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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hertfordshire => Topic started by: charby on Wednesday 26 July 06 21:08 BST (UK)
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I am wondering if anyone knows of any HOW,s BORN IN WATFORD HERTFORDSHIRE, or if they have any in their tree?
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Hi Charby,
FreeBMD (www.freebmd.org.uk) has 118 entries for HOWs born in Watford!
Regards,
Al
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Hi
I feel we may have been in touch before, and are related, if you are descended from Charlotte Hull (nee How), daughter of William and Louisa?
If so, then I won't bother repeating what I've already sent you, but if you are not, I an tell you that I have a great number of Hows from Watford, Bushey, Abbots Langley and surrounding areas.
Regards
Phil How
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Hi we have How's from Watford/Bushey on our tree what names are you looking for?
Rita
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I realise the last post was back in '08 but thought id give it a go!
I have a few HOW's in my tree. Selina How from Croxley, Watford married a Charles Hall & had 4 daughters. She had 1 sister & brother & their parents were, James & Harriet.
If you'd like more info - please email ;)
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Hi
I have hundreds of HOWs in my tree, and most of us were born in SW Herts.
I was born in Croxley Green, only a few hundred yards from where Selina was born.
Selina is not in my direct line as far as I know, but I still have her tree back to Henry How form Chesham and Ann prenties who married at Kings Langley om 13 Nov 1761.
Selina's parents were James How and Harriet Reading, who married at Rickmansworth on 09 Jan 1853.
Selina had at least 4 children by Charles Hall, who died around 1879. She then remarried to Harry MATTHEWS on 25 Dec 1880 in Hemel Hempstead and they had at least another 6.
In 1861 James and Harriet and 2 daughters are in Hedges Yard, off the High St in Watford, whilst my gg grandparents William and Louisa How are in 3 Crowns Yard next door, with my great grandfather Charles How and one of his sisters Ruth How.
William was born in Abbots Langley in 1801, being one of at least 10 children of John How and Mary (possibly Thorne). He had at least 5 children by his first wife Eliza Field, and another 6 by his second wife Louisa Floyd, my gg grandmother. The youngest of their children was Charles How born in 1850 in Bushey.
Charles married Elizabeth Allen at Hackney, and they moved into London where they had 9 children, of whom the 7th was my grandad William How born at Bethnal Green in 1885.
My dad was born at Sudbury, Middx in 1915, and they then moved from there to Croxley in 1936.
I was born in Croxley in 1955, and I still live here.
I have loads of detailed info about most branches of the family.
Where do you fit in?
Regards
Phil How
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Hi Phil, i think we've chatted before?!
You helped me out with Selina - she married my relative Charles Hall!
Ive just discovered this site, so thought Id add my bit ;)
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hi i have Hows in the tree of my husdands family.eliza How from bucks hill herts married Amos Simons Amos came from kings Langley. they had nine children. Eliza father wes henry How of penman green watford his father was Abraham How of watford. if you need any more info i have a little more on the tree. regards miss piggy.
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Hi Charby,
1861 Census Return
Parish of Edgware, (PRO RG 9/784)
Ann Howe Head, widow 78 Lodgekeeper Middlesex, Edgware
Mary Haines Sister, married 62 Lodgekeeper Middlesex, Edgware
Harry Scarberry Nursing child 8 mos Middlesex, Edgware
Luke Howe Son, unmar 32 Agricultural laborer Middlesex, Edgware
Eliza Weedon Niece, unmar 47 Pauper in workhouse Middlesex, Edgware
Eliza Howe Granddaughter 18 Servant Herts, Watford
Do you have anne Howe in your tree? See above.
Peter
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Sorry, its a name I have not come across.
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We are desendants of the Hosier's from around Sarratt,and have a Mary Ann How(e) 1810-1876 married to William Hosier 1812-1882.I have been trying to find out more about the How Family and if their is any connection with the Godfrey Family.Perhaps you have more information?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.
Shelley
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How / Weedon connection is below
In 1812 per Pallot’s marriage entries Ann Weedon married John How in Edgware. She is listed as 25 years old at the time of her marriage which suggests a birth year of 1787. Ann was duaghter of Thomas Weedon and sarah Peacock also of Edgware. Do you have any Weedon's in your tree?
