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Eleanor Howard wife of John Dodson
Eleanor Howard: Who was she (really)?
It seems I am not the only person perplexed that such a well known family as the Howard's have no record of an Eleanor Howard. She appears to come out of nowhere to marry John Dodson.
According to the book: Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907 by Rev. Thompson P. Ege, A.M., her father was General Eager Howard. The problem is, no record of this individual or Eleanor Howard exists.
Looking at the Howards that did exist in the Maryland area, there are several possibilities. Both include the possibility that Rev. Edge was incorrect in the first name of the father of Eleanor Howard.
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Cornelius Howard
The first likely candidate for Eleanor's father is Cornelius Howard, born 1706 in Baltimore, Maryland. He married Ruth Eager 14 Jan 1738. The pair had 9 known children ranging from 1739 to 1769.
Howard researcher's appear to agree on the dates of births of these children. There were several gaps, amounting to years, between their several of their children in which Eleanor could have been born. Since this family was known to use the name of "Eager", it could easily be that this is Eleanor's family.
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Thomas Howard Sr
Nelson T. Smith has done extensive research on the possible parents of Eleanor Howard. In his paper "Eleanor Howard Wife of John Dodson", he summerizes his work. He makes an extremely strong case for Thomas Howard Sr. as being the father of Eleanor Howard.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WORK CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NELSON'S SMITH WORK. PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR USE WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF MR. SMITH.
Eleanor Howard wife of John Dodson
By Nelson T. Smith
The search for the parents of Eleanor Howard is important for at least three reasons. First, no serious researcher accepts a "brick wall," particularly when there appears to be data available to continue the research, and yet for over a hundred years a Dodson genealogical line abruptly ends at Eleanor Howard. Second, Eleanor is considered by some to be the "mother" of the Dodson genealogical line called "Maryland Branch" (1) on which considerable research has been undertaken. Finally, establishing Eleanor
Howards ancestors could resolve the authenticity of an alleged claim to the "Howard Family Line of
Maryland"
Since the early 1900's and probably longer descendants, researchers, and genealogists, have diligently sought Eleanor's parents. Since Eleanor used the last name "Howard" and was married to John Dodson in Anne Arundel County Maryland(2,3), it is generally assumed that she was of the "Howard Family Line of Maryland".
However, in spite of reasonably good publications containing these records for Anne Arundel County
during the 18 century, no female child named Eleanor Howard born in 1759 was ever found.
Two female children named Eleanor Howard, bom in the general time period, can be identified in the
available records. The first is a daughter of Cornelius Howard and his wife Mary Hammond born in Anne Arundel County on February 6, 1706(4,5). Since this Eleanor would have been 139 years old at the time of the subject Eleanor Howard's death, she cannot seriously be considered as the sought Eleanor Howard. The second Eleanor, bom about 1778 in Anne Arundel County, was the daughter of Joseph Howard Jr. and his wife Martha Hall(6). She is mentioned in Joseph's will(7,8). Since Joseph was born March 13, 1749, he would have only been ten years old in 1759 and it is highly unlikely this is the sought Eleanor Howard.
What makes the inability to identify Eleanor Howard's parents even more frustrating is the laws of
Maryland since 1654 required the inhabitants to register births, marriages and burials(9). This requirement
was modified by the "Act of Service of Almighty God and the Establishment of the Protestant Religion
within the Province", passed by the General Assembly in Maryland in 1682. By this Act the Church of
England was given the same 'Right, Liberties, and Franchises' within the Colony of Maryland as might be
established by law. One of the provisions gave the Justices and Commissioners of the counties the power
to call together the principal freeholders of the counties to set out the various parishes and to establish
vestries to administer the affairs of the Parish(10). A responsibility of the Vestry Clerk was to keep a register
of Births. Deaths, and Marriages for the inhabitants of the parish. Thus the "Established Church", among
other things, became the official agency for registering vital statistics in Maryland. (This practice appears
to have been also adopted by other churches such as the Quakers.)
The original Anglican Parishes of Anne Arundel and later Howard Counties were St. Anne's, St. James, St.
Margaret's and All Hallows Protestant Episcopal Churches. As inhabitants of the county moved to the
west into what was later to become Howard County, Christ Church, Queen Caroline Parish was established
in the year 1728.
Rev. Thompson Ege, writing the "Dodson Genealogy 1600 -1907" in the early 1900's listed Eleanor's
birth as 6/11/1759, death as 1, 5, 1845 and solved her pedigree by "surmising that a Margaret Dodson.
who was the daughter of an early Maryland settler named John Dodson and married a Howard, named a
daughter after her sister Eleanor(11). However, Rev. Ege did not provided any facts to support his surmise!
