Howell Research
Howell Line
By Don Taylor

In my wife’s Howell line, the father of Peter M. Howell is still unknown. In “Searching for Peter M Howell’s father,” I knew that Peter’s father:

• He was probably born between 1760 and 1785.
• Resided Charlotte County, VA. 1805.
• Resided Buckingham County, VA 1807.
• Died Buckingham County, VA 1817-18.
• Based on the 1810 Census, his father is likely either Gideon or Pleasant.

In The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, Page 14, Peter mentions, “we settled on my brother Henry’s land, where we lived until the fall.” So, I thought researching Henry might provide clues to his and Peter’s parents.

Relationship – Ancestor #32

List of Grand-ancestors

4. – Grandfather: James Dallas Howell (1879-1964)
8. – 1^st Great-grandfather: Peter Fletcher Howell (1842-1924)
16. – 2^nd Great-grandfather: Peter M. Howell (1805-1865)
TBD. – 2^nd Great-granduncle: Henry Howell (c. 1807-____)
TBD. – 2^nd Great-granduncle: Gideon Howell (c. 1808-____)

---

1870 Census

Virginia, Buckingham County, Marshall Township, Page 26, Lines 22, 23:

• Howell, Henry    63 M W. Farmer 500//100  Virginia – Citizen
• —, Judith         72 F W. Keeping House,     Virginia
• Call, Susan       21 F W Domestic Servant   Virginia – cannot read or write.

---

1860 Census

Virginia, Buckingham County, District 2, Page 36, Lines 28-30:
Post Office: New Canton

• Howell, Henry    53 M W. Farmer 500//2000 Virginia
• —, Judeth        55 F W.                         Virginia

The Agricultural Schedule indicates his farm is one of the smallest farms in the area. It comprised 77 acres; 40 acres of his property were improved, and 37 were not. He had three horses, one cow, and seven swine. He grew corn, oats, tobacco, and potatoes.

The 1860 Slave Schedule indicates that Henry had four enslaved individuals—a 65-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man, an 18-year-old mulatto woman, and an 11-year-old mulatto boy.

---

1850 Census

Virginia, Buckingham County, District 1, Page 739, Lines 25-28:

• Gideon Howell         42        Farming          $375
• Mary                           50
• James                         18        Labourer
• Henry                         43        Labourer

It appears that Henry is living with his brother (possibly a cousin) Gideon and Gideon’s apparent wife, Mary. Gideon has an apparent son, James, living with them. The indexer indicated that James’ middle initial is S, and Henry’s is I. However, I don’t see enough difference between the enumerator’s S, I, and J to be confident of either’s middle initial.

---

1840 Census

Virginia, Buckingham County, District 2, Page 16, 18^th name down:

Gideon Howel – 1 – – – 1 – – – – 1  || – – – – – 1 || 2 1 – – – – || 2 – – 11

Males

• 5-10    Apparently, James, age 8
• 30-40 Apparently, Gideon, age 38
• 80-90  Unknown. Because I suspect Peter and Gideon are brothers and Peter’s father died in 1917, I suspect this person is more likely to be another family member.

Females

• 30-40  Apparently, Mary, age 40.

Free Colored People 

• 2 Males Under 10
• 1 Male 10 -24
• 2 Females under 10
• 1 Female 36-55

Peter Howell – 1 – – – 1 || 1 1 – – 1  ||- 1

Males

• 1 5 to 10         Apparently, Phillip, age 7
• 1 30 to 40       Apparently, Peter, age 35

Females

• 1 under 5        Apparently, Elizabeth, age 5
• 1 5 to 10         Apparently, Lousianna, age 10
• 1 20-30           Apparently, Caroline, age 28

Free Colored People

• 1 10 to 24.

Important Notes

–       Do not confuse this Henry Howell with Henry Howell, born about 1807 in Halifax County and died 13 Oct 1856. He served in the 4^th Colored Infantry.

• Several researchers suggest Henry Howell married Susan Tyler on 2 Apr 1829 in Goochland County, Virginia. Because I believe my Henry Howell lived in Buckingham County and had a wife named Judith, I think this is probably a different Henry Howell.

Conclusion

It has been a lovely couple of days of work, and I’ve learned much about Henry, Gideon, and Peter Howell. Hopefully, this will help me determine who Peter’s parents are.

Also, I am delighted to see that both Peter and Gideon had Free Colored People in their households in 1840 and not enslaved people.