Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume One, Issue 2 Spring 1996
Howerton: The Correct Spelling?
Howertons in the American Revolutionary War
FIRST HOWERTONS IN AMERICA
By Bryan R. Howerton
We have not been able to positively identify the location in England from which the first Howertons departed for the American colonies. Several people, including myself and, most notably, Doris Walton of Stillwater, Oklahoma have searched in England for Howerton roots. Shropshire was the only area in which past residence of a significant number of Howertons was found. In addition, Doris found records of a group of Howardtons (including a John and a Thomas) in the Northumberland area at about the time of the departure of our ancestors. Oral tradition handed down among various American Howertons variously attributes our origin to England, Wales, and Scotland (in that order). The numerous claims that our first Howertons came from England or Wales lends some support for the idea that they were a part of the group found in Shropshire at that time. However, positive identification of their home in England is still lacking.
Persistent family legend, among some Howerton lines, indicates that three brothers arrived in America at about the same time. Search of early colonial records fails to support the legend, unless the William Howton who witnessed a deed on 28 October 1668 in Essex (Old) Rappahannock County, Virgina could have been the third brother. No other record has been found of a likely third brother. If that William Howton was a brother, it is possible that he died early as suggested by the high mortality rate among European settlers in this country during that period. His name has not been found in any later records.
The first two Howertons in America of which any record has been found were Thomas and John Howerton. No record has been found of entry into this country by any other Howertons. Both arrived in this country from England in 1663 in indentured status - Thomas in Virginia Colony and John to Maryland Colony. We do not know what motivated Thomas and John Howerton to venture to America. Both were young men who were born and raised during a prolonged period of civil strife in England. The restoration of Charles II to the throne following rule by the Cromwells and the attendant civil unrest may have been a factor in their decision; particularly, if they had supported Cromwell. We have found no record indicating their choice of government. It is noted that, with few exceptions, their children were named after English royalty. This may have resulted from respect for the crown or may have been influenced by local practice generally observed in early Virginia. Examination of replicas of sailing ships of that period, which are presently moored at the site of Jamestown Colony in Virginia would indicate they were desperate or adventurous and extremely courageous to attempt crossing the Atlantic Ocean in such small, fragile vessels. We have become so accustomed to the many comforts and conveniences of our age that it is almost shocking to examine these small ships and realize the risks, discomfort and hardships experienced by the early colonists in the crossing of the Atlantic.
Attempts to determined why they settled in different colonies resulted in discovery of a 1663 headright claim by Francis Holland of Ann Arundel County, Maryland for the transport of 20 named people (including John Howerton) to America. The name of Thomas' sponsor to Virginia is less clear - Richard Hamlett was awarded a headright for the transport of Thomas Howstone, and Christopher Lum was the sponsor of Thomas Houghton; our Thomas may have been either or neither. We know that the name under which our John and Thomas were subsequently entered into colonial records was "HOWERTON". Although, that name was frequently misspelled as explained in another article in this edition. Research of this problem led to the discovery of a statement by an intellectual (the name of whom has been forgotten) of the period, who was quoted as saying: "I have no respect for a man who can only spell a word one way". The scribes of (Old) Rappahannock and Essex County, Virginia must have agreed with him.
Perhaps our ancestors came to America simply to improve their lot in life and that they certainly did. The period of indentured service required in payment for transport to the colonies varied from time to time. They were fortunate to have arrived at a time when that period was at the lowest term found during our research of records. After serving his obligated period of indentured service, Thomas Howerton settled in (Old) Rappahannock County, Virginia, on land that straddles the line between present-day Essex and King & Queen Counties, Virginia. The present village of Howertons, in Essex County, Virginia probably lies on land originally owned by him. The date of the first acquisition of land in Virginia by Thomas Howerton has not been determined; however, in 1670 he and William Covington sold 300 acres of land they jointly held in (Old) Rappahannock County. The deed refers to both Howerton and Covington as "Planters"; which would indicate they were established holders and farmers. The ancient Indian trail, Assnamonnock Footpath, crossed their land and much of their attention was directed to dealing with the Indians. The Indians occupied a large village nearby until at least 1722. They raised subsistence crops and were self supporting. Their principal money crop was tobacco. Their casks of tobacco was rolled down to the Rappahannock River for shipment. The port conveniently located there was regularly visited by ocean going ships. It was called New Plymouth, which name was changed to Hobbs His Hole in 1680 and was subsequently named Tappahannock.
