Dear Jim, Your message via the Downing Mailing List was wonderful and full of interesting info. I'm especially pleased to have Mercy's maiden name of Arnold. My records show Eli's brother Reuben Downing m. Hannah Arnold. Is this correct - wonder if they are sisters. I'm also quite impressed with the research you have done to establish the birthdate and parentage of John Downing. Every source I have seen has evaded that question. As I mentioned, it's been a long time since I worked on this family. I was able to pick up the lineage fairly complete and evidently didn't do much more. It's embarrassing to see how precious little I have in the way of records. I'm happy to share what there is. The other Downing family that I belong to is my maternal grandmother's family. Where your Downing family is English and from New England where they are good record keepers, hers is Scotch-Irish and from "out in the woods" of the Maryland - Pennsylvania border. These settlers were used by the English as a buffer between the Indians and the Colonists and records are very few. I had been working on this family sometime when I discovered that not only did my grandmother belong to a Downing family but so did my grandfather. I had learned so much about the Downings in Ohio that it didn't take very long to pick up Eli Downing and his ancestry. I have Eli's will from Delaware Co., Ohio. He moved there to live with his daughter Eliza Downing Cook before his death. Thank you for your offer to share your Downing research. Please understand that I haven't been a CG since 1984. I had become certified in 1979 to see if I was good enough not realizing that the Board would send my name all over the US as a professional researcher. I enjoy helping others with genealogy but not for money. Genealogy has gone on and it's wonderful what is available now. I used to spend a great deal of time with genealogy but no longer have that luxury. I would be happy to look over what you have found - but just as a fellow researcher. My address: Mary Lou Cole 2425 West River Rd, N. Apt. 437 Elyria, Ohio 44035-2242 Good Luck!!!