Michael Ashford Dowden (1737 - abt. 1797)

Born 3 Sep 1737 in Queen Ann Parish, Montgomery County, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Beall) Dowden — married 1757 in Queen Ann Parish, Montgomery, Maryland

Descendants

Died about 25 Oct 1797 at about age 60 in Montgomery, Maryland, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Dowding Name Study.

Husband of Elizabeth Beall, married 1757 Queen Ann Parish, Montgomery, Maryland. Father of John Dowden, Michael Ashford Dowden and Charity Dowden. Michael Ashford Dowden passed away in 1797.

Note

Find a Grave Memorial 222205886 has a DOD of 6 May 1799. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 15 December 2021), memorial page for Michael Ashford Dowden (3 Sep 1737–6 May 1799), Find A Grave: Memorial #222205886, ; Maintained by Cynthia Rice (contributor 46629633) Burial Details Unknown.

• 1790 United States Federal Census Montgomery, Maryland (Maryland, Montgomery, Not Stated, page 22 of 32) Name Michael A Dowden,
• Home in 1790 (City, County, State) Montgomery, Maryland, Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over 3, Free White Persons - Females 1, Number of Household Members 4
• Maryland Records Colonial, Revolutionary, County, and Church from Original Sources Vol. I
• Name John B. Dowden

Age 5 Birth Date abt 1771 Residence Date 1776 Residence Place Sugar Land Hundred, Frederick, Maryland Source Provincial Census of Frederick County, 1776 Page 217

• See also: https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/d/o/w/Thomas-C-Dowden/GENE3-0002.html
• Information copied from FindAGrave.com (unverified) Michael Ashford Dowden was born Sept 3rd, 1737 in Frederick County, MD, a son of John Dowden and Mary Gore. He was first married to Elizabeth (Beall?) possibly a widow of a Mr. Beall. They were listed in 1776 Census with 2 young Beall males, possibly her sons from a previous marriage. Here is the census listing:

Number of Souls With Names and Ages, ----Hundred, Frederick County, Maryland, August 1776: ( This section now embraced in Montgomery County) Downden, Michel. . . . . . . . .. 39 Ward, Matten....... . ... . . . . . .. 17 Beard, William.... . .... . . . . . . . 7 Beall, Edward ....................... 13 .......... William........................ 10 Dowden, Elisabeth.. . . . . . . .. 40 Robinson, Mary .....................20 Toney, a Negroe..................... 46

• Michael A. Dowden had served in the French and Indian Wars with his brothers, John Jr. and Nathaniel Dowden under the command of Capt William Luckett. His Muster Roll included Sergt. John Dowden, Michael A. Dowden, and Nathaniel Dowden. (Source: "Maryland Historical Magazine Vol 9"; French and Indian War).
• Michael Ashford Dowden received land, record dated 27 Oct. 1761, between he and (his father) John Dowden, for several good causes, grants tract called "Dowden's Luck," on north side of a small draught of Little Seneca, signed by John Dowden. Receipt. Mary Dowden released dower.
• Michael Ashford Dowden recorded 17 June 1767, agreement made between (his father) John Dowden of Frederick County, for 5 shillings sterling as also for diverse other good causes and considerations, assigns tract called "Johnny and Molley's Conclusion", beginning at end of 78 perches on the 20th line, containing 17 acres of land. Signed John Dowden before Wm Luckett, Thomas Price. Receipt Acknowledged and Mary Dowden wife of John Dowden released dower rights.

Dowdens, Michael Ashford - 1776 Patent Record BC and GS 49, p. 460 0 0 MSA S 1595-763 "Apple Orchard", 6 Acres; Certificate.

• Michael took the "Oath of Fidelity And Support to this State" administered by Will Deakens, Montgomery County, Maryland on 3 March 1778. Dowdens included in this list were: Michael Dowden, Thomas Dowden, Jr., Zachariah Dowden, and Zephaniah Dowden.
• Michael's wife Elizabeth died around 1790/91, and he was married 2ndly on 6 Feb 1792 to Mary Dunn (daughter of Hugh Smith Dunn). He would have been age 55 at the time of his 2nd marriage.

Children by 2nd wife Mary Dunn: Rachel Dowden- born 19 Jan 1794 - married Thomas H. Nicholls Mercy Beall Dowden - b. 21 Oct 1795 - married Joseph Nicholls Michael Ashford Dowden, Jr - b. 19 Jul 1799 - married Ruth Greenland

• Michael's death date is from : NATIONAL GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY, page 28 - an entry in HEZEKIAH WILSON'S DIARY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD: " Mical Ashford Dowden Departed this life on the 6th of may in the year of our Lord 1799"
• So, Michael's youngest son Michael was born that July, a few months after his death (obviously named for him).
• His widow Mary Dunn Dowden was remarried to Nathan Pack/Peck on 3 Jan 1802, and had 4 more children Eleanor, Levina, Robert, and Nancy Peck. Her husband Nathan died before 1810, and I am not sure what became of Mary after that.
• Peck, Mary 1802 Patent Record IC P, p. 410 0 0 MSA S 1595-76

Dowden (Peck), Mary; Addition to "Dowdens Luck"; 2 1/2 Acres 1802/11/04 Patented Certificate 14 4 0 MSA S 1202-54 {wife of Nathan Peck}

• In 1808, a court record has been found for Zachariah Dowden who had previously been named guardian of Michael, Rachel, and Marcia/Mercy Dowden, children of Michael A. Dowden, late of Montgomery County, MD, deceased. This record shows him paying interest on the land tracts mentioned above for their benefit ("Dowden's Luck" 84 acres, "Apple Orchard" 6 acres, part of "Chiswell's Inheritance" 5 acres, and "Part Number 3" 5 3/4 acres). This helps to document them as being the children of this Michael Ashford Dowden.
  • Note: This Michael is not to be confused with his nephew Michael Ashford Dowden born 3 Apr 1775 (son of John Dowden and Jean Biggs) who died 5 Oct 1797 (apparently single). Death date for this Michael is from father John and mother Jean's family bible: " Michael (?Alford) Dowden died on the 25th October 1797". Some genealogies list him as being the father of Rachel and her siblings, but he died too long before Michael was born in 1799, so he could not have been the father of these 3 Dowden children.*