Thomas Howerton and William Covington apparently entered into a compatible partnership soon after Thomas' arrival in America. On 20 May 1674 they purchased 365 additional acres of land near Great Dragon Swamp. The low area in which they had settled was unhealthy, raw, primitive, and required drainage and clearing. Their partnership continued at least until April 1683, when they divided their land on both sides and through the swamp. In the years that followed there was a long association and many marriages between descendants of the two men. Thomas owned considerable land in his own right which fell into Essex and King & Queen Counties upon the discontinuation of (Old) Rappahannock County in 1692. The part of Great Dragon Swamp in which the land was located is today identified as Dragon Run. This is a beautiful area which has been extensively cultivated in the past, but much of which is now covered by second-growth timber.
Across the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Maryland, John Howerton was granted 400 acres identified as "Howerton's Range" by royal patent in 1670. Within the patent, John is identified as a "Planter." His land was located near the present-day naval air station on the Patuxent River and was still known as "Howertons Range" in the 1960s. Unfortunately, John died in 1676, leaving three minor children. The inventory of his estate includes "A man servant with seven months to serve" - which would indicate that person had been indentured for a considerable length of time. This was not bad for a man who was himself first indentured thirteen years earlier.
One of the most perplexing problems in research of our family has been the failure to identify the wife of either Thomas or John. No clue as to the identity of John's wife has been found. In the case of Thomas, there are those who insist his wife was a daughter of John and Anne Cole and that may well be true. Regrettably, records reviewed offer only circumstantial support for such a conclusion. Efforts are on-going to identify these ladies and any progress will be promptly reported in this publication.
Thomas and John fathered lines that have served our county well. Almost without exception they have been honest, law abiding citizens with a deep faith in this country. They were primarily farmers, but their numbers also included teachers, preachers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, frontiersmen, woodsmen, miners and career military personnel. Included in the military were several Colonels and at least one Admiral. They navigated the rivers, trading the produce of upriver settlements in Saint Louis and New Orleans. Records have been found of their travel on the Natchez Trace, horseback travel from tidewater Virginia to central Kentucky, family migration by boat down the Holston, Tennessee, and Ohio Rivers and by ship around from Virginia to New Orleans then up the Mississippi to Saint Louis and beyond.
They fought Indians of several different tribes within an area encompassed by a line from tidewater Virginia to central Florida, west to Louisiana, north to the Great Lakes and southeast back to Virginia. They volunteered wherever and whenever their country, state, county or community called; a practice which has continued to this day. Following the Civil War, some fought Indians in the western United States. Large numbers of them served either the Northern or Southern cause in the War Between the States. Many lost their life defending their cause. They have served honorably in every war in which our country has been engaged from colonial days through to the present time, including Somalia.
JOHN WILLIAM HOWERTON (or William John) was born in Indiana about 1875 to Phillip Howerton and Rebecca Atkins and is connected to the greater Howerton family back to 1663. By 1880 the family was living in Spruce Township, Bates County, Missouri. His father and mother moved to Bourbon County, Kansas, by 1900. His parents continued to live in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Linn counties the remainder of their lives. John married Mary Lela Tremaine about 1900. According to Beulah Howerton Brunner (deceased), a cousin from Blue Mound, Kansas, John William was a Methodist preacher and school teacher, as were his brothers' Elmer and Ernest. In 1910 he was living with his wife and three sons, all born in Kansas, in Scott County, Arkansas. The family moved to Fairfax, Atchison County, Missouri, and lived there in 1920. Beulah Brunner said he was the minister of the Methodist Church in Blue Mound in the late 1920s or early 1930s.
