Sunday, December 9, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
John Downing Court Records
The first land transaction recorded in Mason County is a purchase of 370 acres from William Wood on Lawrence Creek. A later purchase was made of 78 acres on the Ohio River from Abraham Bowman. John Downing appears on the 1800, 1810 and 1820 Mason Co census. Susanah Ellis Downing died April 6 1815 and John Downing died on
January 17, 1826. His will names his sons Joseph and Reason as executors and mentions the following children: sons Joseph and Reason; daughters Suanna Edwards, Mary McConnell, Sarah McConnell, Deliah Slack, Lydia Hooten, Catherine Wherry, Dorcus Barkley and Elizabeth Downing.
January 17, 1826. His will names his sons Joseph and Reason as executors and mentions the following children: sons Joseph and Reason; daughters Suanna Edwards, Mary McConnell, Sarah McConnell, Deliah Slack, Lydia Hooten, Catherine Wherry, Dorcus Barkley and Elizabeth Downing.
Mason County Order Books
Book A, p 179 John Downing is a jury member; p254, Sept court 1791 appointed overseer of roads; p381, Oct 1792 court, appointed overseer of Miami road. Book B p325, Aug 1796 refers to road inquest on his land. Book D, p43, Oct court 1800 he is appointed as administrator of the estate of his son Ellis Downing, deceased; p162, July 1801, appointed road overseer
Monday, December 3, 2007
John Downing History
We have definite dates on John Downing and his family because his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Ellis Downing ( wife of son Reason ), had a family bible complied in the mid 1800s. John was born on May 10, 1749 probably in Western Maryland near where Conococheague Creek runs into the Potomac River. This is based on information from descendants of his brothers indicating their birthplace as being in that area. However it may have been in the southern area of Pennsylvania claimed by Maryland. The family bible states he is the son of James and Susannah Downing. This is the only known reference to his parents. John married Susannah Ellis on February 19, 1770, probably in Cumberland County., Pennsylvania. Susannah Ellis was born September 8, 1750 and the bible shows her as the daughter of Ellis Ellis and his wife Nancy. If this is correct she would have been the sister of Nancy Ellis who married Timothy Downing ( John's brother ) and brother of Isaac Ellis who married Nancy Downing ( John's baby sister ).
The Downing family was in Western Pennsylvania near Redstone Old Fort in the early 1770s. This is in the area of Washington, PA. John owned land in Hopewell township. He appears in the Ohio County Virginia Court records for that area on September 7, 1778, he and Isaac Ellis being examined and found not guilty of murder. This was in an area claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania. John appears on the Washington County, PA tax lists starting in 1781. His brothers James and Timothy are on the same tax list. He appears on subsequent tax lists until he leaves Pennsylvania in 1789. He served in the Revolutionary War in the Washington County Militia, 3rd Battalion during 1782. His Captain was his brother Timothy Downing.
On July 6, 1782 administrator's bond was provided for John and Timothy Downing, executors of the estate of Thomas Ellis, their brother-in-law who was killed in the Crawford Campaign. John was named guardian of thomas' minor children.
On February 2, 1787 a warrant for 400 acres was granted John Downing at Philadelphia. The plat " Discord " was surveyed June 3, 1787 for 417 acres and a patent issed on April 16, 1788. The land adjoined that of Timothy and James in Hopewell Township, Washington county, PA. In 1788 John was appointed a supervisor of roads in Hopwell Township. He aand wife, Susannah, sold the land on April 13, 1789. By 1790 John and son, Ellis, are on the tax list in Mason County Kentucky.
The Downing family was in Western Pennsylvania near Redstone Old Fort in the early 1770s. This is in the area of Washington, PA. John owned land in Hopewell township. He appears in the Ohio County Virginia Court records for that area on September 7, 1778, he and Isaac Ellis being examined and found not guilty of murder. This was in an area claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania. John appears on the Washington County, PA tax lists starting in 1781. His brothers James and Timothy are on the same tax list. He appears on subsequent tax lists until he leaves Pennsylvania in 1789. He served in the Revolutionary War in the Washington County Militia, 3rd Battalion during 1782. His Captain was his brother Timothy Downing.
On July 6, 1782 administrator's bond was provided for John and Timothy Downing, executors of the estate of Thomas Ellis, their brother-in-law who was killed in the Crawford Campaign. John was named guardian of thomas' minor children.
