>Does anyone have information on John Downing born 1534 in Devonshire? He died >in 1623 and left a will. In this will he mentions several children: Richard, >Francis, and daughter, Abigail. I would really like to know something about >these children. I am alomost positive that this Francis is the Francis >Downing who came to VA aboard the ship "Return" in 1624. Does anyone know >this family? Sue Hodnett > > >==== DOWNING Mailing List ==== > > >From Virginia Gleanings in England, by Lothrop Withington, Gen Pub Co, Baltimore, 1980 [a consolidation of articles from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography...abstracts of 17th and 18th century English wills and Administrations relative to Virginia families... p 435-437 William Downeman of Plymouth, County Devon, merchant, will dated 1607, proved 1609-1610, names son James Downeman, wife Alice, son Christopher Downeman, son Zachary Downeman, son Robert, dau Prudence Downeman, dau Judith, son John Downeman, dau Anne...with a note in brackets about a family tradition about building of the cathedral in Plymouth, the ancestral name on the wall, about William Downeman a great rememberer of the poor, and a Downeman who went to Barbadoes and another Downeman named Raleigh. Also John Downeman born 1592 and came to VA in the John and Francis in 1614, had a wife Elizabeth born 1519 who came in the Warwick 1621 and lived at the time of the census in Elizabeth City, 1624-5. Another emigrant was William Downeman, gent., who came in 1608. The first of the present Virginia Downman family was in Lancaster County VA 1652, had wife Dorothy and was William Downman. p 362 Nicholas Downe, Cittie of London Esqre. will 1653, proved 1653; to be buried church of St. Margaretts Westminster. Wife Anne Downe all of his estate in England, Virginia and elsewhere; niece Jane Downe, perhaps living in Virginia 1000 waight of tobacco; ...and in brackets: Nicholas Downes was a shareholder in the Virginia Company 1621-23, Jane Downes was possibly dau of George Downe of Downes who was living in Elizabeth City County as late as 1638 and was a member of House of Burgesses for that county 1632. Sherry