [9]

On 20 March 1672 John Hallet, mariner of Boston, bought a house and land in Boston. [5]

iv. Mary Howlett was born say 1645. [2] She married John Perley about 1665. [2]

v. Deacon Samuel Howlett was born say 1646. [2] He died on 11 March 1720 in Topsfield. [10, 230] He married Sarah Clark on 3 January 1670 in Topsfield. [4][10, 156, dup. 157] Sarah was born in 1651. [4] She died on 26 March 1717 in Topsfield. [10, 230]

Samuel Howlett, blacksmith of Topsfield, made his will on 24 January 1714/5. Bond was posted on 23 May 1720. [8, 14091]

vi. William Howlett was born in 1650. [4] He died in 1718. [4] He married Mary Perkins on 27 October 1671 in Topsfield. [4][10, 157] Mary died in 1728. [4] William and Mary had not children. [4]

vii. Nathaniel Howlett died on 28 April 1658 in Ipswich. [3, 593]

Endnotes:

1. "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6 (1852), 343, citing various depositions: 52 in 1658, 60 in 1665, 60 in 1666.

2. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633, Vols. I–III," digitized book, AmericanAncestors, 1024–8.

3. Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, vol. 2 (Salem: Essex Institute, 1910).

4. Clarence Almon Torrey, "New England Marriages to 1700," digitized book, AmericanAncestors, vol. 2: 804–5.

5. "Boston, MA: Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630–1822 (Thwing Collection)," database with images, AmericanAncestors, 10964–5.

6. "List of Freement," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3 (1849), 92.

7. George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Essex Institute, 1911 - 1975.

8. "Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors.

9. Alicia Crane, "Early New England Families," database with images, AmericanAncestors, Francis Hudson (m. 1640).

10. Vital Records of Topsfield, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield: Topsfield Historical Society, 1903).

Revised 23-Mar-2020