In 1999, after unsuccessful research efforts in Anne Arundel County, research turned to the Hamilton
County, (Cincinnati) Ohio area, where Eleanor is buried, to re-establish available information with the goal
of working back to Maryland. Considerable information was obtained from the Genealogy Section of the
Cincinnati Public Library and local Cemeteries, most of which confirmed what had been known. One
notable exception was Eleanor's date of death that according to tombstone records ofFinneytown
Cemetery was January 6. 1840(12), some five years different than Rev. Ege reported.
Next, a copy of Rev. Thompson Ege's "Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907", which was out of print, was
obtained. A careful review of his material on Eleanor Howard and John Dodson revealed similarities to the
Cincinnati data. To see this more clearly, the following is page 343 from the book(13).
1
"Dodson Genealogy
Maryland Branch C
John and Eleanor Howard Dodson Line
Introduction
The head of this line in this country was John Dodson, born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England in 1752.
When but nineteen years of age and while still serving an apprenticeship he suddenly decided to embark for
America, and landed at Annapolis, MD in 1771. From the fact that a Dodson family was then prominent in
the vicinity of Annapolis, having settled there in the latter part of 1600, said John, of Shrewsbury, England
may have been attracted there from a probable kinship and knowledge of them.
John married March 2nd, 1778, Eleanor Howard, of Maryland, daughter of General Eager Howard, who was
prominent in both the Revolutionary War, and probably also in the war of 1812. The Howard family of
Maryland were prominent in that day, and have remained well know in Maryland history from colonial
days. A prominent street in Baltimore City bears their name. The Howard family of this country and of
England trace their linage to Lord Edward Howard, in the reign of Henry VIII, and also claim a kinship
with George III.
In the will of a John Dodson, one of the earlier Maryland settlers, made in 1736, among the children therein
named was Margaret and Eleanor. Margaret married a Howard.
In 1778, when John of Shrewsbury married Eleanor Howard, it can easily be a probable surmise that a
daughter of the said Margaret Dodson Howard mentioned in the will of 1736, and named for her sister
Eleanor, was the Eleanor Howard who became the wife of this later John Dodson, of Shrewsbury, England.
John Dodson took part in the Revolutionary struggles of the Colonies for independence, and was present
with Washington's army at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Some time after the marriage of
John and Eleanor they resided in Baltimore, where some of their children were born. In the fall of 1795,
John Dodson and family removed to a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, where a number of their descendants still
reside, while others have scattered farther west and south."
The second paragraph of the above quotation claims Eleanor Howard to be the daughter of General Eager
Howard who was prominent in the Revolutionary War. A General Eager Howard cannot be located in the
Revolutionary War or any other material of the period. However, there was a Colonel John Eager Howard
who was prominent in the Revolutionary War, and a member of the Continental Congress. He was born in
1752, married Margaret Chew and later died in 1827. In 1787 when war with France became imminent,
President Washington tendered him the offices of Major General and Secretary of State, both of which he
declined. In 1789 he was elected the fifth Governor of the State of Maryland(14).
While it might be argued that Rev. Ege just omitted the first name and gave credit for a rank tendered but
never actually obtained, a closer examination of the available data shows that Colonel John Eager Howard
was born June 4, 1752 in Baltimore County, MD(15). Colonel Howard was only seven years old at the
reported birth of the subject Eleanor Howard and hardly capable of being a father. Therefore, at least some
of this information appears in error.
In the final paragraph of page 343, reference is made to John Dodson serving under Col. Thomas Bull and
being present with Washington at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, VA. There appears to be
several things wrong with this claim. First, John enlisted in the military February 5, 1778 and was
discharged June 11, 1778(16). The surrender of Lord Cornwallis took place at Yorktown during October 17th
- 20th, 1781(17), more than three years after John was discharged from military service. Second, the subject
John Dodson was a member of the First Regiment Maryland Line, recruited to fill the quota for Anne
Arundel County, Maryland(18). Col. Thomas Bull commanded the 1st Company, 2nd Bn, Chester County,
Pennsylvania troops. (19) Thus, John Dodson was in the wrong military unit and at the wrong time to have
been at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
Units of Pennsylvania troops apparently did participate in the action at Yorktown(20). There was a John
Dodson in the 1st Company, 2" battalion, Chester County, Pennsylvania troops commanded by Lt. Col.
Thomas Bull also reported by Rev. Ege(21). This John Dodson was born in England April 10, 1720 and died
in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania March 10, 1818. He married Mary Eleanor Evans in 1745(22).
Since Rev. Ege was dealing with the entire Dodson family line between 1600 and 1907, it is easy to
understand how data could be confused between two John Dodsons both serving in the Revolutionary War.
2
Rev. Ege also reported Eleanor's date of death as January 5, 1845 rather than the January 6, 1840 that is
listed in the tombstone inscription records for Finneytown Cemetery(23).
