↑ Extracts from the Register of Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Historical Society) 7:1 (Jul 1899):52-64 - BIRTHS.
p 74 - DOWNMAN, William. Orphans account. Rec. 11 May 1744. James Ball Jr., guardian to Jabez Downman, orphan of Wm. Downman ; Jesse Ball guardian of Rawleigh Downman, orphan of William Downman. W.B. 14, pp. 17 and 205. (12 Aug. 1748.) ----- [Identifies him as an orphan of William Downman. His guardian, James Ball, Jr. is his mother's half-brother.]