Ancestors of Mandy Willard

William HOWELL (?-?)

and Elizabeth (?-?)

There were 2 couples named William and Elizabeth Howell in Brighton, Sussex at about the same time.  The following is my attempt to figure out which couple had which children.  I have used the IGI, Sussex marriage index, a transcript of St. Nicholas, Brighton baptisms 1813-1837, and various census.  This page came about following an email from Janet Howell in March 2009.  Her husband descends from James Howell born in 1845, son of John, son of William.

William Howell and Elizabeth Sawyer married by banns on 22 July 1805 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Brighton.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

William Howell and Elizabeth Gillam married by banns on 3 August 1814 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Brighton.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

William Howell may have been baptised on 25 January 1784, the son of John Howell and Elizabeth (possibly Elizabeth Eridge), or on 3 February 1785, the son of John Howell and Ann (possibly Ann Moore).  Both baptisms took place at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  However, a William Howell, bachelor, married Sophia Sealy in Brighton on 15 February 1808, so he may have been baptised in either 1784 or 1785.  (See the end of this page for their possible children.)

Elizabeth Sawyer was probably baptised on 25 December 1784 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  She was the daughter of James Sawyer and Elizabeth Avery.

Elizabeth Gillam may have been baptised on 2 November 1792, the daughter of William Gillam and Israel, or on 10 January 1794, the daughter of Gabriel Gillam and Elizabeth Mitchell.  Both baptisms took place at St. Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex.  Whilst one of them married William Howell, the other probably married John Taylor on 25 August 1817 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.

When the 1841 census was recorded, William Howell and his wife Elizabeth were living in Egremont Street and they were both said to be 50 years old.  William was then a carpenter.

William Howell and Elizabeth had the following children:

1. Mary Ann Howell was baptised on 29 October 1806 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  Might she have married James Ellis by banns on 2 July 1825 in Brighton?  She was a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Brighton.

2. Elizabeth Howell was baptised on 31 May 1809 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.

3. Eliza Howell was born on 1 May 1809 and baptised on 26 July 1811 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  (Were Eliza and Elizabeth one and the same?)  Might Eliza have married James Bishop by banns on 29 July 1829 in Brighton?  She was a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Brighton.  However, another Eliza Howell was baptised in Brighton in 1808.

4. Jane Howell was baptised on 28 July 1811 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.

5. Henry Howell was baptised on 17 April 1814 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Nile Street and his father was a fisherman.  Might he have married Hannah Swales by banns on 1 September 1834 in Brighton?  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Brighton.  The IGI notes a Henry Howell was born on 14 September 1810 in Brighton, the son of George Howell and Elizabeth.  (George married Elizabeth Witch by licence on 29 May 1803 in Brighton.  Their licence notes that he was a 21 year old bachelor and tailor.)  I haven't found Henry and Hannah in the 1841 census.

6. John Jones Howell was baptised on 14 July 1814 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Russell Street and his father was a boat builder.

   John may have married Mary Ann Woods on 1 August 1842 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  Their fathers were named as William Howell and George Woods.  (This date is from the IGI.  It would be nice to know William's occupation, plus the names of the witnesses.)

   When the 1851 census was recorded 34 year old John and his 26 year old wife Mary Ann were living at 32 Upper St. James Street, Brighton and he was a fisherman.  Also with the couple on census night were 4 of their children and 18 year old niece Susan Howell.  (Susan may have been baptised in 1835, see below.  If she was, then 1814 John was more likely to have been her brother, therefore, I don't think it was 1814 John who married Mary Ann.  Another John was baptised in 1817, the son of John and Sarah and John senior was a fisherman.  But, maybe Susan wasn't the one baptised in 1835, although I don't know of another baptised circa 1833.)