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Not come across that name our How family were from Bushey Watford Abbots Langley some may have gone to London but none of our immediate family went
Rita
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Hi Phil, I have read your messages regarding the How families from Watford and Abbots Langley. I've recently embarked on an inlaw's tree and have discovered James Smith b 1851 in Bushey, married Lydia How b 1946 Bushey and had several kids, including Alfred Smith b 1885 in Bushey. The family remain in Bushey then move to Abbots Langley between 1881 and 91. Alfred married Rose How in 1911, in Romford, Essex. Curiously, both ladies are named How but I haven't made a connection there yet. I understand Lydia How's parents were William and Jane (nee Matthews) but have no info on them so far. I'd like to know the parents of James Smith as above and wondered if any of these people figure in your family tree or have stumbled upon in your research. I'm really quite excited as I live in Bushey and enjoy not only the family history but the social history of this unique village. Look forward to hearing from you and good luck with your search. Best regards, Lizzie Mackay
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I live in Croxley, about 1/2 mile from my grandfather's (another William How) house, where I was born and grew up.
Since my first post in this thread (around 2006) I have learnt a huge amount about the How family generally. They have been major landowners and farmers in Herts and Beds since before the dissolution in the 1540s, and many places bear the name: e.g How Wood by St Albans; Little How Croft in Abbots Langley, and How Grove in Hemel. Their main home seems to have been around North Mimms, and Lydia is descended from that branch.
Lydia's grandparents were Thoimas How and Sarah Lewis from Harpenden. They married and had (at least) 7 children in Watford, of whom one was Daniel, who married (as you know) Elizabeth Miles, daughter of Benjamin and Mary from Bromley in Kent.
Daniel's eldest brother was William. William married Elizabeth from Ottery in Somerset, and they had at least 9 children in Bushey, one of whom was Mary How. Mary married my great grandfather's brother James Joseph How. I have as yet found no direct connection between the 2 branches of the family.
In 1851 James is "Butcher and Publican" at the Pigeon pub in Bushey. The Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Kent ... , 1855 shows:
Bushey Traders:
How Elizabeth (Mrs), Beer retailer, High St
How William.Beer retailer, High St
Howe James, Cattle Dealer, High St
William and Elizabeth are Mary's parents (Daniel's brother and his wife)......
I could go on forever, but there's not room enough here!
I have pretty much catalogued and connected all the Bushey Hows, and am in touch with several descendants.
This is Lydia and James' marriage:
Marriage: SMITH, JamesAge:22
Wife:Lydia HOWAge:25
Marriage Date:25 Dec 1871
Recorded in:Bushey, Hertfordshire, England
Husband's Father:John SMITH
Wife's Father:William HOW
....and this is James' father:
JOHN SMITH Male
Christening: 15 DEC 1811 Bushey, Hertford
Father: JOHN SMITH
Mother: SARAH
Jane Smith married Lydia's brother Joseph Henry How.
If you would like to know more I can send you a copy of the family tree with all info on it. MY e-mail address is: phil at howlight.co.uk
Incidentally, Bushey Museum (housed in the old Fire Station) have copoes of the parish records and censuses for Bushey, and there are several Bushey local historians who will tell you a lot about thye families of Bushey.
I have worked in the past with Ian McKay (one of the founders of Bushey Museum) in his capacity as consultant architect for the Bushey Heritage people.
Phil How
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My apologies for a few extra typographic letters in my last post, but I have BIG fingers and a small keyboard
Regards Phgiulk :)
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Lizzie
Here are the Smiths and the Hows in the 1871 census:
Dwelling: Melbourne Rd, Bushey, Herts
William H How Head M M 53 Hay binder Bushey, Herts
Jane How Wife M 53 Laundress Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire
Jane How Daur Unm 17 Laundress Bushey, Herts
James How Son 14 Hay binder's Boy Bushey, Herts
Martha How Daur 10 Scholar Bushey, Herts
-----Next door-----
John Smith Head M 60 Police Pensioner Herts, Bushey
Jane Smith Wife M 52 Herts, Watford
James Smith Son U 21 Labourer (garden) Herts, Aldenham
Jane How Daur M 19 Herts, Aldenham
William H How Grandson 1 Herts, Bushey
Ann Rumney Granddaur 3 Herts, Bushey
Louisa(?) Rumney Granddaur 1 Herts, Bushey
Source information: RG10/1380
Here is James:
Name: James Smith
Gender: Male Baptism/Christening
Date: 05 Aug 1849
Baptism/Christening Place: Aldenham, Hertford, England
Father's Name: John Smith
Mother's Name: Jane
And John and Jane's wedding:
Groom's Name: John Smith
Bride's Name: Jane Wells
Marriage Date: 25 Dec 1834
Marriage Place: Bushey,Hertford
They married some 15 years before James and Jane were born, and there are more children.
