During the trouble times of the early seventeenth century the MacDougalls were generally Royalist, and in 1645, Alexander MacDougall led five hundred of his clansmen into battle. After the defeat of the Marquess of Montrose, a Covenanting Army under David Leslie was sent to Argyll to deal with Royalist sympathizers.

On the restoration of the monarchy the MacDougall lands were again restored. Their loyalty to the Stewarts was proved once again when the twenty-second chief, lain Ciar, fought in the rising of 1715 at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. The chief was forced into exile, but later returned to Scotland to live as a fugitive until he was pardoned in 1727. His son, Alexander, although certainly a Jacobite sympathizer, did not join the forty-five, although his brother and some clansmen fought at Culloden. Alexander built a more modem house behind Dunollie Castle and the twenty-fifth chief, Vice Admiral Sir John MacDougall of MacDougall extended it in the mid-nineteenth century. He had a distinguished naval career and actively promoted the development of the Port of Oban. Three of his sons were to become chiefs in succession.

For the next two or three centuries the surname Howell flourished and played an important role in local county politics and in the affairs of Britain in general. During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious conflict. The newly found passionate fever of Cromwellianism swept the nation. The power of the church, and the Crown, their assessments, tithes, and demands imposed a heavy burden on the rich and poor alike. They looked to the New World for their salvation. Many became pirates who roamed the West Indies such as Captain Morgan.

During the reign of Queen Mary in 1639, most of the Howell’s were Baptist, along with others of different faiths, were forced to flee their homes and hide in caves for their personal safety.

During the reign of the House of Stuart, there was a long period of uncertainty, a sort of semi-religious persecution, and no Protestant felt safe in his religious convictions.

Many of the Howells therefore, as soon as there was a way opened to the New World began to look westward for a safe and satisfying retreat. A migration, therefore, began to America. Many people of Wales came to this country during the colonization.

Some were shipped to Ireland where they were known as the Adventurers for Land. They acquired land for an old song. Essentially, they contracted to keep the Protestant faith, being granted lands previously owned by the Catholics.

The migration or banishment to the New World continued, some went voluntarily from Ireland, but most went directly from Wales or England.

In North America, one of the first immigrants which could be considered a kinsman of the Howell family or having a variation of the family surname spelling, was Owen Howel who settled in Virginia in 1635; David Howel settled in Barbados in 1654; Humphrey Howel settled in Virginia in 1698; Morgan Howel settled in Virginia in 1653; Thomas Howel settled in New England in 1654; and William Howel settled in Barbados in 1654.

Records are not available as to who was the first Howell to come to the new country, but records do indicate that John and Andrew Howell were living in Virginia in 1623. There is also on record of a James Howell as listed as “Kilt” in Virginia in 1622. Ship manifest also indicates that Arthur and Thomas Howell were cleared to sail for Virginia in 1634 and 1635 respectively.

The following is a listing of several indentured servants who immigrated to America through the instrumentality of the Howell’s.

August 27, 1661 - Edward flea apprenticed in Bristol, England for Jeremy Howell of Virginia for 3 years.

October 13, 1662 - William Underwood apprenticed in Bristol, England to Jeremiah Howell for a period of 4 years.

August 1, 1662 - William Richards apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell in Virginia for a period of 4 years.

August 1, 1663 - William Pinnell apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell of Virginia for a period of 4 years.

August 21, 1663 - William Knight apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell of Virginia for period of 4 years.

November 15, 1665 - John Sly apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell of Virginia for a period of 4 years.

March 3, 1668 - George Jenkins apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell in Virginia to Barbados for a period of 4 years.

Februaty 19, 1676 - Jane Hodges apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell of Virginia to Barbados for a period of 4 years.

October 24, 1679 - Phillips Hilsey apprenticed in Bristol, England to John Howell in Virginia for a period of 4 years.

September 15, 1698 - Henry Browne apprenticed in Liverpool, England to Humphry Howell of Merioneth, Virginia for a period of 4 years.

Edward Howell the American progenitor of this line was born July 26, 1584 in Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Bucks, England and died in Southampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

Edward was the son of Hemy (died July 7, 1625 in Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Bucks, England) and Margaret Howell. His grandfather was William Howell of Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Bucks, England.

Edward was a member of a large and prominate clan that professed the Protestant faith, thereby incurring severe and prolonged persecution during the rivahy that existed between Queen Mary and her cousin Queen Elizabeth and their religious leaders. The Howells are reported to have lost their ancestral homes and lands during this period. They were forced to seek safety in caves and other secret places until such time when they might gain passage to America.

William Howell was born in 1515 in Westbury Manor, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, England. He died on Sept. 12, 1598 at the same place.

Westbury Manor was built in the eleventh century, with later additions. William Fitzansculf was an earlier tenant, under the Honour of Dudley in 1086, but it was long let to undertenants, the Gibwin family who gave their name to the Village of Marsh Gibwin or Gibbon.

As the manor was a parcel of the barony of Dudley, the overlordship followed the descent of the manor of Newport Pagnell. In 1626, when last mention of the overlordship has been found, Westbury Manor was said to be held of the manor of North Marston.

