Joan Hurst & Elizabeth Tilley (mtDNA)

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Status summary

As of July 8, 2016

  • Page created for Joan (Hurst) Rogers Tilley and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland
  • mtDNA results from Mayflower DNA Project
  • recruitment of individuals who are mtDNA descendants of Joan (Hurst) Rogers Tilley and her daughter, Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland. Folks who are mtDNA descendants are encouraged to contact Raymond T. Wing (email: wing.genealogist AT gmail DOT com)

Paper Trail

Biography

Joan Hurst was baptized at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Henlow, Bedfordshire, England on 13 Mar 1567, the daughter of William Hurst and Joan Marshe.[1] She was first married to Thomas Rogers at Henlow on 18 Jun 1593[2] He died about 1595 and Joan married second, Henlow 20 Sep 1596, to John Tilley.[3] The children were all baptized at the parish church in Henlow. It is likely the family lived in the area until the couple prepared to emigrate to the New World. This is supported by the fact the youngest son (Robert) was apprenticed to a Bedford tailor, John Jones, in Oct 1617[4] as well as Joan's oldest daughter (Joan Rogers) married to Edward Hawkins at St. Paul's Church, Bedford on 27 Jun 1620.[5] Both Joan and her husband John Tilley died in the general sickness during the harsh first winter at New Plimouth.[6]

Elizabeth Tilley was Joan's youngest child, baptized at St. Mary's Church, Henlow, Bedfordshire, England on 30 Aug 1607.[7] She came with her parents aboard The Mayflower in the fall of 1620.[8] Her family was part of Gov. Carver's "household" during the first winter. Gov. Carver and Elizabeth's parents all died during the general sickness of the first winter and it is believed John Howland (Carver's "servant"/assistant) assumed the head of this household.[9] Elizabeth married John Howland circa 1623. It is believed they were the fifth marriage in the new colony (after the marriage of William Bradford on 14 Aug 1623 and before the end of the year [25 Mar 1623/4] as they were presumably a couple for the 1623 Land division).[10]

The family eventually moved to Rocky Nook (now Kingston) where her husband died in Feb 1672/3.[11] Elizabeth is assumed to have lived with her children shortly thereafter (as their home in Rocky Nook was said to have been burnt down shortly after John's death). It is known Elizabeth spent the last years of her life with her daughter, Lydia, and Lydia's husband, James Brown. They lived in "Swansey" (Swansea, MA; now East Providence, RI) where Elizabeth made her will on 17 Dec 1686[12] and died on 21 Dec 1687.[13]

Elizabeth is believed to have been buried in the Brown family plot at the Ancient Little Neck Cemetery.[14] Her gravestone was erected there in 1949 by the Pilgrim John Howland Society.[15] At the time of her death this cemetery was located in Old Rehoboth, MA, but it is presently located within East Providence, RI.

  1. ↑ TAG 52(1976):204
  2. ↑ ibid.
  3. ↑ ibid.
  4. ↑ Howland Quarterly, Mar 2006, p. 12
  5. ↑ England Marriages 1538-1973 found in both familysearch.org and Ancestry.com. After serving his internship, Robert Tilley was married to Edward's sister, Mary Hawkins (see Howland Quarterly article in previous reference)
  6. ↑ White, Elizabeth P., John Howland of the Mayflower: Vol. 1, pp. 9-12
  7. ↑ TAG 52(1976):198-205
  8. ↑ White, Elizabeth P., John Howland of the Mayflower: Vol. 1, pp. 9-12
  9. ↑ ibid.
  10. ↑ ibid.
  11. ↑ Plymouth Church records I:147(173)
  12. ↑ MD 3:54-57
  13. ↑ Plymouth Church Records
  14. ↑ Find-a-Grave for Elizabeth Tilley Howland
  15. ↑ http://pilgrimjohnhowlandsociety.org/Elizabeth_Tilley_Howland

Ancestry

Several articles in The American Genealogist[1],The Mayflower Quarterly[2] and The Howland Quarterly[3] have revealed much information on the ancestry of Elizabeth. For the purpose of this wiki, we shall only look at the "umbilical"/mtDNA line.

Elizabeth was the daughter of John Tilley and Joan (Hurst) Rogers. Joan was baptized at Henlow 13 Mar 1567/8, daughter of William Hurst & Rose Marshe. She married first, Thomas Rogers. Rose was born about 1537 presumably in Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire, England (where she married), daughter of John Marshe & Joan _____.

  1. ↑ TAG 52(1976):198-205; 85(Jan 2011):1-8
  2. ↑ MQ AUG 1991:232; NOV 1991:342
  3. ↑ HQ 71:1[MAR 2006]:10-13

mtDNA Results H1a1

We know from the results of three mtDNA tests from two different daughters of Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, the "umbilical" line falls under haplogroup H1a1 with no extra mutations. The RSRS values for the HVR/Control Regions, as reported by ftdna.com, are 146T, 152T, 195T, 247G, 522.1A, 522.2C, 315.1C, 16129G, 16162G, 16187C, 16189T, 16209C, 16223C, 16230A, 16278C, 16311T.

