Sherry, Thanks again; how long have you been a Downing researcher? I have seen several of the items you have listed, but some I have not; do you thin there could be two Francis Downings, born abt 10 years apart? i have seen dates for birth of Francis Downing at 1726/1736/1746. The Francis of 1726/1736 married Susannah......(Wells?) and the Francis of 1746 married Henritta Viley, the Francis that was a war vet. Most researchers say they are the same; I don't know about that. Then that early Francis Downing , in this country in 1624--do you suppose he would hook up to the William Downing of the early 1600's in VA.? There is no record that this Francis went back to England. Sue