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Derry (Londonderry) / Re: DOWNING family of Castle Dawson & Bellaghy, 18th century
« on: Friday 11 August 17 10:15 BST (UK) »
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The impact of our findings
In summary, we have found evidence that Adam Downing was the son of Henry Downing (or Brett) by a wife Jane, of Major John Downing by Jane Clotworthy, of George Downing by Jane Montgomery, of Henry Downing by Jane Clotworthy and of Richard Downing by Jane Booth. My personal preference is to follow Alexander George Fullerton’s Memoir notwithstanding its shortcomings. There is at least some plausible evidence, however tenuous, that his parents were George Downing and Jane Montgomery. The Memoir is the only record which we have found which follows this route, and, in the absence of the Dublin Public Records Office, we have not been able to find what they seem to have established. Sadly, they appear to have left no notes.
Unfortunately for Alexander George, his magnificent coat of arms have quartered the Brett armorials with his own. As he was now contending that he was not descended from the Rev. Calybute Downing and Margaret Brett, he must have known that his arms were wrong!
If we accept the hypothesis that Arthur Downing of Lexham is the ancestor of Colonel Adam Downing, it means that the Irish Downings are descendants of the Norfolk rather than the Suffolk families. As there is no known connection between the two groups, it means that the Irish Downings are not related to Emmanuel Downing, Sir George Downing and his baronetcy, to Downing Street or to Downing College, Cambridge. This causes a significant change to our previous assumptions.
It remains a balance of probabilities.
The impact of our findings
In summary, we have found evidence that Adam Downing was the son of Henry Downing (or Brett) by a wife Jane, of Major John Downing by Jane Clotworthy, of George Downing by Jane Montgomery, of Henry Downing by Jane Clotworthy and of Richard Downing by Jane Booth. My personal preference is to follow Alexander George Fullerton’s Memoir notwithstanding its shortcomings. There is at least some plausible evidence, however tenuous, that his parents were George Downing and Jane Montgomery. The Memoir is the only record which we have found which follows this route, and, in the absence of the Dublin Public Records Office, we have not been able to find what they seem to have established. Sadly, they appear to have left no notes.
Unfortunately for Alexander George, his magnificent coat of arms have quartered the Brett armorials with his own. As he was now contending that he was not descended from the Rev. Calybute Downing and Margaret Brett, he must have known that his arms were wrong!
If we accept the hypothesis that Arthur Downing of Lexham is the ancestor of Colonel Adam Downing, it means that the Irish Downings are descendants of the Norfolk rather than the Suffolk families. As there is no known connection between the two groups, it means that the Irish Downings are not related to Emmanuel Downing, Sir George Downing and his baronetcy, to Downing Street or to Downing College, Cambridge. This causes a significant change to our previous assumptions.
It remains a balance of probabilities.