ohn1 Howerton (Sr.) should have been born prior to 1723 (assuming he was at least twenty-two when his son George was born) but more probably by 1719 (in order to have attained legal adulthood by his first service as a witness). His only identified wife is Mary [—?—], to whom he was married by 1767 and who appears to have predeceased him. John died shortly before 7 August 1792, the date upon which his will of 27 April 1791 was ordered recorded in Spotsylvania.5 With the exception of two deeds drafted in that county under the name Overton,6 all local references call him John Howerton.
This earliest-known progenitor of the line emerges in Spotsylvania County on 21 August 1740, at which time he witnessed a deed from George Dowdey to William Marsh.7 While exceptions to the rule can be documented, legal witnesses within this society normally had attained the age of majority. Following the title to the land that Dowdey sold provides an apparent clue to the birth family of John. On 1 May 1750, the tract was purchased by one Obediah Howerton, who held it for a year.8 However, when John Howerton subsequently petitioned for a grant of 350 aces in Saint George's parish of Spotsylvania, the tract he chose (and eventually received a final title to on 7 August 1760) adjoined Obediah.9 This first Obediah, who makes only a cameo appearance in Spotsylvania records, has not yet been placed into a parental family; but a connection to John appears certain.10
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Howerton-126
