DOWNING family of Castle Dawson & Bellaghy, 18th century

[dukewm]

Searching for vital records or any info to verify my DOWNING ancestors from Parish Ballyscullion, County Derry.
These DOWNING's lived in or near the townlands Castle Dawson, Bellaghy and a possible estate named Rowesgift.
I have alternate confirmation on Adam and John but hope to gain secondary sources.
I have nothing to confirm Clotworthy, William or James.
ANY info is much appreciated, even for siblings or spouses.

Here is what I know (or think I know):

Col. ADAM DOWNING, son of Henry, b. 18 MAR 1666 came to Ireland in 1690 in the army of King William of Orange and fought at the Battle of the Boyne.
He was granted a large tract of land by the King in County Derry for his distinguished service.
He died 17 MAY 1719 and is reportedly buried at Bellaghy.
m. Margaret Jackson 15 NOV 1696 and they had issue:
1. Henry b. 1697, d. 1712
2. JOHN b. 1700 (forward)

JOHN DOWNING, son of Adam, b. 16 APR 1700, died 3 SEP 1762
m. Margaret Rowe 10 JUN 1727 and they had issue:
1. CLOTWORTHY b. 1728 (forward)
2. Dawson b. 1739, d. 1808
3. John b. 1740, d. 1792

CLOTWORTHY DOWNING, son of John, b. 4 APR 1728, died 13 NOV 1801
m. Elizabeth Giffard 14 JUN 1753 and they had issue:
1. WILLIAM b. 1754 (forward)
2. John b. 1760, d. 1820
3. Giffard b. 1762, d. 1830

WILLIAM DOWNING, son of Clotworthy, b. 13 MAR 1754, died 10 APR 1803
m. Jane Colwell 5 AUG 1784 and they had issue:
1. William Colwell b. 1786, d. 1868
2. JAMES b. 1798 (forward)

There is a William Downing listed in Griffith's Valuation 1859 for the Parish of Maghera, who lived with Susanna Downing (his wife ?)
and could be the William Colwell Downing above mentioned.

JAMES DOWNING, son of William, b. 10 NOV 1798, died 14 FEB 1875
James emigrated to the United States, swearing at his Naturalization Petition Hearing that he arrived in New York on 8 OCT 1827
I could not find his name (or close spellings) on any free Passengers Lists and would hate to spend a lot on endless searching.
He settled in Philadelphia, PA and married Elizabeth Brown (Duff) on 20 OCT 1830
Elizabeth had come to America from Ireland with her first husband James Duff in 1815
He died in Philadelphia and Elizabeth died in Philadelphia on 15 JAN 1891
Their issue:
1. Robert William b, 22 JAN 1835, d. 3 MAR 1911
2. Jane Elizabeth b. 1837, d. 1839
 

Thank you and I welcome all replies,

[cyclamen]

Nicholas Downing of Drummard in the parish of Maghera, Co Londonderry d 1699 m Mary?? His will dated 18th February 1698 (proved in the Perogative Court 10 July 1699) mentioned his wife Mary, Capt. Adam Downing, John Downing and George Downing, his nephew Daniel (this may be a surname) and his cousin Major Dobbin of Duneane.

This may take you back a bit further. I have more relating to the Downings which I will send through the PM system.

[dukewm]

Thank you cyclamen.

I have Nicholas b. abt 1627 in my Tree as son of Emanuel, with brothers George and Henry.
Henry had sons Adam, John, George and Daniel, making them all nephews.

However, my sources have some conflicts which may contain false info so anything you have going forward or back in time would be helpful.

Regards,

[dukewm]

Sorry to bother you cyclamen but I notice I need a minimum of 3 posts to activate my PM system and I am new here so this makes my 3rd post.

If you got an error message in a previous attempt, please resend and it should go through this time.

Many thanks and have a good day,

[tsidey]

James Downing (Downey) arrived on the Princess Charlotte from Liverpool 6 October 1827 Source: Passenger Lists of Vessels arriving in New York 1/6/1827-16/11/1827  Film 237, Roll 10, #687  National Archives Varick St., N.Y.
This is my direct line - let's talk
Tia

[Accra]

Searching for vital records or any info to verify my DOWNING ancestors from Parish Ballyscullion, County Derry.
These DOWNING's lived in or near the townlands Castle Dawson, Bellaghy and a possible estate named Rowesgift.
I have alternate confirmation on Adam and John but hope to gain secondary sources.
I have nothing to confirm Clotworthy, William or James.
ANY info is much appreciated, even for siblings or spouses.

