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The Downes Family


Photographs & Documents Furnished by Lawrence Downes

Charles D O W N E S
by : Lawrence Downes
      Charles Downes was born 1791.
He was married to a lady named
Nancy first and we believe they had seven children.
Nancy died before 1835 and
Charles remarried Hannah Richards in
1935 and they had 4 children.

      Charles Downes appears to have migrated
from Maryland to Indiana, then to Illinois.
No parents have been found yet.
He appears to have been a farmer through all his travels
as he bought land everywhere he stopped.
I believe he was married when he left MD. ,
to a lady named Nancy.
      They married sometime before 1819 and I think there were as
many as seven childern
Wilson Russum, John W.,
Charles Fletcher, Martha Jane,
Mary A, Nancy J., and Jeremiah T.
all born before 1835.

      He next shows in the 1830 census in Monroe Co., IN.
with six children, so Nancy must have died between 1831 and 1835
as there is one more child and a marriage record of his marriage to
Hannah Richards Aug 11 1836 in Jackson Co., IN.

      He bought land in Washington Co., IN. in 1834,35,37.
I next have him in IL. in the 1850 Washington Co., IL
census with his wife Hannah and five childern one from
his first marriage (John W. age 29 b IN.)
Joseph N. b IN., Enoch P. b IL .,
James E. b IL., and Rachel M. b IL.
      He bought land in Jefferson Co., where it appears it connected
to the land he had bought in Washington Co., IL.
      He bought a total of 760 acres so his older sons must have lived
near and worked on the farm.

      I have found where the older childern of Charles and Nancy
all bought land in Washington and Jefferson Co., IL.,
that adjoined the land that Charles bought.
It appears that between 1839 and 1850 the
Downes family had bought about 1560 acres in the
area between Irvington and Richview.

      After studying the map of land bought it appears that the
western part was the area that John Wesley,
the father of James William and my grandfather owned in the early
1900's and was the area where I lived the early part of my life.

      Charles died in 1850 and is buried in the
Richview Cemetery Washington Co., IL.

  • #1 Have records of land bought in
          Jefferson Co. and Washington Co., IL.
          from 1839 to 1844.
  • #2 Have records of land bought in
          Washington Co., IN. from 1834 to 1837.
  • #3 Death sorce Cemetery records
          Richview Cemetery, Richview Washington Co., IL.
  • #4 Have Records of land transaction in Monroe Co., IN.
  • #5 1830 Monroe Co.,
          In census record of a Charles Downs with 6 childern,
          all ages work for Charles Downs and wife Nancy.
  • #6 Census record for 1850 Washington Co., IL.
          Shows Charles Downes and second wife Hannah with
          John W. (son by first wife) age 29 b IN.,
          Joseph N age 11 b IN.,
          Enoch P age 9 b IL.,
          Jame s E age 7 b IL.
          Rachel M 5 b IL.
  • #7 Jackson Co., IN. Marriages
          show Charles Downs m Hannah Richards 8/11/1836.
          Have Certificate .
  • Charles DOWNES

  • Born : about18May1791
  • Married (1) : Nancy __?__
  • Married (2) : Hannah RICHARDS on 1Aug1836 in Jackson County, Indiana
  • Occupation : Farmer
  • Died : 1Dec1850
  • Burial : Richview Township Cemetery, Richview, Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois

  • Known Children of Charles & Nancy DOWNES : 1a. Wilson Russum DOWNES
    2a. John W. DOWNES
    3a. Charles Fletcher DOWNES 23Jan1822-16May1883
          Spouse : Margaret Redpath LIVELY
    4a. Martha Jane DOWNES
    5a. Mary A. DOWNES
          Born : about 9Apr1827
          Died : 27Aug1844
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery, Richview, Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois
    6a. Nancy J. DOWNES
    7a. Jeremiah T. DOWNES
          Born : about 5May1833
          Died : 27Sep1846
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery, Richview, Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois
  • Known Children of Charles & Hannah DOWNES : 1b. Joseph N. DOWNES
          Born : about 26June1838 in Indiana
          Died : 14Oct1850
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery, Richview, Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois
    2b. Enoch P. DOWNES
          Born : about 1841 in Illinois
    3b. James E. DOWNES
          Born : about 4Nov1843 in Illinois
          Died : 25Nov1863
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery, Richview, Richview Township, Washington County, Illinois
    4b. Rachel M. DOWNES
          Born : about 1845 in Illinois


