Thomas (Dowden) Dowding (bef. 1650 - bef. 1695)

Born before 1650 in Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 6 Jun 1695 at about age 45 in Saint Lucy, Barbados

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Biography

This profile is part of the Dowding Name Study.

Thomas' mother Cuthbury Dowden is mentioned in the 1659 census of the Town of Bandon Bridge, Counry Cork in Ireland, along with Thos Dowden, assumed to be her son, and no mention of her husband.^[1]

Named as Capt Thomas Dowden in the 30 Jul 1675 Will of his mother Cuthbury Usher.

On May 16, 1677, Thomas Dowden, Esq. was elected as assemblyman by the Council of Barbados, and he was with John Maddox, Esq. at St. Lucyes.^[2]

On July 9, 1678, Captain Thomas Dowden was elected as a member of the assembly and was listed in the Minutes of the Council of Barbados. At St. Lucy's John Maddox and Captain Thomas Dowden, returned by Simon Lambert.^[3]

1680 Owner of Spring Hall, St Lucy, Barbados 233 Acres.^[4]

On August 6, 1686, Captain Thomas Dowden was on a list of members in the Journal of Assembly of Barbados, and he was with Lieutenant Colonel Michael Tyrrell at St. Lucy.^[5]

Will^[6]
Dowding, Thomas Esq. St. Lucy's Parish, 25 Aug 1694, RB6/11, P. 182

• Daughter Margaret Dowding
• My land in Spieghtstown
• My youngest daughters Elizabeth and Margaret
• Grandson Dowding Thornhill
• Daughter Alice Thornhill widow
• Daughter Elizabeth Gibbes
• Wife Alice Dowding
• Friends Col. Richard Salter, Col. William Foster, John Maddocks Esq, MRs. Richard Walter, and Capt Thos: Allyne – Etr in trust.

Signed Thomas Dowding. Witnesses Samuel Dowding, Banja: Ball, Henry Taverner, Edward Gaskin.

Codicil dated 25 Aug 1694:

• Grandsons Timothy Thornhill & John Gibbs.

Proved 6 June 1695

There is a probate record transcription which has the date 6 Aug 1695 for a Thomas Dowding of Barbados who died in Lisburn with administration to John Gardiner^[7]

Research Notes

Birth date of 1650 in Otterhampton, Somerset, England removed from profile as no record of it and considered too late for someone who was a Captain in 1675.

Death year of 1700 in Charlestown Colony, North Carolina removed from profile.Gilbert-5441 11:38, 7 September 2021 (UTC)

Dowden is one of the surnames listed as plantation owners. "Other Barbadian big planter families - Berringer, Clutterbuck, Davies, Dowden, Elliott, Fenwick, Foster, Hall, Lane, Lake, Merrick, Quintyle, Robinson, and Sandiford - obtained large Carolina land grants between 1672 and 1692."^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/Bandon_Census_1659.htm
2. ↑ Fortescue, Hon. J. W., and W. Joel Sainsbury, eds. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, 1677 - 1680. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1896, p. 89
3. ↑ Fortescue, Hon. J. W., and W. Joel Sainsbury, eds. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, 1677 - 1680. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1896, p. 272.
4. ↑ https://creolelinks.com/barbados-plantation-history.html
5. ↑ Fortescue, Hon. J. W, ed. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, 1685 - 1688. London: "Norfolk Chronicles" Co, Ltd., 1899, p. 225.
6. ↑ Barbados Wills and Administrations, Vol III Transcription on Ancestry.co.uk
7. ↑ Prerogative Court Of Canterbury Administrations 1660-1700 Card Index on FindMyPast
8. ↑ Dunn, Richard S. Sugar and Slaves: Rise of the Planter Class in the English West Indies, 1624-1713. W.W. Norton, 1980, p. 114.

• Ancestry.com. Somerset, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. <http://search.ancestry.com/collections/5933/records/99583>

• Ancestry.com. Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. <http://search.ancestry.com/collections/1123/records/137436>

• Thomas Dowden is mentioned in the 1659 census of the Town of Bangor, Ireland, along with his mother, Cuthbury Dowden, -- no mention of his father: http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/Bandon_Census_1659.htm

See also: Sailing ship.