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 1750 - 1820 (70 years)
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| Notes |
- John Howell, a native of Wales, was a son of Elizabeth and Daniel Howell, a French Huguenot; John Howell was the brother of Patriot Charles Howell. The Howell family immigrated to New Jersey and a few years later in 1765, moved to Burke County, Georgia and settled on the Savannah River.
John Howell was well educated, a very successful businessman and owned several ships engaged in trade between St. Marys and the West Indies. When the American Revolution began, he converted two of his ships into armed privateers at his own expense and operated them off the Georgia coast throughout the war with great success. John Howell also served as a captain of a galley in the Georgia Continental Navy during the Revolution.
After the Revolution, John Howell became commander of the Eagle, the first U.S. Revenue Cutter on the Georgia station in August 1791. Because of rampant smuggling, the Revenue Cutter Service was established to serve as an armed customs and tariff enforcement service. Later named Revenue-Marine, they began intercepting slave ships illegally importing slaves into the United States.
He married Catherine Innis, a native of Virginia, and they owned nice colonial homes in Augusta, Savannah and Darien. John Howell received 298,800 acres in Franklin & Glynn Counties between 1788 and 1795 for his Revolutionary War services. They moved to St. Marys in about 1800 where John Howell spent the last twenty years of his life. John and Catherine Howell had no children, but raised Eliza Ann Higdon, the daughter of his sister, Margaret Howell Higdon. He died in 1820, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. His wife, Catherine, died in 1827 and is also buried in an unmarked grave at Oak Grove. In county records, he was listed as Captain John Howell, in respect of his command of armed privateers during the Revolutionary War, and continued maritime shipping business after the war.
SOURCES:
1-- Oak Grove Cemetery, Kay Westberry page 123?descriptive paragraphs - John Howell, PWG, Capt. R.S., m. Catherine Innes of Virginia , spent last 20 years of his life in Camden, living in St. Marys until his death in 1820. After the Revolution he acquired land in Camden. Brother Charles and sister Mrs. Catherine Pearis-Osborne and husband Hon. Henry Osborne also moved here. She died at her home in St. Marys in 1827. Will: some of her property left to nieces, Mrs. Hannah McGillis (wife of Randolph) and Maria Osborne (wife of John Henry) the sole children of Capt. Howell's brother Charles and wife Mary Mariah Osborne and her husband J. H. were first cousins. He was the son of Henry and Catherine Howell Osborne and the dau. of Charles Howell. Charles and Mary both died in St. Marys. Her grave marked, 1774-1852. No other Howell graves are marked in Oak Grove Cemetery.
2-- Pioneers of Wiregrass, Folks Huxford, Volume 1- page 13 - John Howell, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Howell (same as Charles above) French Huguenot from Wales, married Catherine Innis (b 1774) of Camden County. John and Catherine had no children, but raised the daughter of his sister, Margaret Howell Higdon.
A patriot, merchant, seaman, plantation owner, revenue cutter captain and privateer, John lived on his Campodown Plantation near St. Marys. John Howell died in 1820, living the last 20 years of his life in St. Marys. His was survived by his wife, Catherine, who died in 1827 at her home in St. Marys. Her will was dated July 23, 1827.
John is a brother of Kitty (Catherine) Pearis-Osborne, wife of St. Marys founder Henry Osborne and to Charles Howell who is an ancestor to many Camden residents. On March 20, 1820, Henry Osborne deeded a gift to his minor son, John Howell Osborne. town lot 4. Captain John Howell was named trustee for the minor just prior to John?s death.
See real estate transactions of John Howell and details of his wife, Catherine?s will in Huxford, Vol 1, p139
- Wife- Catherine Innis, a native of Virginia, died in 1827 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Oak Grove.
- When the American Revolution began, John Howell converted two of his ships into armed privateers at his own expense and operated them off the Georgia coast throughout the war with great success. Along with other privateers, he attacked British parties engaged along the coast in collecting forage and provisions for the British troops in Savannah. The privateers made frequent voyages to the West Indies where they procured supplies of salt, munitions and other articles necessary for the comfort and defense of Georgians.
John Howell also served as a captain of a galley in the Georgia Continental Navy during the Revolution. He was made a prisoner at Sunbury when the British captured Fort Morris on January 9, 1779. After his release in June 1781, upon entering the sound near Sunbury, he learned that a party of British officers and officials were at a house in Sunbury, near the renamed Fort George. Ascending the river with muffled oars and under cover of night, he and his men surrounded the house and capture the party of twelve British. Among the captured was a colonel who had insulted and ill-treated Captain Howell while he was a prisoner. John Howell also served in the Burke County Georgia Militia in 1782.
Sources:
1-- Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers & Sailors, Patriots & Pioneers, Vol. 2, Ross Arnold and Hank Burnham; page 71 - John Howell, 1750-1813, a native of Wales, served as a captain of a galley in the Georgia Continental Navy. Owned substantial property and several ships in the trade between the West Indies and the United States. When the Revolution began, he converted two of his ships into armed privateers at his own expense and operated them off the Georgia coast throughout the war. Also served in the Burke County Georgia Militia in 1782.
2-- Lucian Lamar Knight, Georgia?s Roster of the American Revolution, page 403 Indian War ? John Howell, Capt. (Revenue Cutter); Also Page 418 ? John Howell Capt of Galley
3- History of Georgia, Charles C, Jones, Vol 11, pp 445 and 499- see description of Capt Howell?s remarkable feats and successes during the war.
4-- Lucas, Silas Emmett, ?Index Headright and Bounty Grants of GA, page 309- Howell, John Glynn County Book GGGG, page 417-606; 190,000 acres 1794; Howell, Jno. Glynn County Book KKKK, page 812-861; 50,000 acres 1795; Howell, John Capt. Franklin County Book QQQ, page 76; 9,800 acres 1788; Howell, Jno. Glynn County Book MMMM, page 57-105; 49,000 acres 1794; Total acres 298,800
5-- Georgia Citizens and Soldiers of the American Revolution, Robert Scott Davis ? page 15 & 17 ?John Howell, Parish of St. George ? Signed a petition (disagreed) to send Jones and Lord to a meeting on 10 August 1774 concerning the Stamp Act; Georgia Gazette 28 Sept 1774
Also Page 44 - John Howell, appeared on a list of forty-five Militia prisoners at Sunbury; signed by J.M. Prevost (British Lt.Col Marc Prevost) Capture of Sunbury- January 9, 1779
- Grave marked by Marshes of Glynn Chapter GA SAR 12 Sep 2015
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