An American Family History

Reading Howell was born in 1743 in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was the son of Daniel Howell and Julianna Holcomb.

He married Catharine Yerkes.

Clarissa Julianna Howell,
Harriet Ann Howell (married Joseph Montgomery),
Henrietta Maria Howel (married John James Wheeler),
Courtland Daniel Howell (married Eliza McEuen)
John Fisher Howell, 
Edward Yerkes Howell, 
Rebecca Howell, 
Catharine Augusta Howell (married Thomas Flourney).

During the Revolution, he was quartermaster of the second regiment, Hunterdon County militia and was later commissioned deputy-quartermaster-general of the Continental army.

In 1789, he was appointed to explore the rivers in Delaware and Lehigh Counties.

In 1792 he mapped Pennsylvania.

In 1804 he was appointed surveyor of Philadelphia.

Reading died in Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1827.

from Genealogy of Early Settlers in Trenton and Ewing, "Old Hunterdon County," New Jersey by Eli Field Cooley, William Scudder Cooley

Reading Howell, son of Daniel Howell, was quartermaster of Second Regiment of Hunterdon county in the Revolution. He married Catharine, daughter of Edward Yerkers, and by her had issue: Clarissa, J., not married; Henrietta M., married John J. Wheeler, of Philadelphia, whose children are: Catharine H., wife of Robert Clarkson, Edward H., of Pottsville, Anna M., married Edward Hammekin, of New York, and John H., of Philadelphia; Harriet Ann, wife of Joseph Montgomery, of Philadelphia; Courtland, married; John Fisher, died unmarried; Edward Y., a physician, died unmarried; Rebecca; and Catharine Augusta, wife of Gen. Thomas Flournoy, of Augusta, Ga.

from Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes by Josiah Granville Leach

Reading Howell (Daniel4, Captain Daniel3, Daniel2, Thomas1) was born in Amwell township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1743, and died in Warminster, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 26 November, 1827.

He was an eminent civil engineer, and was led to enter such profession by the example of his distinguished granduncle Governor John Reading. In the early part of the Revolution he served as quartermaster of the second regiment, Hunterdon county militia. During the war he removed to Pennsylvania, and, 5 April, 1780, was commissioned deputy-quartermaster-general of the Continental army, and stationed for duty in Chester county, Pennsylvania.

In 1789 the assembly of that State adopted measures for improving the navigation of rivers and for the construction and improvement of public roads, and the supreme executive council appointed commissioners to carry out these objects. On 2 October, 1789, Reading Howell was appointed a commissioner to explore, survey, and make necessary drafts of the rivers Delaware and Lehigh....

Mr. Howell's most important achievement, and that for which he is best known, is his map of Pennsylvania....

Mr. Howell was appointed surveyor of Philadelphia in 1804...

He married, 28 March, 1782, Catharine, daughter of Herman Yerkes by his wife Mary Stroud. She died before 30 June, 1821, on which day her heirs conveyed land of which she died seized.

Children of Reading and Catharine (Yerkes) Howell:

Clarissa Julianna Howell, died at Philadelphia, 1874, unmarried.
Harriet Ann Howell, died 8 February, 1842; married Joseph Montgomery.
Henrietta Maria Howell, died 26 May, 1858; married John James Wheeler.
 Courtland Daniel Howell, married Eliza McEuen.
John Fisher Howell, died unmarried.
Edward Yerkes Howell, died at Philadelphia, 13 March, 1850, unmarried. He was graduated at Princeton, 1813; studied medicine, and in 1822 was graduated M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rebecca Howell, died at Philadelphia, September, 1881, unmarried.
Catharine Augusta Howell, married General Thomas Flourney, of Augusta, Georgia.