Bearce, Mary

Mary married West, Elisha on 10 Dec 1718. Elisha was born on 12 Mar 1693. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

James, was admitted as a townsman in 1683, being then only 23 years old. In the division of the Meadows in 1694, he had 4 acres and in the final division of 1697 the same Number was confirmed to him. In the division of the Co. Lands of 1673, his name does not appear according to the rules adopted for the admission of townsman and the division of Company Lands. these facts indicate that James was married in or before 1683, as no unmarried men under 24 years of age were admitted townsman. the proportion indicate's that he was a man who had good property, 2.5 to 3 being the average. he moved from Barnstable to Plympton, Mass. perhaps in 1685. In 1694 he bought a large track of land on the east shore of Monponsett Pond, within the present limits of the town of Halifax, Mass, and moved there with his family soon after. He lived a quite and a blameless life, and as fast as his sons grew to manhood he divided his large holdings among them.

James married Howland, Experience in 1683. Experience (daughter of Howland, John Jr. and Lee, Mary) was born on 28 Jul 1668 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA; died between 1669 and 1758. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Lee, Mary on 26 Oct 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. Mary was born in 1625 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., MA; died after 06 May 1693. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Mayflower: # 19049
• Tombstone Photo: Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA; Burial Hill

Notes:

From: The Pilgrim Republic, An Historical Review of the Colony of New Plymouth. 1920
"Still the storms continued, sometimes forcing the battered "Mayflower" to "lie to" for days. On one of thee occasions, John Howland, "a lusty young man", came on deck, when in a "seel" of the ship he was licked up by a wave and carried overboard. The coil of the topsail-halyards had also been washed over, and trailed in the sea. Howland being fortunate enough to catch this, though the waves rolled over him fathoms deep, kept his grip until hauled alongside, where he was safely fished up with a boat-hook. A short illness was the result; but John was reserved for many a year of noble to the Colony."

John, came in the Mayflower, as servant or steward of Mr. John Carver. Signed the compact; took an active part in the explorations of Mass. Settled at Plymouth. Town officer; a partner in the trading Co. of the colony; assistant or deputy almost continually. Prominent in the church, so that he" assisted in the imposition of hands" upon Rev. John Cotton, Jr. when he was ordained pastor June 30, 1669. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Tillie.
He died 2-23-1672, " a profitable instrument of good; the last man that was left of those that came over with the ship called the Mayflower that arrived at Plymouth". He made will May 29, Pro. March 6, 1672. Grown aged; Bequeathed. to wife Elizabeth his house in Rockey Nook, in the Town of Plymouth and made her residuary legatee; Bequeathed. to sons John, Jabez, Issac, Joseph; to daughters, Desire Gorham, Hope Chipman, Elizabeth Dickerson, Lydia Browne, Hannah Boswoth, and Ruth Cushman; to. Grandchildren, Elizabeth Daughter. of his son John.
John Howland the 13 signer of the Mayflower compact made at Cape Cod, November11, 1620. Came from Essex, England; Queen Elizabeth granted the Howland's their Coat Armor in 1584, the family beginning with Bishop Howland, who performed the obsequies { funeral services} for Mary Queen of Scots. On the voyage to America during a mighty storm John Howland was thrown into the sea, but grasping the top sail halyards that were thrown out to him by his friends, he was safely drawn on the vessel. He was the last survivor of the Mayflower, and he took part in the { first encounter} great meadow creek, December 1620; Governors Assistant, 1633 to 1635. In command of the Kennebec Trading Post 1624. Deputy to General court 1641. Info Colonial Families of the United States of America.

