My mother is Elsie Howland Copp born 1920. Her father was Thomas Stanley Howland born 1894 in New Bedford Mass. His father was Henry D. Howland married to Annie M. Simpson. That's as far back as I know for sure. What I'm trying to do is find out if my lineage goes back to the Mayflower. I am new at this and not really sure what to do. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
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1870 MA, Ne wBedford, Bristol Co, Ward 1, pgs 96-97, Family 648/819: Thos A. Howland, age 47, House Carpenter, born MA, Eliz T, age 44, Kp House, born RI; Mary E, age 18, George T, age 12, Henry D, age 9, Wm R, age 5, all born MA.
Could not identify an Abigail born ca 1786, nor Deborah born ca 1810 in New Bedford, MA yet.
This could be your Thomas Stanley, as names on census records change often.
Then since there is NO 1890 census, you have to go to the 1880 MA, Bristol Co, New Bedford, page 23/106, ED 109, Thomas A. Howland, age 50, Carpenter, born ca 1830, MA, (no wife); Eliza M, age 26 daughter; George, age 22, son; HENRY D, age 18; Wm R, age 16; then the gold mine happens: it list a Deborah Howland, age 70, a cousin; then Abigail, age 94, Boarder. However, this Abigail the boarder could be the mother of the cousin Deborah, or a mis labeled mother of Thomas A. Howland.
This is a very rare find in the census and a treasure as it gives you names to follow for proofs.
So somewhere before 1880 the wife of Thomas A, has died or divorced him and is gone from the census.
You will have to follow this Thomas A. family to and thru the 1870 and 1860 MA census to find out if indeed it is the father of your Henry D. Howland.
I would check the Bristol Co, MA records for the will or probate of Thomas A. Howland, to see if he died in MA, and if it mentions a son Henry D. and any wife or children of Henry. This way you can make sure it is the correct family.
There are tons of Howland's in MA, esp around Bristol area, so it is a minefield to be careful that you have the correct family.
The 1900 MA census for Henry Howland and Annie M, state they had been married for about 12 years, which would make their marriage 1888 ca, and I would check for that in Bristol Co, MA also.
Good luck, you can do this.
You will need to be a little closer to the Mayflower lineage books to find your link.
Check the online site for the Mayflower Society, and see if they have a second volume of the Mayflower Ancestral Index.
I have the Volume 1, dated 1981, and the only two Henry Howlands in it married a Phebe Baker, and the next Henry married a Jane Eliza Gray.
Seems you need to find your next two or three generations to jump to the Boat.