John Howland and Elizabeth Tilly - From various sources

The history of my Howland and Tilly family in New England starts with John Howland who came to New England in 1620, when twenty-eight years of age.
His father was Humphrey Howland, a citizen and draper of London. Humphrey's will was proved July 10, 1646; George of St. Dunstan's in, the East London, also Arthur, John and Henry. The last three were to receive, by will dated May 28, 1646, eight pounds, four shillings, four pence, out of the debt " due the testator (Humphrey) by Mr. Buck, of New England," who lived at Salem, Massachusetts. Annie Howland, widow of Humphrey, was executrix of her husband's estate. She was buried at Barking, county Essex, England, December 20, 1653. The sons Arthur, John and Henry were in Scrooby, England; in 1608 went to Amsterdam, remained a year, removed to Leyden, where they remained until migrating to New England.

John Howland's name appears thirteenth on the list of forty-one who signed the compact in the cabin of the "Mayflower," November 21, 1620. Prince says that he was of Governor Carver's family at that time.

He was one of the ten who chose the place of settlement. In the records the first mention of him is on the list of freemen, and as third in the governor's council of seven.
In 1633, he was an assessor; in, 1636 he served on a jury,

In 1634 John Howland was commander in the Hocking affair; was assistant of the colony, 1633-34-35, and in 1627 was one of the eight undertakers who assumed the debts and management of the Colony.

Deputy to the general court in 1641-46-47-49-49-51-52-56-58-61-63-66-67-70. and in 1666 was selectman. June 2, 1670, was the last time his name was used as candidate for public office, he was nearly eighty years of age, and refused to serve any more.

He was very prominent and active in public and church work, and was manager of the colonists interests in a trading post on the Kennoebec river in Maine. He lived at what was called Rocky Nook, and died February 2 1672.

He married Elizabeth Tilly, who was born about 1580. Although John Howland's gravestone says that he married Governor Carver's daughter. Bradford's manuscript has proved that the governor had no daughter. Elizabeth' parents died when she was about fourteen years of age. She was probably taken into the governor's family at that time.

Edward and John Tilly were among the Mayflower Passengers. Edward and his wife Ann died in the spring of 1620/21. John and his wife brought their daughter Elizabeth with them to New England. John and his wife also died in the early spring of 1621. According to Bardford she was the daughter of John Tilly. The LDS lists her as the daug. of John Tilly and Elizabeth Lancaster.

Elizabeth died December 21, 1687, at the home of her daughter, Lydia Brown, in Swanzey. Her will was dated, at Swanzey December 17, 1686.

Children of John and Elizabeth Howland are:
Desire, married Captain John Gorham
John, born at Plymouth, February 24, 1627
Jabez.
Hope, born October 30 1629
Elizabeth.
Lydia.
Ruth.
Hannah.
Joseph.
Isaac, born November 15, 1649.

See direct line to my NY Terrys

According to the book, New England families Genealogical and Memorial by Cuttler; the Tilly surname is found in England as early as the Norman Conquest and appears in the Domesday Book as well as being common in France and Holland. Various spellings include Tillie, Tilly, Tiley, Tilee and Tely. The only descendants of these Pilgram Tillys are through John's daug. Elizabeth, who married John Howland. No person of the name can claim descent through these ancestors in the male line.