Emanuel Downing1

M, b. before 12 August 1585, d. before 8 August 1656
Downing Home on Essex Street, Salem
     Emanuel was born before 12 August 1585 in Ipswich, County Suffolk, England. He was the son of Rev. George and Dorcas [Bellamy] Downing. On 12 August 1585, he was christened in Ipswich, County Suffolk, England, at St. Lawrence Church.2 He resided in London and was a lawyer of the Inner Temple. Emanuel married Ann Ware on 7 January 1615 in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.3 Emanuel's wife, Ann, died before 10 April 1622 in England, leaving him a widower. Emanuel married 2nd Lucy Winthrop, daughter of Adam Winthrop III and Anne Browne, on 10 April 1622 in Groton, County Suffolk, England. About 1638, the family immigrated to New England where they were admitted to the church in Boston 4 November 1638. The family settled in Salem and remained there until their home burned down from a chimney fire in 1645. At the time of the fire, Emanuel was in England. Upon his return, he purchased a place on Essex Street where they lived until leaving New England. This home was undoubtedly the finest house then built in the colonies. It was a two story mansion with many gables. It had a "great" room, a "great" entry, a "great" stairs, and a "great" chamber. It had two chimney stacks and two columns of leaded sash and diamond shaped panes on either side of the front door. There were also great lanterns for lighting the large grounds in front of the mansion. In 1652, Emanuel returned to England, upon receiving an appointment in 1655, as clerk to the Scottish Council, the move became permanent, thus Lucy left New England, subsequently removing to Edinbergh, Scotland to be with her husband. Having received the consent of her husband before his decease, Lucy deeded the house and property on Essex Street to their daughter, Ann, on 8 Aug 1656, as her dowery in her marriage to Capt. Joseph Gardner.4,5 Emanuel departed this life before 8 August 1656 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.6

Family 1

Ann Ware d. b 10 Apr 1622

Family 2

Lucy Winthrop b. 9 Jan 1601, d. 19 Apr 1679

Citations

  1. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume I: page 65.
  2. [S1062] Joseph James [edited with extensive additions] Muskett, The Suffolk Manorial Families being the County Visitations and other Pedigrees
    Muskett, Joseph James edited with extensive additions'    , Volume I: page 99 - Downing of Gamlingay.
  3. [S625] St. Mary the Virgin Church - Headstone Inscriptions: Volume I: page 99 - Downing of Gamlingay.
  4. [S1054] Winthrop Papers, page 3.
  5. [S1060] History of Salem Vol II, pages 27-29.
  6. [S1062] Joseph James [edited with extensive additions] Muskett, The Suffolk Manorial Families being the County Visitations and other Pedigrees
    Muskett, Joseph James edited with extensive additions'    , Volume I: page 99 - Downing of Gamlingay - Emanuel Downing died circa 1680. [note: this is highly unlikely. - KLM]
    Volume I: page 93 - the widow of Emanuel Downing writes from East Hatley, Cambridgeshire to her nephew John Winthrop, then in London. [This contradictsthe death of Emanuel avobe stated. - klm]