    Charles Fletcher DOWNES
  • Born : 23Jan1822 in Indiana
  • Parents : Charles & Nancy DOWNES
  • Married : Margaret Redpath LIVELY (27Aug1823-16Oct1908) on 2Mar1843 in St. Clair Co., Illinois       Daughter of : John L. & Millberry ( nee JAMES ) LIVELY
  • Occupation : Farmer
  • Died : 16May1883
  • Known Children of Charles & Margaret DOWNES :   1. Amos Wesley DOWNES 27May1844 - 9Aug1921       Spouses : (1) Sarah AnnWRIGHT
      2. Nancy J. DOWNES 28Feb1846 -       Spouses : (1) Robert L. FULLER
      3. John W. DOWNES 13Feb1849       Spouses : (1) Mary C. BOND
      4. Larry P. DOWNES 11Feb1851 -
      5. Enoch F. DOWNES 11Sep1853 - 4Jul1866
      6. Henry C. DOWNES 29Dec1858 - 28Jul1864
      7. Sara G. DOWNES 5Apr1861 -
      8. Victoria E. DOWNES 19Sep1862 - 18Aug1899

  • Amos Wesley D O W N E S
    by : Lawrence Downes
    Amos Wesley Downes was born May 21, 1844
    the first son of Charles Fletcher and Margaret Lively Downes.
    He was born In Jefferson Co., Il. where he lived on a farm with his family.

    In 1861 he joined the 49th Illinois Inf. as a private to go to battle in the war.
    On Feb 13 1862 he was wounded in the battle of Ft. Donaldson Tn.
    He was sent home to recuperate, on his return he reenlisted as a veteran and
    slowly advanced in rank to 1st sargent and at the end of the war was promoted to
    the rank of 1st Lieutenant and was discharged Sep. 9, 1865 in Paducah, KY.

    He returned to Il. where on Mar. 1, 1866 he married Sarah Ann Wright.
    It appears they bought land next to the family farm and farmed.
    There was 12 childern born to this union.

    Amos and his family lived about 3 miles east of the town of Richview in
    a community know n as White Swan Community.
    Amos and Sarah were active in the Baptist Church and when a movement
    was started to establish a church in the area they donated the land for it at
    the crossroads where it stands today.
    Amos was one of the first Deacons and acted as secretary for many years.

    Amos passed away Aug. 9, 1921 and is buried in the Richview Cemetery in Richview.
    Sarah followed him Jan. 29, 1929 and is buried beside Amos.

    Amos & Sarah Downes Photo
    Amos Wesley Downes
    &
    Sarah Ann ( nee Wright ) Downes
      Amos Wesley DOWNES
  • Parents : Charles F. DOWNES & Margaret LIVELY
  • Born : 21May1844
  • Married : Sarah Ann WRIGHT (11Oct1849-29Jan1929)
          On 7Mar1866 in Illinois
  • Military Service : Civil War - 49th Illinois Infantry
  • Occupation : Farmer
  • Died : 9Aug1921 in Illinois
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery,
                Richview, Richview Township,
                Washington County, Illinois
  • Known Children of Amos & Sarah DOWNES
      1a. Sarah S. DOWNES
      2a. Victoria DOWNES about 3Feb1865-14Sep1878
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery,
                Richview, Richview Township,
                Washington County, Illinois
      3a. Charles W. DOWNES 19Sep1868-27Dec1930
          Burial : Richview Township Cemetery,
                Richview, Richview Township,
                Washington County, Illinois
      4a. Amos S. DOWNES
      5a. Mary M. DOWNES
      6a. Martha J. DOWNES
          Spouse : (1) Enoch DENNIS
      7a. John Wesley DOWNES 4Jul1878-24Aug1951
          Spouse : (1) Miriah Sylvia GILBREATH
          Spouse : (2) Frances LEE
      8a. Ella M. DOWNES Dec1879-
      9a. Ora A.. DOWNES Apr1882-
     10a. Enoch A. DOWNES Sep1884-
     11a. Rufus V. DOWNES Nov1886-
  • Amos Wesley Downes
    &
    Sarah Ann ( nee Wright ) Downes
    Marriage License

    this is a copy that was made
    in about 1900 when he applied for a
    pension from the Civil War.
    He was in the 49th Illinois Infantry

