John Howe was born 20 November 1620 in Hadnall, Shropshire, England and died 28 May 1680 Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Mary Martha Jones (1618-1698) 1639 in Hadnell, Shropshire, England.
Biography
It seems that John Howe , an colonial immigrant from Shropshire, was the first white inhabitant who settled in the town of Marlborough MA. He probably came to the place as early as 1657 or '58, and built himself a cabin a little east of the Indian planting field, about one-third of a mile north-easterly of Spring Hill Meeting-House, where the late Edward Rice resided. Though his habitation was in the immediate vicinity of the native tribe of Indians, he succeeded in securing not only their friendship, but their entire confidence and esteem. This place was in possession of his descendants for several generations. He is listed on their petitions and houselot assignments.
Marlborough Settlement
John Howe (1620-1680), in 1656 was a fur trader who built a house at the intersection of two Indian trails, Nashua Trail and Connecticut path, next to this settlement. He could speak the language of the Algonquian Indians though the local tribe referred to themselves as the Pennacooks. The settlers were welcomed by the Indians because they protected them from other tribes they were at war with.
In the 1650s, several families left the nearby town of Sudbury MA, 18 miles west of Boston, to start a new town. The village was named after Marlborough, the market town in Wiltshire, England. It was first settled in 1657 by 14 men led by Edmund Rice, John Ruddock and John Howe; in 1656 Rice and his colleagues petitioned the Massachusetts General Court to create the town of Marlborough and it was officially incorporated in 1660.
Family & Marriage
Probably married in Massachusetts shortly after immigration.
- John Howe (1640-1676)
- Samuel Howe (1642-1713) - md 1) Sarah Bent and 2) Martha Leavitt
- Sarah Howe (1644-1707) - md 1) Samuel Ward
- Mary Howe (1645-1646)
- Isaac Howe (1648-1724) - md Frances Woods
- Josiah Howe (1653-1710) - md Mary Haynes
- Mary Howe (1654-1684)
- Thomas Howe (1656-1733) - md (1) Sarah Hosmer & (2) Mary Barron - prominent citizen of Marlboro MA and active in 1675 King Philip's War.
- Daniel Howe (1658-1660) - md Elizabeth Kerley
- Alexander Howe (1660-1661)
- Daniel Howe (1663-) - twin born probably 18 Jan 1662/63
- Eleazer Howe (1662-1736) - twin born probably 18 Jan 1662/63
Children
Siblings