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.