Edward Howell was of the original "Undertakers" who settled Southampton, Long Island. Edward Howell was born in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1600. He came to America in 1639, was made freeman of Boston that year, removed to Lynn, where he had a grant of five hundred acres, was a magistrate from 1640 to 1653 a member of the colonial legislature at Hartford, Connecticut, from 1647 to 1633, and was probably a leader in the settlement of Southampton, the first English settlement in the state of New York

Edward Howell, of Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, England, was the emigrant ancestor of this family in Southampton, Long Island. Edward Howell disposed of several manors in Bucks county, England, in 1639, among which was the manor of Westbury, in Marsh Gibbon, purchased originally by his grandfather, William Howell, in 1536. The old stone manor house is still standing, though the remains of an old foundation near it show that some portions of it have been taken down. It is a full two story, and is what is called a double house. It is now nearly covered with ivy.

Edward Howell came with his family to Boston in 1639. He soon removed to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he had a grant of five hundred acres of land. During the winter of 1639 and 1640 a new settlement was projected on Long Island, of which Edward Howell seems to have been the leader, as the compact or agreement of terms for founding the plantation is in his hand writing, as well as the laws adopted by the first settlers. To the end of his life he was always a magistrate and member of the colonial assembly at Hartford. The manner in which his name is mentioned in the colonial records of New England and New York points to this conclusion. The arms of this family, as found on an old family seal now in the possession of one of his descendants and on several old tombstones of the seventeenth century in Southampton, are as follows: Gules — three towers, triple towered, argent, a crest is used by some members of this family. Out of a ducal crown or a rose argent stalked and leaved, Vert, between two wings, embossed by the last. Motto, "Tynax propositi."

Edward Howell was the son of Henry Howell, who was the son of the William above mentioned. Edward Howell, the son of Henry, had first wife, Frances ____. They had these children — Henry, born November 24, 1622; John, born November 22, 1624: Edward, born 1626; Margery, born June 1, 1628, and Richard, born 1629.

Edward Howell married his second wife, Eleanor ____, and by her had two children — Arthur and Edmund. Margaret, the eldest daughter of Edward Howell, Sr., married Rev. John Moore, of Southhold, Long Island. Edward Howell built in 1648 the house now occupied by William P. Herrick, nearly opposite the present residence of Captain James M. Herrick, and as he had purchased three shares in corporation of the settlement, his shares entitled him to three thousand acres of land within the limits of the town.

The original members in England of the proposed settlement in America were eight in num-ber, and I gave their names — Edward Howell and family, Daniel Howe, Edmund Farrington, George Welbe, Henry Walton, Josiah Starborough. Job Sayre, Edmund Neldham, and Thomas Sayre. These eight men purchased a vessel large enough to contain their families and all their household goods. Articles of agreement were drawn up and signed, in which were stated the plans and purposes of the company and their several shares proportioned to the amount of money by each contributed. Before sailing, however, the vessel was given to Daniel Howe, in consideration of his making three trips annually for two years for transportation of goods from Lynn to their respective plantations.