>Sherry, > I seem to remember reading something on that James and John Downing now. >What is your Downing line? Suehodnett@aol.com > > >==== DOWNING Mailing List ==== > > Sue: My husband is a descendant of John Downing, ca. 1762-1838, of PA, OH and Logan Co., IL, and his wife, Hannah Frakes, ca. 1766-1842. This family is well-documented for most of the children: John who married Tabitha Johnson and died in Madison Co., OH [MCO]; Josiah who married Elizabeth Jones MCO 1811 and died in War of 1812; Sarah who married Nicholas Moore in MCO; Robert who was born at Woodbridge, Huntingdon Co PA 1793 & married Jane Morrow 1819 MCO & went to Logan Co IL 1822; William and Nathaniel who died young; James who married Ruth Morrow 1825 Sangamon Co IL and died in Sumner Co KS; Hannah who married James Morrow in Sangamon Co IL and lived Logan Co IL; Mary Jane "Polly" who was 2nd wife of John Vandeventer. The question of the parents of John Downing is not answered. I believe he was born on or near the PA-VA border near the Monongahela River now in Washington Co PA and went to Ross Co OH about 1800. A large family tree held by my husband's grandmother stated John Downing's parents were James Downing and Nancy Gardner. This has not been proved as far as I know. It seems clear that John Downing had a sister Sarah who married Jacob Shoup in 1802 Huntingdon Co PA, and maybe a brother. Down through the generations there are a number of Downing-Morrow-Shoup marriages. Three children of Robert H. and Jane [Morrow] Downing married three children of Samuel D. Downing, the son of George Downing, grandson of Timothy Downing, of another family. The relationship of these two distinct Downing groups remains unclear beyond these marriages. This is what makes this fun, isn't it? Sherry Kaseberg