This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WilliamEWatson42 Surnames: COFFEY, DOWNS, GARVEY, MCCORMICK, MAGRATH, MCGRATH, or MCGRAW Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.cattaraugus/6721.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: John DOWNS, died March 28, 1898 - Mount Street, Corry, Erie Co., PA Thanks to the Aug 14, 2004 message window posting by LGG50, I have begun to unravel the mystery of Mr. DOWNS, husband of Mrs. Katherine (GARVEY) DOWNS of Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania. John left a wife & four children: (1) Frank L. DOWNS, born Nov 1886, died 21 Aug 1907 in Corry, Erie, PA, un-married. (2) Mary L. "Mayme" DOWNS, born Feb 1889, remained un-married (1945 - her aunt, Ellen (GARVEY) COFFEY's obituary). (3) Joseph J. DOWNS, born 20 Apr 1890, died Mar 1972 while residing in Pittsburgh, PA He married Ida, born 31 Mar 1890, died Feb 1978 while residing in Pittsburgh, PA. They had no children listed up into the 1930 census. (4) Lillian E. DOWNS, born Sep 1892, died before 1930 (her mother's obituary). The family is found in the 1861 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada census: Michael MAGRATH, born 1821 in Ireland Mary MAGRATH, born 1826 in Ireland John DOWNS, born 1855 in Canada East Mary DOWNS, born 1856 in Canada East Ellen MCCORMICK, born 1805 in Ireland My assumptions are: (1) John's mother remarried prior to 1861, his natural father was either deceased or divorced. (2) Ellen MCCORMICK is John's grandmother, his mother's mother. This family is listed again in the 1870 US Census in Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania: Michael MCGRAW born (1810 sic age 10y too old) IRE,IRE,IRE Mary MCGRAW born (1811 sic age 10y too old) IRE,IRE,IRE John DOWNS, born 1855 CAN,IRE,IRE, RR brakeman Mary DOWNS, born 1856 CAN,IRE,IRE Thomas MCGRAW born 1864 CAN,IRE,IRE In the 1880 US Census in Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania: John DOWN, born 1856 (PA sic, should read Canada), bpb. Ireland, RR conductor Thos MCGRAW, born 1860 (PA sic, should read Canada), bpb. not given, RR brakeman In the 1880 US Census in Titusville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania: Mary DOWNES, born 1856 Can, bpb.Ire, single, servant for the Robert MCKNIGHT family. I haven't yet located the remainder of the family in 1880. John's 1898 obituary list a sister. Mrs. J. DONAHUE, of North Olean, this has to be his sister Mary who is listed in the 1900 Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York census as Mary DONAHOE, b. Jan 1858 - Canada, em. 1870, bpb. Ireland, widowed, 5 ch./ 4 survive. Only three un-marred daughters are listed with her: (1) Josie DONAHOE, dau, b. May 1883 - NY, fb. IRE, mb. CAN (2) Catherine DONAHOE, dau, b. Feb 1886 - NY, fb. IRE, mb. CAN (3) Nellie DONAHOE, dau, Dec 1893 - NY, fb. IRE, mb. CAN The 1898 obituary also mentions an un-named brother and sister who reside in Rochester, N.Y., this has to be Thomas MAGRATH, MCGRATH, or MCGRAW and his sister whose first name I don't know yet and born after 1870. I have noted in other postings that the MAGRATH, MCGRATH, & MCGRAW name variations provide other researchers with some confusion, I am hoping that this posting may help those as well as prompt others to weigh in on my information, thank you. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.