Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 8674, Francis Downing, Md.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Born in England
Downing,
Francis
Henrietta
NUMBER
W. 8674
CONTENTS
Page 2

517
Kentucky
Francis Downing
of Scott Co. in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Stryker of the regt
commanded by Col Syhawk in the Maryld  [illegible]
for six months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 20-Dollars - Cents per ann
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of September 
1832 and sent to Hon R. M.
Johnson, Georgetown, Ken.

Arrears to 4th of September 1832 $30.
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 1832 $10
$40.
⎨ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. ⎬
Recorded by Wm S. Allison Clerk
Book D. Vol. 9 Page 36

See letter 23 June 1837
L. C. Suggett
Page 3

Kentucky 1337
---
Henrietta Downing
widow of Francis Downing
Md
who died on the 2 September 1834
of Scott Co.
in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Stryker of the Regt commanded
by Col: Syhawk in the [illegible]
line for six months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 20 Dollars  0 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 2nd September 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of August
1834   and sent to Lewis C.
Suggett Esqr Georgetown
---
Arrears to the 4th of March 1837
Semi-anl. allowance ending 11 Sept 37 $10-

Revolutionary Claim,
Act July 4, 1836,
Section the 3

Recorded by Wm S. Allison Clerk,
Book A
Vol. 2 Page 178

[written on right hand page]
Date of death Oct. [initials]
Page 4

FAMILY   
BIRTHS.
John Downing son of Francis Downing and Henrietta his wife was born October 10th 1775
I Barruck Offutt of Scott County Kentucky state that the above writing reporting to be a record of the birth of John Downing son of Francis and Henrietta Downing was this day but from the leaf of a Bible which I believe contain his true family record and that his father and mother was married some time previous to his birth.  He further stated that he was personally acquainted with said Henrietta and Gran Downing in the State of Maryland and Kentucky and will know that they were reputed and lived together as man and wife and he believes their son John Downing to be the age as stated in the above record given from under my hand this 4th day of August 1837.
County of Scott 
State of Kentucky
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and well known to me to be a man of truth and at the foregoing affidavit before me this 4th day of August 1837.
Dan Bradford J P S C
Page 5

State of Kentucky
Scott County SS
I Ben B Ford Clerk of the Court for the County aforesaid do certify that Daniel Bradford esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit purports to have been taken was at the time of taking said affidavit and now is the one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto to subscribed my name and caused the seal of my said office to be affixed in Geo Town the 4th day of August 1837 and 4th year of the commonwealth.  
Att Ben B Ford clerk
Page 6

Declaration of Henrietta Downing
State of Kentucky
County of Scott
On this 22nd day of November 1836 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for and in the County aforesaid Henrietta Downing a resident of the County of Scott and State of Kentucky aged 88 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of Congress passed July 4 1836.  That she is weak in body and mind and is unable from bodily infirmity to attend in person in court and that she is the widow of Frances Downing one year provisions to her husband the said Downing going into the army and that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband which took place in 1834 as well (illegible) July after by RE (illegible) proof hereunto annexed given from under my hand the day and date above written. 
Henrietta Downing
Page 7

Scott County Kentucky Set 1781

Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Henrieta Downing an aged and respectable lady of the county and is unable from bodily infirmity to appear in court and subscribe the foregoing declaration and made oath to the truth before me this 22 day November 1836

A. Johnson JP

I JOhn Dowing of Scott County Kentucky state that I am the son of the late Francis and the son of Henrieta Dowing who has made the foregoing declaration and that I believe it contains the truth as to the time of their marriage and that I know that the said Francis Downing departed this life on the 2d day of September 1834 and that the said Henrieta has remained a widow ever since that period given from under my hand this 30th day Nov 1836.

John Downing

John Dowing Sone of Francis Downing and Henrieta his wife was born October 10th, 1775. The above is a true copy from the family record of John Dowing given from under my hand in [illegible]

Alex Cannon - JP
Page 8

we the undersign neighbors of Henrieta Dowing have examined the declaration made by her and believe it contains the truth we know that the said Francis departed this life at the time stated by her son John Dowing and that the said Henrieta was reputed and believed to be his wife and that she has remained a widow ever since that period. Given from under our hands this 30th day September 1836.

R W Wood
William Hatch
James B Officer

Scott County Kentucky Set

Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid John Dowing, R W Wood, and William Hatch all respectable citizens of this county and subscribed the foregoing declaration & made oath to the truth of them before me this 30 day of November 1836.

