3rd Decr 1911 21 Belgrave Square
Monkstown Dublin
Dear Mrs Armstrong
Thank you so much for your very interesting
letter of the 29th ult I have a copy of the inscription
on the Downing vault & when I get home I will send you a
copy.
The statement made on the vault that Adam Downing came
of the Devonshire family has always been a great difficulty.
I almost think it must show that Adam D. [Downing?] was not
a son of Sir G. D's [Downing's?] brother as has been
supposed he may have been a grandson of Calybut Downing
the Rector of Hackney Middlesex who died suddenly in 1644.
I don't think John Downing his son could have made a mistake.
I intend to try & trace the family of Calybut D. [Downing?].
Nicholas D. [Downing?] Adam's uncle who died in 1698-9 - is
buried on church Island in Lough Beg. The little lake at
Toome Bridge but unfortunately all the stones there and the
whole graveyard was most shockingly desecrated by some
wenches who burrowed all over it & set up an illicit still
so that I was told it was no use going there to find anything
but I will do so the next time (next summer I hope) I go up
there. I am glad to learn John D. [Downing?] was called Squire
Downing it helps to differentiate him from all the others with
that Xtian name - which marriage do you allude to when saying
G.C.D. & Dawson quarrelled about his marriage Dawson D.
[Downing?] who married twice A. C. D. made that good marriage
into the Nesbitt Family - Dawson married firstly a Fullerton
- she was daughter of a man who was killed as a rebel during
the American war. I suppose [torn] would have a----ded?] a
strict loyalist. though she was scarcely responsible for her
father's republicanism then Dawson D. [Downing?] married
secondly her half sister. Anne Boyd of Ballycastle - My
great grand mother - perhaps it was the deceased wife's
sister marriage which may have annoyed A. C. D. he was I
believe Rector of Leckpatrick, perhaps you can tell me
where that is, possibly near Faberdaly - where he must have
resided. I was told he was a curate in Phillipstown where he
first met Miss Nesbitt - John Downing Nesbitt his eldest
son was a barrister, I believe. but I suppose he was too
well off to practice at the bar - I think I had better write
to Mrs Beason before I call on her & I will do so very shortly -
I will be only too pleased to hear all she can tell me it was
always a great matter of regret that my poor old father took
so little interest in his family - he never had asked questions
of those he knew in early life & my grandfather, John D,
[Downing?] died in 1870 when I was at school so that I had
very little opportunity of asking him anything - he
told me he left home shortly after his father's (Dawson's) death
& did not return home till 1830 when he found Rowesgift in such
a state as to be uninhabitable so instead of renovating the
house he sold it! - such a pity! for I don't suppose he got
much for it - with many thanks for all you are telling me -
Believe me -
your very sincere cousin
J.G. Downing
