In fall 1620, John Howland set sail on the Mayflower, voyaging from Plymouth, England to America. Not accustomed to ships, he went on deck in a storm, was hit by a wave, and fell overboard. Lucky for him, the crew saw him go over, and dragged waterlogged John Howland back onto the ship.

Lucky for us, he married, had many children, lived to old age, and is our family’s ancestor, along with millions of Howland’s descendants. One summer we made a trip to Plymouth.

The Mayflower landed on Cape Cod, and the colonists set up in the area around Plymouth, Massachusetts. John Howland was an indentured servant to John Carver, who became the new governor. The first hard winter, half the colonists perished. In the spring, local Indians helped the settlers to plant crops, and survive.

John Howland married Elizabeth Howland, they celebrated fifty years together, both living to an old age (80) and (79). The Howlands had ten children, who had eighty-eight grandchildren.

Exploring Plimoth Plantation and Plymouth town, visit two Howland houses.

Howland House, Plimoth Plantation – We stepped into a reconstruction of a thatched-roof, single room Howland house. It was furnished with wooden table and two rush-bottom wooden chairs, low cabinet on the left with pewter plates, on the right, a fireplace, Dutch oven on a tripod ready for cooking. At the other end of the room, dried herbs hung in the window over a bed.

Jabez Howland House (333 Sandwich St.) – John Howland’s son Jabez bought a two story house (built around 1667) in Plymouth town. John and Elizabeth Tilley stayed here during the winters, and Howland died in the house in 1672/3.

The house is furnished with 17th century furniture and artifacts, including china, kitchen utensils, writing desk, chests, trunks and wooden baby cradles.

On Burial Hill in Plymouth town is a John Howland monument (added in the 19th century):

Here ended the Pilgrimage of
John Howland,
who died February 23, 1672/3
aged above 80 years
He married Elizabeth daughter of
John Tilley
who came with him in the
Mayflower Dec. 1620
From them are descended
numerous posterity

John Howland outlived all the men who came over on the Mayflower.

 

Children’s Books

• The Boy Who Fell off the Mayflower by P.J. Lynch
• Beautifully illustrated story of John Howland’s voyage to America, and survival in difficult times. Howland leaves his family in England, sails on the Mayflower, falls overboard, but is saved. The first winter is hard, and when Carver dies Howland is now a free man. A year later, a ship arrives from England, Howland has a decision to make, stay or go. (Picture book)



• If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower by John Son, Roger Zanni
• Sail to America with Hope and Theodore on the Mayflower, exploring the ship, waiting out a powerful storm, landing in November 1620. Plus fun facts – journal of the journey, food to eat, cannons for protection, tools for navigation, animals on board, baby born on the ship. (Picture book)



• What Was the First Thanksgiving? by Joan Holub, Lauren Mortimer
• Illustrated history of the Pilgrims, arrival at Plymouth, life in the new settlement, and first Thanksgiving feast (Native American guests brought the turkeys, there was no cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie), plus holiday tradition of Thanksgiving and turkey facts. (Chapter book)



• The Mayflower by Libby Romero
• Discover what life was like for 102 passengers on board the Mayflower, and story of first year in America. Passengers included pilgrims, servants, orphaned children, crew, and animals, the journey was difficult, living conditions were hard (cold food, seasick passengers). Upon arriving, pilgrims had to find food and build shelter for a severe winter. Excellent illustrations, diagram of the ship, maps (where did they land exactly), timeline. (Picture book)



• History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner, Dylan Meconis
• Classic story of the Mayflower and first Thanksgiving is only partly true. When the Pilgrims arrived, they did not land at Plymouth Rock. The area was not a “desolate wilderness” – Wampanoag people had lived here for thousands of years, they constructed longhouses, farmed crops, hunted and fished. A European explorer kidnapped Native people, sold them as slaves, so Wampanoag distrusted the colonists. First Thanksgiving had military drills, food included ducks and eels, and Pilgrims did not celebrate a first Christmas day. (Illustrated chapter book)



• Mayflower Treasure Hunt (A to Z Mysteries) by Ron Roy
• Touring the Mayflower II, three kids learn about a jewelry theft on the original voyage. Following clues, they find the necklace and solve a 400 year old mystery, but they’re trapped on the ship. (Easy reader)



• Thanksgiving on a Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne
• Jack and Annie are whirled back to 1621, where they meet with Squanto, Governor Bradford and Captain Standish, preparing for the harvest festival. But will there be a festival when the kids dump the turkey into the fire? (Easy reader)