In addition, according to the H1 mtGenome Project the following Coding Region mutations also fall under H1a1 3010A (H1); 73G![back mutation](H1a); 6365C (H1a1). This project also dates the H1a1 clade as originating approximately 2500 B.C.E., so it is a VERY old haplogroup.

One of the mtDNA descendants results was inputted into James Lick's mthap utility. The result came up with an exact match to the H1a1 haplogroup with no additional mutations (besides the flaky 315.1C and 16519C mutations).

Thus mtDNA testing cannot be used to conclusively prove someone was a mtDNA descendant of Elizabeth Tilley, but it can be used to conclusively disprove such a relationship. In addition, mtDNA testing can be used to support a conclusion about a line being descended from Elizabeth, but additional evidence is also needed.

mtDNA Descendants

Joan Hurst had one daughter by her first husband (Thomas Rogers), Joan, baptized at Henlow 26 May 1594.[1] This daughter married Edward Hawkins at St. Paul Church, Bedford on 27 Jun 1620.[2] Edward and Joan had four sons & two daughters,[3] but only two sons and one daughter (Elizabeth, wife of William Fell) were still alive when Edward wrote his will (18 Dec 1658 proved 26 Jan 1658[/9])[4] Elizabeth Hawkins married William Fell at St Paul Church, Bedford 1 Oct 1643 and had one son and one daughter, Ann (bp. 14 Jan 1648[/9]) baptized there.[5]

Joan and her second husband (John Tilley) had Rose (bp. 23 Oct 1597, died young), John (bp. 26 Aug 1599),[6] Rose (bp. 28 Feb 1601/2), Robert (bp. 25 Nov 1604), and Elizabeth. Only the descendants of Robert (and Elizabeth) have been traced to date.[7]

Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland had six daughters, all who married and had children of their own. At least one "umbilical"/mtDNA descendant of daughters Desire & Lydia have released their mtDNA results to the public, showing where they are an exact match.

Second Generation:

Desire (c1625-1683) married Capt. John Gorham and had eleven children: Desire, Temperance, Elizabeth, James, John, Joseph, Jabez, Mercy, Lydia, Hannah and Shubael.

Hope (1629-1683/4) married Lieut. John Chipman and had twelve children; three sons and nine daughters (Elizabeth [1648-p1711, m. Hosea Joyce], stillborn daughter [1650], Hope [1652-1728, m. John Huckens & Jonathan Cobb], Lydia [1654-1729/30, m. Rev. John Sargeant], Hannah [1658/9-1696, m. Thomas Huckens], Ruth [1663-1698, m. Eleazer Crocker], Bethia [1666-1702, m. ____ Gale & Timothy Dimock], Mercy [1668/9-1724, m. Nathan Skiff] and Desire [1673/4-1705, m. Col. Melatiah Bourne])

Elizabeth (1631-1691/2) married Ephraim Hicks (no children) and Capt. John Dickinson Nine children; four sons and five daughters (eldest daughter, Elizabeth [1652-c1719],[8] Mercy [1657-1723, m. Benjamin Harcourt], Lydia [1662-1703 m. Ephraim Carter, but apparently no children], Mehitable [1667-c1718, m. Thomas Cheshire] and Hannah [1671-1742/3, m. Isaac Gibbs]

Lydia (1633-1710) married Maj. James Brown and had eight children; six sons and two daughters (Martha [died young] & Dorothy [1666-1727 m. Joseph Kent (II)]). [9]

Hannah (1637-1705) married Jonathan Bosworth and had ten children; seven sons and three daughters (Mercy [died young], Hannah [1663-1723, m. Maj. Nathaniel Jenckes], [10] and Elizabeth [1665-1676 never married]).

Ruth (1646-1679) married Thomas Cushman (II) and had three children; two sons and one daughter (Desire [1673-1762, m. Ens. Samuel Kent]).[11]

Third Generation

Desire Gorham was born 1644 and died 1700. She married Capt. John Hawes and they had

Temperance Gorham was born 1646 and died 1714/5. She married twice, first Edward Sturgis (II) and second, Thomas Baxter. She only had children by her second husband:

Elizabeth Gorham was born 1648 and died before 1684. She married Joseph Hallett and they had

Mercy Gorham was born 1658/9 and died 1725. She married George Denison (II) and they had

Lydia Gorham was born 1661 and died 1744. She married (Col.) John Thacher and they had

Hannah Gorham was born 1663 and died about 1728. She married (Capt.) Joseph Wheldon and they had


