|
|
Facts and Events
About Jonathan Downs
Jonathan Downs was one of the Justices of the Peace to settle a courthouse site for Laurens County, South Carolina. He was a member of the 1st & 2nd Provincial Congresses and served in the South Carolina General Assembly. His Revolutionary War service included the Laurens County battles of Lindley's Fort (1776), where he was commander, & Hayes' Station (1781). He died in 1818.
Will Abstract
- Will of Jonathen Downs of South Carolina Laurens District.
- Mentions:
- daughter Jane who Entermarried with Benjamin Byrd.
- daughter Melly Married to Lydell Allem
- Frances Married to William Kelley
- to son William F. Downs
- to daughter Phebe married to James Bruster
- to daughter Lousae married to John Bruster
- Well Beloved wife Sarah
- Gives son William F. Downs the tract of Land whereon I now live and the tract adjoying the Same in the whole about three hundred and thirty acres.
- Gives wife Sarah the whole of his personal property including Household & Kitchen furniture Stock horses plantation tools, etc.
- Son William F. Downs will take charge of in trust for her during her Natural life adn at her death to be equally divided between the whole of my six children Sheir and Sheir alike 5th part of my Estate to my Daughter Phebe Bruster will be intitled under this will will remain in the hands of my son William F. Downs for her use and benefit...
- Executors herein after named to purchase for my Daughter Louisia Bruster a horse worth about one hundred dollars and it is also my will that my Executors purches for my grandson Jonathan Allen a horse bridle and saddle worth about one hundred dollars.
- Son William F. Downs and wife Sarah appointed Executors
- Dated eighteenth day of August 1818.
- [Signed] Jonathan Downs [L.S.]
- Witnesses:
- Jn. F. Wolf
- C. Saxon
- D.T. Saxon
- Recorded in Will Book E-1, Page 9
- David Anderson ordy.
- Proven Sept. 7, 1818
Sources
Laurens County South Carolina Historical Society
References
- Find A Grave.
Jonathan Downs
Birth 1738
Orange, Orange County, Virginia, USA
Death 18 Oct 1818 (aged 79–80)
Laurens, Laurens County, South Carolina, USA
Burial: Downs Cemetery
Laurens County, South Carolina, USA
Maj. SC Militia Rev. War
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152970980/jonathan-downs
- South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980.
Name: Jonathan Downs
Probate Date: 18 Aug 1818
Probate Place: Laurens , South Carolina , USA
Inferred Death Year: Abt 1818
Inferred Death Place: South Carolina, USA
- United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M637).
Name: Jonathan, esq Downes Esquire
[Jonathan Downes Esquire]
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Laurens, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 2
Free White Persons - Females: 5
Number of Slaves : 5
Number of Household Members: 14
- United States. 1800 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M32).
Name: Jonathan Downs Esquire
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Laurens District, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Slaves: 10
Number of Household Members Under 16: 4
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 16
- United States. 1810 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M252).
Name: Jnothan Downs
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Laurens, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Numbers of Slaves: 12
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 16
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension application of Jonathan Downs W21000 Sarah Downs fn36SC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 2/11/10 & 12/3/14
State of South Carolina, Laurens District
On the 10th day of December eighteen hundred & thirty eight personally appeared
before the Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Laurens District, Sarah Downs, a resident of
Laurens District & State of South Carolina, aged 82 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 the Act of Congress passed July 4, 1836: That her husband
the said Jonathan Downs resided in Ninety-Six District & State of South Carolina when he
entered the service. That he took up arms and joined the Whigs in the month of November
1775 immediately after Patrick Cunningham and his party captured some Powder near Ninety-Six. That he was then first Lieutenant under Capt. James Williams (who was afterwards killed at King's Mountain as Col. Williams) and Major Andrew Williamson. That his company was surrounded by a party of the Tories commanded by Patrick Cunningham at Ninety-Six, when the first gun was fired by the Whigs for Liberty and Independence in Ninety-Six District. That in the month of January 1776, he served in the expedition called the Snow Camps, when the above named Patrick Cunningham made his escape, but was taken in in a few days by the said Jonathan Downs, & by him carried to Charleston and delivered to the proper authority. That on the 15th day of July 1776, he commanded as Major at the Battle of Lindley's fort, against the Indians and Tories, in Ninety-Six District, So. Ca. See 1, Edition of Ramsey's History of So. Ca. Vol. 1, page 280. That in the same month of 1776 he was engaged in the Battle of Senake (sic, Seneca) old Town at Oosmore [sic, Oconee?] Creek in the Cherokee country, now Pendleton District, commanded by Col. Williamson [Andrew Williamson] where Col. Williamson's horse was shot under him. That in the latter part of the same month of 1776 he commanded as Major at the Battle called the Ring Fight in the Cherokee country So. Ca. which he was wounded in the abdomen and in the hands; the ball that entered his body he carried with him to his grave. See History of So. Ca. by Robert Mills page 609. That his wound rendered him unfit for service, and he was
brought home. That although he was incapacitated by his wounds from performing active
services, he acted the part of a decided Whig, & sustained the cause of Liberty by rendering
such services as he was able to do, up to the close of the Revolution. That in the year of
1781, he was one of the number taken prisoner by Major William Cunningham and his party, at Hayes' defeat, a station commanded by Col. Hayes in Ninety-Six District for the particulars see Ramsey's History of So. Ca. Vol. 1, page 450. That the said Jonathan Downs from the time he volunteered in November 1775 performed a regular tour of service. That he
performed service in that tour, as Major not less than six months—and as first Lieutenant
three months. That all the services performed by him after he was wounded was such as
above stated—She further declares that she was married to the said Jonathan Downs on the
8th day of July 1772 in the year seventeen hundred & seventy two, that her husband the
aforesaid Jonathan Downs died on the 18th day of October 1818, and that she has remained a
widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto
annexed. That she is not able to attend personally in court by reason of old age and bodily
disability.