      Amos & Sarah Downes Marriage License


    Children of
    Amos Wesley Downes
    &
    Sarah Ann ( nee Wright ) Downes

    This photograph was taken
    in about 1900

      Amos & Sarah Downes Children Photo

    Enoch & Martha Dennis Photo   Enoch Dennis
    &
    Martha Jane ( nee Downes ) Dennis

    This photograph was taken on their
    50th Wedding Anniversary
    in 1947


    John Wesley DOWNES
  • Parents : Amos Wesley DOWNES & Sarah Ann WRIGHT
  • Born : 4Jul1878
  • Married : (1) Miriah Sylvia GILBREATH (Jan11882-1915)
          on17Dec1899 in Casner Township,
          Jefferson County, Illinois
  • Married : (2) Frances LEE (23Oct1895-13May1954)
  • Died : 24Aug1951 in Illinois
  •       Burial : Richview Township Cemetery,
                Richview, Richview Township,
                Washington County, Illinois
  •   Jown Wesley Downes Obituary
    as published in the Centralia Sentinel
    Aug. 25, 1951

    DOWNS: Services for John W. Downs,
    who passed away early Friday, will
    be held from the Richview Methodist
    Church on Sunday at 2:30 P.M., with
    the Rev. James Owens officiating.
    Interment in Richview cemetery.
    Friends may call at the Galbreath
    Funeral Home any time until the
    time of service.

     


    Downes Family Reunion in 1908
    This photograph was taken in front of the White Swan Baptist Church

    1908 Downes Family Reunion Photo


    Downes Family Bible Pages


    Downes Bible Page  
    Notes on Downes Family
    This was a note given to Joe Downes
    as follows :

          This the old Downes family bible
    was given to Annie E Downes Paston
    After the Death of her aunt Sara
    Susan Downes Taylor.

          Same given to me Naomi
    Pearl Paston, nee Downes. this
    Sept 12 A.D. 1963. Both Grand-
    Daughters of Amos W. Downes
    and Daughters of Rufus V. Downes.

          Family Record
        Marriages
    Charles F. Downes
    Margaret P. Downes (Lively)
    was Married March
    the 2 = A.D. 1843 =

    Amos W. Downes
    and Sarah A. Wright
    was Married March 7, 1866

    Robert L. Fuller
    and Nancy J. Downes
    was Married May 29 1866

    John W. Downes
    and Mary C. Bond
    was Married June 30, 1870


        Births
    Charles F. Downes
    was bornd January
    the 23 = A.D. 1822

    Margaret A. Downes
    was bornd August the
    27 = A.D. 1823

    Amos W. Downes
    son of was bornd
    May 27 = A.D. 1844

    Nancy S. Downes
    daughter of was bornd
    February the 28 A.D. 1846

    John W. Downes
    son of was bornd
    February 13 = A.D. 1849

    Larry P. Downes son
    of was bornd February
    the 11 = A.D. 1851

    Enoch F. Downes son
    of was bornd September
    the 11 = A.D. 1853

       
    Henry C. Downes
    son of was bornd
    December 29 A.D. 1858

    Victory E. Downes
    daughter of was boend
    September 19 A.D. 1862

    Sara G. Downes
    was b April 5 1861

      Downes Bible Page


    Downes Bible Page   Larner C. Downes
    diest this life August
    the 12 = A.D. 1852

    Henry C. Downes
    Diest this Life
    July the 28 A.D. 1864

    Enoch J. Downes
    Diest this Life
    July the .. 4 .. 1866

    Vancy J. Fuller
    Diest this Life
    November the 4 .. 1866

    Charles F. Downes
    Deceist this Life
    May the 16 1883

    Margaret N. Downes
    Deceased this life
    Oct 16 -- 1908

    John W. Downes Jnr
    Decesed this life July
    28 1896

    Victoria B. Downes
    Deceast this Life August
    the 18. 1899

    Amos W. Downes   (Born
    Deceast this life       May 21
    August 9, 1921           1844)


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