Mary (Matthews) Downing (1800 - 1847)

Born 30 Apr 1800 in Pennsylvania, USA

Wife of Samuel D Downing — married 16 May 1837 in Pike County, Ohio

Descendants

Died 2 May 1847 at age 47 in Logan County, Illinois, USa

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Biography

Mary was born April 30, 1800, in Pike County, Ohio, second daughter of John Matthews and his wife who is believed to be named Sarah. John Matthews was a surveyor who was born in Ireland, immigrated (apparently) to Pennsylvania and then migrated to Ohio. His wife, according to their son William on the 1880 census, was born in Pennsylvania.

There were six known Matthews siblings: Margaret, Mary, John, Thomas, William, Jane. The Samuel Downing Bible recorded information about the Matthews.

The eldest, Margaret, was the first wife of Samuel Downing. Mary was the second child. She married Thomas Day. Within a few months he was killed in a flood. Their son Samuel was born after his death. After the death of Margaret Samuel married his widowed sister in law.

When Samuel and family left Ohio for Illinois at least two of her brothers went with them, Thomas and William. Thomas never married or if he did the wife died young and there were no surviving children. In his will he says he has no wife and no children, indicates that all three sisters are deceased and leaves his estate to the sons of William.

Mary died May 2, 1847, and was buried on Samuel's land. He donated the land for a cemetery and it became Downing Cemetery.

Sources

• Samuel Downing Bible
• Downing Cemetery stone
• 1875 Will and Probate of Thomas Matthews
• 1880 Illinois Logan Census

• Cheryl Rothwell. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Cheryl and others.