The confused data is not limited to Rev. Ege as the Daughters of the American Revolution Official Roster
for soldiers who lived in Ohio shows "Dodson, John - Hamilton County by Mrs. W. Earle Johnson,
Batavia, 0, Roster I, p 116, B 12-25-1752, Shrewsbury, England; d 5-16-1825; bur Finneytown Cem. On
Winton Rd - Springfield Twp, Hamilton Co, 0, Md. Mil, under Col. Thomas Bull +++. Eleanor Howard b
1-11-1759, d 1-8-1841+++ "(24). Also, the following is found in a Daughters of the American Revolution
Linage Book, "John Dodson m. 1778 Eleanor Howard (1759 - 1845)"(25). Thus, it appears that other
respected genealogical sources as well as Rev. Ege confused the data.
Referring again to Rev. Ege's material, he reports John and Eleanor's date of Marriage as March 2. 1778
and fails to mention the officially recorded marriage license date of February 13, 1778. No substantiation
could be found to support the claimed marriage date of March 2, 1778. The only record of Eleanor Howard
and John Dodson's marriage that could be verified was the issuance in Anne Arundel County of a
"Marriage License" on February 13, 1778(26).
Notwithstanding the above clarifications and correction, subsequent research on both Eleanor Howard and
John Dodson failed to reveal any new information. Additionally, the search was also broadened to include
Beal and McDowell since John and Eleanor had named their fourth child William Beal and Eleanor's
grand-daughter, Fidelia Dodson named a son dark McDowell Smith, However, nothing was found to link
Eleanor Howard to the Beal (Beale, Beall) or McDowell Families of Maryland.
The law regarding marriage in Maryland in 1778 is set forth in "An Act Concerning Marriages, Lib GR.
Fol 39, February 1777 which provides in part:
III. And be it enacted, that the rites of marriage between any white persons, subject or inhabitants of this
state, shall not be celebrated by any persons within this state unless by ministers of the Church of England,
Minister differing from that church, or Romish Priests, appointed or ordained by the rites and ceremonies
of their respective church. +++ If any perform contrary to the true intent (of this statute), he shall forfeit
and pay for every offence 500 pounds current money.
V. And be it remembered that no person within this state shall marry without such license as by this act
directed, or before the names of the parties intending to be married shall thrice be published in some parish
or chapel, meeting house or Romish parish chapel or other house of religious worship in the county where
the woman shall have her usual residence
IX. And be it enacted that if any minister shall join in marriage any male under the age of twenty-one
years, or any female under the age of sixteen years, and not before married, without the consent of the
parent of guardian +++ he shall forfeit and pay five hundred pounds current money.
XII. And be it enacted that all licenses for marriage shall be issued by the clerk of the court of that county
where the woman shall have her usual residence."
Since a marriage license was issued to Eleanor and John in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in accordance
with the above, it was decided to search the birth records of Anne Arundel County for any female child
with the given surname "Howard" born around 1759. The results were:(27)
Margaret Howard Born April 4, 1746(28)
Margery-Howard Born March 17, 1752/3(29)
Neither of these fit the required birth date or the information available on Eleanor.
Next, since Eleanor's tombstone inscription had been located in the Finneytown Cemetery (Hamilton
County, Ohio) records showing "Died Jan 6 1840 Age 81st Year"(30) it was decided to search the Anne
Arundel County, MD records for all female children named "Eleanor" born in 1759. Eleanor McKinnon,
the daughter of Ruth McKinnon was the only such child in the records.
The search was then repeated with an expanded time period of between 1753 and 1764 to allow for some
leeway in the birth information. 1764 was chosen as the latest date Eleanor could have been born since she
would have only been 13 years old when the marriage license was issued and, as previously shown,
Maryland law severely penalized a clergy for performing any marriage when the female was under the age
of 16 years.
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This produced the following results:
St. Anne's Parish
Eleanor born November 29, 1757 to John Druce and Eleanor
St. James' Parish
Ellenor born September 15, 1753 to Benj Ward and Eliz
St Margaret's Parish
No female children named Eleanor.
All Hallow's Parish
Eleanor bom March 2, 1759 illegitimate dau of Ruth McKinnon
Eleanor born June 24, 1761 to Francis Linthicum and Mary
West River Monthly Meeting
No female children named Eleanor.
Quaker Meeting
No female children named Eleanor.(31)
The four Eleanors were then researched for additional information in an effort to eliminate as many as
possible. This revealed the following:
Further data concerning Eleanor Druce shows she married Benjamin Yieldhall on November 9,1782(32).
Further data concerning Ellenor Ward shows she married first Richard Lewin, then Samuel Roberts
and died in Anne Arundel Co., MD in 180233.
Further data concerning Eleanor Linthicum shows she died young .
