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Part 2 of 3

As to the original 1734 lease, we refer to as "Stafford's Lease,
the copy I got from Stafford Poole reads as follows;

Dated 30th March 1734 - from William Conolly to Stafford Downing of Dreenan
            Rent and fees 25 Pnds 12 shillings 6 pence, containing
            246 acres 0 roods 7 perches of arable and pasture &
            189 acres 0 roods 30 perches of Bog
            Rent fine: 10 pnds 2 shillings 6 pence
            Lives: Stafford Downing, Bernard Mulholland, and Bryan McCann

Dated 6th October 1782 - from Thomas Conolly to John Downing of Dreenan
1st Renewal      Life Dead: Stafford Downing
            Lives Inserted: James Nesbitt Downing Nesbitt, son of
            Revd. Alexander Clotworthy Downing
                                Lives now being: Bryan McCann, James Nesbitt Downing Nesbitt, and William
                                Downing

Dated 1st November 1787 - from same to John Downing of Dreenan
2nd Renewal      Life Dead: James Nesbitt Downing Nesbitt
                                Life Inserted: Arthur Dawson, son of Arthur Dawson of
            Castledawson
            Lives now being: Bryan McCann, William Downing, and
            Arthur Dawson

Dated 3rd May 1789 - from same to John Downing of Dreenan
3rd Renewal      Life Dead: Bryan McCann
            Life Inserted: (blank in the original)
            Lives now being: William Downing, Arthur Dawson, and
            (life inserted)

Dated 20th October 1791 - from same to John Downing
4th Renewal      Life Dead: Bryan McCann
            Life Inserted: William Dawson, 2nd son of Arthur Dawson
            Lives now being: William Downing, Arthur Dawson, and
            William Dawson, aged 7 years

Dated 20th June 1796 - from same to same
5th Renewal      Life Dead: William Dawson
            Life Inserted: James Maddigan, son of Shane Maddigan of
            Dreenan
            Lives now being: William Downing, Arthur Dawson, and
            James Maddigan

Dated February 1798 - from same to James Downing, William Downing, George
6th Renewal      Downing, and Stafford Downing
            Life Dead: Arthur Dawson
            Life Inserted: Robert Forrester
            Lives now being: William Downing, James Maddigan, and
            Robert Forrester

Dated 1st June 1800 - from same to James Downing, George Downing, Stafford
7th Renewal      Downing, John Downing, and Sarah Downing
            Life Inserted: Ezekiel Downing, son of Dawson Downing
            Lives now being: James Maddigan, Robert Forrester, and
            Ezekiel Downing

Although the original lease could not be found in the FamilySearch database, it’s interesting that Stafford apparently sold the “lands of Upper Dreenan” in 1737, just 3 years after the original grant, to John Downing of Rowesgift, (see Deed Vol 100, img 21), an indication that Stafford was related to John.  At the 1st renewal in 1782, John Downing of Dreenan, likely John of Rowesgift, had replaced Stafford as the Lessee, BUT it’s noted that subsequent renewals in 1787, 1789, 1791, & 1796 all continue to name John of Dreenan, at least until 1791, when he is referred to simply as “John Downing”. 
We know John Downing of Rowesgift had died in 1785.
Also note that by Deed (Vol 194, img 60), dated 20 Dec 1756, Stafford is described as deceased.

Hello "M"/Michael/Mike,

I have some notes that call you "Mike", so I hope that's your preferred name.

Anyway, I was reviewing some of the old posts on RootsChat, including your thread titled, "The 'Stafford' O'Neills of Rocktown/Ballymacpeake",
and got "deep into the weeds" trying to piece it all together.  Perhaps when I have more time, I'll revisit your O'Neill branch(es), but I've been occupied with a big remodeling project at my house for a while now.

In any case, I'd like to comment on your latest post on my "All Things DOWNING/DOWNEY in County Derry" thread, dated 28 Jun 2023 (REPLY #41).
Not sure whether any of this has been posted earlier, but nevertheless . . .

