Hello, and welcome to the “Timeline of Thomas Howard, and Descendants”. I will be talking a little about Thomas Howard’s timeline as well as his descendants and when they came to America.

Thomas Howard, was the 1st Earl of Berkshire and was born 1590. He was the son of Thomas Howard, the 1st Earl of Suffolk, and Katherine Knyvett. Title of Nobility
Dowager Countess of Suffolk, Countess of Suffolk – Baroness of Waldon

He married Lady Elizabeth Cecil, whom became the 1st Countess of Berkshire. She is the daughter of William Cecil, the 2nd Earl of Exeter and Elizabeth Drury, on 26 May 1614 and the granddaughter of Thomas Cecil, whom is the son of William Cecil, and Mary Cheke.

William Cecil, 1st Baron of Burghley (sometimes spelled Burleigh), KG

Born 13 September 1520 –  D. 4 August 1598

He was an English statesman, the Chief Adviser of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State (1550–1553 and 1558–1572) and Lord High Treasurer from 1572. He was the founder of the Cecil Dynasty.

His descendants are living in Burghley House to this day, as well as living scattered across the globe.


William was married two times, and some sources say three, the first was to Mary Cheke (my 14th great grandmother), they had one son, Thomas Cecil.  William had six children by his second wife Mildred Cooke. William served as Prime Minister of England under Queen Elizabeth the First for forty years and was made Lord Burghley in 1571.

I read that a Miss Chandos is to have been a third wife. This information may be found in encyclopedia,, and that a woman by the name of Margret Bedell was not his wife.  It is found and said that William was a womanizer but he had no other marriages.

*Builder of Burghley House
from 1575 to 1587 Stamford, Lincolnshire

Thomas died on 16 July 1669, and was buried on 20 July 1669 at Westminster Abbey, Westminster, London, England

In his life he had a ton of accomplishments in which he held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Lancaster between 1605 and 1611, and was appointed Knight Bachelor on January 6, 1604-1605.

He then held the office of Master of the Horse in 1614, to Charles, Prince of Wales. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Wiltshire in 1614, he then held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Cricklade between 1620 and 1622 and was then created 1st Baron Howard of Charleton, Wiltshire, England on January 22, 1621/22 and also became 1st Viscount Andover, co. Southampton, England on January 22, 1621/22. He was nominated to be a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) on 15 May 1625. He was created 1st Earl of Berkshire, England on 5 February 1625/26. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire between 1628 and 1632, jointly. He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire between 1632 and 1642.

He went onto graduate from Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on August 31, 1636 with a Master of Arts (M.A.)

In 1638 he succeeded to his mother’s estates at Charleton and appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1639.

He was imprisoned in the Tower by the Parliamentarians but luckily was released in 1643.

He then held the office of Governor to the Prince of Wales between 1643 and 1646.

He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1660. He held the office of Gentleman of the Bedchamber between 1661 and 1669. He lived at Charleton, Wiltshire, England.

He had thirteen children:

Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Berkshire (1615–1679).
Mary Howard (1616–1679)
Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Berkshire (1619–1706).
Henry Howard (playwright)
William Howard
Sir Robert Howard (1626–1698)
Elizabeth Howard
Colonel Philip Howard (1629–1717)
Frances Howard
James Howard
Algernon Howard
Edward Howard[2]
Diana Howard (1636–1713).


He inherited Charlton Park, Malmesbury after the death of his mother and his descendants lived there until the mid 18th century when the Suffolk and Berkshire titles were united, that is the Earl of Suffolk also became the Earl of Berkshire.

For more information visit… Westminster Abbey

Thomas Howard comes from a long line of Howard’s. And not just Howard’s, but Thomas Howard’s.

Not many generations after my 11th great grandfather’s time here, his granddaughter Francis Howard would give birth to Mary Eastman in London, England in 1685, and then went on to marry Samuel Eastman 4 July, 1713, at St. Benedict’s, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

When Francis was born in 1660, her father Sir Thomas Howard was 41, and her mother Margaret Parker was 24 yrs old.

Francis went on to marry Philip Blanchard on May 6, 1711 at Saint Martin in the fields, Westminster, London, England and went on to have 10 children that I know of. They are as follows…

-Archibald Blanchard b. 1716 – d. Unknown

-Elizabeth Blanchard b. 1716- d. Unknown

– Christopher Blanchard b. 1717- d. Unknown

– Philip Blanchard b. 1717-1743

-James Blanchard b. 1718- d. Unknown

– Rebecca Blanchard b. 1718- d. Unknown

– Margaret Blanchard b. 1720- d. Unknown

Mary and Philip moved at some point to the United States and took up residence in Salem, New Jersey.

After Mary’s husband Philip passed away in 1720, records and source indexes show that Mary Blanchard (Eastman) went back to London, England where she died in September of 1727 and was buried 14, September 1727 in London, England. This is what I have uncovered so far via source indexing. When I find out more information via indexing, I will add and adjust as needed, if needed. Most of their descendants moved westward in time, with many scattered across the Midwest, and various parts across the entirety of the United States of America.

While in America, Philip and Mary Blanchard where known Quakers. Below you will find their Quaker Records, Marriage Records, and Mary’s Burial record as well.

Below you will find my ancestor Thomas Howard’s belongings that I found displayed in the Getty Museum. I do not know how the museum has come to have possession of my ancestors belongings, but I also found a sarcophagus of another ancestor and all my ancestors belongings there! This was quite shocking to me. I feel this stuff should stay in the family. But, am feeling grateful to have been able to see it, because otherwise, another family member could or would be in possession of it possibly and I’d never known about it. So for me, it’s a catch 22.

I hope this blog has shed some light on the Howard family that many of you are already aware of, and now you have personally experienced some information from a direct descendant. I wish you all the best in your family history endeavors, and happy hunting!

~Dawn Piercy, PhD