Further data concerning Eleanor McKinnon could not be found.
The original records of All Hallows Parish on microfilm at the Maryland State Archives, were then
searched to better understand the birth information concerning Eleanor McKinnon.
Page 51 of these records shows in part:
Illegitimate
"Eleanor the A daughter of Ruth McKinnon
Born- March 2, 1759
Mary daughter ofElisha White and his wife Agnes
Born October 6, 1759
Anne the 1st daughter of Daniel McKinnon and Ruth his wife
Born February 7, 1753
Ruth the 2"'1 daughter of Daniel McKinnon and Ruth his wife
Born December 4 1755(35)
The insertion that Eleanor was illegitimate was clearly added after the original entry. The entries for
Anne and Ruth were made considerably after their birth and also after Eleanor's birth entry since the
Mary White entry of October 6, 1759 occurred in between.
The entry for Eleanor provides the mother, Ruth McKinnon, but fails to specify the father and when
the entry is read in the context of the entries for Anne and Ruth clearly establish that the father was not
Daniel McKinnon. Interestingly, Rev. Ege's description of Eleanor's pedigree never specifies a
mother and only claims that she was the daughter of a male Howard. Additionally, nothing can be
found in the available records directly linking Eleanor McKinnon with any father.
4
At this point it seems reasonable to assume that Eleanor Howard and Eleanor McKinnon are in fact the
same person and test this assumption in the light of facts that can be found in the available records.
No information can be found concerning Eleanor Howard prior to the marriage license on February 17
1778.
No information can be found on Eleanor McKinnon after her birth registration.
While Eleanor McKinnon seems to drop out of existence, information on her two sisters is available as
seen from the following:
Anne McKinnon was born February 7, 1753 and about 1775 married Thomas Rogers born about 1747
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. No record of this marriage can be found in Anne Arundel
County. Anne died December 12, 1830. They had eight children(36).
Ruth McKinnon was born December 4, 1755 and about 1785 married Captain John Bavington
(Bevington) born February 2, 1750. They both died in Washington County, Pennsylvania, he on June
10, 1810 and she on February 4, 1824. They took up a Patent called "Milltown" in Washington
County, PA, February 22, 1786. They had ten children(37). (The records of Pennsylvania were not
research for additional information.)
Eleanor Howard is claimed to be the daughter of a male Howard (General Eager Howard).
Eleanor McKinnon's father cannot be established and the most that can be inferred from the records
was that he resided in All Hallows Parish of Anne Arundel County, Maryland and was not Daniel
McKinnon.
Eleanor MeKinnon's birthday is March 2nd. Rev. Ege lists Eleanor and John's marriage date as March
2nd. While at first glance this might be dismissed as a coincidence, it should be noted that Rev. Ege
also lists Eleanor Howard's birthday as June 11th. A review of the military records of John Dodson
reveals that he was discharged from military service on June II, 1778. The probability of two date
coincidences is highly unlikely and combined with the previous discussion of Rev. Ege's work would
strongly support the presumption that Rev. Ege and possibly others actually confused the data.
Next, looking at the information that can find on the McKinnon family to see how it would fit, the
following is found:
Daniel M'Kinnon appears to have been born about 1730 in Isle of Skve, Inverness, Scotland(38) and
some compilers report that he and his brother Joseph were sons of Lord Michael McKinnon(39). One
reference says that his wife Ruth was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland before 1741 and that
they married in Anne Arundel County(40). However, after considerable searching, no record of this
marriage can be found.
Another, seemingly more believable report is that Daniel and Ruth came to Maryland from Scotland
about 1750(41).
Records of Queen Anne Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland show that a son, Daniel was born to
Ruth and Daniel McKinnon in 1752(42).
A deed of 1753 concerning the purchase of a Negro woman identifies Daniel McKinnon as a
schoolmaster in Anne Arundel County(43). This would be the time of the birth of their first child.
Daniel McKinnon becomes the headmaster of Queen Anne Parish School in 1753(44).
In the spring or early summer of 1758, Daniel McKinnon returns to England(45).
(Eleanor McKinnon is bom March 2, 1759.)
Daniel McKinnon placed the following advertisement in the November 16, 1758 Maryland Gazette:
"Whereas I've lately begun to keep School at London Town, I give Public Notice, That I will
Teach GRAMMER at four Guineas per Annum and all Gentlemen who may be pleased to favour
me with their Custom, may depend upon being served with Candour and Fidelity by
Their most Humble Servant
Daniel M'Kinnon"(46)
5
(Londontown is in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County and is located on the south shore of
South River about halfway between the Chesapeake Bay and the head of the River.)
