Person:Thomas Howeth (3)

Thomas H Howeth & Nancy Ann James produced 12 Sons & 4 daughters during their lifetimes. They were narried on August 15th, 1817 in Rhea County Tennessee. Thomas was the son of William Robert Howeth & Mary Beck Wesely. He was born in about 1875 in Dorchester, County Maryland and Mary was also born about 1775 in Maryland.

Their pioneer journey took them through Tennessee into Hamilton County in the 1830s among the Cherokees and into Northern Alabama, again among the Cherokees, as early as 1835. It is believed that Thomas was a "Land Surveyor", as eldest Son William later became the Western District Surveyor for the State of Texas.

In 1838-39 we find them in the Republic of Texas, where they were awarded 13 land grants in East Texas, around the town of Henderson. Thomas had a younger brother, James who accompanied the family to Texas. James was awarded one of these 13 land grants, in East Texas. Eight sons and 3 daughters were born in Tennessee, 3 sons and 1 daughter were born in DeKalb County, Alabama, and only the youngest son Franklin Andrew was born in Rusk County, Texas in 1841.

Another Family Member, possibly a cousin of Thomas, Sewell (Suell)Howeth, Jr. also is found in East Texas in about 1840. Thomas also had a sister, Catherine (married at the time) who was located in Indian Territory, in the Choctaw Nation, also around 1840

Through these 12 sons and Sewell, Jr. most all of the Howeth's west of the Mississippi originated. In the early 1850's, 4 of the 12 sons went to California to look for gold. Four sons plus Thomas and his brother James, relocated to Gainesville, Texas in about 1853 and were said to be among the first 100 families in Cooke County. There are still today, Howeth's in East Texas.

• The above information obtained from the book: "The Howeths - Thomas and Nancy and their descendents: 1797-1997, compiled by James B. Duncan, Austin, Texas through the 1996 Howeth National Assembly, Gainesville, Texas.