The oldest son, Lyle E. was born about 1899/1900. Walter was born in 1903/1904 and in 1962 was reported to be living in Wichita, Kansas. The Walter Howerton (SSN 513-14-2421), born 5 September 1903, died in Wichita, Kansas, Zip 67210 in December 1981, could have been the second son. The youngest son, Glenn was born about 1905 and in 1962 was reported to be a school teacher in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is possible, the Glen Howerton (SSN 447-12-9279) who was born 14 January 1905 and resided in Del City, Oklahoma at the time of his death in January 1972 was the son of John William and Mary.
Mary Lela Tremaine Howerton was buried in the Old Elsmore Cemetery in Elsmore, Allen County, Kansas. We have no record of the death and burial of John William. Is our information on the sons correct? Did they marry and have families? Who are their children?
LEE JAMES HOWERTON was the son of Richard Lemuel Howerton and Narcissus Jones. We can link him back to the early Virginia Howertons. His family moved from Knox County, Missouri, and was living in Malta Township, Valley County, Montana, in 1900. In the summer of 1904 the family moved to Leavenworth, Chelan County, Washington. According to family reports, Lee moved from Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
He was born on 28 February 1886 in Plevna, Knox County, Missouri. His death was in Coeur d'Alene in January 1964. Lee probably moved to Idaho after the death of his wife, Cora S. Gwynn on 6 January 1917, as she died and is buried in Leavenworth, Washington.
Lee and Cora had two known sons, Charles and Jack, both born in Leavenworth, Washington. Apparently, they moved to Idaho with their father after Cora's death. Charles married Lilly Houghton and had two boys and two girls. Their only known child was Albert. Jack married a woman named, Leona, and their known children were daughters' Cora and Penny. It is believed Charles and Jack both died and was buried in Coeur d'Alene. We are seeking any information on Lee James Howerton his two sons and their children.
ERNEST DURWARD and KATHARINE JANE HOWERTON were the children of Ernest Tilden Howerton. Their father was born 19 October 1879 in Newman, Douglas County, Illinois. He served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines during the Spanish American War. After living about ten years in Illinois, he and his family began a period of wandering. They lived in ten different places over a period of eleven years. Ernest was married to Cora Vivian Harper. They had the two children on whom information is sought. Ernest spent many years in the Veteran's Hospital in Los Angeles, California. He died on 22 September 1956 and was cremated.
Ernest Tilden Howerton had a son, Ernest Durward Howerton who was born on 22 March 1904 in Edgar County, Illinois. He died in April 1969 in Saint Louis, Missouri, Zip 63123. Apparently, Ernest spent a significant part of his life in Missouri where he was issued SSN 490-01-1779. We are seeking information about his family. Did he have a wife and children? His name probably appeared in the St. Louis city directory. The newspaper probably printed an obituary on him.
Katharine Jane Howerton was born on 13 February 1906 in Edgar County, Illinois, to Ernest Tilden Howerton and Cora Vivian Harper. We know nothing about the daughter.
(NOTE! Since this article was printed, we have obtained an obituary for Edward Durward Howerton. He worked for the St. Louis newspaper for more than fifty years. He had two daughters.)
RICHARD LEMUEL HOWERTON, JR. He was the son of Richard Lemuel and Narcissus Howerton from Plevna, Knox County, Missouri. He was born 24 February 1894 in Plevna and died 5 April 1958 in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington. Richard served in the Army Medical Department during World War I. He married Cleo Mae Harrison who was born 28 August 1904 and adopted by his uncle Redmon Howerton. She died on 16 December 1989. Richard and Cleo had six known children. Their oldest child, Ted L. Howerton was born in 1922 in Leavenworth, Chelan County, Washington and died in 1945 during World War II in Mindanao, Phillippines.