March 29,1759 Daniel McKinnon placed the following advertisement in the Maryland Gazette:
" Whereas Ruth M'Kinnon formerly spouse to the subscriber, is forever hereafter justly separated
and discharged from me, because her having lately brought into my Family an adulterous Child,
which was begot about the beginning of June 1758, while I was absent in Britian; being born in
full Time and Health on the second of this Instant March: These are therefore to forewarn all
Persons of whatsoever Denomination, for the ftiture, from dealing with, or trusting her on my
account, for I do hereby solemnly protest, that I will not (according to Law) pay so much as a
Farthing of any Debt or Debts, which she may contract from the date hereof.
Daniel M'Kinnon"(47).
No information has been found as to what happened to Ruth McKinnon after the above publication.
Other researchers have established that Eleanor lived with Daniel McKinnon and the other children
during the following period(48). Since Eleanor apparently did not live with her mother and might not of
even known her, it might explain why the only parental reference for Eleanor Howard was the father.
Daniel McKinnon is next noted as moving to Queen Anne's County, MD (across the Chesapeake Bay
on what is called the Eastern Shore) where he was master of Queen Anne's County School from
February 11, 1760 to July 28, 1762(49).
In August 7, 1766 Catherine Lanham, administratrix, officially verifies the will of Edward Lanham her
late husband(50). In late March or early April 1767, the final accounting of Edward Lanham's estate
was made by Daniel and Catherine McKinnon(51 52). St John's parish register shows Daniel, son of
Daniel and Catharine McKinnon was (born April 19, 1767) baptized June 7, 1767(53). These finding
when taken together indicate Daniel re-married and his second wife was Catherine Lanham.
In 1768 Daniel appears to have again returned to England and was ordained by the Bishop of London
in 1768(54). Hardly something that would have been done if Daniel had been divorced. Thus it suggests
that Ruth may have died.
Daniel returned to Maryland in 1769 and is listed as the Minister at All Saints Parish in Frederick
County, Maryland(55).
In 1772 he is listed as the Minister at St. Margaret's Westminister (Broad Neck) Parish back in Anne
Arundel County Maryland(56). (This parish is a peninsula of land on the Chesapeake Bay between the
Severn and Magothy Rivers and near Annapolis)
The Church of England was dis-established in Maryland in 1777. According to various histories of
the colonial church, Daniel McKinnon was one of the ministers who returned to England. There is
also speculation that he died while a sea during this trip(57).
The Maryland Marriage Records show a marriage license was issued on December 9, 1777 to Daniel
McKennon and Maria Wilson(58 59). This would appear to have been the unnamed son born to Ruth and
Daniel in 1752.
It appears from the research of others that Eleanor's half-sisters and half-brother may have left
Maryland about this time. They are reported to have gone to Fayette County Pennsylvania, south of
Pittsburgh(60).
Maryland appears to have had no divorce law prior to the Constitution of 1851 and the March 1759
publication in the Maryland Gazette is considered by some as a divorce(61). It should be noted that no
other information has been located for Ruth McKinnon (wife of Daniel) in the records Anne Arundel
County or any place the McKinnon family was located after 1759.
Nothing in the above information concerning the McKinnon family would be inconsistent with the
assumption that Eleanor McKinnon and Eleanor Howard were in fact the same person.
The military records show that John Dodson was inducted into service by Lt. James Brice. This
process took place February 5, 1778 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland(62). Lt. James Brice
was the son of Captain John Brice. St. John's parish register shows that on November 19, 1761 Sarah
Bryce, the second daughter of Captain John Bryce of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland was
6
married to Richard Henderson(63). This wedding took place while the McKinnon family was associated
with St. John's parish. Thus it is likely that Eleanor knew the Brice Family and they could have acted
to bring John Dodson and Eleanor (Howard) McKinnon together.
The register for the military unit being formed in Annapolis shows the following enlistments:(64)
Name Rank Date Enlisted Date Discharged Remarks
Majors. Jno Pvt 4Febl778 16 Aug 1880 Prisoner
Dodson. John Pvt 5 Feb 1778 11 Jun 1778 Discharged
Pringlc. John Pvt 6 Feb 1778 16 Aug. 1880 Missing
Rady. Laurence Pvt 7 Feb 1778 8 Jul 1779 Deserted
Cheney. John Pvt 10 Feb 1778
Timms. Edward Pvt 11 Feb 1778 1 Nov 1880 Present
Therefore it appears that John Dodson was not part of any group but rather enlisted himself on that
date.
John Dodson voluntarily enlisted on February 5, 1778. The marriage license to John and Eleanor was
issued on February 17, 1778. John passed muster on February 27, 1778. John Dodson, the first child
of Eleanor and John was bom on December 25. 1778(65). Thus, Eleanor was about three months
pregnant and probably the reason for John's discharge on June 11, 1778.
But why would Eleanor have used the surname Howard rather than McKinnon when obtaining the
marriage license?
