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From: "Jerry L. Clark" <>
Subject: Re: [MDSTMARY-L] Edward Howard, 1787
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 15:46:27 -0600
References: <24.5ccf7057.2e429e84@aol.com> <00fa01c47a63$03b067a0$5102a8c0@CLARK4> <010801c47a63$d33e6850$5102a8c0@CLARK4>


Ernie,


here is history of edward Howard who some claim was a brother to John
Baptist Howard. Thomas Howard son of Edward Howard died in 1810, and his
father Edward had died before then. Thomas Howard was an old man when he
died.



I believe this is what you want.....


History of St. Thomas Church, Bardstown, Kentucky (Founded 1812)

Early Catholic pioneers, Edward Howard and his son Thomas, had
homesteaded 400 acres along the Beech Fork River and designated it as
" Poplar Neck". For nearly twenty five years, they welcomed circuit
riding priests to celebrate mass in their home. in 1810 Benedict
Joseph Flaget, the first bishop of the west, recieved the property as
a bequest From Thomas Howard and named St. Thomas in honor of the
donor's patron. In 1812 a log cabin was constructed to serve flaget's
home as a seminary. 4 years later, the brick church was constructed
for the purpose of a parish church and seminary chapel.
This church stands as the oldest of it's kind in the United States,
west of the Allegheny Mountains.

Two centuries ago pioneer Catholics came to Kentucky and planted the
seed of faith. The unconquerable faith of Edward Howard and the
catholic families who accompanied him in the zeal of Father Charles
Whelen are not simply a chapter of past history but a living legacy
which which you continue in our own day.

For us, here at St. Thomas the story begins with Edward Howard. He
came here in 1787, bringing with him, the beliefs and practices of
Catholicism.

Sixty families formed themselves into a "Leaque" and, collectively
planned a migration to Kentucky.
Though the migration would continue for decades and have other points
of departure, the "Leaque of Sixty" came from St. Mary's County,
Maryland in three expeditions: 1785, 1786, and 1787.The focal points
of their Kentucky settlements were, respectively, (present -day
names) Holy Cross, (Marion County), St. Charles (Marion County), and
St. Thomas (Nelson County)

At the "Poplar Neck" Plantation, Edward Howard had died leaving the
property to one son, Thomas and his wife, Ann Gough Howard. They were
now in their declining years, and having no children, the deeded the
property in it's entirety to the Bishop, and his successors. Their
only requests were that they be allowed to end their days at "Poplar
Neck," and that the property always be in the ownership of the
church. Bishop Flaget gratefully, acceded to the requests, and
re-named the property "St. Thomas," after the patron saint of the
donor. The Howard's encouraged the Bishop and his confreres to move
into their home and build a smaller one for the couple.


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