1. “John Ladd Howell, when as a youth, followed his father South, but became dissatisfied and returned North not long afterwards, and resided in the family circle of his uncle, Joshua Howell, who was a successful and prosperous merchant of Philadelphia, and a leading member of the society of Quakers. Young Howell, upon attaining his majority, engaged in business for himself, and became a leading merchant in the Quaker City. We first encounter his name in relation to public affairs, as one of the signers of the Non-Importation Agreement of October 25, 1765, he having at this time and in this manner indicated his aversion to the onerous restrictions imposed upon trade by the British Government.
Later, when hostilities with England had reached an acute stage, we find Howell, though of a pronounced Quaker family, taking sides with the Colonists as, in 1775, he enlisted as a private in the Light Infantry Company, organized in Philadelphia. May 29, 1776, an important duty was assigned to him, Owen Biddle, of the Committee of Safety, writing him as follows:

‘The Committee of Safety request you to go to the powder mills of which you have a list, and examine the state they are in. Stimulate the workmen to diligence and care in forwarding the making of powder, and direct them to send it in to Robert Towers, Commissary, as soon as they have made a quanity. If you were to take a powder tryer with you and prove the powder that each of them have made, it would inform them of the quality of their powder. If it is not sufficiently strong, they must improve it or it will not be passed by the Committee as merchantable. This being all that occurs on the subject conclude with wishing you a Pleasant Tour.’

“Under date of June 2 1776, Mr. Howell made a lengthy, detailed report of his investigation, concluding as follows:

‘I made use of every argument in my power, at every Place, to push them on to diligence, & forward the making & delivering the Powder when made to the Commissary here.’

“Early in 1778, he was appointed Assistant Commissary of purchases, and during the ensuing two years was engaged in securing supplies, i.e., horses, cattle, grain, etc., for the Pennsylvania troops. Numerous communications of this period are extant, some signed by John Ladd Howell, and others addressed to him. On August 4, 1780, and September 4, 1780, he was Judge Advocate at certain Courts Martial convened to try military offenders. September 26, 1763, he joined the Masonic Order, in St. John’s Lodge, F. & A.M., which met in Lodge Alley. April 6, he joined the Library Company of Philadelphia. These two organizations are still in existance.” [48]