   In 1861 43 year old John and 37 year old Mary Ann were living at 12 Union Street, Brighton, along with 4 children.  John was then a waterman.  (Given his age in both the 1851 and 1861 census, I am more inclined to think John was baptised in 1817 rather than 1814, therefore, who was the John son of William who married Mary Ann Woods?  Could he have been the one baptised in 1820, see below.  And when did 1817 John marry Mary Ann, and what was her surname?  Tis all a bit confusing!)  Another John Howell who was born in Alfriston in about 1807 married a Mary Ann sometime before or about 1830 (possibly Mary Ann Weston in Lewes in 1828).  He was a carpenter and living Brighton when the 1841 and 1851 census was recorded.

   John and Mary Ann may have had the following children:

   1. John Henry Howell was baptised on 12 November 1843 in Brighton.  He was a 7 year old scholar in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 17 year old waterman.  John Henry married Ann Willett on 5 August 1867 in Brighton.  He was then 22 and she 19.  Their fathers were named as John Howell and James Willett.

   2. William Howell was baptised on 1 February 1846 in Brighton.  He was a 5 year old scholar in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 15 year old fish hawker.

   3. Mary Ann Howell was baptised on 7 November 1847 in Brighton.  In 1851 she was 3 years old.  She was a 13 year old servant in 1861.

   4. Charles Howell was baptised on 21 April 1850 in Brighton.  At the time of the 1851 census he was a year old.  In 1861 he was an 11 year old scholar.  He may have married Jeanet Gooding on 23 December 1868 in Brighton.  They were both said to be 19 years old and their fathers were named as John Howell and John Gooding.

   5. George Howell was baptised on 17 January 1853 in Brighton.  (I'm note sure which family he was part of.  I can not find him in the 1861 census.)

7. James William Howell was baptised on 4 August 1816 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Nile Street and his father was a fisherman.  Might he have married Alice Brown by banns on 4 February 1836 in Brighton?  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Brighton.

8. William Howell was baptised on 5 July 1818 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living at Bunker's Hill and his father was a labourer.

9. John Howell was baptised on 18 July 1819 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Pimlico and his father was a fisherman.  John Howell married Maria Lucy Clay in 1836.  (They have their own page.)

10. Thomas Howell was baptised on 8 April 1821 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living at Bunker's Hill and his father was a boat builder.

11. Thomas Jones Howell was baptised on 16 November 1823 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living at Bunker's Hill and his father was a boat builder.

12. Henrietta Howell was baptised on 5 September 1824 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Little St. James Street and her father was a fisherman.

13. Eleanor Mary Howell was baptised on 21 May 1826 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Egremont Street and her father was a carpenter.

14. William Howell was baptised on 28 September 1828 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living at Lodge Building and his father was a fisherman.

15. Susan Howell was baptised on 20 December 1835 at St. Nicholas, Brighton, at which time the family were living in Egremont Street and her father was a fisherman.

William Howell and Sophia Sealey married by banns on 15 February 1808 in Brighton.

They may have had the following children:

1. Eliza Howell was baptised on 2 November 1808 in Brighton.  Might Eliza have married James Bishop by banns on 29 July 1829 in Brighton?  She was a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Brighton.  However, another Eliza Howell was baptised in Brighton in 1811.

2. Catherine Howell was born on 30 January 1811 and baptised on 24 August 1811 in Brighton.

3. George Young Howell was baptised on 8 September 1813 in Brighton, at which time the family were living at Castle Square and his father was a shoemaker.

4. William Howell was baptised on 12 May 1816 in Brighton, at which time the family were living in Ship Street and his father was a shoemaker.

5. John Howell was baptised on 26 July 1820 in Brighton, at which time the family were living in Ship Street and his father was  shoemaker.  Did he marry Mary Ann Woods in 1842?  See above.

6. Frederick Howell was baptised on 26 February 1823 in Brighton, at which time the family were living in Ship Street and his father was a porter.

7. Sarah Howell was baptised on 20 May 1827 in Brighton, at which time the family were living in North Lane and her father was a milkman.  (A William Howell, bachelor, had married Sophia Mockford on 8 March 1826 in Brighton.)

8. William Howell was baptised on 13 June 1830 in Brighton, at which time the family were living in Ship Street and his father was a shoemaker.

HOWELL