DENNIS DOWNING, my 10th Great-Grandfather, was residing in Kittery, Province of Maine, by 25 Nov 1650, when he appeared on a court jury list [GD of ME and NH, pg 208]. He then purchased, on 18 December, a messuage in Kittery (where he was currently dwelling) and thirty acres of upland lying nearby. It was located between Frank's and Watt's Forts, and owned by John Newgrove (and sold by George Smith of Dover) [York Deeds, Part I, Fol.16]. He was a blacksmith, and signed the submission to Massachusetts in 1652 [Old Kittery, pg 361].
Note: the lots laid out, with the names of Hammond, Fogg, Libby, and Tobey, is described in Old Eliot, Vol. 1, pg 49. It is based on a plan drawn by John Evans for the selectmen of Kittery, for their allotted shares. It was 240 rods wide and 580 rods in length, for a total of 870 acres. Current maps of Eliot show some traces of where these boundary lines once were. The lots would have extended back 1.81 miles, to a line where Rt. 236 now runs. Complications arose in 1699 when this 870 acre lot was purchased by the above five men and divided among them, as Dennis and son Joshua had already been living on a part of Joseph Hammond's portion. Old Eliot [ Vol. V, pg 32] says there was a lawsuit about this, and Joshua was allowed a lot extending from (what would later be called) Nutter's Cove to Watts Fort [see York Deeds, Vol VII, Fol. 67].
Dennis and his wife ANN, on 26 June 1656, brought Francis Trickey and wife Sarah into court at Portsmouth, accusing the latter of slander, for calling Mrs. Downing a drunk [NH Court Records, 1652-1668, pg 119]. After the defendant agreed to her words, the Downings withdrew their action, but the court continued with the sentencing. However, Sarah apparently had slipped away, a warrant was issued to find her, but no other court case is found regarding this.
Dennis also had ten acres of land near "Crooked Lane", which was granted to him by the town. On 21 Jun 1679, he sold this lot to Joanna Dyamont, the widow of William, who was lately in possession of this property [York Deeds, Vol. III, Fol. 47]. Son Joshua and his wife Patience also signed, Joshua stating he was his father's attorney (Dennis, just three years earlier, having deeded this and his other property to said Joshua).
Old Kittery lists three sons for this Dennis: Dennis Jr (was he actually a son of Joshua?), John, and Joshua. The entire Downing property, both real and personal, would be granted to his "only and beloved" son, Joshua, on 16 Jan. 1676, the deed noting his son having been recently married to Patience Hatch. It did mention that son Joshua would give unto Joanna Downing, daughter of John, a cow at the day of her marriage [York Deeds, Vol III, Fol. 115]. This same deed was resubmitted into a later volume, reworded in a few places, and revoked the earlier version. It now said (of Joshua) "wel-beloved" son, instead of "only" [York Deed, Vol. VII, Fol. 104]. It also "deeded" 12 pence unto son John his dau's Anne, Alice and Joanna. This was dated 23 April 1690.
Dennis and his wife ANN, on 26 June 1656, brought Francis Trickey and wife Sarah into court at Portsmouth, accusing the latter of slander, for calling Mrs. Downing a drunk [NH Court Records, 1652-1668, pg 119]. After the defendant agreed to her words, the Downings withdrew their action, but the court continued with the sentencing. However, Sarah apparently had slipped away, a warrant was issued to find her, but no other court case is found regarding this.
Dennis also had ten acres of land near "Crooked Lane", which was granted to him by the town. On 21 Jun 1679, he sold this lot to Joanna Dyamont, the widow of William, who was lately in possession of this property [York Deeds, Vol. III, Fol. 47]. Son Joshua and his wife Patience also signed, Joshua stating he was his father's attorney (Dennis, just three years earlier, having deeded this and his other property to said Joshua).
Old Kittery lists three sons for this Dennis: Dennis Jr (was he actually a son of Joshua?), John, and Joshua. The entire Downing property, both real and personal, would be granted to his "only and beloved" son, Joshua, on 16 Jan. 1676, the deed noting his son having been recently married to Patience Hatch. It did mention that son Joshua would give unto Joanna Downing, daughter of John, a cow at the day of her marriage [York Deeds, Vol III, Fol. 115]. This same deed was resubmitted into a later volume, reworded in a few places, and revoked the earlier version. It now said (of Joshua) "wel-beloved" son, instead of "only" [York Deed, Vol. VII, Fol. 104]. It also "deeded" 12 pence unto son John his dau's Anne, Alice and Joanna. This was dated 23 April 1690.
From the Journal of Rev. John Pike, pg 17
An entry in the Journal of Rev. John Pike, pg 17, shows that the Downing homestead was attacked by Indians on August 24th, 1694, with five persons either killed or captivated. Who were these people?
The Old Eliot magazine [Vol. 1, pg 84] states that it was Dennis Downing Sr who was killed by Indians at Ambush Rock on the 4th of July 1697, along with Major Charles Frost and Mrs. Heard. It says he "was interred in his own field, which is now part of the estate of Mr. Lyman Hammond". Old Kittery claims it was Dennis Jr. who was slain, based on a letter written the day after [see Old Kittery, pg 168, note 3], stating that "young Downing" was wounded, mortally.
Dennis Downing Senior was deceased prior to 4 Jan. 1697/8, when a deposition was filed in York County Deeds by Christian Remick (and sworn as true by Richard Rogers), regarding the court wanting proof of Dennis having owned the (Eliot) property which his son was now living on [York Deeds, Vol IV, Fol. 151].
The Downing lot, seen on the old map just above what is now called Adlington Creek, would have been where the Frost Tufts Park is now located.
The Old Eliot magazine [Vol. 1, pg 84] states that it was Dennis Downing Sr who was killed by Indians at Ambush Rock on the 4th of July 1697, along with Major Charles Frost and Mrs. Heard. It says he "was interred in his own field, which is now part of the estate of Mr. Lyman Hammond". Old Kittery claims it was Dennis Jr. who was slain, based on a letter written the day after [see Old Kittery, pg 168, note 3], stating that "young Downing" was wounded, mortally.
Dennis Downing Senior was deceased prior to 4 Jan. 1697/8, when a deposition was filed in York County Deeds by Christian Remick (and sworn as true by Richard Rogers), regarding the court wanting proof of Dennis having owned the (Eliot) property which his son was now living on [York Deeds, Vol IV, Fol. 151].
The Downing lot, seen on the old map just above what is now called Adlington Creek, would have been where the Frost Tufts Park is now located.
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