Family Group Sheet


Name Dennis Downing, GGG Grandfather
Birth 25 Dec 1801, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Death 2 May 1837, Henry Co., Indiana
Burial Henry Co., Indiana
Father James Downing Jr. (1770->1830)
Marriage 1821, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Spouse Mary McCormick, GGG Grandmother
Birth 21 Oct 1802, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Death aft 1880, prob. Menifee Co., Kentucky
Father William McCormick (1771->1840)
Mother Sally McClelland (~1771-1809)
Other spouses Abraham Ellington
Children
1 M William Morrison Downing, GGG Uncle
Birth 27 Jun 1823, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Spouse Rosanna Jane Walton
2 M James Franklin Downing, GGG Uncle
Birth 21 Oct 1824, Montgomery Co., Kentucky
Death 27 Aug 1891, Lafayette Co., Missouri
Spouse Cynthia Ann McCormick, 1C4R
Spouse Susan F. Snedegar
3 F Eliza Jane Downing, GGG Aunt
Birth 2 Sep 1826, Kentucky
Spouse Walter C. Easterling
4 M John P. Downing, GGG Uncle
Birth 11 Nov 1827, Kentucky
Spouse Nancy Nickell
5 F Elizabeth Downing, GGG Aunt
Birth 31 Jul 1829, Henry Co., Indiana
Death 8 Apr 1913, Menifee Co., Kentucky
Spouse Oliver Perry Wells
6 F Susannah Downing, GG Grandmother
Birth 19 Jun 1832, Henry Co., Indiana
Death 29 Nov 1900, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Spouse George Martin Hall, GG Grandfather
7 F Nancy Ann Downing, GGG Aunt
Birth Mar 1833, Henry Co., Indiana
Death abt 1905
Spouse Oliver Perry Wells
8 F Mary Downing, GGG Aunt
Birth abt 1835, Henry Co., Indiana
9 F Cynthia Ann Downing, GGG Aunt
Birth 2 Jul 1837, Henry Co., Indiana
Death 1 Mar 1923
Spouse James Silas Easterling
Notes for Dennis Downing
Jean Burchett writes in a letter of 3 Oct 1991 "Dennis Downing raised on farm in Montgomery Co., KY, received common school education. In 1821 married Miss Mary McCormick b. in 1802, dau. of Wm McCormick a native of Virginia, but of Irish descent. Dennis moved to Indiana when the children were quite small. Two younger children b. in Ind. Will probated Feb 10, 1838 in New Castle, Henry Co., Ind. His brother Francis & Richard Haynes administrator. His debts exceeded his property."

I went to New Castle, Ind. in Sep 1993 and found the above cited probate records. There was not actually a will. On page 131 of the Henry Co. Probate Administration Book 1835-1839 is recorded a bond filed 11 May 1837 naming Richard Haynes and Francis Downing as administrators of the estate of Denis Downing deceased, who died intestate. On page 192 of the same book is a petition filed 10 Feb 1838: "Richard Haynes & Francis Downing Adms vs Dennis Downings Heirs : Petition to sell real estate : The said administrators by counsel came and file their petition in this behalf, setting forth total personal estate of said deceased is wholly insufficient for the payment of his debts as in said petition described in these words here inset and it appearing by disinterested affidavit filed that Mary Downing widow of the said deceased, William, James, Eliza, John, Elizabeth, Susan, Nancy, Mary, & Synthia Ann Downing, heirs"... At this point the petition continues on the the next page, which I neglected to photocopy. But the list of heirs is complete.

Dates of birth for all children of this family other than Susan from chart compiled by Hal Phillips.
Census
1830 Census of Henry Co., IN, lists on page 57, 4th line from bottom:
Dennis Downing, males 1 < 5, 2 5-9, 1 20-29; females 1 < 5, 1 20-29 The three boys fit for William 7, James 5, and John 2, but if the family group is right, I would expect to see Eliza 3 and Elisabeth 1. Considering that the 1840 census also has only 1 girl 10-14 (see notes for Mary McCormick), perhaps one of the girls did not live with the family?

1840 Census of Warren Co., IN (which is adjacent to Henry Co.) lists a Dennis Downing; from index only, I don't have details. Probably a nephew or maybe an uncle of this Dennis Downing.
Census Notes for Mary McCormick
1840 Census of Montgomery Co., Ky, lists family headed by Mary Downing, males 1 10-14, 2 15-19, females 1 under 5, 3 5-9, 1 10-14, 1 30-39. (There seems to be one dau. missing. Eliza Jane should have been 13 and Elizabeth 11.)
Last Modified 25 Jul 1999 Created 30 Jun 2002 by Reunion for Macintosh