On February 2, 1787 a warrant for 400 acres was granted John Downing at Philadelphia. The plat " Discord " was surveyed June 3, 1787 for 417 acres and a patent issed on April 16, 1788. The land adjoined that of Timothy and James in Hopewell Township, Washington county, PA. In 1788 John was appointed a supervisor of roads in Hopwell Township. He aand wife, Susannah, sold the land on April 13, 1789. By 1790 John and son, Ellis, are on the tax list in Mason County Kentucky.
Elizabeth Ellis Downing
Reason J. Downing was a farmer and stockman and achieved much success in these lines. He gave his support to the Democrat party and was a Baptist in his religious conviction. He married Miss Elizabeth Ellis, who was a woman, strong in character and constitution, who lived to the great old age of ninty-five years, and died several years after the Civil War, having witnessed many of the most stirring incidents of American history. His wife shared his religious convictions belonging to the Baptist church
Elizabeth Ellis was born in Shelby County KY in 1795. She was the daughter of Isaac Newton and Ann Nancy Downing Ellis. She married Reason J. Downing ( her first cousin ) in 1817. Family legend has it that she rode on a horse with her “colored “ girl ( a gift of her father ) from Shelby Co to Mason Co after marrying Reason. Her father and mother moved to Owen County where her father died when she was 38 years old. Her mother would move to Lincoln County Missouri with her younger brother Duncan. Her mother died in 1851 when Elizabeth was 56 years old. Elizabeth was married at age 22 and widowed at age 54.
Reason and Elizabeth set up housekeeping on Slack Pike about a mile off Clarke’s Run Road and a couple of miles from the village of Washington. Being Baptist, they more than likely attended church at the old Washington Baptist Church. In the first 20 years of their marriage, Reason and Elizabeth, would have 12 children. John was born when she was 22 and died when she was 60. Nancy was born when she was 24 and would survive her mother. Susan was born when she was 25 and died when she was 47. Isaac and James were born when she was 26 and 28 and both survived her. Lydia was born when she was 29 and died when she was 61. Eliza Jane was born when she was 31 and died when she was 61. William was born when she was 33 and died when she was 89. Elizabeth, Reason, Joseph and Thomas McConnell born when she was 35, 38, 40 and 42 all would survive her.
Elizabeth would live to witness nine ( 9 ) of her children marry. Her husband, Reason who died in 1849, would live to see only three ( 3 ) of their children marry. Nancy married Jacob Slack in 1845 when Elizabeth was 50, Eliza Jane married Dr. David Post in 1846 when she was 51. They moved to Cleveland Ohio. Elizabeth would marry Martin Sennett in 1849 when she was 54. In 1852 Lydia married David Benedict, Elizabeth was 57. 1857 brought 2 marriages when she was 62, Isaac married cousin Lucinda Downing and William married Nancy Wherry. A few years went by before the next wedding. In 1871, when Elizabeth was 76, Joseph married Caroline Bayless. In 1875 Reason married Mary Brady, Elizabeth was 80. And finally, in 1884, when she was 89, James married E. Best.
Elizabeth saw the following grandchildren born; 10 for Nancy, 7 for James, 1 for Lydia, 3 for Eliza Jane, 8 for William, 12 for Elizabeth, 5 for Reason and 2 for Thomas McConnell. One of Thomas McConnells’ was William Alexander, father of William Howard and grandfather of Kenneth William.
For 73 years Elizabeth survived the hardships of the frontier, childbirth, two major out breaks of cholera , the death of five children and an untold amount of diseases and tragedies to family, friends and neighbors.
Elizabeth Ellis Downing appears on the 1850, 1860 & 1870 census in Mason County KY with other members of her family. When she died it has been said, that at 95 years old, she was the oldest woman in Mason County. A photo of Elizabeth at approx 70-75 years of age exsists. She is buried beside Reason in the Downing cemetery on Slack Pike in Mason Co KY. It is believed that she contributed much of the info contained in the 1836 Downing bible. Copies of these pages are in the possession of Ken Downing. It is believed, as of Nov 2001, the original Bible was in the possession of Elizabeth Wallingford, Mason Co KY. Since then, Miss Wallingford has passed away and the location of the Bible is unknown.