Sworn to and subscribed on this day and year above written before
S/ Sarah Downs, her mark
W.D. Watts, J.C.O.L.D.
[p 7]
I Robert Long1 who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, residing in Laurens District South Carolina hereby certify that I am well acquainted [with] Sarah Downs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that I believe her to be 82 years of age.
That I was also well acquainted with Jonathan Downs who was a Major in the Revolutionary War and concur in the opinion that he performed service as stated in the foregoing declaration. That the said Sarah Downs is the widow of the said Jonathan Downs.
That they were married previous to the commencement of the Revolutionary War. That the said Jonathan Downs died in the year 1818 and that the said Sarah Downs has remained a widow ever since that period.
Sworn and subscribed this 15th day of December 1838
S/ W. D. Watts, JCOLD S/ Robt Long
[p 7]
I William Dunlap2 residing in Laurens District South Carolina a soldier in the Army
of the Revolution hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Sarah Downs who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that she is the widow of Jonathan Downs
who was a Major in the Army of the Revolution, that I believe her to be 82 years of age.
That I was well acquainted with her husband Jonathan Downs and was present with him in the expedition called the snow camps in the winter of 1776 that the said Jonathan Downs then commanded as a Captain. That I am of opinion that he performed service as stated in the foregoing declaration. That the said Jonathan Downs and Sarah Downs were married previous to the year 1776. That the said Jonathan Downs died in the year 1818, and that the
said Sarah Downs has remained a widow ever since that period.
Sworn to and subscribed this 17th day of December 1838
S/ W. D. Watts, JCOLD S/ Wm Dunlap Sr
[p 31]
I William Millwee3 residing in Anderson District and State of South Carolina do hereby
certify that I am well acquainted with Sarah Towns residing in Laurens District and State
aforesaid. That she is the widow of Major Jonathan Downs deceased. That the said
Jonathan Downs volunteered in the service of the revolutionary war in the month of October
in the year 1775 as first Lieutenant under Captain James Williams. That in the month of
November in the year of 1775 we served together in an engagement with the Tories at Ninety Six in Ninety Six district and State of South Carolina and were commanded by Major Andrew Williamson, the Tories by Patrick Cunningham. That in the latter part of the month of December in the year of 1775 we served together in the expedition called the Snow Camps, in the upper part of South Carolina and had an engagement with the Tories, where many of them were taken prisoners, we were commanded by Captain James Williams. That in the month of January in the year of 1776 the said Jonathan Downs was commissioned a Major, and had command of the regulars who were raised to defend the country against the Cherokee Indians. That in the month of July in the year of 1776 we served together at the Battle of Seneca old town, in the Cherokee Country, and were commanded by General Andrew Williamson. That in the same month and in the same year we served together at an engagement with the Indians and Tories at Tugaloo River, in the Cherokee Country. That in the month of August in the year of 1776 we served together at the battle of the ring fight with the Cherokee Indians, in the Cherokee Country, where Major Jonathan Downs had the command, and where he received a ball in the abdomen which he carried with him to his grave. That Major Downs loan rendered him unfit for active service and that he returned home. That in the year of 1781 we were taken prisoners at Hayes station in Ninety Six District South Carolina, by the Tories commanded by Major William Cunningham. That the said Jonathan Downs performed a regular tour of service from the time he volunteered in October 1775 to the time he was wounded in August 1776 of 10 months, viz., 3 months as first Lieutenant and 7 months as Major.
Sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of May 1839 before me
S/ Alexander Evins, NP S/ Wm Millwee
State of South Carolina Laurens district: I James Brewster of the District of Laurens & State aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of Major
Jonathan Downs, deceased, and that the family record hereunto attached showing the date of
the marriage of Jonathan Downs & Sarah Gary is in the handwriting of the said Jonathan
Downes.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 2nd day of February 1839
S/ W. D. Watts, JCOLD S/ James Bruster
Jonathan Downs and Sary Gary was married July the 8th 1772 by John Caldwell Esquire
Jane Daughter of the same was born July ye 6th 1774
Milley Daughter of the same was born April 5th 1776
Frances Daughter of the same was born April the 10th 1784
William Son of the same was born January the 10th 1787
Pheobe Daughter of the same was born April the 7th 1791
Louisa Daughter of the same was born May the 15th 1790
&c
[Veteran's widow was pensioned at the rate of $190 per annum commencing March 4th,
1831, for her husband service for 3 months as a Lieut. and for 6 months as a Major in the
South Carolina militia.]
https://revwarapps.org/w21000.pdf
|
|