Alex Cannon - JP
Page 9

V1781
Henrietta Downing
Kentucky

Admitted 
Private 6 months
$20

Scott County Kentucky Set

Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for and in the county aforesaid James B Officer a respectable citizen of this county and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration given from under my hand this 5 day October 1836

Alexr Cannon - JP

State of Kentucky
Scott County Set 

I Ben B Ford clerk of the court for the county aforesaid do certify that Alexander Cannon Esq before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken is a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid & authorized by law to administer oaths and that his signature is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & caused the seal of the said county to be affixed the 8th day December 1836 and 45th year of the commonwealth.

Att: Ben B Ford - Clerk
Page 10

Declaration
TO obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Circuit Court for the County of Scott

Aug 29, 1832

ON this 29th day of August 1832 personally appeared before the judge of the Circuit Court for the County of Scott now sitting Frencis Downing a resident of the county of Scott & state of Kentucky aged 86 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832.

The said Francis Downing was born in Yorkshire in England 1st day of January 1746 which makes him 86 years of age & came t America in 1768 that during the revolution he lived in the county of Montgomery Maryland that he volunteered in the service of the U.S. for six months in the troops called the Flying Camp that he cannot recollect the month or year but he served faithfully the six months & was discharged at Philadelphia. His memory from age & infirmity fails him as to many particulars but he well makes such statement as will identify the time. He was in the battle at Long Island. He had a written discharge for the six months signed by Col Syhawk a dutchman he may not have spelt his name correctly
Page 11

that he went under Capt. Stricker a Dutchman - meet at Fredericktown & six companies marched to New York the Americans were defeated - he can prove the existence of his discharge but it is now lost or destroyed, has no register of is birth, he is now a citizen of Scott County Kentucky - he relinquishes all claims to a pension except the present & he is not on the pension list of nay state within the U. States.

Francis Downing
His X Mark

Test:
R W Johnson

August 29, 1832

We John T Johnson a clergyman residing in the county of Scott & Richard M Johnson residing in the same county hereby certify that we are acquainted with Francis Downing who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty-six years of age, that he is believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

J T Johnson
Rh M Johnson
Page 12

Complete

Fran Downing

$20 per annum

Hon R M Johnson
Page 13

John Downing aged fifty-five years old son of aforesaid Francis Downing was in the court at the same time & made oath that he has heard the declaration of his father Francis aforesaid he knows the statement to be true as to the existence of his discharge for six months military services during the revolution as stated by him because he said John has seen said discharge frequently - while his father lived in Maryland - the papers was printed except the blanks which were filled up in writing that he has often had said discharge in his hand & has examined it - it was a discharge for six months services as aforesaid. He does not now recollect its date or the name of the officer who signed it.

John Downing
Page 14

November 19, 1931

BA-J/EEL

Josephine M. Turner
307 Hillcrest
Louisville, Kentucky

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to Francis Downing, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The date furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in the revolutionary war claim for pension W.8674 based upon the military service of Francis Downing in that war.

Francis Downing was born January 1, 1746, in Yorkshire, England, and emigrated to America in 1768.

While residing in Montgomery Co, Maryland he enlisted, date not given, served as a private in Captain Stricker's Company, Colonel Shryock's Maryland regiment of the Flying Camp, and was in the battle of Long Island, length of service six months.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1832, while residing in Scott County, Kentucky.

The soldier married, date not stated, Henrietta, her maiden name not shown.

Soldier's widow, Henrietta, was allowed pension on her application executed November 22, 1836, at which time she was aged eighty-eight years and resided in Scott County, Kentucky

The only name of a child given is son John, who was born October 10, 1775 and was a resident of Scott County, Kentucky in 1836. Six children of son John Downing are referred to but their names are not given and there are no further family data.

(Handwritten in margin)
The reason I did not use widow's statement that she married not "a year before he enlisted the service" was because it would have made son John born too soon as the Flying Camp entered serv in July 1776 it would have made the marriage July 1775 & son stated he was born in Oct 1775.
Page 15

The revolutionary war records fail to show a claim for pension on file on account of the services of Richard Downton or Willian Downing.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.

Date of her death not on AB.
Page 16

County of Scott
State of Kentucky

I do hereby certify that the family record of John Downing was this day presented before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid and that the following is a true copy taken from a sheet in his Holy Bible which sheet contains her marriage and the birth of six of his children.

John Downing son of Francis Downing and Henrietta his wife was born October 10th, 1775

I do further certify that I believe the above to be his trued and genuine family record made and recorded many years ago in his Holy Bible given from under my hand this 3 day of July 1837.

