Biography

It is believed that David Howell was born circa 1775. He was married to Susannah March. Evidence suggests that David Howell had a close relationship with John March who (we believe) is Susannah's father. David Howell was also listed as an heir to John March's pension. David owned property in what is now Franklin, Virginia somewhere around what was known as Franklin Depot along The Blackwater River. David Howell died sometime in December of 1842. He had no Will and there were law suits filed in Southampton County court regarding his estate. It appears that he made his living as a fisherman. An inventory of his property after his death indicates he had nets, hooks, and equipment that would have been used by fishermen at that time. David and Susannah had six children. There is also a mention in the Southampton County Court Order Book of a Nelson Howell who is described as "an orphan child of David Howell". There are two separate entries in The Southampton County Court records that mention Nelson Howell as an orphan child of David.

Census records indicate that Susannah (or Susan as it was in the record) moved to Hertford County, NC after her husbands death and was found living with her son Robert S. Howell in 1850. It is believed that Susannah died in 1865 and is buried in the Taylor Family Cemetery along the back fence on Parkers Ferry Road in Como, N.C. One of David’s sons (Edwin) is buried there along with four of his grandchildren. We are still trying to find more about David and Susannah and the orphan child Nelson as our research continues.