Jonathan was born at Dartmouth, Bristol, MA, on 16 April 1765. He was the son of
James Howland (II) and
Elizabeth Wing. He married
Hannah Akin at int. filed, Dartmouth, Bristol, Massachusetts, after 1 September 1780. He married
Desire Taber at New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts, on 2 November 1800. Capt. Jonathan Howland married
(3rd wife) Elizabeth Taber, daughter of
John Taber and
Hannah Tripp, on 7 April 1824 at New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts. He died at New Bedford, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, on 7 September 1846. Capt. Jonathan Howland was buried after 7 September 1846 at Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts.