Bibliography, Maps, and Internet Links

Bibliography

• Addison, Albert Christopher. The Story of the Birkenhead. London: Gresham Press Unwin Brothers Ltd, 1902.
• Addison, A.C., and W.H. Matthews. A Deathless Story: The Birkenhead and Its Heroes. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press, 2001.
• Bevan, David. Drums of the Birkenheard. Larson Publications, 1972.
  
• Bevan, David. Stand Fast: Sinking of the Troopship Birkenhead. New Malden, Surrey: Traditional Publishing, 1998.
• Corbett, Scott. Danger Point: The Wreck of the Birkenhead. Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, 1962.
  
• Esshom, Frank Elwood. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Pioneers Book Publishing Co., 1913.
  
• Kerr, J. Lennox. The Unfortunate Ship: The Story of H.M. Troopship Birkenhead. London: George Harrap, 1960.
• Phillips, Douglas W. The Birkenhead Drill. The Vision Forum, Inc., 2004.
  
• Scribner, Cecile James. Every life with a purpose. Santa Rosa, Calif.: Trusthouse Book Co., 1988.
  

Map Links

• Danger Point, South Africa
• Fareham, Hampshire, England
• Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Webcam
• Salt Lake City, Utah

Internet Links

• BBC - Hampshire (Up to date news coverage of the Hampshire area)
• Birkenhead: Passenger List (Has listed "Boy, J R Howard" beneath a listing for a man by the name of John Howard, private, 2nd Regiment. There are no other Howards listed)
  
• Birkenhead-Built: An Unrivaled Legacy (A listing of the ships built at Birkenhead, including its namesake ship)
• Birkenhead vs. Titanic (A website comparing the two disasters)
• Gansbaai (South Africa) 150th Commemoration (This is probably the most complete website regarding the Birkenhead)
  
• Break-up of the Birkenhead wreckage (A sketch of the way the wreckage landed on the ocean floor)
• "Loss of the Birkenhead" by Sir Francis Hastings Doyle (A poem describing the tragedy)
• Mormon Pioneer Overland Trail database (John Richards Howard is not listed in this database, nor is the "Arthur Brown Company")
• Painting of the Birkenhead (A single painting of the Birkenhead)
  
• Paintings of the Birkenhead (3 paintings of the ship)
• Survivors of the Birkenhead 50 years later (Also a very nice website with some personal accounts of the incident)
  
• The Birkenhead Disaster (lists "Private John Howard")
• The Dive Spot (a scuba diving guide to the Birkenhead wreckage)
  

Brief History of John Richards Howard, attributed to his granddaughter, Lucie Howard James (1900-1980)

What was the cause that motivated men like John R. Howard to give up the life they loved - the sea - to swim to shore; seek out this new religion, Mormonism; to join it in face of great hardship and trials? John was of a royal line, had been educated at Oxford. His future was assured and safe and yet when he heard the gospel from two young missionaries on their way to England he knew that it was true. The first missionaries sent to England were mighty men of faith who traveled without 'purse or script'; often leaving families back in the States.

At any rate John was never the same again. When he finally reached Utah he became a close friend of Brigham Young who asked him to take an ox team and travel back and forth along the pioneer trail to help new immigrants across the plains.

He was the first man to build a home outside the sixth ward fort. All of his children were born here except one. He also filled two missions to England and collected his genealogy while there. He was a charter member of the Genealogy Society, holding membership #12.

When he returned to Utah he attended the School of the Prophets. He was a scholar and a gentleman, but most important he retained his testimony of the gospel all of his life.

1921 Photo with Son and Grandson

John Richards Howard in 1921 at the age of 80 with his son, John Fitz Alan Howard (52), and his grandson, Gordon Maxwell Howard (22).

Timeline for JRH

18 Sep 1841. Born to Richard & Martha Richards Howard in Fareham, Hampshire, England

30 Sep 1841. Baptism at Holy Trinity Church (map, photograph, website), Fareham, Hampshire.

12 Apr 1843. His mother, Martha Richards Howard, dies

23 Aug 1843. His father remarries to Rosina Ann Masters

26 Feb 1852. Survives shipwreck of the Birkenhead, his father dies in the shipwreck

7 Apr 1861. 1861 England Census has a 20 year old (he wouldn't have quite been 20, but almost) John Howard of Fareham, Hampshire, listed an ordinary aboard HMS Faleon of the Royal Navy.