The children of Richard and Cleo for whom we only have names are Jimmy, Esther, Ruby, Shirley and Don. They were probably born in Leavenworth, Chelan County, Washington. We do not know the dates of their birth, where they lived, if they got married or if they had children. Any information would be helpful.
ERNEST EDWARD HOWERTON, was born on 24 March 1905 in Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas. His father and mother were Edward James Howerton, born 15 August 1876 in Apodaca, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Ernestine Vela. Edward was the son of William James Howerton, a Confederate officer veteran who went to Mexico after the Civil War (we will write an article on him in a later issue). William's grandson, on whom we are seeking information, attended the Baylor Medical College (Texas) where he received his MD in 1930. After graduation he went to San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, where he was still practicing medicine in the 1960s. Some Howertons visited him in the 1960s and wrote of his pleasant personality and gracious nature. He died in November 1976.
Ernest had one known sister, Grace Lee Howerton, who was born 17 August 1907 in Starr County. She received her BA degree from the Incarnate Word Academy in San Antonio, Texas and became a school teacher in the San Antonio Public Schools and was last known to reside at 827 Woodlawn Avenue in San Antonio.
We do not now know if either Ernest or Grace married and had families. Apparently, they were distinguished citizens of San Antonio for many years. A check of the San Antonio city directories from the 1930s through the 1980s would reveal something about them. When Ernest died in November 1976 the San Antonio newspaper probably had an article about his life, work and family. We would like to know something about this brother and sister.
Canadian Howertons
We have been unable to link the Howertons living in Canada. A young lady in Canada sent a list of all the Howertons listed in the white pages of the Canadian telephone directories. They listed sixteen different Howerton names and eleven had an address shown. We know that a William Henry Howerton moved from the United States to Canada in October 1915. He became a naturalized citizen of Canada (Certificate #30341, Series B) at which time he was a farmer in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, Canada. The reverse side of that certificate is said to contain the following information: Born in Williamson County, Illinois 19 October 1869; U. S. Citizen; Age 63; Height 5'5"; Color White; Complexion Fair; Gray eyes; Gray hair; Mole on right side was listed as distinguishing mark; and two minor children were listed, Borley born 19 January 1912 in Mayville, Oklahoma and Laska born 6 March 1914 in Mayville, Oklahoma. Please write if you know anything about any of the Howertons in Canada.
HOWERTON:
THE CORRECT SPELLING?
By John F. Howerton
The last week of January, while visiting the Regional National Archives in Laguna Nuguel, a motel clerk spelled our name "Howardton." When told that was wrong, she wrote "Howardon." She got it right when I said, "How-er-ton." Two nights later, I filled out the card at another motel and spelled out out name in large block letters, HOWERTON. The next morning, when checking out the name on the printout was, "Hoverton." Almost every Howerton has had such an experience. Misspelling our name has occurred repeatedly throughout American History. When Thomas Howerton migrated from England about 1663 they apparently spelled his name incorrectly as Thomas Howstone or Thomas Houghton.
In 1980, Anne Bryant Arrittt, the great-granddaughter of Eldred Howerton of Halifax County, Virginia, prepared an article discussing the variety of spellings for the name Howerton in early Essex County. She saw the names' Haywarton, Haywerton, Hayworten, Harwarten, Hawarten, Haverton, and Hourton in documents. Anne said, " . . . I wondered how any one of these names related to Howerton." From her research she contributed an article to the Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 18, January 1980, Number 1, pages 131ff, entitled, "Thomas Howerton (Thomas Haywarten/Haywerton/Hourton) of Essex County [Virginia]."
She abstracted documents from Essex/ (Old) Rappanhannock County, Virginia to learn if the various spellings were actually those of Thomas Howerton. In Rappahannock Records: Deeds and Wills (1671-1672-1676) No. 5, she found the name Haywarton but in Deeds and Wills (1681-1688) No. 7 she found the name Thomas Howerton used twice. In both cases his business was with William Coventon. In another document in the same volume, William Covington and Tho. Howerton were again involved. They listed Thomas' name as Haywarton. Repeatedly, a variety of spellings were used for Thomas' name.
