John Howe (1774–1852) was a free settler and explorer of Australia in the early period of British colonisation.
It is believed that he was born at Redbourn, Hertfordshire, England, the son of John How and his spouse Mary Roberts.
[1] Howe was educated to a reasonable level for the time, such that he had some plans to become a teacher when he was able to emigrate to the colony of New South Wales.
[2] Howe arrived in Sydney on the Coromandel in June 1802, along with his spouse Frances Ward, and daughter Mary.
[1] Andrew Thompson arrived in Sydney as a convict on the Pitt in February, 1792, and became the richest man in the colony before his death in 1810.
In 1817 he gained exploration experience when he accompanied John Oxley on an expedition to the west of Sydney, on which he was employed as a draftsman.
[4] In October 1817, he set out with a party of men including Benjamin Singleton and Aboriginal guides to find a route, suitable for wagons, to the Hunter River.
[5] Benjamin Singleton (1788–1853) was a free settler, miller, and explorer of Australia in the early period of British colonisation.
[7] On 24 October 1819, encouraged by Governor Macquarie, Howe left Windsor with a party of seven, including two Aboriginals, hoping to discover a trafficable route from the Hawkesbury to the Hunter River.
The names of John Howe and his first wife, Frances Ward, are shown on a commemorative stone in the Presbyterian Church at Ebenezer.