James Downing was another of the first settlers of Truro, and a Grantee of the Township. He resided on his front land in the Lower Village, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. He died October 28th, 1776. His widow died December 31st, 1801. He was married to Janet Montgomery, in New England, in 1749. Mary, their eldest daughter, was born in New England in 1750, and was brought by her parents to Nova Scotia when she was ten years old. She was married to William, the eldest son of Capt. William Blair and Jane Barns, about the year 1770. Her descendants appear among the Blairs. She died November, 1817, aged 67 years. Mr. Blair died March, 1848, aged 91 years. Janet Downing, their second daughter, was born in 1753. She was married to Joshua Higgins. They had three sons and three daughters. They resided at Lower Onslow, where they both died some time ago. James Downing, their only son, was born in New England in 1758. He was married to Margaret, the second daughter of John Dickson, Senr., and Margaret Burn, November 22nd, 1787. They had two children. He died July 21st, 1789. His wife died February 15th, 1790. Catherine Downing, their third daughter, was born on board the vessel that they came in to Nova Scotia, a short time before they anchored at Savages Island, in the spring of the year 1760. She was married to Ebenezer Hoar, January 5th, 1775. They had two sons and ten daughters. They resided on the same place that their youngest son, James Hoar, now resides, in Onslow. She died of fever, August 30th, 1819, aged 59 years. Mr. Hoar died of the same fever, August 2nd, 1819, aged 61 years. Nancy Downing, their fourth daughter, was born in Truro, January 23rd, 1762. She was married to John, second son of Capt. William Blair and Jane Barns, in 1781. They had five sons and three daughters, who appear among the Blairs. She died January 9th, 1829, aged 67 years, and Mr. Blair died October 5th, 1847, aged 88 years.
William Downing (brother of James) was another of the first settlers of Truro, and a Grantee of the Township. He was married to Mary Logan, sister of John and William Logan, in 1768. He was the third person who settled in Brookfield, about the year 1787, on the farm which was afterwards owned by John Hamilton, and is now owned by Robert Hamilton, Esq., his brother John, and their sons. He continued in Brookfield but a few years. He returned to Truro Village, and resided near the Messrs. Logan for a few years. His wife died there in 1793. He was married again to Ruth Hoar, widow of the late William P. Whippie, December 26th, 1793. He resided on the Whippie place, near Robert Turner Blair's, in Onslow. He died there June, 1816. His widow died December 8th, 1848, aged 92 years.
John, the eldest son of William and Mary Downing, was born in Truro, April 5th, 1769. He was married to Esther Lynton, June 30th, 1795. He settled east of the Chiganoise River, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there February, 1826, aged 57 years. His wife died September 11th, 1829. James Downing, their eldest son, was born June 21st, 1797. He was married to Sarah Thomas, October 21st, 1825. They had three sons and three daughters. He died May, 1855, aged 58 years. Robert Downing, their second son, was born August 9th, 1801. He was married to Eliza Ray, of Shepody, September 2nd, 1829. They had five sons and three daughters. He inherited a part of what was his father's farm. He died March 24th, 1868, aged 67 years. John Downing, their third son, was born September 17th, 1803. He was married to Letitia, the eldest daughter of Richard Blackie and Margaret Barnhill, April 10th, 1831. They had one son and one daughter. Mrs. Downing died February, 1844. He was married again to Nancy Hughes, widow of the late Matthew Green, July 22nd, 1848. They had one son and two daughters. George Downing, their fourth son, was born March 16th, 1805. He was married to Margaret Johnson, of Pleasant Valley, November 4th, 1829. They had two sons and six daughters. Elizabeth Downing, their only daughter, was born August 1st, 1799. She was married to John Hollice, December, 1831. They had three sons and four daughters. They removed and settled at Goose River, in Cumberland County. She died there April, 1869.
Janet Downing, the eldest daughter of William and Mary, was born in Truro, August 30th, 1770. She was married to William Davison, November 16th, 1789, by Dr. John Harris, who was then authorized to perform the ceremony of marriage. It was so dark on this wedding day that candles were lighted at two o'clock in the afternoon, to give them light to attend to the work in the house, and this day is spoken of yet by the old people of Brookfield as the dark day. On March 2nd, 1790, Mrs. Davison died, in the twentieth year of her age. The first marriage and first death which took place in Brookfield was in the house of Mr. William Downing. Mary, the second daughter of William and Mary Downing, was born in Truro, May 2nd, 1772. She was married to Thomas Wetherby, of Londonderry, November 12th, 1794. They had three sons and two daughters. Catherine Downing, their third daughter, was born in Truro, May 9th, 1774. She was married to Barnabas O'Brien, of Chiganoise, November 23rd, 1793. They had three sons and five daughters. She died April, 1869, aged 94 years, and Mr. O'Brien died about 1834. Sarah Downing, their fourth daughter, was born July 22nd, 1778. She was married to William Wetherby. They had three sons and one daughter. William Logan Downing, their second son, was born in Truro, November 21st, 1780. He was a shoemaker by trade. He removed to Hants County, and was married there to Miss Porter, of Windsor. James Downing, the eldest son of William and Ruth, was born in Onslow, September 22nd, 1794. He was a blacksmith by trade. He was married to Dorothy, third daughter of Simeon and Dorothy Whidden, of Middle Stewiacke, July 20th, 1818. They had two sons and four daughters. They inherited a part of her father's farm at Stewiacke. He died there June 1st, 1840, aged 45 years. His widow died September 4th, 1850, aged 56 years. Hiram, the second son of William and Ruth Downing, was born in Onslow, January 22nd, 1800. He removed and settled on Tatamagouche Mountain. He was married there to Rachel, the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth McKeen, December 31st, 1829. They had two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Downing died in 1836. He was married again to Nancy Vincen. They had four sons and one daughter. He died there December, 1869, aged 72 years. His widow died January, 1871.
