Individual 62: Mary Anne Howells

Individual Record 62

Name} Howells, Mary Anne

Family History} Hancock

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Female

Birth: Date} Fam 18 Jun 1844

Place} Newport, Monmouth, Wales

Marr.: Date} Exa 6 Mar 1866

Place} St. John Evangelist, Westminster, Middlesex, England (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 28 Mar 1923

Place} Granada, San Mateo, California

Burial: Date} Exa 30 Mar 1923

Place} IOOF Cemetery, Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, California

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	951 = 1851 Wal cen
Source 2}	953 = 1861 Wal cen
Source 3}	141 = Marriage rec
Source 4}	709 = 1871 Eng cen
Source 5}	937 = Passenger list
Source 6}	485 = Family hstry
Source 7}	1123 = Birth certif
Source 8}	134 = Title abst
Source 9}	493 = Land deed
Source 10}	100 = 1891 CAN cen
Source 11}	94 = 1910 USA cen
Source 12}	313 = Newspaper

Parents: } David Lewis Howells & Elizabeth**
Relationship No.} 29

1st Household No.} 128 = Old Palace Yard, Westminster, England

Occupation 1} School teacher
Occupation 2}

Religion/Church} Methodist & Salvation army

Spouses: Prime} Hancock, Thomas
Total Number of} 1

Source 13} 298 = 1920 USA cen
Source 14} 1123 = Birth certif
Source 15} 39 = Death certif

Source 16} 1632 = Death record
Source 17} 83 = Cemetery rec
Source 18} 1588 = Cemetery rec

Source 19} 34 = Death certif
Source 20} 738 = Photographs

Notes: Mary Anne Howells was born 18 Jun 1844 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. She was the fourth child of David Lewis and Elizabeth Howells. Her parents were both born in Wales and spoke Welch as their native tongue. In the 1851 Wales census, Marya, 8, the family was living Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. Her father was a carpenter. Her siblings were Josph, 11, and Leah, 4.

In the 1861 Wales census, Mary Ann, 16, was a servant, living in the household of George and Mary Bence, in Aberystruth, Monmouth, Wales. Included in the household were the two Bench children and another young servant.

Mary Anne, 22, was a schoolmistress residing at Old Place Yard, when she met Thomas Hancock. Thomas, 24, was an itinerant preacher residing at Kingston on Thames. They were married 6 March 1866 in the Parish Church, St. John Evangelist, Westminster (near Westminster Abbey, London).

Mary Anne and Thomas moved frequently, and their children were all born in different locations. Henry was born in Twickenham, Middlesex; George in Alcester, Dorset; and Frank in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset>

In the 1871 English census, Mary A., 27, and Thomas, 29, were living in Alcester, Dorset. Thomas was a temperance missionary for the Dorset Temperance Association. Their children were Henry P., 4, George J., 3, and Frank T., 1. Their last English born child Fannie was born in Ross'nhill, Devon.

Mary Anne's first born, Henry, died in May 1873 at 6 years of age. Mary Anne and family left from Bristol with their three children for America on the S.S. Arragon. They arrived in New York on 9 May 1873.

The family made their way to Ontario, Canada, where their fifth child, William, was born in Dec 1874 in Parkhill, Middlesex County, Ontario. They ultimately ended in Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, Ontario. Their farm was a couple of miles from the town of Forest.

From the mid-1870s to the mid-1880s Mary Anne and Thomas had five more children. They built a large windmill on their farm and, during the next decade, raised their children, wheat, and oats — and had hollyhocks around their yard.

Mary Anne Anne and Thomas sold their farm in 1896. They purchased a farm, mortgage free in the Maywood Colony on River Road, 3.3 miles NNE of the center of Corning, California. They to the U.S. in 1900, but remained British citizens. In the 1910 US census, Mary, 66, and Thomas, 68, were living there in Corning. He was 'working out' and they were listed as alien. At the time of the 1910 US census, eight of Mary Anne's ten children were still living.

On 6 Mar 1916, Thomas and Mary Anne celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Over 70 people attended — including Fannie, James, and Walter from Canada. A detailed newspaper story recorded the event.

On 1 Feb 1916, Mary Anne and Thomas bought land from the Shore Line Investment Company in El Granada, California. They sold their property in the Maywood Colony in Corning on 12 Feb 1917. Finally, in June 1917, they moved to El Granada, California. In the 1920 US census, Thomas, 78, and Mary A., 75, were listed in El Granada, Twp. 4, San Mateo. Now Thomas was no longer working.

Thomas died on 6 Feb 1922 in El Granada, three weeks after his 80th birthday. Their marriage had lasted for nearly 56 years. Mary Anne died the following year, 28 Mar 1923. They rest together in the IOOF Cemetery at Half Moon Bay, San Mateo, California.

**The maiden name of Mary Anne's mother may have been O'Niel or Jeffery. This is because (1) O'Niel appears on her death certificate and (2) her grandson Wilfred said "she was related to Jefferies, the prizefighter. Possibly a second or third cousin." Jim Jefferies' family surname was Jeffery.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death} 2:15 A.M.

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date}

Place}

Confirm. Date}

Photo} Mary Anne circa 1900

Immigr'n Date} 1900

Port}

Education: Grade} or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition} Arteriosclerosis
Cause of Death} Heart failure

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 31 Mar 2023
Date Created} 8 Oct 1994

Home Page