On February 5, 1777, the General Assembly of Maryland enacted a law which made it necessary for
every male 18 years and older, every civil officer, senator, delegate to Congress or assembly, member
of council, elector of the senate, attorneys at law, every voter for delegate, sheriff, electors to the
senate, and all other persons holding any office of trust or profit in the state to sign an Oath of
Allegiance and Fidelity to the state of Maryland and the cause of freedom before a magistrate of the
court. John Dodson signed the Oath on February 5, 1777. However, Daniel McKinnon, being
ordained by the Church of England had sworn an oath to the King of England and if he were still in
Maryland, probably felt he could not make such an oath. A careful review reveals there is no record of
him signing the Oath of Allegiance.
If it is correct that Daniel McKinnon returned to Britain in 1776 or 1777 as a result of the dis-
establishment of the Church of England, Eleanor no longer had a home. The law required that she
obtain the marriage license in the county where she usually resided and since the family moved
frequently, she may have needed proof that she usually resided in Anne Arundel County. What better
proof than the Howard surname that had long been associated with Anne Arundel County.
With Daniel McKinnon out of the country, Eleanor could have wanted to set the record straight as to
her true father.
Since the illegitimate birth of Eleanor McKinnon was a very scandalous affair at that time, the clerk of
the court for Anne Arundel County granting the license was someone who usually had intimate
knowledge of the county and he may have known that the true father of Eleanor McKinnon was a
Howard. (A review of the original record shows no interlineations or changes in the marriage license
entry.)
Another theory that has been suggested is that after the death of Margaret, Joseph Howard Sr. may
have no longer needed to keep Eleanor's birth secret. However, Eleanor was never mentioned in his
will written December 10, 1777 (after the death of his wife Margaret and shortly before Eleanor's
marriage to John) or in the disposition of his estate. Therefore it appears unlikely that this theory has
merit.
Also, it could be argued that if she learned of the content of Joseph Howard Sr. 's December 1777 will
and that she was not included, this could have been her motivation for declaring it on the marriage
license.
7
In light of the evidence found which applies to both Eleanor McKinnon and Eleanor Howard and the
fact that no evidence found contradict the assumption that Eleanor McKinnon are the same, it is a
reasonable conclusion that they are in fact the same person.
Unfortunately, the above still leaves many questions open such as when and by whom were they
married, what happened between 1778 and when they arrived in Hamilton County, Ohio in 1795, why
William had the middle name Beal, etc. But, as anyone experienced in research knows, all questions
are rarely answered.
Next lets look at which Howard may have been the father of Eleanor. The 1776 Maryland census (the
first such listing) list the following Howards in Anne Arundel County.
Denune Howard (Page 2) who has one white male
Joseph Howard Jr. (Page 2) who has one white male, one white female, and two children.
Joseph Howard Sr. (Page 9) who has two white males, two white females and one child.
Vashel (incorrectly read as Nashet by some transcribers) Howard (Page 4) who has one white male,
one white female and seven children.
Joseph Howard Sr. is reported to have had four children: Margaret born April 4, 1746, Joseph Jr. born
March 13, 1749, Margery born March 17, 1752/3, and Benjamin born August 26, 1761(66).
Joseph Howard Jr. is himself listed on Page 9 in the 1776 Census. Margery married Henry Hall on
December 27, 1774 and they are listed on Page 4 of the 1776 Census. Joseph Howard Sr.'s wife,
Margaret Williams died about 1762 shortly after the birth of their youngest son Benjamin. Based on
the foregoing the 1776 Census should only show three individuals for Joseph Howard Sr. (Joseph Sr.,
Benjamin, and Margaret) instead of the five that are listed. No data can be found which explain these
additional persons in the 1776 Census for Joseph Howard Sr. Could the additional male and female
listings be Eleanor and her half-brother Daniel (who married in Anne Arundel County in 1777)?(67)
Also, it should be noted that Joseph Howard Sr. and his wife Margaret had children in 1746, 1749 and
1752/3. Their next child was born in the late summer of 1761. That leaves a period of eight or nine
years between births when no children were born to Margaret. Could Eleanor McKinnon have been
the result of an affair that Joseph Sr. was having during that period?
Joseph Howard Sr. was a wealthy person and a large landholder. This alone made him well respected
in the area. Among his land holdings was "Howard's Inheritance", willed to him by his father, and
consisting of 380 acres of land on or near South River in All Hallows Parish. At the time of Eleanor
McKinnon's birth, Joseph Howard Sr. and his family resided there. The mentioned will also provided
that Joseph Sr. be "instructed in the knowledge of physick" by his father's friend. Dr. Richard Hill(68).
Whether this vocation was pursued was not further researched.