Here is what I know (or think I know):

Col. ADAM DOWNING, son of Henry, b. 18 MAR 1666 came to Ireland in 1690 in the army of King William of Orange and fought at the Battle of the Boyne.
He was granted a large tract of land by the King in County Derry for his distinguished service.
He died 17 MAY 1719 and is reportedly buried at Bellaghy.
m. Margaret Jackson 15 NOV 1696 and they had issue:
1. Henry b. 1697, d. 1712
2. JOHN b. 1700 (forward)

JOHN DOWNING, son of Adam, b. 16 APR 1700, died 3 SEP 1762
m. Margaret Rowe 10 JUN 1727 and they had issue:
1. CLOTWORTHY b. 1728 (forward)
2. Dawson b. 1739, d. 1808
3. John b. 1740, d. 1792

CLOTWORTHY DOWNING, son of John, b. 4 APR 1728, died 13 NOV 1801
m. Elizabeth Giffard 14 JUN 1753 and they had issue:
1. WILLIAM b. 1754 (forward)
2. John b. 1760, d. 1820
3. Giffard b. 1762, d. 1830

WILLIAM DOWNING, son of Clotworthy, b. 13 MAR 1754, died 10 APR 1803
m. Jane Colwell 5 AUG 1784 and they had issue:
1. William Colwell b. 1786, d. 1868
2. JAMES b. 1798 (forward)

There is a William Downing listed in Griffith's Valuation 1859 for the Parish of Maghera, who lived with Susanna Downing (his wife ?)
and could be the William Colwell Downing above mentioned.

JAMES DOWNING, son of William, b. 10 NOV 1798, died 14 FEB 1875
James emigrated to the United States, swearing at his Naturalization Petition Hearing that he arrived in New York on 8 OCT 1827
I could not find his name (or close spellings) on any free Passengers Lists and would hate to spend a lot on endless searching.
He settled in Philadelphia, PA and married Elizabeth Brown (Duff) on 20 OCT 1830
Elizabeth had come to America from Ireland with her first husband James Duff in 1815
He died in Philadelphia and Elizabeth died in Philadelphia on 15 JAN 1891
Their issue:
1. Robert William b, 22 JAN 1835, d. 3 MAR 1911
2. Jane Elizabeth b. 1837, d. 1839
 

Thank you and I welcome all replies,

[dukewm]

James Downing (Downey) arrived on the Princess Charlotte from Liverpool 6 October 1827 Source: Passenger Lists of Vessels arriving in New York 1/6/1827-16/11/1827  Film 237, Roll 10, #687  National Archives Varick St., N.Y.
This is my direct line - let's talk
Tia

We already have (this is Rick)
I've been researching these Irish "dudes" for the past few weeks and haven't found much other than some verifications on Adam and John, with mention of Clotworthy as a son of John.
I found that "file" you gave me that gives James' arrival data.
Have you laid eyes on the actual microfiche Passenger List ?

I ran across some interesting stuff on the ship "Princess Charlotte" and found that she sailed the following itinerary:
1. arrived in Australia 6 AUG 1827 w/ 91 female prisoners aboard
2. left Liverpool 25 AUG 1827 bound for Quebec
3. arrived Quebec 8 OCT 1827 (the very day James claimed he arrived in NY)
4. cleared to leave Quebec 6 NOV 1827 bound for Liverpool
5. arrived New Orleans 4 DEC 1827 w/ 14 passengers aboard

I'm suspecting that our James may have been either confused or deceitful and could have used an alias on occasion.
I wasn't able to "find" him on the 1830 Census (assuming he was in Phila by then, having married
Elizabeth in OCT of that year).
I did see James Duff (and household) listed in the 1820 Census, so evidently they may have arrived
in 1815 as stated in the Downing Book.

The REALLY tough one is William of County Derry.
I've got nothing on him.
The Irish Census is almost worthless and the Parish Records seem to be the place to dig (all for a fee).
Sure would like to see some confirmation from at least one source on the link between Clotworthy and James.
Pretty sure the William Downing mentioned in Griffith's is the brother of James, because it's the right time frame and Maghera is adjacent to the Parish of Ballyscullion.

maybe we can compare notes via eMail ?
Rick

[tsidey]

Yes, I have seen the record with James' arrival.  The date works with his naturalization too.  Downey and Downing were frequently interchangeable.

If William Downing was the one in Griffiths, he married a second time.  According to the famous/infamous Downing book, his wife was Sarah Magee.

Speaking of the Downing book, beware, it is full of errors.

Which branch of the family do you hail from?
Tia

[Accra]

I'm sorry but the sailing dates for the ship "Princess Charlotte" are not possible. She sailed from Woolwich, England 31st March 1827 and arrived in NSW, Australia 6th August 1827 - 128 days of sailing - which would mean it was impossible for her to sail out of Liverpool bound for Quebec on the 25th August 1827. [dates from Perth DPS Project - 'Convicts of Australia, NSW conict women on ships arriving from England and Ireland 1788-1828]

There was a brig named Charlotte which sailed from Liverpool 25th August 1827 and arrived in Quebec 8th Oct. 1827, but no passengers listed.  I hope this is helpful. Jill.