34 Benjamin DOWNS?, b. bef. 1776, before 1820, m. (35) Ruth C. WARK, b. ?, d. after 10 Oct 1829, d/o George and Catherine ____? WARK (70/71) A marriage record has not been found. The research thus far has been through census and deed records in Jefferson Co., VA. There are, I believe, too many DOWNS families in some transcribed records of the 1810 census of Jefferson County, VA. According to the original census, as I have read it, there are only two DOWNS families, John and Benjamin. The other DOWNS are DOWNEYS ) (two Johns, and an Edmond). Benjamin DOWNS is listed with 2 males 45 and up (Benjamin and possibly his father or brother), 1 female10 and under 16 (could be Margaret WARK, sister of Ruth), and 1 female 16 and under 26 (fits Ruth). The census was done in Aug 1810, before Margaret Emily was born (Sep), and Mary Ann was b. in 1814. Benjamin DOWNS was also living in Charles Town. John DOWNS, who was living in an unlisted township, has 4 females, and 4 males in the household. None of the children in this home fit Margaret Emily, though there is a male that fits John, and a female to fit Ruth. Benjamin DOWNS appears on the personal property tax list of Jefferson Co. from 1812 to 1817. In every list, he is taxed for 1 white male over 16. In 1813 and 1815 he is taxed for 1 horse, a mare, and in 1814 he is taxed for one black male over 16. He must have d. between 1817 and 1820, when his wife, Ruth, appears alone on the 1820 census. In 1815, he had an ordinary licenses. In 1821, Ruth DOWNS appears on the tax list, taxed on 1 black male under 16. By 1820, both Benjamin and John have disappeared, with only Ruth DOWNS remaining, in Charles Town, with two daughters, Margaret Emily and Mary Ann. It would seem that if Ruth was the wife and widow of John DOWNS, there would most certainly be more people in her household in the 1820 census. Another convincing argument is that Benjamin lived in Charles Town where the WARK family lived. John lived in an area outside of any town limits. Secondly, there are no marriages in Jefferson Co., VA, during this period to fit John DOWNS' children, some of whom would have been of marrying age. It would appear that John DOWNS simply left the area between 1810 and 1820. It is quite possible, however, that John and Benjamin were brothers, though there are no other records in the county that show any contact between the two. On 10 Oct 1829 Ruth gave to John REED, her son-in-law, 1/3 interest in two houses and lots on Congress Street; house #1 was occupied by Mrs. Shope and was purchased by her father George WARK; Mrs. WARK, Ruth's mother purchased house #2, occupied by James Christman, from Richard Morgan. There is also the possibility that Benjamin was the son of John DOWNS, and while we have been looking high and low for the parentage of Benjamin, we may have not seen the forest for the trees. Regardless, based on the circumstantial evidence, I am convinced that Benjamin was the husband of Ruth (WARK) DOWNS. (WVJEB10-11, WVJE6 Bk11 p418, 8-9)Two known children:
34.1 Margaret Emily DOWNS b. 30? Sep 1810 d. 18 Oct 1870
34.2 Mary Ann DOWNS b. 6 Apr 1814 d. 22 Feb 1881 see #16/17 (Direct Ancestor)