Ruth McKinnon, at the time of Eleanor's birth, was not a simple country girl seduced on a warm
summer's evening. Her husband, Daniel, as School Master, occupied a position of respect. And if he
was in fact the son of Lord Michael McKinnon, he would have commanded even more respect. And,
finally, she had given birth to at least three children: a son (Daniel), Anne and Ruth.
Surprisingly for the times there is no evidence that Ruth McKinnon and Eleanor's father were in
anyway held criminally responsible for their adultery which was considered a serious crime at the time.
The only punishment that can be found is Daniel's publication of the illegitimate birth and the resulting
scandal. Could it be that Eleanor's father was of such influence that the crime was not further
pursued?
All of the above strongly suggests that Eleanor's father was a man of postion and respect
such as Joseph Howard Sr.
Rev. Ege's also claimed that John Dodson landed in Annapolis Maryland in 1771 but provided no
documentation to support the claim. Several searches of the transport records of the time have not
yielded any documentation for this claim. However, a John Dodson was found leaving England in
February 1774 as the result of a "Sentence of Transport" from London(69).
Finally, Rev. Ege reported that "some time after the marriage of John and Eleanor they resided in
Baltimore". A search of the 1790 Federal Census and other resources fails to show any John Dodson
8
living in Baltimore County, Maryland. However, the 1790 Federal Census on page 85 lists a John
Dodson with one white male over 16, four white males under 16, two females and no slaves living in
Montgomery County, Maryland(70). This corresponds to John as the one white male over 16, John Jr.,
Edward, William, and Samuel as the four white males under 16, and Eleanor and Margaret as the white
females. Thus John and Eleanor lived in Montgomery County Maryland prior to their move to
Hamilton County Ohio in the fall of 1795.
Accordingly, the writer proposes the recorded information for Eleanor Howard and Eleanor McKinnon
be modified in accordance with the above.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907, Rev. Thompson P. Ege, A.M., Deemer & Jaisohn, Philadelphia PA.
1908. Page 343
2 Maryland State Archives, Index of Marriages, Anne Arundel County Marriage Records 1777 - 1813.
Page 3
3 Anne Arundel County Maryland Marriage Record 1770 - 1877 John W. Powell, Compiler, Anne Arundel
Genealogical Society, 1991, Page 32
4 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN: 9JBL-HH)
5 Http://www.uftree.com/uft/webpages/stancourtney/stan1/d4/i0001663.htm
6 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN: 1TC7-4SH)
7 Maryland State Archives, Original Will of Joseph Howard Jr. Wills of Anne Arundel County. MD. 1791
Box H Folder 105
8 Maryland State Archives, Receipts from Legatees, Box 103 Folder 37
9 Maryland State Archives, Maryland General Assembly. Acts of 1654, Chapter 16
10 Archives of Maryland, Volume 13, Pages 425 - 430
" Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907, Rev. Thompson P. Ege, A.M., Deemer & Jaisohn, Philadelphia. PA.
1908. Page 343
12 Hamilton County Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions, Robert Craig, Volume II, Page 22-23
13 Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907, Rev. Thompson P. Ege, A.M.. Deemer & Jaisohn. Philadelphia. PA.
1908, Page 343
14 The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland, J. D. Warfield, Kohn & Pollock,
Baltimore, MD. 1905, Pages 240-242.
15 Ibid
16 Muster Rolls & Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, 1775 - 1783.
Muster of Maryland Troops, Vol. 1, First Regiment, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.. Baltimore. MD,
1972
17 Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, 1979. Volume 25, Page 393
18 Muster Rolls & Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, 1775-1783.
Muster of Maryland Troops, Vol. 1, First Regiment, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore. MD.
1972. Page 20 "-21
19 National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Linage Book 141, Page 123, Miss Fern
Elizabeth Naugle No: 140403
20 Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Edition Vol. 11 Page 731 Diary of the Pennsylvania Line May 26. 1781 -
August 25. 1782
21 Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907, Rev. Thompson P. Ege, A.M., Deemer & Jaisohn, Philadelphia PA,
1908, Pages 12-13".
22 National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lineage Book 141, Page 123. Miss Fern
Elizabeth Naugle "No: 140403
23 Hamilton County Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions, Robert Craig, Vol. II, Pages 22 - 23, and Historical &
