[Letter from Huger W. Johnstone, Idylwild, Georgia, September 16,1901]
... Catherine Howell, Captain Howell's youngest sister, married, first, Mr. Parrish, a sea island planter; no issue. Second, she married Judge Osborne. The issue were James, John Henry and Maria. Maria Osborne was drowned at sea when returning from a pleasure trip to Cuba.
Catherine married, third, Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, an English subject. When war of 1812 opened he returned to Great Britian. Catherine remained in Georgia. Later he succeeded to the family titles and died in India. He was General Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Catherine Fitzgerald established a seminary for young ladies at Scotsboro, Georgia, which was conducted under her supervision. It was attended by the very best class of students. Many ladies now living remember her—petite, elegant, charming. She died in 1851.
In 1824, when General Marquis de Lafayette visited Georgia, the city of Augusta entertained him at a state ball. The honor of opening this ball with General Lafayette was accorded to Lady Catherine Fitzgerald, the youngest sister of Captain John Howell. ...
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[cos1776 Note: Johnstone is mistaken in some of his facts. For one, the marriage of Henry Osborne to "Miss Catherine Howell" is recorded in the newspapers of the day (see Family Page), making that Catherine's first marriage. There might be other errors. More research needed.]