As to Elizabeth Downing, dau. of Stafford Downing of Dreenan, and his wife, Rose Mulholland, she did indeed marry Michael Dinnen before 24 Sep 1812.
An Indenture of that date, between Stafford Downing of Dreenan and John Downing of Dreenan, names Stafford's wife as Rose Mulholland and his four daughters as; "Elizabeth, married to Michael Dinnen; Mary, married to Robert Downing; Esther, married to James O'NEILL; and Elinor, listed as a spinster."
Elizabeth and Michael were actually the 3rd great grandparents of one of our research team members, Michelle Dynowski, who wrote a rather extensive book on her family history.
According to Michelle, Elizabeth and Michael had at least three known children, and probably an eldest son named John, b. c.1804, who went to America in the 1820's to try and convince his sister, Rosanna, to return to Ireland.
The other three children were; Rosanna, b. c.1808 (Michelle's 2nd great grandmother), who married John Delevan; Stafford Dinnen, b. c.1812, who married Bridget O'NEILL, b. c.1830, dau. of Bernard O'Neill, and a second unnamed daughter.
The marriage of Bridget to Stafford Dinnen was on 17 Dec 1872 at Lavey Parish RC Church just north of Gulladuff.  I don't have any other info on Bridget's father, Bernard O"NEILL.

Interestingly, Elizabeth's nephew, Thomas Downing, married 17 Jun 1865 at Lavey Parish, Mary O'NEILL, 3rd dau. of John O'Neill of Dreenan.  So, in this relatively narrow branch of the Stafford Downing line, there are three intermarriages to the O'Neill family.

On the marriage of James Downing to Bridget Henery (Henry), I can refer to another RootsChat topic titled, "Downings of Killyberry Downing", dated 1 Jul 2012, posted by James Hanley, who states that he is a great grandson
of James Downing of Killyberry, through his grandfather, Patrick Dawson Downing, 2nd son of James.  The date of their marriage was 13 Jan 1868.  The marriage certificate names James' father as 'John', and Bridget's father as Patrick Henry of Drumard.

On your Reply # 40:
I have no downline for Esther Downing and James O'Neill, but your theory seems to be well founded.  We know she was baptized in 1789, and married before 24 Sep 1812 (the date of the aforementioned Indenture).
It's certainly possible they named a son to honor her father, Stafford, and you have evidence that Stafford (the son) took over the family farm from a 'James O'Neill' in 1862.
Apparently, they had at least two other children, including a 'James' and an 'Ellen'.
It's also notable that Ballymacpeake-Lower borders Eden and Dreenan, so the younger generations didn't stray too far.
Ballymacpeake-Upper borders Dreenan, Drumard, and Rocktown.

On another note, in regards to the FULLERTON surname:
The only connection my Downings have to FULLERTON, are the first marriage of Dawson Downing, son of John Downing of Rowesgift, to Catherine Fullerton, dau. of George Fullerton of Ballintoy, County Antrim.
George was the elder brother of Alexander Fullerton, a prominent medical practitioner and rum trader in Jamaica, who purchased Ballintoy Castle as an investment in 1760 for 20,000 pounds.
Catherine married Dawson Downing on 3 Apr 1773 and had by him two sons, George Alexander, b. 1775, and David, b. 1777/8.  She died in 1785 and predeceased Alexander's Will by 10 years.
George was killed in the American War for Independence in 1780, and Alexander took steps to secure the futures of his two great nephews, provided they assume his surname.
George Alexander and David assumed the Fullerton surname by Royal Licence, dated 1 Dec 1794, and became George Alexander Downing Fullerton, and David Fullerton Fullerton, respectfully.
George Alexander had three sons, but they are all presumed to have emigrated to Great Britain.
I have no further issue by David, so I have no known descendants of that FULLERTON branch who may have stayed in County Derry.

Hope that's not too confusing and there's something in here of assistance.  Slainte !
Rick Turner

By all means, post any info you may have.  I’m actually trying to find whoever may have a family picture that identifies people in the photo of the Buck Hill Inn, taken in 1901.
Turns out, a high school classmate I know very well is a great grandson of Howard M. Jenkins, who founded the Inn at Buck Hill Falls.

Hi Dee,

I meant to say you could PM me if you wish to keep GEDmatch No. confidential.

Hello Dee,

Always great to hear from another cousin.
My GEDmatch DNA Kit No. is ZK6098473 for your comparison.

Rob and I share 53 fully identical SNPs across 6 segments, which I hear is pretty significant for 11th cousins.  I'm sure he won't mind sharing his Kit No. with you, but I'll leave that up tp him.
If you find that my DNA matches yours to some degree, please let me know.

By the way, I've been to the area where Catherine was murdered and almost certainly pinpointed the location where she likely forded the River Blackwater, just upstream from St. Mary's Abbey.
The "old pepper's orchard" was directly behind the abbey.  She was my 10th great grandmother.

respectfully,
Rick