Philosophical Society of Ohio, October 1953, Bulletin No. 4. Pages 340 - 341
24 DAR Official Roster III. Soldiers of the American Revolution who lived in Ohio. 1959 and references
cited therein
25 National Society of the Daughter of the American Revolution, Linage Book 135. Page 68. Mrs. Carrie
Dodson Hattersley, No. 134210
26 Maryland State Archives, Index of Marriages, Anne Arundel County Marriage Records 1777 - 1813
28 Anne Arundel County, Maryland Church Records, F. Edward Wright, Family Line Publications.
Westminister, MD, Page 54
29 Ibid
9
30 Hamilton County Ohio Cemetery Inscriptions, Robert Craig, Vol. II, Page 22 - 23
31 Anne Arundel County, Maryland Marriage Records, F. Edward Wright, Family Line Publication,
Westminister, MD, various pages
32 Anne Arundel County Marriage Records 1777 - 1877, John W. Powell, Anne Arundel Genealogical
Society. Pasadena MD, 1991, Page 134
33 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN: ICZ3 - QT5)
34 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (WR81 - B6)
35 Maryland State Archives, All Hallows Protestant Episcopal Church, All Hallows Parish Collection, 1669
- 1857 MSA SC 2458 Film Number M 221
36 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN-.TRBQ-92)
37 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN:9MWO-43) and
http://geocities.com/tazewellgeneology/eng/pafn171.htm January 2002
38 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN: 19RC-OCJ)
39 http://www.gengorum.com/mckinnon/messages/38.html byDaleMyers, August 6, 1998
40 http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin?=GET&dbrlewis&id=111822rlewis70@bellsouth.net
41 JoAnn Naugle's letter of 1985 summarizing her research located at
42 Maryland State Archives, Register of Queen Anne Parish. Anne Arundel County, Maryland M 389, Page
97 original or 341 revised
43 Research notes of Miss JoAnn Naugle published by private letter.
44 Ibid
45 Maryland State Archives, The Maryland Gazette Thursday March 23 1759, No. 725
46 Maryland State Archives, The Maryland Gazette, Thursday November 16, 1758, No. 706
47 Maryland State Archives, The Maryland Gazette, Thursday March 23, 1759. No. 725
48 Research notes of Miss JoAnn Naugle published by private letter.
^Queen Anne County, Maryland, It's History and Development. Frederic Emory, The Queen Anne's
County Historical Society, Queen Anne Press, Queenstown, MD, 1981, Page 253
50 Research notes of Miss JoAnn Naugle published by private letter.
51 Abstract of the Balance Books of the Perogative Court of Maryland, Liber 4 & 5, 1763 - 1700 V. L.
Schinner, Jr. http//users.erol.com/sailer/lanham.html
52 Index to the Probate Records of Prince George's MD, 1696 - 1900, Prince George's Genealogical
Society, 1988, Page 114
53 Maryland State Archives, St. Jolm's Parish Records, M 229, Original Page 97 or revised. Page 341
54 Maryland State Archives, MSA SC 5200, School Teachers of Early Maryland, Robert Bames
55 Directory of Ministers and the Maryland Church They Served, Vol. II, Page 73, citing " Maryland's.
Established Church", The Church Historical Society for the Diocese of Maryland. Baltimore, Nelson Wait
Rightmyer, 1956, Page 239
56 Maryland State Archives, MSA SC 5300,School Teachers of Early Maryland, Robert Barnes Directory
ofMinistersand the Maryland Church They Served, Vol. II, Page 73, citing " Maryland's Established
Church", The Church Historical Society for the Diocese of Maryland^ Baltimore. Nelson Wait Rightmyer,
1956, Page 239
57 Research notes of Miss JoAnn Naugle published by private letter dated 1985.
58 Maryland Marriages 1634 - 1777, Robert Barnes. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD
1976, Page 115
59 Anne Arundel County, MD Marriage Records 1777 - 1877, John W. Powell, Compiler, Anne Arundel
Genealogical Society. 1991, Page 78
60 Maryland Marriages 1634 - 1777, Robert Barnes, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD
1976, Page 115
61 Maryland State Archives, MSA SC 5300,School Teachers of Early Maryland, Robert Barnes
62 Muster Rolls & Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, 1775 - 1783,
Muster of Maryland Troops, Vol. 1, First Regiment, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, MD.
1972
63 Maryland State Archives, St. John's Parish Records, Microfilm Roll M 229. Page 331
64 Muster Rolls & Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, 1775- 1783,
Muster of Maryland Troops, Vol. 1, First Regiment, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore. MD.
1972
10
65 Dodson Genealogy 1600 - 1907, Rev. Thompson P. Ege A.M.. Deemer & Jaisohn, Philadelphia. PA.
1908, Page 344
66 FamilySearch Ancestral File v 4.19 (AFN: 1563 - F73)
67 Maryland State Archives. Register of Queen Anne Parish, M 389, Page 97 original or Page 341 revised
68 The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland, J, D. Warfield, A.M. Kohn & Pollock.
Baltimore MD, 1905, Page 72
69 The Complete Book of Immigrants in Bondage 1664 - 1775 Peter Wilson, Genealogical Publishing Co.
Baltimore, MD 1988, Page 234
70 Heads of Family at First U.S. Census for Maryland, 1790, U.S. Bureau of Census, Washington D.C.
1907. Page 85
11
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