So far I found: Joseph, Eleanor, John, and Emma
Regards Phil
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Hi Phil, thanks a lot for the information re the How/Smith families. I am a regular at Bushey Museum and have studied a few families myself. I know of Ian Mackay from Oxhey but have not met him yet. Who knows, he may be one of my long lost ancestors?! I need to fill some info on this tree, to bring it up to date and then I can make the connection between the families. It's not the easiest name to research 'Smith' but thankfully I have people like yourself, who can save me a lot of bother. Thanks again for that. The other name in my research is Rand, which transmutes to Rann, Ran, Wrann, Rands among many. They originate from the Isle of Wight (so far as I've gone back). Eileen M Smith married Ronald Rand in Hendon in 1942. Eileen (a lovely lady I remember) was the daughter of Alfred Smith b 1883 and Rose How (coincidentally). Alfred Smith's father being James Smith b 1851 and Lydia How b 1846 in Bushey. The rest I guess, is history. I best get on with it then, before my other half begins divorce proceedings for time wasting! I'll put you down as a guest on my Ancestry tree, so you should receive an email from me soon. All great stuff. My email address is lizzie_mackay at hotmail.com, should you have anything other that may be of importance to the tree. Thanks so much again, regards, Lizzie
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Hello again, I was wondering if anyone would have any photo's of CHARLOTTE SARAH HULL born 1859 watford hertfordshire, daughter of CHARLOTTE SARAH HOW and JOHN HULL. CHARLOTTE married THOMAS SELBY
the 16 nov, 1881 loughborough.
;D
charby
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Hello! I am researching a Thomas How, born in or around Watford in April 1681, raised in Watford till his father died, at which time he was taken in by family in London, educated, and trained as a tailor. He crossed the Atlantic at age 17 or 18, ending up in Germantown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he married a Dutch woman, Margret OpdenGraef, daughter of master weaver Abraham OpdenGraef. Thomas is the immigrant-progenitor whose last name we bear, and I would love to find his ancestors in England! Unfortunately, I do not have his parents' names (other than last name How). Any information or ideas? The facts above, taken from the published journals of Thomas' pastor in Pennsylvania, are almost certain to be accurate. The Internet data bases I have checked (Familysearch.Org, Ancestry.Com, Findmypast) and the microfilms I have sifted through have not helped me locate him. There are lots of Thomas Hows born around that time in that area of England, but none match my information. First names for this family (based on names of Thomas' sons), other than Thomas, are William, Samuel, Edward, John, and possibly Joseph or Abraham (though Abraham most likely came from Thomas' father-in-law, Abraham OpdenGraef). I'm hoping someone knows something that'll help me. It's a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try!
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Hi
I have a Thomas How 11 Mar 1682 Abbots Langley in my tree. Eldest son of my 6g grandfather Thomas How.
Abbots Langley is about 3 miles from Croxley Green, where I was born and where I still live.
My family have lived in and around Abbots Langley since at least the early 16th century.
The How family were farmers and landowners around Hertfordshire since well before Henry VIII times.
The How family (especially those from Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire) were very close associates of the Penn family, William Penn having lived a mile or so from here, and were involved a great deal in the early colonisation of North America, owning large amounts of land there.
Sadly, records are a bit ambiguous and sketchy, and there were many HOWs named Thomas, William, James and Michael, all born in the same area at the same times, so it is nigh on impossible to distinguish one from another, when a lot of the records simply say (e.g.) Thomas How, son of Thomas How.
Regards
Phil How
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Hello, Phil. Thank you for the speedy reply. I had looked at your family records in Abbots Langley, hoping the Thomas who was baptized March 1682 was our Thomas. However, your 6 great grandfather Thomas lived too long to fit the story in Rev. Muhlenberg's journals (Thomas' father was supposed to have died when Thomas was young, which triggered his move to London and his eventual journey across the ocean to America). What was your 5th great grandfather's name? I saw a William and possibly a Michael in the Abbots Langley records as possible sons of Thomas. Thank you for the background information on the Hows in Hertfordshire and Bedford. The possible connection with William Penn is a surprise! William Penn was associated with our Thomas How's in-laws, the OpdenGraefs. He influenced a lot of people in Krefeld, Germany (then part of Holland), to convert to Quakerism and come to Pennsylvania, and, as you probably know, he was instrumental in their acquisition of land there. Does your family tree go back even further? Do you know your 7th or 8th great grandfather's names? We are almost certainly distant cousins--7th, 8th or more. If you have any suggestions whatever for pinning down Thomas' parents, let me know (I'm guessing you would have shared it if you did). Meanwhile, what you have told me is a big help. Jackie (Howe) Hurst