Ailric had held Marsh Manor in the reign of Edward the Confessor, and when dispossessed by William Fitz Anscuif remained as under-tenant in heaviness and misery. He was succeeded at some time in the following century by a family of Gibbewin or Gibevin, of whom the earliest known member, Ralph Gibbewin, was living in 1166.

In 1213 Geoffrey son of Ralph Gibbewin is found disputing with John de Montague, who claimed the advowson of Marsh Church. Geoffrey Gibbewin then claimed that his land in Marsh belonged to the barony of Dudley, and that the chancel and the greater part of the church stood within that fee. He further said that in the reign of Hemy II Gervase Paynel had brought a suit against Ralph Gibbewin, his father, and had then released the advowson to him.

During this suit, which lasted eleven years, Richard father of John de Montague had made no claim to the advowson. Geoffrey Gibbewin did not substantiate his claim to the advowson, but certainly continued to hold his manor. He was justiciar under Henry III, his death taking place previous to 1236, when Robert Lisle and Robertson of Brian are stated to be his heirs in a plea against the Abbot of Oseney concerning lands in Marsh. Probably Geoffrey left two daughters as co-heirs.

A year of two later Giles Lisle had succeeded Robert Lisle, and held this fee with Robert Brian. Two tenants with these names held hides (the Domesday assessment) in 1254-5. Robert Brian, probably a successor of Robert Brian of 1236, is mentioned in 1278-9, while his widow Jolenta held this manor together with Giles Lisle in 1284-6. Jolenta Brian had been followed by Robert Brian in 1302-3, who held with Giles Lisle. In 1308 Peter Brian transferred 6 virgates of land, 14 acres of meadow, and 6s. lid, rent in “Mershe Gybbewine” (the villiage now name Marsh Gibbons in his honor) to John de Grenstede, parson of Bledlow, and William his brother, while Giles Lisle alienated his share, here given as fifteen messuages, 8 virgates, and 12s. rent, to Richard Damory and Margaret his wife in 1313.

In 1316 Richard Damory and William Mersh are returned as joint owners. The following year Richard Damory obtained a grant of free warren here.

William de Bledlow, representing the Brian portion of this estate, is found holding in 1323. Richard Damory died seised of land here in 1330, which was still held by his widow Margaret in 1346, and which date William de Westbury (of whom the manor was named) held the other portion of this manor. Nothing more has been found concerning the Damorys in this parish, and the name of Westbury, later attached to this manor, shows that it was the Brian share which persisted. Its history during the following century has not been found possible to trace, but it appears to have formed part of the original endowment of the Mystery or Company of Cooks which was incorporated by charter of Edward IV in 1482.

It was retained by the company until 1529, in which year they sold it to Robert Dormer. He shortly after enfeoffed William Howel, who by his will, made 31 November 1557 and proved 20 October 1558, left Westbury Manor to John Howel, his eldest son, with remainder to Henry Howel, a younger son. John Howel died in 1575, whereupon the masters of the Cooks Company trumped up an “odious suit,” to the effect that the original sale to Robert Dormer had been void because the corporation was misnamed in the indenture.

They accordingly put in a tenant of their own, Edmund Croft, against whom Henry Howel brought an action for ejectment. Henry Howel won his case, and is found making a settlement of Westbury Manor in 1587. He survived until 1625, when his son Edward, aged forty years and more, is given as heir, thought the widow Margaret was to hold Westbury for her life. She died before 1638, when Edward Howel alienated the property to Richard Francis. He died in 1659, his widow Elizabeth surviving him two years.

She left legacies to the children of her son William Francis by his first wife Martha, Richard, another son, receiving Westbury Manor. By his will, dated 18 December 1665, Richard left the manor to his nephew Thomas, son of William Francis. Thomas Francis held the manor in 1670 and died in 1698. His widow Anna Maria Francis conveyed Westbury in 1701 to John Townsend and his heirs. John Townsend settled the property in 1709 and died in 1714, and his descendant Mary Townsend, later wife of William Guy, carried on a lawsuit some years after with the trustees of the Ewelme almshouses, who owned the other manor in this parish. As lady of Westbury Manor she claimed the whole estate and cottages within the larger manor. The litigation extended over the years 1743-7, but her name and that of her husband William Guy are found as late as 1760 in documents recording settlements of the manor.

At this latter date their son Townsend Guy is referred to, but the manor was sold in 1777 to John Dixon. It was subsequently in the possession of George Hitchcock, from whom it passed to Richard Ivens. He claimed to be lord of the reputed manor of Westbury in 1841, and was still in possession in 1862. In 1883 it was purchased by Mr. Thomas H. Phipps, in whose family it remains.

The preceding information about Westbury Manor comes from the Buckingham Hundred, published in 1900.

The writer visited the site in October 1999, and found that John Phipps owned the manor whereas his son presently resides in the manor.

There were bitter complaints from local people and visitors about the miserable state the cottages had been allowed to get into, and an article concerning this appeared in Bucks Ancestor (BGS Magazine) a couple of years back. There is good information about the manor in the Victoria County History publication.