In a second article by Anne Arritt, "Thomas Howerton of Essex County (a continuation of the previous article)," she found the spellings Thomas Hawarton, Thomas Hawerton, Thomas Haywerton, Thomas Haywarton, Thomas Hayworton, Thomas Hawarton, and Thomas Howrton in a variety of documents dealing with property and people known to have been involved with Thomas Howerton. In Essex County Wills (1757-1762), Book 11, page 23, the Will of Thomas Howerton, who died in 1757, has both his name and his childrens' names spelled "Howrton". On page 24 where a bond was made involving his will, the name of the same people is spelled "Howerton."
In a classic case, Thomas Howerton who was married to Jane Gilby, was the executor of the estate of his deceased father-in-law, John Gilby. The court records of 17 Jan 1726 which document that action spell his name variously as: Thomas Hawarton, Thomas Hoywarton, Thomas Haywerten, and Thomas Hourton.
The reasons for the variety of spellings for the name Howerton seems apparent. Many early Howertons could not read and write as it evident by the number who could not sign their names and made their mark. The deeds, wills and other documents involving their dealings were written by a clerk, accountant, lawyer or court official who spelled the name, phonetically. What was true of the Howerton name was also true of the Covington name in many of the same documents. A variety of spellings were used for many names.
When they adopted the United States Constitution, it required that a census be taken every ten years. The main purposes of the census were to count the population to set the number of representatives to which a state was entitled and to apportion taxes among the states. They took the first census in 1790 and listed only the heads of families. The census takers or enumerators often wrote the names phonetically. We know that some enumerators made notes and filled out the census forms later. We were reading census reports one afternoon and found ten different spellings for families we knew to be Howertons. When Bryan and I combined our lists of spellings used for name, Howerton, we had the following: Havarton, Hayerton, Hoverton, Howerdon, Haverton, Heurton, Howardon, Howernton, Hawarden, Hooverton, Howardton, Howertan, Hawarton, Hoowarton, Howarten, Howertin, Howerten, Hourhton, Howartin, Howington, Hawerton, Hourton, Howarton, Huerton, Hovarton, Howerden, Haywarton, Howtone, Overton and others.
The name Hourton was a name that originated in France and was not necessarily a corruption for Howerton. There were other family names of people who came from France and Germany that were the same as some of the corrupt forms of the Howerton name. Often researchers must try to figure out which family and name was intended by the enumerators.
The frequent misspelling of Howerton often creates problems in our research. For example, some people apparently believe they are related to "those Howertons in Howerton, Pennsylvania." Much time that could have been more productively spent resulted in the disclosure of the following: "Hauerton, or Howertown, laid out by Mr. Hauer, is on the road from Bethlehem to Mauch Chunk - contains eight dwellings, one tavern and a school house. Near it is a German Reformed and Lutheran Church (Page 64, History of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon, and Schuylkill Counties, by I. Daniel Rupp, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1845, Library of Congress No. F157 A18 R97. The Rand McNally Commercial Atlas compounded the error by showing a Howerton, Pennsylvania. In a 1994 letter an editor for the Atlas agreed it was an error and indicated the new edition of the Atlas would change the name.
Dr. Thomas W. Jones in "Howerton to Overton: Documenting a Name Change" (National Genealogical Society Quarterly, September 1990) used tax records that showed how they slowly changed the name Howerton to Overton. On the tax rolls from 1781-95 they identified family members as Howertons. From 1796-1802 the name was in transition and both Howerton and Overton was used interchangeably. Between 1802 and 1840 they had accepted the spelling Overton. Apparently, one child of William Howerton/Overton took the name Overton and moved to Kentucky as Beverly Overton. Another child of William and Bathsheba (Perry) Howerton/Overton was James Howerton, baptized 23 October 1784, in the James Northam Parish of Goochland County, Virginia. Apparently, he continued to use the name Howerton.
