Richard Dowding (bef. 1722 - abt. 1782)

Born before 1722 in Herefordshire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Smith) Dowding — married Aug 1740 in Avenbury, Herefordshire, England

Descendants

Died about 1782 after about age 60 in Bishop's Frome, Herefordshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ali Lee [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Dowding Name Study.

Researching Richard's birth has not revealed a baptism or parents (but see research note). His birth year is based on assuming he was at least 18 when he married in 1740 and probably older as his wife appears to have been 27 (based on her age at death). He may be the son of John Dowding and Bridget White, or closely related to the Richard Dowding born at Bishop's Frome in 1686, or to the John Dowding ,Gent of Avenbury (where Richard married) mentioned in the 1742 Assignment below.

The first time Richard appears in any records is for his marriage to Mary Smith at Avenbury (next to Bishop's Frome) in Aug 1740.^[1].

28 Feb 1742:Assignment:^[2]

(1) Timothy Gittins of Much Cowarne, yeo.

(2) John Dowding of Avenbury, gent.

Reciting lease as above

Now lease is assigned to Dowding for residue of term

25 Sep 1746: Probate of Will of John Dowding of Bishop's Frome by executor Richard Dowding.^[3]

This suggests that Richard's father might be John Dowding

Jun 1781: Hook's farm in Bishop's Frome in the occupation of Richard Dowding was up for sale.^[4]

The Will or Richard Dowding the elder of Bishop's Frome, Gent was dated 25 Feb 1779 and proved on 4 Mar 1782. It names wife Mary Dowding, sons James, Richard, Thomas and William Dowding and daughter Margaret Wight.^[5]

1782: Parsonage Farm and Tythes in Bishop's Frome, as rented by the late Mr Dowding where to be let and enquires were to be addressed to Mr William Dowding of Bishop's Frome.^[6]

Research Note

By Ali Lee: John and Mary had seven recorded children. I believe they may also have had my ancestor Richard Dowding (1725 – 1782) as he was born where his Grandparents lived and got married and he was reported to have been born in the year his parents married. So they may have gone visiting John and Bridget as she was only nineteen at the time and having her first child. Bishop's Frome was, and still a small place, with not many families and Richard had to be connected somehow, as born there and the age fits with the John and Mary's marriage and other children. I have researched Richard's birth and have found no recorded Parish Record. The first time he appears, in any records, is for his marriage. It has recently come to my attention that the church was a lot stricter in the 1700's and his parents may not have been allowed to have their child baptised, if born before they married. The birth date is about the same time as the marriage and may have been why they got married and my gut feeling is that their eldest child was Richard Dowding born in 1725 before they married in July of the same year. I also think he was given the right to use the name Dowding on marriage as that was his mother's married name then.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NL3D-13N : 10 February 2018), Richard Dowding and Mary Smith, Aug 1740; citing Avenbury,Hereford,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 992,634.
2. ↑ Ref A95/4/6a at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
3. ↑ Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre Will Index
4. ↑ Hereford Journal 21 June 1781
5. ↑ Abstract of Will on willsdb.gukutils.org.uk
6. ↑ Hereford Journal 14 November 1782