Capt. John Downing Esq.1 
b. 1659, d. 16 September 1744
5th great-grandfather of Ruth Minerva Fairfield.
7th great-grandfather of Laura Jane Munson.
- Family Background:
- Fairfield and Allied Families
- Appears on charts:
- Pedigree for Ruth Minerva Fairfield
Capt. John Downing Esq. was born in 1659 (deposed in August 1742, age 84).1,2 He married first Susanna Miller, daughter of John Miller and Hannah Chater, before April 1684. He married second as her third husband Elizabeth Stover Hunnewell Walford.3 He died about 12 o'clock noon on 16 September 1744 in Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, at age 85.1,4,5
Additional Data
In Arundel he was constable in 1685, served on the grand jury in 1687 and was selectman 1688-89.2 In 1694 John Downing and his wife held seats in the Portsmouth Church. Later he was a member of the Dover Church.2
In 1701 Capt. John Downing Esq. was a butcher, marketing in Portsmouth.2
Capt. John Downing Esq. was Selectman of Dover in 1702, 1712 and 1715; Representative of Dover in 1714 and 1715, and of Newington in 1716. He was made Lieutenant in 1708 and Captain in 1715.6
In 1715 Capt. John Downing and his son John Downing were both original members of the Newington Church. He was Elder from 1724.6,2
In 1720 "Capt. John Downing Esq. and his son John Downing" each had a fifty acre grant in Arundel, York County, Maine. He was driven off by the Indians in 1689 and afterwards bought at Bloody Point, Newington, and then at Dover.2
Benjamin Miller, yeoman, Jeremy Miller, yeoman, and Daniel Quick and his wife Hannah, all of Portsmouth, released to John Downing Sr., of Newington "in consideration of the charges and expense that he hath been at maintaining and keeping their honored father John Miller late of Cape Porpus" all claims to Miller's real or personal estate at Arundel, 18 April 1720.7
John Downing deeded to his son Benjamin Downing "lands and property at Kennebunk or near Cape Porpus at a place called Miller's creek, formerly occupied by my Honoured Father-in-Law Mr. John Miller," 10 September 1725.8
At age 78 in September 1738, he deposed that in 1683 he leased Major Vaughan's farm at Cape Porpus for 7 years and lived on it six years, also owning five islands.2
John Downing deposed in August 1742 at age 84, that about 62 years past he came to Portsmouth and soon after hired himself to Major Vaughan for one year and lived with him.2
John Downing made his will 23 February 1743/44 in which he names all his known children.2
In 1701 Capt. John Downing Esq. was a butcher, marketing in Portsmouth.2
Capt. John Downing Esq. was Selectman of Dover in 1702, 1712 and 1715; Representative of Dover in 1714 and 1715, and of Newington in 1716. He was made Lieutenant in 1708 and Captain in 1715.6
In 1715 Capt. John Downing and his son John Downing were both original members of the Newington Church. He was Elder from 1724.6,2
In 1720 "Capt. John Downing Esq. and his son John Downing" each had a fifty acre grant in Arundel, York County, Maine. He was driven off by the Indians in 1689 and afterwards bought at Bloody Point, Newington, and then at Dover.2
Benjamin Miller, yeoman, Jeremy Miller, yeoman, and Daniel Quick and his wife Hannah, all of Portsmouth, released to John Downing Sr., of Newington "in consideration of the charges and expense that he hath been at maintaining and keeping their honored father John Miller late of Cape Porpus" all claims to Miller's real or personal estate at Arundel, 18 April 1720.7
John Downing deeded to his son Benjamin Downing "lands and property at Kennebunk or near Cape Porpus at a place called Miller's creek, formerly occupied by my Honoured Father-in-Law Mr. John Miller," 10 September 1725.8
At age 78 in September 1738, he deposed that in 1683 he leased Major Vaughan's farm at Cape Porpus for 7 years and lived on it six years, also owning five islands.2
John Downing deposed in August 1742 at age 84, that about 62 years past he came to Portsmouth and soon after hired himself to Major Vaughan for one year and lived with him.2
John Downing made his will 23 February 1743/44 in which he names all his known children.2
Children of Capt. John Downing Esq. and Susanna Miller
- John Downing+3 b. 10 Apr 1684, d. 14 Feb 1766
- Richard Downing8
- Hannah Downing8
- Jonathan Downing8
- Joseph Downing8
- Benjamin Downing+ 1 d. 1753
- Joshua Downing8
- Josiah Downing8
Citations
- [S909] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Miller, of Arundel," Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis (1885-1966): A Reprinting in Alphabetical Order by Surname, of the Sixteen Multi-Ancestor Compendia, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996), Vol. 1, 604, 605, originally published in The Ancestry of Sarah Miller (1939).
- [S869] Charles Thornton Libby, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Portland, Maine: The Southward Press, 1928), 204.
- [S909] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Miller, of Arundel," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. 1, 604, originally published in The Ancestry of Sarah Miller (1939).
- [S761] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), (Orig. Pub. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 148 vols., 1847-1994) 15: 172.
- [S869] Charles Thornton Libby, GDMNH, 204, citing son's bible.
- [S761] NEHGR, 22: 297.
- [S1065] Walter Goodwin Davis, The ancestry of Sarah Miller, 1755-1840 : wife of Lieut. Amos Towne of Arundel (Kennebunkport) Maine (Portland, Maine: Southworth-Anthoensen Press, 1939), 5, citing York Deeds XII: 224.
- [S909] Walter Goodwin Davis, "Miller, of Arundel," Massachusetts and Maine Families, Vol. 1, 605, originally published in The Ancestry of Sarah Miller (1939).
