Biography

Roscius Bolden Howell, the second son of Edwin Howell and Nancy E. Britt, was born March 10, 1850 in Hertford County, North Carolina.  Roscius obtained a marriage license on October 19, 1874 at age 24, and was married to Virginia Gillette Bradshaw, age 20, three days later on October 22, 1874 by John R. Watkins in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.  Virginia was the daughter of Joseph and Anna Bradshaw.  Roscius worked as a farm hand and later in a lumber mill where he learned the saw filing trade.  He and his wife Virginia, brought forth eight children, Annie, John, Martha, Harvey, Joel, Jennie, Lillie and Roscius L. Roscius built a house for his family in a small area called Myrtle in Isle of Wight County, Virginia;  little house exactly like one built by his father, Edwin at "Egypt".  It is not known if the land was owned by Roscius or if the land owner permitted him to build it there.  At the time Roscius and his son, Harvey worked as hired hands to support the family.

Roscius died July 20, 1923 at age 73.  Virginia was born on July 4, 1854 and died October 1, 1943 at age 89. They are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia.