Person:Eratus Howard (1)

He was likely born in 1789 (based on his age at death, 43, on 14 December 1832). While he was described as "an educated young Englishman of good family" (PLBQ, p. 38) his mother was Sarah Hearns Howard Irish of Putnam, NY and later Rhode Island (daughter of Thomas Hearns/Harns/Yarns and Deborah Campbell). His father was probably named Nathan Howard and the son of Seth Howard and Phebe Hayden. His relationship to his mother is confirmed in her will, which was registered in the Northumberland County, Ontario Deed books, but early documentary evidence of his life has not been found.

He married, at the age of about 23, Catherine Demorest, presumably in Demorestville, Sophiasburgh, Prince Edward County, Ontario and they had nine children between 1814 and 1832.

He was found drowned in the mill pond at Demorestville on 14 December 1832 and his tenth child, a son named Eratus Seth, was born posthumously the following July, 1833.

1824 Petition for Land: Transcriptions

[Ed. note: italics=handwriting (standard text = printing)]

24 February 1824 Certification of James Cutter, Capt.

58a

I certify that Eratus Howard of this Place has resided in this Province from his infancy that he has for many years been a Sergeant in the 1st Regt of Prince Edward Militia and as Such did his Duty faithfully During the late war and is a man of fame. Sophiaburgh 24th February 1824 --

James Cutter Capt 1st Regt PE M.

23 June 1824 Petition

58

To His Excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland K.C.B. Lieut Gover of the Province of Upper Canada and Major General Commanding His Majesty's Forces therein

In Council

The Petition of Eratus Howard of the township of Sophiasburgh in the Midland District yeoman

Respectfully sheweth

That your humble petitioner is a native of this province, has always resided therein, has done duty during the late war in the [un?] Militia as Sergeant, has a Family of a Wife and 5 Children and has not heretofore made application for land in the Colony

That your petitioner being about dis[?] at his farm in Sophiasburgh and owning on Wild land wherby he will have ample means of making large improvements, he therefore humbly beseeches your Excellency to make him a Grant of such a portion of the waste land as in your Wisdom may seem Best

York 23rd June 1824

And as in duty bound will ever pray

Eratus Howard

23 June 1824 Oath of Allegiance

PROVINCE OF UPPER CANADA

58b

I certify that Eratus Howard a native of Upper Canada hath taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance required by Law, before me at York, in the Home District, this 23 day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four

[?] Howell

Commissioner

25 June 1824 Sign Off on Petition

[Verso of 58]

1832 Death: Drowned in the Demorestville Mill Pond

Legacy and descendants

Great-great grandson George Edwy Caldwell Howard died in WWI (air force). Literary critic Northrop Frye was a great-grandson.

1. ↑ Morley, William F. E. Pioneer Life on the Bay of Quinte: Including Geneaologies of Old Families and Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens. (Toronto: Rolph and Clark Limited, [1904?])
   38-41, 1904.
2. ↑ Ontario, Canada. Ontario, Canada, Deaths and Deaths Overseas, 1869-ongoing. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Archives of Ontario)
   16 Dec 1910.

   On Thomas James Howard's 16 Dec 1910 death certificate, his father is listed as Eratus Howard, birthplace "England".

3. ↑ He signed "Eratus" but Erastus is recorded in several sources.