Chas Thomson - JP SC

We the undersign have been long personally acquainted with said John Downing and have examined the above record and it a true copy taken from his Holy Bible and from our personal knowledge and acquaintance we the said downing we have no hesitation in saying that we believe it to be a true and genuine record made many years ago. Given from under our hands this day and date above written (Acquainted) interlined before signing

Thos H Graves
Chas G McHatton
James W Grant
Page 17

County of Scott
State of Kentucky

Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Thos H Graves, Charles G McHatton and James W Grant all well known to me and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit before me. I further certify that I have examined the family record of the said John Downing and the foregoing is a true copy, and I have no doubt from my personal knowledge of the said Downing and the appearance of the said record, but it is a true and genuine and made many years ago. The same sheet contains his marriage and the age of six of his children given from under my hand this 3 day of July 1837.

William Johnson - JP
Page 18

State of Kentucky
Scott County

I Ben B Ford clerk of the court for the county aforesaid do certify that Charles Thomson and William Johnson Gentlemen before whom the foregoing affidavits were taken were at the time of taking the same and now are still two of the acting justices of the peace in and for the county aforesaid duly commissioned * qualified and the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of my said office the 3rd day of July 1837 & 46 year of the commonwealth.

Att: Ben B Ford - Clerk
Page 19

Francis Downing Ken: act 7 June 1832, 
to what time paid?
Pens Office
June 23 '37

Died 2 Sep 1834 paid to 
that period
IH
Page 20

Henrietta Downing 
Kentucky 

Suspended 
See letter 23d June 
1837, L. C. Suggett 

See letter 18 July 
1837 to E. P. Johnson
Page 21

Search Ky Agency book 
for this
Page 22

Georgetown Scott Co Ky Apl 17th 1837

Dear Sir

I enlose you the Declaration 
of Mrs Downing I have [illegible] in order 
to obtain the record of her marriage 
which cannot be done

The enclosed is the family record of 
her son which I hope will be satisfactory 
There can be no other record evidence 
found of her marriage It can 
be proven if required that she was 
reputed and believed to have been 
married before the birth of [repeated: of] her 
son John

Yours very Repty

Lewis C Suggett
Page 23

Georgetown Scott Co Ky Augt 4th 1837

Dear Sir

I hope the enclosed will be satis
factory in the case of Herrietta Dowing

Yours very Rety

Lewis C Suggett 

Hon James L Edwards 
Washington City
Page 24

[Envelope with note]

[Written vertically left margin]

1781 July 17 

Ken 
proof for 
Henrietta 
Downing

[Address]
[Circular mail stamp]
GEORGETOWN
JUL
5
KY.

FREE
Hon James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington 
City
Page 25

Georgetown Scott Co Ky July 3d 1837

Dear Sur

Yours of the 23 of last month was 
duly received and I cald [called] on Mr John Downing 
for his family record which he is opposed to be
ing taken from his Bible I have had it 
again cirtified [certified] and proven If this should not 
be satisfactory you will please to say what 
will be without taking the leef [leaf] from his 
book which contain his marriage and the 
births of his children If nothing short 
of the record itself will be satisfactory 
it will be fourth coming [forthcoming] and let it 
speak for it self [itself]

My residence is in Scott County Kentucky 
in less than a half a mile of where I 
was born and raised and not in Georgetown 
If a more specific account should be 
required of my residence by the Department 
it will be cheerfully given in what
ever form it may be required

Yours verry [very] Respectfully 

Lewis C Suggett

Hon James L Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 26

[Envelope]

Damas Town [illegible] } Free
January 8, 1837 }

Mr Lewis C. Suggett 
Post Master 
Long Lick Kentucky
Page 27

Friend Luggett,

These few lines 
will inform you, that I attended 
to your request immediately 
thinking that I could give you 
satisfaction, respecting the marriage 
of the party wich [which] you ask for 
I this day traveled to Montgom[rest blurred] 
Court House, and inquired [blurred] 
at the Clerks office, for information 
but all in vain, they say as for 
marriages they keep for some 
8 or 10 years, and then thrown  
aside, I will still strive to 
find out when I go to the 
City of Washington, and let you 
heare [here] from me Give this letter to 
help to friend Offutt and oblige 
Mr. Lewis C. Suggett | Respectfully 
Daniel H Candler

[Written vertically left margin]
You must write to me very soon indeed
DH Candler
Page 28

Commonwealth of Kentucky } 
Circuit Court of Scott County } Sct-Aug 29, 1832

Francis Downing of Scott County, this day produced in 
Court a declaration subscribed with his name, & to which 
he made oath in open Court, to obtain the benefit of an 
act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, and also the affidavit 
of John Downing, to which he made oath in open Court 
and also the certificate of John F. Johnson a minister of the gospel & Richard M. Johnson 
to which they made oath in open Court; and the said 
Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation 
of the matter and after putting the interrogatories pres
cribed by the war department, that the above named 
applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he 
states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to 
them that John F. Johnson who has signed the preceding 
certificate is a clergyman resident in Scott County, and 
that Richard M Johnson who has also signed the 
same is a [struck out: credible person] resident of Scott County, and 
is a credible person, and that their [word struck out] statement is 
entitled to credit, which is ordered to be certified to the 
department of war.

