In a message dated 98-10-10 13:39:36 EDT, you write: << wonder if he is connected to those MASONS. Mind if I forward your note to him? Sue >> Not at all; please do, Sue. The LEWIS line ties in to the marriage of Morgan Lewis (1814-1894) to Mary Ann Downing, dau of Joseph Downing and Elizabeth Biedler. They had eight little Lewises. Joseph Downing died age 37, leaving Elizabeth Biedler with five children and one in the oven. Elizabeth later married Benjamin Riter, and had five children by him. They became mormons, ended up in Salt Lake City, and have many descendants in Utah today. The only Downing child of Elizabeth to break away from the LDS early (or not even get involved) was John B. Downing, my gggrandfather, who ended up in Kansas. On the document we're talking about, it states the whereabouts of John B. Downing is unknown....no doubt because he appears to have broken away from the family (but I found him okay!!!) The MASON line goes to Benjamin Mason, who married Mary COUCH. Their dau Thomazin Mason m. William S. Downing, who had a dau Mary Couch Downing..... who married John B Downing (the same as discussed above!). They were first cousins. And six weeks after their marriage, my gt grandfather, Benjamin, was born, Must have been the scandal of Chester county! Maybe that's why they broke away from the family <g>. Would you like a copy of Snow's "The Downings, Pennsylvania Quakers"? I can xerox a copy monday and snail mail it to you. Ray