In Lowndes County, Alabama, in 1840 there lived Joel Howerton and his wife, Elizabeth. They had a son, Hartwell Howerton. Joel died when the boy was young. Elizabeth Howerton remarried and listed her name as Elizabeth Howinton on the marriage license. The son of Joel Howerton was for unknown reasons known as Hartwell Howington and served in the Civil War using the name. Hartwell and his descendants continued to carry the name Howington.
On 14 August 1965 a group of Howertons in North Carolina had their 13th Howerton Reunion at Frieden's Community House. Friedens Lutheran Church in Guilford County has been a gathering place for Howertons in the area since before the Civil War. The Howertons of the County have buried many of their loved ones in the cemetery. The announcement promised, "a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker, a farmer and even an undertaker."
In the early 1960s the descendants of Reuben Howerton of the Wakenda area of Carroll County, Missouri, started an annual reunion and often meet near Montrose, Missouri, for the event. Howertons who descended from Reuben came mostly from Kansas, Missouri and Texas to visit and eat. The annual reunion has since divided in several groups and each hold it's own reunion.
Bill Howerton of Kentucky sent an announcement from several years ago about a Howerton Reunion on his farm and included the directions for finding his place. The Howertons of Washington state, according to reports, have a large reunion attended by several hundred people.
Several Howerton Reunions are planned this spring and summer. We have received four announcements about Howerton Reunions. Apparently, holding family reunions is a tradition with the Howertons throughout the United States.
McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois The descendants of Alonzo (Lon) Howerton will hold their annual Howerton reunion in McHenry, Illinois. Their ancestor, Lon, was the son of Samuel, and grandson of Reuben of Carroll County, Missouri. Our grandfather and Lon were first cousins and we attended their reunion in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, in 1994. It was a very enjoyable experience. Often, other descendants of one of old Reuben's other sons attend this reunion.
Fairview, Major County, OklahomaJohn Phillips Howerton was born in Tennessee. His first wife, Louisa A. Donaldson, died in 1887, and left him with a large family. When the Oklahoma land rush took place, John took part. John's second wife, Seba A. Lusk Bugbee was the head of her household at the time and also took part in the land rush. The couple became early settlers in Major County.
John's brother, Joseph Edward Howerton was married first to Minerva S. Wilfords and after her death, he married Mary V. Doran. He had a total of twelve children and moved to the Fairview area of Major County.
Many descendants of the brothers made their homes on farms around Fairview while other descendants lived in Fairview. Today, many descendants of the brothers still live throughout Major County. During the first part of May their descendants will meet in the Fairview Community Hall for a large Howerton Reunion.
Pauls Valley, Garvin County, OklahomaWilliam (Wiley) Howerton was living with two brothers and a sister in the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma in 1900. By 1910 he and his wife, Ethel, were living in Garvin County. In 1920 the couple lived at 113 Spruce Street in Pauls Valley. Wiley and Ethel raised their family of nine children in Paul's Valley. Their son, William Calloway (Cal) Howerton, age ninety-three, still lives there. The descendants of Cal Howerton and Elsie Jewel Johnson have an annual two-day reunion in the Turner Falls area, south of Pauls Valley. Descendants come from across the United States gather to remember their ancestors and visit their kin.
Carlsbad, Eddy County and Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico The Howertons in these two New Mexico towns are all related. They have a family reunion every Labor Day weekend in Mayhill, Otero County, New Mexico to visit and keep the bonds of kinship strong.
If your family is planning a reunion, we would be pleased to write about it in HOWERTON HERITAGE. Write and tells us the details and the announcement will be printed. We would also like a story about any annual reunions, including the place they were held, the number of people present, and the Howerton ancestors of the group.We will send pedigree forms and family group sheets for any family reunion if you will let us know. If you will give us the name of your ancestor and a couple of weeks notice, we will try to find him and printout what we have in our files.