  1. ↑ TAG 52 (1976):204
  2. ↑ England Marriages 1538-1973 at familysearch.org and Ancestry.com
  3. ↑ England Births and Christenings at FamilySearch.org
  4. ↑ Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, images available at Ancestry.com
  5. ↑ England Marriages and Births & Christenings at Familysearch.com
  6. ↑ The son John MAY have been the John Tilley of Cape Ann & Dorchester who was killed by Indians near Saybrook (now Connecticut) in Oct 1636, but (dis)proof is lacking.
  7. ↑ TAG 52:203.
  8. ↑ Said to have married Caleb Wright and Gershom Lockwood. However, no contemporary record proves this relationship, so the GSMD does not currently accept descendants of Caleb & Elizabeth. If a mtDNA descendant of Elizabeth is tested, and found to be a match to Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland's DNA, then there is a chance the GSMD may accept this line.
  9. ↑ Dorothy had three daughters who married. FTDNA Kit #159230 (deceased) descends from this line.
  10. ↑ Hannah had two daughters who married (Hannah & Elizabeth) but mtDNA descendants only continue from Hannah (1690-1738).
  11. ↑ Desire & Samuel had one daughter, Hannah (1702-1796). Hannah had six daughters who married.

mtDNA tested Descendants

The following chart shows the lines of those individuals who are mtDNA descendants of Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland and her mother Joan, AND have done mtDNA testing to verify their line 

 Joan1 Hurst (1586/7-1620/1)
   Elizabeth2 Tilley (1607-1687)
     Desire3 Howland (1625-1683)
       Temperance4 Gorham (1646-1714/5)
         Fear5 Sturgis (1678-1753)
           Mary6 Holmes (1712/3-b1759)
             Lucy7 Randall (1745-1805)
               Prudence8 Hinckley (1776-1852)
                 Nancy9 York (1802-1862)
                   Harriett D.10 Proctor (1837-1896)
                     Alice Irene11 Clark (1858-1911)
                       Nellie Irene12 Triscuit (1888-1974)
                         Alice13 Carlson (1915-1982)
                           mother14
                             tester15
       Lydia4 Gorham (1661-1744)
         Lydia5 Thacher (1684/5-1724)
           Rebecca6 Freeman (1720-1801)
             Mary7 Hopkins (1749-1820)
               Mary8 Thomas (1779-1841)
                 Lydia9 Caldwell (1811-1882)
                   Eunice10 Barker (c1835-1885)
                     Emeline "Emma"11 Sturges (1858-p1923)
                       Oral Maude12 Cranson (1883-1959)
                         Eva Doreen13 Herald (1902-1992)
                           mother14
                             tester15
     Lydia3 Howland (1633-p1710/1)
       Dorothy4 Brown (1666-1727)
         Lydia5 Kent (1691-1750)
           Lydia6 Bosworth (1725-c1760)
             Anna/Nancy7 Low(e) (1752-1830)
               Desire8 Kent (1781-1862)
                 Huldah H.9 Allen (1808-1861)
                   Harriet H.10 Cloud (1834-1864)
                     Marion "Minnie" F.11 Cloud (1855-1932)
                       Hattie Florence12 Lovell (1874-1907)'
                         Marion Edith13 Smith (1892-1972)
                           tester14

Allied Families

The following families are connected to John Howland via marriage to descendants:

Gorham (Capt. John Gorham married Desire Howland). Y-DNA predicted to fall under I-M253 based on STR markers for two descendants

Chipman (Elder John Chipman married Hope Howland). Y-DNA predicted to fall under I-M223 based on 37 STR markers for a descendant

Dickinson (Capt. John Dickinson was the second husband to Elizabeth Howland).[1]

Hawes (John Hawes married Desire Gorham). Y-DNA predicted to fall under I-M253 based on the 37 STR markers for two descendants

Baxter (Thomas Baxter married Temperance Gorham)


  1. ↑ Elizabeth married first, Plymouth 13 Sep 1649 to Ephraim Hicks. Ephraim died three months later (on 12 Dec 1649) and they had no children.

References & External links

White, Elizabeth Pearson, John Howland of the Mayflower, Vol. I (daughter Desire), Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 1990, 2008

White, Elizabeth Pearson, John Howland of the Mayflower, Vol. III (daughter Hope), Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 1990, 2008

White, Elizabeth Pearson, John Howland of the Mayflower, Vol. IV (daughter Elizabeth), Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 1990, 2008

Lainhart, Ann Smith & Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol. 23 part I (First four generations of John Howland), General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA, 2006

Lainhart, Ann Smith & Jane Fletcher Fisk FASG, Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol. 23 part II (daughters Lydia & Hannah), General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA, 2010


Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com webpage for Elizabeth Tilley

Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com webpage for Joan HURST Rogers (Elizabeth's mother)

Wikipedia webpage on Elizabeth Tilley

Wikitree webpage on Elizabeth Tilley

[mayflower.americanancestors.org/john-tilley-biography Pilgrim Migrations biography of John Tilley]

mtDNA results from Mayflower DNA Project

H1 mtGenome Project (results)

mtDNA Phylotree (official classification of mtDNA)

Information on H1a1 haplogroup.

Pilgrim John Howland Society

John Howland of the Mayflower and Descendants

Mayflower "Five Generations" Project (Silver Books)

Find-a-Grave for Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland

Y-DNA and mtDNA descendants of John & Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland

John Howland Y-DNA wiki

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