Researching this limb of my family tree was lots of fun, and one of the most exciting things to happen was, not only did I find my American side, but in doing this I found my "twin" cousin! Yes, we were born the same day, month and year, but she is a few hours older, so she says that she is the "boss"? We have now visited each other several times in the US and also in Australia.
According to family papers, we are purported to be descendants of John Howson who was Bishop of Durham and Oxford, and Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth 1st. Only time and lots of research will tell.
This strand of my Father's family was riddled with entertainers, opera singers, musicians, conductors, and actors, many of whom made their mark in the entertainment area.
I first picked up the family in London and the Father was said to have been a Captain in the Army, which I have yet to confirm. Every child in the family of Francis Howson were talented, especially their eldest daughter Emma(Howson)Albertazzi, who ended up being a well known opera singer of her day, both in England and in Europe.
Emma Albertazzi (1814-1847)
This family is now scattered throughout the world in Europe, the UK, Australia, and the USA.
Another cousin, Briar Warren (Sydney, Australia) and I, first pick up the family of Francis Howson and Sarah Tanner in London. Family letters tell up that Francis’ father was a Captain in the Army and, in these letters we find names of children, cousins and lots about their daughter Emma who became the well known Opera singer in Europe and the UK, Mdme. Albertazzi (picture above).
In the first couple of generations which I found in London, the family were either singers or musicians, but then the musical strain started to peter out. We still have a couple of well known entertainers and actors in the family, but they are few and far between.
Somewhere out there (maybe South Africa) there is a Howson line that I have not been able to find so far. If you have heard any of the above stories in your Howson line, I would really love to hear from you. Genealogy is so much fun especially when you find you have cousins all around the world.
In particular, I would very much welcome help on the following four families:-
All the Surnames which are in the HOWSON family tree.
Updated 26th May 2006