HOWERTONS
In the American
Revolutionary War
By Bryan R. Howerton
Those who have searched for records of individual service during the American Revolutionary War are aware of the scarcity of factual evidence. The primary problem being that practically all those records maintained by the federal government were destroyed when the British sacked our capitol during the War of 1812. The National Archives in Washington does have "compiled" records of military service of some, but by no means all, those who served in the war. These records were generally compiled from data contained in requests for bounty land warrants and pension claims submitted after the War of 1812 by veterans of the Revolutionary War. Howertons serving in the war must have been true patriots, as few of them ever requested pensions for that service; a commendable attitude, but one which has resulted in little knowledge or record of their military service.
We, who are descended from Southern patriots, can search through the sometimes musty records in individual county courthouses and are sometimes rewarded with factual information concerning our ancestor's Revolutionary War service. County court records, especially "Order Books", often contain rosters of militia units, records of unit activity, records of promotion of individuals, and activation/deactivation dates. Problems with county court records include poor maintenance and faded or illegible writing. Many have been destroyed by accidental burning of courthouses and, in the South, deliberate destruction by Union troops during the War Between The States. In addition, two primary references available in many large libraries which are most helpful are Boogher's "Virginia Gleanings" and Gwathney's "Virginians in the Revolution." Boogher's work is most helpful when searching for data prior to the American Revolutionary War.
Some books and movies portray the American continental soldier as an inept person, ill-suited for military service. The truth is that the Southern patriot readily adapted to military service. From the earliest colonial times, able bodied men were required to join the militia units organized within each county. These men and units met regularly for drill and instruction and were proficient in the use of small arms. They were frequently activated for service against Indians and performed well. For example, circumstantial evidence indicates the original Thomas Howerton probably participated in tidewater skirmishes during Bacon's Rebellion, although official documented proof has not been found. One John Howerton served in a militia unit manning a fort against Indian attack in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1750s. Three brothers: Thomas, John, and Obediah Howerton served in an Essex County, Virginia Company of Foot during the French and Indian War. Obediah died unmarried, shortly thereafter, some say his death resulted from that service.
No record has been found indicating that any Howerton served the British during the Revolutionary War. It appears that practically all, if not all, Howertons served America is some manner. The term "Patriotic Service", as used below, is the term used by the Daughters of the American Revolution to indicate Revolutionary War service rather than as a member of the armed forces. Unfortunately, documented service has been found only on the following, who were all born in Essex County, Virginia except one William, as shown below:
JOHN HOWERTONborn ca 1725, son of Thomas Howerton and Jane Gilby. He served as a Private in the 5th Regiment, Virginia Continental Line. His exact period of service has not been determined; however, his pay records for part of 1776 and 1777 were found. In addition, records of the 5th Virginia Continental Line report him as sick in June 1777 and again in July of the same year.
HERITAGE HOWERTON born ca 1734; son of Thomas Howerton and Jane Gilby. He was a prosperous planter and older than the average soldier, as were his brothers. Yet he served as a Lieutenant in the Essex County Virginia Militia in the Carolinas and Virginia. He was engaged at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina where his unit suffered many casualties. He was also present at the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia where his command was assigned as a Pioneer Unit (roughly equivalent to a present-day Corps of Engineers unit). His unit assisted in the excavation of trenches which enabled the Americans to approach and overcome the fortified British at Yorktown. Some of the earthworks they constructed are still visible today. He was privileged to witness the surrender of Cornwallis. Heritage has been fondly remembered and his name has been continued to present generations of Howertons, many of whom have been named "Heritage" or "Tage". Heritage also performed patriotic services by the contribution of beef and brandy for the army.
JAMES HOWERTON born ca 1736. He served as a horseman in the Prince William County, Virginia Militia. The nature and extent of his service has not been determined. Two years after his death, in the settlement of his estate, a voucher for 21 owed for his service was issued by the federal government.
