Person:Thomas Howard (22)

Thomas Howard was by trade a tanner and currier. He learned the business in Pomfret, Conn., of his uncle John, with whom he seems to have lived from boyhood, perhaps from the death of his father, when he was about three years old. After he had completed his apprenticeship and had acquired some means of his own, he engaged somewhat in farming as well as in the tanning business. He owned several tracts of land in Pomfret. His homestead was a seventy-two acre lot, with a house, barn, and other buildings thereon, which he bought of Olive and Abial Cheeney, "being the whole of the farm where now lives the said Oliver Cheeney." This and an eight acred lot adjoining he sold in October, 1777. It is situated on the road leading north from Pomfret street, and is now (1820) owned and occupied by Mr. Lyman Fitts. Soon after this sale he bought a farm, in Tolland, Conn., and moved there in 1779. This farm fronted on the west side of Toland street, near the north end, and extended westward across the present turnpike road leading to Hartford, including the old tannery works, since the belt works and about ninety-five acres of land. The dwelling-house in which he lived, but was ling since removed, stood near the northeast corner of the meadow on which the Methodist meeting-house stands. The old well which marks the location is still made use of in times of drought. He seems to have been a man of prominence and influence, both in Pomfret and Tolland. He and his wife were both members of the Congregational Church in Pomfret, and their children born in Pomftet were all baptized there. The records of the church in Tolland, however, do not show that they ever united with the church in that place. They subseequently took quite an interest in the Methodists or New Lights as they were early called. The entertained, it is said, the first preacher of that denomination who ever came to Tolland and at their house the preachers afterwards were accustomed to meet and consult together when they had a day of leisure on the circuit. Mr. Howard also gave the site on which the Methodist meeting-house has since stook. He also prospered financially and left something of an estate, notwithstandind his large family of fourteen children.

The Howard Genealogy, by Jarvis Cutler Howard. Published 1884. Pages 41 & 42.

Tombstone for Thomas Howard

Footstone for Thomas Howard

1. ↑ Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts to End of the Year 1849. (Salem, Massachusetts: Essex Institute, 1910, 1919)
   Vol. 1, page 200.

   Howard, Thomas, s. twin, Hezekiah and Sarah, bp. Sept. 5, 1742.

2. ↑ Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records
   266.
3. ↑ Howard , Jarvis Cutler. Howard genealogy: a genealogical record embracing all the known descendants in this country, of Thomas and Susanna Howard, who have borne the family name or have married into the family. (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International, 1985)
   41.
4. ↑ HOWARD, THOMAS, in Daughters of the American Revolution. Genealogical Research System.
5. ↑ Johnston, Henry Phelps (editor). Record of Connecticut men in the military and naval service during the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783. (Hartford, CT: Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1889)
   P. 27 and 478.
6. ↑ United States. Census Office. Connecticut, 1790 thru 1840 federal census : population schedules. (Washington [District of Columbia]: The National Archives, 1938, 1949, 1950, 1958-1961, 1969).

   Year 1790; Census Place: Tolland, Connecticut; Roll: M637_1; Page: 117; Image: 456; Family History Library Film: 0568141.

7. ↑ United States. Census Office. Connecticut, 1790 thru 1840 federal census : population schedules. (Washington [District of Columbia]: The National Archives, 1938, 1949, 1950, 1958-1961, 1969).

   Year: 1800; Census Place: Tolland, Tolland, Connecticut; Roll: 2; Page: 613; Image: 324; Family History Library Film: 205619.