Printed in Pennsylvania Political, Governmental, Military and Civil Biographical Volume 2 by Frederic A. Godcharles, pg 271. "The Howland family of our interest is probably of Essex origin, but the parentage of the immigrant ancestor of the line, John Howland, is unknown. The will of Humphrey Howland, a draper of St. Swithin's, London, dated 1646, mentioned his brothers, George, of St. Dunstan's in the eastern part of London, and Arthur, John and Henry. An Arthur and Henry Howland, known to have been brothers, came to Plymouth as early as 1625. Arthur Howland later removed to Marshfield, and Henry Howland to Duxbury. Humphrey Howland in his will mentioned a debt owed him by Mr. Ruch of New England, amounting to sixteen pounds, and divided it among his three brothers, Arthur, Henry and John.
(C.E. Banks: "English Ancestry and Homes of Pilgram Fathers," p. 65.)
(I) John Howland was born in 1594 and was one of that noteworthy company who sailed for New England on the "Mayflower" in 1620. Where he came from is not known. During a storm, while the "Mayflower" was crossing the Atlantic, John Howland was carried overboard by the waves. Governor Bradford describes the incident: "In a mightie storme a lustie yonge man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above ye gratting, was with a seele of the ship throwne into ye se; but it pleased God yt he caught hold of ye top saile halliards which hunge overboard, and rane out at length; yet he held his hould till he was held up by ye same rope to ye brine of ye water, and then with a boat hooke and other means got into ye ship again and his life was saved; and though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after, and became a profitable member both in Church and commone wealth."
When the vessel reached Cape Cod, he was among the party of ten who were sent out to select the location of their new homes. They were driven by a storm into Plymouth Harbor, which they chose for the settlement. Prior to landing, the passengers drew up the Compact which became the basis for their government. John Howland, then aged twenty-eight, was the thirteenth singer.
He was frequently called to public office. From 1633 to 1636 he was a member of the governor's council, in 1633 and 1634 assessor, in 1636 served on the jury, and in 1666 was selectman of Plymouth. He represented the town as deputy from 1652 to 1656 and in 1658, 1661, 1663, 1667, and 1670. A few years after founding of their colony, the Pilgrams established a trading post on the Kennebec River in Maine, of which he was placed in charge. While there he was obliged to defend the post from the encroachment of John Hocking, who attempted to trade within the limits of the Plynouth patent and who killed Moses Talbot, one of Howland's men. The event caused considerable excitement at the time. his other public service, consisting of laying out land, settling disputes, constucting highways and serving on various town committees, made him a man of repute. He was appointed by the church ro join in the imposition of hands at the time of the ordination of John Cotton, Jr. His home was at Rocky Nook, Plymouth, but he acquired land in other townships, including one hundred acres on the east side of Taunton River, some upland and meadows in Middlebury, and at Satuckett and Paomett, as well as several grants at Plynmouth itself. He died April 23, 1672-73. His will is dated 1672 and was exhibited in court March 5, 1673. It is probable that his grave in on Burial Hill, where a headstone was placed by descendants in 1836. It is now in the possession of the Prilgram John Howland Society.
John Howland married, August 14, 1623, Elizabeth Tilley, daughter of John Tilley, who came over in the "Mayflower" with her father. Children: 1. Desire, of whom further. 2. John, married Mary Lee. 3. Jabez, married Bethiah Thatcher. 4. Hope, married Elder John Chipman. 5. Elizabeth, married (first) Ephraim Hicks; (second) John Dickarson. 6. Lydia, married James Brown. 7. Ruth, married Thomas Cushman. 8. Hannah, married Jonathan Bosworth. 9. Joseph, married, February 7, 1664, Elizabeth Southworth. 10. Issac
(F. Howland: "Genealical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry and John Howland," pp 18, 315-323. Prilgram John Howland Society: "John Howland, a Mayflower Pilgram," pp. 31-34. Goodwin: "Pilgram Republic," p. 293)
(II) Desrie Howland, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married Captain John Gorham. (Gorham II.)
(The "Mayflower Descendent," Vol. I, pp 9, 11; Vol II, pp. 70-77; Vol III, pp. 181-83. A. Otis: "Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families," Vol I, pp. 1569-65. F. Howland: "Howland Family in America," pp. 316-24.)"

John married Tilley, Elizabeth on 14 Sep 1623. Elizabeth was born in 1596 in Henlow, Bedford, England; died on 13 Dec 1687 in Swansea, Bristol Co., MA; was buried in Swansea, Bristol Co., MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptised: 30 Aug 1607, Henlow, Bedford, England; St Mary of the Virgin's Church

Notes:

She died at the home of her daughter, Lydia Browne. Elizabeth was
buried Dec. 1687 in Brown Lot, Little Neck Cemetery, Rhode Island.