Notes for Joseph Howard

Notes for Joseph Howard

!Howard Bible: born on May 5, 1769, the event occurred in Queen Caroline Parish. After the death of his father and the re-marriage of his mother, he selected his uncle, Brice Howard, as his guardian. By license issued in Baltimore Co., on September 9, 1789 he married his cousin, Polly, the daughter of Thomas Cornelius Howard and Eleanor Ridgely his wife.

!From web data: On May 11, 1802, he declared himself as the son and heir of Joseph Howard of Cornelius, late of Anne Arundel County, deceased, and for #1000 he deeded to Thomas Worthington Howard several plantations lying partly in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, namely, "White Oak Orchard" of 116 acres, "Poor Man's Beginning" of 50 acres, "Chestnut Ridge" of 40 acres, "Howard's Chance" as purchased by his father, Joseph Howard of Cornelius of William Hanks on August 21, 1761, "Pool's Desire" in Baltimore County of 26 acres, and "Wilks & Liberty" as granted to Cornelius Howard on July 20, 1770 for 650 acres and "Warfield's Forrest" as decreed by the Chancelor that Seth Warfield should convey to the aforesaid Joseph Howard.
He became apprehensive over the finances of the importing firm of his father and brothers. He with his brother-in-law, Ely Gassaway, applied to his uncle and former guardian, Brice Howard, for a settlement. Brice Howard delivered them #152/10/10, and it appeared that Ely Gassaway signed a bond. Brice Howard declared at that time there were several debts owing to British firms which had not been paid. Brice Howard died in 1799 and his son, George, was granted letters of administration.
Joseph Howard ultimately sued George Howard for his share of the assets of the importing firm which was an occasion for several depositions not so favorable to the complainant. It was alleged that he bribed one Baily Sanders, a renegade to testify in his defence with the promise of a house and lot.'
One question which was brought out in the suit was the age of Joseph Howard, the Complainant, and several contradictory statements were made. William Ridgely, aged 62 in 1804, stated that he knew "Ely Gassaway of Thomas" and that he also knew the year the Complainant was born "very well it was early in 1766 and that he was called upon to stand as God Father for him ..... that Joseph Howard, father of the Complainant, married his sister". Benedict Dorsey, born 1766, stated that he went to school with Joseph Howard and that it was also considered that he was older than Joseph Howard. Ely Gassaway, however, produced a copy of the ages of the children of Joseph Howard Sr., and it was recorded that Joseph Howard, the Complainant, was born on May 5, 1769.
Much local color was brought out relative to Baily Sanders who testified in Joseph Howard's behalf. William Ridgely stated that he discredited any oath that Baily Sanders would make. He came to Maryland in the summer of 1775, a convict servant, and was indentured to Abel Warfield. Sanders reputed the statement and said that he came in 1771, and that he served Abel Warfield seven years. Susannah Warfield, aged 70 in 1804, certified that she knew Baily Sanders upward 30 years, that he served her husband seven years and that "his general character was that of a great lyar". Zachariah Warfield, aged 39, said that he knew Baily Sanders and that he had heard that Joseph Howard, the Complainant, had offered him a house and lot for his testimony. It was also stated that Sanders was a drunkard. Joseph Penn, aged 50, stated that he was at Abel Warfield the day he bought Baily Sanders in 1775 or 1776.
Brice J. Gassaway said that Abel Warfield did the smith work for the three Howard brothers in trade and that Brice Howard, a partner, was a brother to Henry Gassaway. Brice J. Gassaway, aged 49 in 1804, furthermore stated that Baily Sanders kept a negro woman as his wife and that they had several children. William Ridgely Jr., aged 35, said that he "twice drove some of his Father's negroes from the house of the said Sanders".
Brice Howard in 1797 had stated that he was not in possession of the books of the partnership. They were stolen during his absence from home about two years ago by some one unknown and that he had made his answer to the Bill of Complaint of Joseph Beall and Rachel his wife against Cornelius Howard and Brice Howard. Joseph Howard, the Complainant, stated that "Brice Howard did in order to check and defraud them [He and Ely Gassaway) changed the condition of the bond".
Rachel Gassaway deposed that "She formerly was the wife of Ely Gassaway and always understood that she was a daughter of Joseph Howard, deceased. She was lawfully married to Ely Gassaway . Richard Young stated that he was a brother-in-law to Ely Gassaway and that he had married a daughter of Thomas Cornelius Howard.
Richard Owings in 1803 deposed that he knew the Complainant for about 12 years and that "he is a very contentious, dishonest man and to his knowledge he knew him to be such, that he owed him money on two accounts which he now denies". Samuel Gaither in 1805 stated that he heard that Joseph Howard and Ely Howard owed George Howard's father some money and furthermore that Joseph Howard owed him money, acknowledged it at one time, but denied it later.
Other depositions were made in 1804 by Walter Worthington, aged 39; Gassaway Watkins, aged 47; Elizabeth Simpson, aged 82; and Robert Israel, born December 1765.

!From web site: Joseph Howard executed his last will and testament on January 6, 1824, being probated in Anne Arundel County on July 26, 1825. The witnesses were Ephraim Gaither, Samuel Ayton and Lloyd Dorsey.
To wife one-third of the real and personal estate during widowhood, then to his two children, Cornelius and Ellen. To his two children, Cornelius and Ellen, the residue of the estate.
At probation Thomas Worthington Howard, who had been named the executor by the testator, renounced all rights of administration and requested that letters of administrator be issued to the widow, Mary Howard. During the law suit over the estate of Thomas Worthington Howard it was stated that Cornelius Howard, son of Joseph and Mary Howard, was deceased, leaving two daughters, Mary Elizabeth Howard and Sarah Eleanor Howard. The estate of Joseph Howard was distributed on April 17, 1827, when the widow, Mary Howard, received one-half of the balance and the remainder was divided between Azel Waters in right of his wife and the heirs of Cornelius Howard.
The will of his widow, Mary Howard, was dated May 28, 1829, and probated in Anne Arundel on August 18, following. She devised her daughter, Elener, the land "which I bought of my son-in-law Azel
Waters", and varied legacies to her Waters grandchildren, namely, Mary Ann. Joseph Howard, Washington, Rachel Howard and Isabel E. O. Maddox Waters. To her granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Howard, she willed negroes. Ephraim Gaither was named the executor who refused to act, whereas Azel Waters and his wife, Eleanor, and Rachel Howard requested that letters of administration be granted to Thomas W. Watkins.
Her personal estate was distributed on June 14, 1890, by Thomas W. Watkins, when it was divided among Mary Ann Waters, Mary Elizabeth Howard, Joseph Howard Waters, Washington Waters, Rachel Howard Waters and Isabella E. O. Maddox Waters."