RootsChat.Com

I have a bit more on Thomas Beckett born 1805, died 1858 in Albany/Troy, N.Y. This was given to me by another member of the family.
Father                                                               Mother
Thomas Beckett                                                 Matilda Whyte Beckett
Born 1805  Died 1858                                       Born 1811  Died 1888
Associated with the lords and Dukes of the town of Belfast.  Followed the hounds on hunting trips, enjoyed life until the year 1848 when he got in trouble with a British officer which cost him a lot of money.  Then the failure of the Banks of England when he and his father lost all of their money  (The Panic of 1847 was started as a collapse of British financial markets associated with the end of the 1840s railway industry boom.)  He then decided to come to America, picked up quickly, disposed of their belongings.  Two of their chairs to Lord Downshire to stand in his bay window.  To Lord Donegall - a buffet which on account of its age, they called Methusala.  It was made of small pieces of wood and very hightly polished - a beautiful piece of furniture and highly valuable.  To Dr. Weathershead numerous things of value.
So they set sail for America.  They met a great storm - and were blown right back to where they started.  They waited for the ship to be repaired.  It took three months to come over.
My father was a broken hearted man, he went into business, our store the corner of Grand and Hamilton, the other corner Lark and Lumber, Albany, N.Y.  He stood it for nine years then died of a broken heart, leaving my mother with ten children.

Another one for the list.
Robert Volland who married Katharina Maria Gansler at St, Georges German Lutheran Church in Whitechapel, 26 August 1878.  He came from Wurttemburg where he was born 12 March 1853.  He died 12 February 1911 in East Dulwich, Surrey. He had a shop at 369 High Street in Stratford and then another one at Broadway, Stratford.  He and Mary had 8 children.
Anybody interested in this line, let me know.
Merry Christmas
Bermudagirl

This site has been rather quiet since spring so I thought I would shake you all loose by asking if anybody is aware of other burial plots with Downings? I have been told they exist in the Ballaghy area besides St. Tida's and there are so many people NOT in the St. Tida's vault that you would imagine SHOULD be.
Speak Up - Don't be shy!
Tia

Ron,
It would be most helpful for all the Downing researchers in the Magherafelt, Castledawson area to know what Downing, Downey, Downinge or Downynges feature in church records there up until about 1870.  If you could bear to post the names I am sure we would all be eternally grateful.
Tia