15 Oct 1862. Baptized a member of the LDS (Mormon) Church

1863? Travels to Utah with the Arthur Brown Company

1864. Brought the first mowing machine to Utah

Sep 1866. Married Harriet Spinks Brooks (1843-1883)

2 Nov 1867. Endowed & sealed to Harriet Spinks Brooks in the Endowment House

3 Feb 1868. Son, Richard Fitz Alan Howard (1868-1884), born to John & Harriet

27 Nov 1869. Son, John Fitz Alan Howard (1869-1953), born to John & Harriet

1870. Introduces the practice of “public bathing” at Haight's property in Farmington Bay

8 Aug 1870. 1870 US Census lists John R. Howard living in Kaysville, Utah (map), with his wife, Harriet, and his two sons, Richard and John. Occupation is listed as "clerk in store."

26 May 1871. Daughter, Mary Fitz Alan Howard (1871-1871), born to John & Harriet. She lived for less than 2 months, dying on 28 Jul 1871.

22 Mar 1872. Daughter, Martha Fitz Alan Howard (1872-1872), born to John & Harriet. She lived for less than 24 hours, dying that same day.

18 Aug 1873. Possibly married to his second wife, Sarah Herwin (1843-?)

25 Jan 1875. Daughter, Alice Fitz Alan Howard (1875-1924, RootsWeb), born to John & Harriet

31 Jul 1877. Daughter, Josephine Mowbray Howard (1877-1962), born to John & Harriet

4 Oct 1879. Daughter, Marguerite Mowbray Howard (1879-1925), born to John & Harriet

1880. Stillborn child

5 Jun 1880. 1880 US Census shows John R. Howard living in the Twentieth Ward of Salt Lake City with his wife, Harriet (36), and children, Richard (12), John (10), Alice (5), Josephine (2), and Marguerite (8 months). His occupation is listed as “shipping clerk.”

1880-1882. Mission to England

1881. 1881 England Census lists a John Howard born in Fareham, Hampshire, living at 156 Willow St, Leicester St. Margaret, Leicestershire, England (map). The record notes that he is married, and his occupation is listed as "Elder of the Ch of J.C. of Latterday Saints."

10 Sep 1883. Harriet, his first wife, dies in Salt Lake City at age 39 and is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (Grave Location: UK6828) that same day.

28 Aug 1884. Marries his third wife, Mary (or Polly) Browne (1863-1913)

25 Dec 1885. Daughter, Vere D’Albini Howard (1885-1939), born to John & Mary

26 Nov 1887. Son, William D’Albini Howard (1887-1921), born to John & Mary

1890. Most of 1890 US Census lost in fire, including portions relevant to Utah.

12 Feb 1890. Son, Ernest Maltravers Howard (1890-1918), born to John & Mary.

6 Oct 1890. Manifesto is proclaimed by LDS (Mormon) Church President Wilford Woodruff, bringing an end to the practice of polygamy.

30 Feb 1893. Son, Llewellyn D’Braose Howard (1893-1913), born to John & Mary.

13 Oct 1897. Daughter, Elizabeth Marie Howard (1897-1973), born to John & Mary.

1898. According to one of the histories, he was returning from a mission (presumably to England) in 1898.

12 Jun 1900. 1900 US Census incorrectly lists him as John "A." Howard, but given the documented names of his wife and children, it's fairly indisputable that this is John R. Howard. He is listed as living in the Salt Lake City 4th Ward, Utah, with his wife, Mary, and children, Vera, William, Ernest, Llewellyn, Marie, and Josephine. Occupation is listed as "manufacturing agent."

8 Jan 1901. Daughter, Amy Vengham Howard (1901-1987), born to John & Mary.

2 Jul 1903. Daughter, Ann Olding Howard (1903-1951), born to John & Mary.

11 May 1910. 1910 US Census lists him living in the Sandy Ward, Utah, with his wife, Mary, and children, Ernest (19), Louis (16), Marie (12), Amy (9), and Anne (6). Occupation is listed as "farming."

25 Jun 1913. Mary, his third wife, dies in Provo at age 50 and is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (Grave Location: G_10_8_3E) on 28 Jun 1913.

26 Apr 1927. Dies at age 85 in Sandy, Utah.

29 Apr 1927. Buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery (Grave Location: G-10-8-1E).

Greetings

My name is James Howard, and I am a descendant of John Richards Howard. I'm starting this blog with the hope that it will help descendants and relatives of John Richards Howard share stories & photos and make contact with each other. More to come in the future.