34.1 Margaret Emily DOWNS, b. 30 Sep 1810, d. 18 Oct 1870, Charles Town, Jefferson Co., m. 16 Oct 1828, Jefferson Co., VA, John REED, b. 11 Mar 1798, MD, d. 29 Sep 1877, Jefferson Co., WV. In 1850 they were living in Charles Town, where John was a constable. His sister-in-law, Mary Ann DOWNS, was in the household. In 1860 they were still in Charles Town and John was tailor. Both are buried along with several children in Edge Hill Cemetery, Charles Town, WV, next Margaret's sister, Mary Ann (DOWNS) MORROW. John REED has a will in Jefferson Co., WV, which has not be critiqued to date. They are buried in Edge Hill Cem., Charles Town. In 1880 their son Albert was a music teacher living with his aunt and uncle, Joseph and Mary Ann MORROW. (LE22, O2, 6, O2, WVJE1, 12-13) Children:
34.1a May REED b. c1832, VA
34.1b John REED b. c1833, VA, d. 30 Jul 1875
34.1c William B. REED b. c1835
34.1d Albert D. REED b. 12 Dec 1840, d. 15 Feb 1881, buried Edge Hill Cem., Charles Town
34.1e Daniel G. REED b. Aug 1847
34.1f Emma D. REED b. 21 Jun 1852
34.1b John REED, b. c1833, VA, d. 30 Jul 1875, m. 12 May 1858, Mary A. MARMADUKE, b. Dec 1830. John REED m. 2nd., 19 Nov 1873, wife unknown. In 1860 he was a lawyer living in Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co., WV, with Kate MARMADUKE 22, in the household. His Civil War record shows he was mustered into service on 11 May 1861, and discharged on 12 Oct 1861; then enlisted at Halltown 18 Apr 1861, 2nd. VA Inf., Co. B, 2nd. Regt. VA Vols. and was Pvt. in Capt. Vincent Moore Butler's Co., at age 27, Hamtranck Guards, 2nd. Reg. VA Inf. (LE22, WVJE13). Children:
34.1b1 Ida REED, b. 13 Mar 1859, d. bef. 1900, m. 9 Apr 1888, James C. MAIZE (LE22).
34.1b2 Vincent REED b. 3 Feb 1862, d. 3 Apr 1934
34.1b3 John M. REED b. Nov 1863
34.1b4 Charles Luther REED b. 3 Oct 1864, d. 17 Feb 1928
34.1b2 Vincent REED, b. 3 Feb 1862, WV, d. 3 Apr 1934, m. 1890, Frances A. WELLINGTON b. Feb 1867, WV. In 1900 and 1910 Vincent was living in Guyandot, Cabell Co., WV. In 1920 he was in the 5th. Ward, Huntington, Cable Co. (LE22, WVCA9-11).Children:
34.1b2a Arthur Lee REED b. No 1893, WV
34.1b2b Sterling M. REED b. c1902 WV
34.1b2c Child dy.
34.1b4 Charles Luther REED, b. 3 Oct 1864, VA, d. 17 Feb 1928, m. 31 Dec 1889, Justine E. FLOWERS, b. 17 Apr 1872, d. 1 Jun 1947. In 1920 Charles was living in the 6th. Ward, Huntington, Cabell Co., WV, where he was a locomotive engineer. (LE22, WVCA11) Children:
34.1b4a Mary Emily REED b. 2 Jul 1890, WV, d. 6 Oct 1933
34.1b4b Arlie REED b. Jan 1893, WV, d. 17 Aug 1893
34.1b4c Walter Earl REED b. 22 Dec 1894, WV, d. 4 Feb 1953
34.1b4d Jessica REED b. c1916, WV
34.1b4a Mary Emily REED b. 2 Jul 1890, d. 6 Oct 1933, m. 17 Jun 1914, Myron K. HALL b. 1881. In 1920 Myron was living in the 6th. Ward, Huntington, Cabell Co., WV. (LE22, WVCA11) Children:
34.1b4a1 Mary Justine HALL b. Feb 1916
34.1b4c Walter Earl REED, b. 22 Dec 1894, d. 4 Feb 1953, m. 25 Dec 1922, Dorothea SWANN, b. 24 Jan 1905, d. 27 Mar 1969. Walter m. 2nd., Jul 1934, Madalene KIRSH. (LE22, US1) Children: 1 by 1st. wife, 2 by 2nd)
34.1b4c1 Richard E. REED b. 28 Apr 1924, d. 15 Aug 2003, San Bernandino, CA
34.1b4c2 Charles N. REED b. __________ (1)
34.1b4c33 Margaret E. REED b. __________ (2)