Hello Folks.

I have been through just about every page on The Register (and what a great site it is!), but I'm running into a brick wall on a very early PEI ancestor named Howell. I've been able to reliably trace my grandmother's family roots back to a certain George Howell born in PEI some time around 1815, who later left PEI as a child or young man.

He married Mary Biggs (1815-1866) from Amherst Nova Scotia, and they settled in Weldford, Kent County, New Brunswick. They had had four children (George Abner 1842-?, James Taylor 1851-?), Ananias (1854-1911), and Mary Ellis (1858-?)
All the children were born in New Brunswick.

George died some time around 1860, and Mary re-married a Patrick Welsh (1809-1881).

The name Howell does not come up on any original settlers, or Loyalist or military discharge lists.

There are NO Howells on any island census until 1881. By 1881, there are four (4) elder Howells identified, all in their 60's. It is possible that one of these was a sibling of George. Identified on the 1881 census were Roderick Howell, age 63 LOT 18; John Howell, age 66 LOT 30, his wife Mary, age 68, LOT 30; and Elizabeth, age 64, LOT 18.

I understand that one John Howell emigrated from Kilkenny Ireland, and settled in Charlottetown in 1803. He may have married one Sarah Hyde (born 1790), daughter of Thomas Hyde (1757-1836) and Anna Brown (1753-1825). He may also have been the manager of the Wellington Hotel in the 1820s and 1830's. He passed away in 1849 in Charlottetown.

So what I am trying to do is establish linkage between John Howell, one of the 1881 census Howells, and my ancestor George. I live in Texas, so it's not terribly easy for me to visit PEI. I was hoping that someone on this board might have a little insight here.

Any assistance is sincerely appreciated!

Doug Logan


There are no Howells on any of the passenger lists.