CHARLES HOWERTON born ca 1755, son of Heritage Howerton and Catherine Crutcher. Charles was a well-educated attorney and a planter. Although records state that he performed Revolutionary War services, the exact nature of those services have not been identified. The noted historian, Ann Waller Reddy, stated that he was a Captain in command of a company of militia. A footnote states "see her for details". She was deceased before an attempt was made to establish contact with her. Charles performed patriotic service through the contribution of brandy for use of the army.
JAMES HOWERTON born ca 1756, son of Thomas Howerton and Grysillah (_______). He enlisted as a Private in 1775 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He served in Captain John Morton's Company, Colonel Scott's Virginia Regiment, later called the 4th Virginia Regiment and commanded by Colonel Adam Stephens. James participated in skirmishes at Portsmouth and Suffolk, Virginia then traveled to Head of Elk River in Maryland and from there through Philadelphia and Newark to New Brunswick, New Jersey where they joined General George Washington's Army following their retreat from Fort Washington. He is known to have participated in the Battles of Long Ridge, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown. He was encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and endured the hunger and terrible cold during the severe winter of 1777-1778. He one of the two Howertons known to have applied for a Revolutionary War Pension, which was granted.
WILLIAM HOWERTON born 1759, son of Thomas Howerton and Grysillah (_______). This William Howerton holds the undisputed record for the number of enlistments known to have been served by Howertons during the war. Although his total length of service is less than some others, he served in a harsh, primitive area against a savage foe. He lived in Washington County, Virginia at the beginning of the war and served primarily against the Indians in East Tennessee and West North Carolina. He was also engaged against the British and Tories at Shallow Ford (on the Yadkin River in North Carolina) and is believed to have participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain. His first service 1 Sep 1776 - 1 Jan 1777 was as a Private in Colonel Christian's Virginia Regiment, which was engaged against the Cherokee Towns along the Tennessee River. His next service, June-November 1777, was in Colonel A. Campbell's Regiment and again served against the Cherokee Towns. In May-July 1779 he served on the frontier as a spy in Captain A. Bowen's Spy Company ( Spy was the term used to designate a scout or ranger). His fourth period of service, August-October 1780 entailed service in the area of King's Mountain and on the Yadkin River in North Carolina where the Tories were repulsed at the Battle of Shallow Ford.
(Note! For the benefit of those historians who may see this, the dates ofservice as supplied by William in his application for a pension would exclude the Battle of Shallow Ford which occurred on 6 February 1781. However, the application was submitted over fifty years after his service, at which time he was about seventy-five years of age. There is no doubt that he was present at the Battle of Shallow Ford, as he claimed. His age, the elapsed time, and the number of enlistments served all probably contribute to this discrepancy.)
His last period of service, January-May 1781, was performed primarily in North Carolina and South Carolina. He stated that he was detached to General Pickens command, but doesn't say whether he was engaged in the Battle of Ninety-Six, although that command was there. Apparently, he always volunteered when a need arose and served both on foot and mounted. He eventually moved to southwest Virginia where he was instrumental in the formation of Scott County, Virginia. Later, he traveled through the Cumberland Gap to the Floyd/Morgan County area of Kentucky where he spent the remainder of his life, dying 18 August 1841. He was the other Revolutionary War veteran to apply for and received a pension for service.
JOHN HOWERTON born ca 1760, son of William Howerton and Mary Hayes. He enlisted as a Private on 10 February 1778 in Parker's 5th Virginia Regiment of Foot. At least part of the time he was a Waggoner. He was at White Plains and West Point in New York and also served in the 3rd and 9th Virginia Regiments of Foot. John was discharged 28 February 1779. His patriotic service included the contribution of beef for use by the army on several occasions.
WILLIAM HOWERTON was born ca 1760 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia or Edgecombe County, North Carolina, the son of Thomas Howerton. On 5 May 1776 he enlisted for 2 years in Ballard's Company, Shepard's 10th Regiment of North Carolina Continental Line. Little is known of his service.
WILLIAM HOWERTON born 9 May 1762, the son of William Howerton and Mary Hayes. Old family records state that he served as a Private of Infantry during the American Revolutionary War. No details of that service are given or known.
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