Scott Circuit Sct

I James H Humphreys Clerk of the 
Circuit Court of Scott County do hereby certify that the 
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said 
Court in the matter of the application of [struck out: Edward C. 
Dingle] Francis Downing for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have here
unto set my hand & seal of office 
this 30th day of August 1832
J. H. Humphreys Clk
Page 29

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.  3-525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
W.F. 8674 Washington, D. C., ___, 19___

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Francis Downing 
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired 
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen
sion on file in this Bureau.
======================================================
DATES OF | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. |
ENLISTMENT OR | LENGTH OF | ____________________________ | STATE.
APPOINTMENT. | SERVICE. | RANK. | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. |
________________________________________________________________
✓ | 6 mos. | Pvt. | Stricker | Shyrock | } Md.
in Flying Camp | }

Battles engaged in, Long Island

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Montgomery Co. Md.

Date of application for pension, Aug. 29. 1832 His cl. was al

Residence at date of application, Scott Co. Ky.

Age at date of application, { born Jany 1, 1746, in Yorkshire, England

Remarks: { died Sept. 2, 1834
Soldier came to America in 1768.  He married one year 
prior to going into the service, no date stated, Henrietta 
-----. She was al. pens. on an appl. ex. Nov. 22, 1836, while a res.
of Scott Co. Ky, aged 88 years.  Son John was born Oct. 10, 1775,
Six of John's children are referred to, but no names are stated.

Respectfully, 

Commissioner.
Page 30

Louisville, Ky.
Nov. 4, 1931.

Pension Office, 
Washington, D. C.

My dear sir:--

Do your records have any 
data concerning [✓] RICHARD DOWNTON, who 
died in 1812 and WILLIAM and FRANCIS [✓] DOWN
ING.  All died in Kentucky,

I shall appreciate any
thing relative to service and their 
respective families.

Very truly

Josephine M. Turner
( Former Registrar Kentucky Society of N. S. D. A. R.
307 Hillcrest, 
Louisville, Ky.

[Circular time and date stamp]
Arrow pointing to 4
RECEIVED 
NOV 6 1931
RECEIPT SECTION 
PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION
Page 31

WILLIAM L. JONES
2096 HARVARD BOULEVARD 
LOS ANGELES, CAL.

[Notes top margin]
Two Two-cent stamps received. Rev. Sec.
JRW | 1
Ok
AWS  2-2¢ stamps retd | NRW

October 12, 1917.

PENSION OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D. C.

Gentlemen: I would appreciate the favor greatly if you would give 
me full particulars, so far as your records may show, respecting 
the family and antecedents of the following lady pensioner of 
the Revolutionary War: HENR'ITA DOWNING, aged 95 in 1840, as 
shown on page 9, Vol. I., COLLINS HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.

According to this history, she drew a pension in Garrard county, Ky. 
I am of the opinion her husband served in the Revolutionary War 
either in Maryland or Virginia, but I failed to get the desired data 
in the meager record of COLLINS HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.

If my impressions are correct, Sylvester Hall, a son of Lawrence 
Hall of Revolutionary service (See Maryland Records, Vo. XXI., p. 172
ensign in Capt. Costin's Co.) married Anne Downing, a daughter, in Ken
tucky about 1800.  There is a tradition that father's name was Benja
min, but matter is in doubt.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, 

Yours Very Truly, William Luke Jones

P. S. Mr. Pierson W. Banning, Secretary of our Society, Sons of the 
Revolution, informs me you have been very kind in furnishing 
data to members respecting ancestry.
Page 32

[Two panels]
[Left panel]

1917 Oct. 23 Hist. to Wm. L. Jones
1931-Nov 18 - Hist to Josephine 
M. Turner. EEL

[Right panel]

Revy WIDOW, &c.

File No. 8674
Henrietta Downing 
Wid. of 
Francis Downing 
Pvt. Md. line

Act: July 4th/36 Sec 3d.

Index:--Vol. A, Page 188

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 33

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12 - 5 - 41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name Downing, George  
Grade Sergeant
Line New Hampshire

Warrant Number  3059
Acreage 100
Issued Mar.35, 1790  to - not shown -

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.