Elizabeth Ellis was born in Shelby County KY in 1795. She was the daughter of Isaac Newton and Ann Nancy Downing Ellis. She married Reason J. Downing ( her first cousin ) in 1817. Family legend has it that she rode on a horse with her “colored “ girl ( a gift of her father ) from Shelby Co to Mason Co after marrying Reason. Her father and mother moved to Owen County where her father died when she was 38 years old. Her mother would move to Lincoln County Missouri with her younger brother Duncan. Her mother died in 1851 when Elizabeth was 56 years old. Elizabeth was married at age 22 and widowed at age 54.
Reason and Elizabeth set up housekeeping on Slack Pike about a mile off Clarke’s Run Road and a couple of miles from the village of Washington. Being Baptist, they more than likely attended church at the old Washington Baptist Church. In the first 20 years of their marriage, Reason and Elizabeth, would have 12 children. John was born when she was 22 and died when she was 60. Nancy was born when she was 24 and would survive her mother. Susan was born when she was 25 and died when she was 47. Isaac and James were born when she was 26 and 28 and both survived her. Lydia was born when she was 29 and died when she was 61. Eliza Jane was born when she was 31 and died when she was 61. William was born when she was 33 and died when she was 89. Elizabeth, Reason, Joseph and Thomas McConnell born when she was 35, 38, 40 and 42 all would survive her.
Elizabeth would live to witness nine ( 9 ) of her children marry. Her husband, Reason who died in 1849, would live to see only three ( 3 ) of their children marry. Nancy married Jacob Slack in 1845 when Elizabeth was 50, Eliza Jane married Dr. David Post in 1846 when she was 51. They moved to Cleveland Ohio. Elizabeth would marry Martin Sennett in 1849 when she was 54. In 1852 Lydia married David Benedict, Elizabeth was 57. 1857 brought 2 marriages when she was 62, Isaac married cousin Lucinda Downing and William married Nancy Wherry. A few years went by before the next wedding. In 1871, when Elizabeth was 76, Joseph married Caroline Bayless. In 1875 Reason married Mary Brady, Elizabeth was 80. And finally, in 1884, when she was 89, James married E. Best.
Elizabeth saw the following grandchildren born; 10 for Nancy, 7 for James, 1 for Lydia, 3 for Eliza Jane, 8 for William, 12 for Elizabeth, 5 for Reason and 2 for Thomas McConnell. One of Thomas McConnells’ was William Alexander, father of William Howard and grandfather of Kenneth William.
For 73 years Elizabeth survived the hardships of the frontier, childbirth, two major out breaks of cholera , the death of five children and an untold amount of diseases and tragedies to family, friends and neighbors.
Elizabeth Ellis Downing appears on the 1850, 1860 & 1870 census in Mason County KY with other members of her family. When she died it has been said, that at 95 years old, she was the oldest woman in Mason County. A photo of Elizabeth at approx 70-75 years of age exsists. She is buried beside Reason in the Downing cemetery on Slack Pike in Mason Co KY. It is believed that she contributed much of the info contained in the 1836 Downing bible. Copies of these pages are in the possession of Ken Downing. It is believed, as of Nov 2001, the original Bible was in the possession of Elizabeth Wallingford, Mason Co KY. Since then, Miss Wallingford has passed away and the location of the Bible is unknown.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
John and Susannah Downing's Children
Ellis married Dorcus Downing, daughter of Timothy and Mary, February 6, 1792
Nancy married Jonathan Conrey 6 October 1789
James married Charity Furr 6 September 1793
Susannah married George Edwards 18 August 1794
Mary married Thomas McConnell 28 March 1796
Sarah married James McConnell 8 July 1798
Joseph married Sarah Petticord 11 March 1799
Deliah married Jacob Slack 9 October 1800
Dorcus married William Barclay 8 November 1804
Catherine married James Wherry 8 November 1804
Lydia married George Hooten 1 September 1807
Rachel married Thomas Mullen 7 February 1809
Elizabeth married Thomas McConnell 21 October 1834
Reason married Elizabeth Ellis 18 February 1817
Nancy married Jonathan Conrey 6 October 1789
James married Charity Furr 6 September 1793
Susannah married George Edwards 18 August 1794
Mary married Thomas McConnell 28 March 1796
Sarah married James McConnell 8 July 1798
Joseph married Sarah Petticord 11 March 1799
Deliah married Jacob Slack 9 October 1800
Dorcus married William Barclay 8 November 1804
Catherine married James Wherry 8 November 1804
Lydia married George Hooten 1 September 1807
Rachel married Thomas Mullen 7 February 1809
Elizabeth married Thomas McConnell 21 October 1834
Reason married Elizabeth Ellis 18 February 1817
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