Death’s Constant Presence

When I began sharing the story of Mary Howard, my 4th-great grandmother, many readers were moved by her story of great loss. I look forward to writing her story after I’ve completed her father’s. He also had a life filled with loss – of personal wealth, childhood home, and repeated loss of those he loved. The first recorded loss in his life was the death of his grandfather, John Howard, when he was fifteen. He experienced at least twelve deaths among his family during his lifetime, and may have been aware of three whose deaths preceded his in the cholera epidemic of 1833.

Family Deaths During Horton’s Lifetime:

• 1770 – Horton Howard was born
• 1785 – death of John Howard – Horton’s grandfather
• 1786 – death of Barrtholomew Howard – Horton’s father
• 1788 – death of Frances Horton – Horton’s grandmother
• 1790 – death of Ruth Stanton Howard – Horton’s mother
• 1796 – death of Ruth Howard – Horton’s 2 year old daughter
• 1797 – death of Anna Mace Howard – Horton’s first wife
• 1806 – death of Mary Dew Howard – Horton’s second wife
• 1811 – death of Cherry Dew Howard – Horton’s sister-in-law & sister of his 2nd wife
• 1819 – death of Jane Howard – Horton’s 3 year old daughter
• 1821 – death of Pharaby Patterson Howard – Horton’s young daughter-in-law
• 1825 – death of Hannah Howard – Horton’s 13 year old daughter
• 1829 – death of Rachel Howard – Horton’s 27 year old daughter
• 1833 – deaths from cholera of Ann Howard, Caroline Little & Horton Little – his daughter, granddaughter and namesake grandson shortly before his own death.