Timothy Downen1,2

#3940, (circa 1777 - 28 December 1828)
Relationship2nd great-granduncle of William David Lewis
Father*Josiah Downen3,4 (c 1750 - c 1801)
Mother*Mary Elizabeth Smith5 (1747 - 1835)

Family

Jane Brice b. 1782, d. 1852
Children 1.George Tillman Downen+14,15 (1805 - 1880)
 2.Brice Martin Downen+14,15 (1807 - 1876)
 3.Eliza "Celia" Downen+14,15 (1808 - )
 4.Eletha Downen+14,15 (1810 - 1884)
 5.James Downen+14,15 (c 1812 - 1880)
 6.John Downen+14,15 (1814 - 1872)
 7.Thomas Downen14,15 (c 1816 - )
 8.William Downen14,15 (c 1818 - )
 9.Jane Downen+14,15 (c 1819 - 1899)
 10.Mary Downen14,15 (c 1823 - )
Birth*circa 1777He was born circa 1777 at South CarolinaG.1,2 
1790He appeared on the census of 1790 in the household of Josiah Downen and Mary Elizabeth Smith at Pendleton Co., South CarolinaG, age16.6 
Marriage*before 1805He married Jane Brice before 1805.5 
1811He and Jane Brice removed in 1811 Knox (now Posey) Co. Indiana, with 5 brothers and their families.7 
7 November 1811He fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe on 7 November 1811; Battle of Tippecanoe.8 
1820He appeared on the census of 1820 at Marrs Twp., Posey Co., IndianaG; nei. John Crunk though listed as Marrs Tshp and Crunk is Lynn Tshp. Also in 1820: Josiah and David Downen, Smith Tshp., Posey Co., census img. 7/7 (Marrs Tshp); Wm. Downen 6/7 (Marrs); Joseph Price (Harmony); Joshua Wade (Robb.)9 
Death*28 December 1828He died on 28 December 1828 at Posey Co., IndianaG.10 
Burial*31 December 1828He was buried on 31 December 1828 at Timothy Downen Cemetery, Blairsville, Posey Co., IndianaG.11,12 
"According to the Downen genealogy wiki, Timothy moved to Kentucky about 1806 to join the rest of his family there, and paid $50 for 100 acres on Pond River in Muhlenberg County, where his next three children were born.
"In 1811 Timothy and several of his brothers moved to the southwest corner of Indiana, to what would soon become Posey County. In September that year he joined a militia company under William Henry Harrison and in November fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe against Tecumseh's forces, where he was badly wounded.
"One of Timothy's third great-grandsons was Glen Miner, who was a local historian of Gallatin County, Illinois. He mentioned Timothy in his book Cemeteries of Gallatin County, Illinois, Book 1, 1973-4 . . . The following is from page xxiv of the introduction:
Josiah Downen, Jr. had entered this 160 acres (of land in Posey County) in 1814, sold the south half in 1820 to his elder brother, Timothy, who built a log house on the northwest side of the tract. George T., son of Timothy, purchased the other 80 acres including Josiah Jr's old home in 1831.
"
For more on the life of Timothy Downen, visit http://mills-sfv.com/Genealogy/People/D/Downen/Timothy1777-1828.html.13 

Citations

  1. [S2089] "Early Downen History, 2nd Edition", 1972, Elizabeth Myers (Carmi, Illinois), to Mrs. Eben F Pinkham (Exater, California), p. 1. Timothy, b. SC 1777, d. Posey Co. IN 28 Dec 1828; marr. Jane _____, b. SC ca. 1785; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  2. [S627] Blanche Moye Cook, History of the Downen Family, 1777-1970 (Illinois: Alice Roberta Bradley, typist, 1974), pp. 19. Timothy Downen, b. Pendleton Co. SC, 96th District, 1777; marr. Jane _____ (poss. Brice, the name of their second son and the name of a neighboring family in SC).
  3. [S2089] Elizabeth Myers, "Early Downen History", p. 1.
  4. [S627] Blanche Moye Cook, History of the Downen Family, pp. 9-16b.
  5. [S477] Downen Book, Alexandrian Library, Mount Vernon, online http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx, Timothy Downen Sr, b. 96th Dist., Pendleton Co. SC, 1777, d. Posey Co. IN 28 Dec 1828. Fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe 1812; marr. Jane Brice, b. SC 18 Sep 1782, d. 9 Jun 1852. Citing History of Wadesville, Posey Co, Indiana (1977). Hereinafter cited as Downen Book.
  6. [S268] 1790 U.S. Federal Census, image viewed online Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.com. Josiah (16+); Mary (F); M (16+) [Job or William]; 3 m (<16) [Josiah, Timothy, David]; 3 f [Elizabeth, Patsy and Hannah or Polly].
  7. [S565] Josiah Downen Family, online Ancestry.com, "In 1811, Timothy accompanied his brothers David, William, Job, and Josiah Jr. to the southwest corner of the Indiana Territory, which was soon to become Posey County. In September, he marched with others to Vincennes, where he served under General William Henry Harrison in the November 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe against Tecumseh's Indians. Timothy was severely wounded. The following year, Timothy's fifth child, James (our ancestor), was born. Over the next eleven years, five remaining children were born here: John, Thomas, William, Jane, and Mary."
  8. [S284] William P. Leonard, History and Directory of Posey County (Evansville: A.C. Isaacs, 1882), p. 24, naming Thomas Givens (wounded), Robert Jeffries (d. 1876), Thomas Duckworth (d. 1877) and Timothy Downey [sic] (d. 1828). Timothy "was a brother of Davis, Judge, Josiah and Job Downey, all of whom came to the County with him [in 1807]."
  9. [S115] 1820 U.S. Federal Census. M (26-44); F (26-44), 2 m (10-15), 4 m (<10); f (10-15), f (<10).
  10. [S1378] Posey County Indiana Cemeteries Names, online www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inposey2, standing grave marker. Timothy Downen, d. 28 Dec 1828, aged about 51 yrs. Contributed information: husband of Jane Lacey Brice, con of Josiah and Mary Elizabeth Smith.
  11. [S1628] FindAGrave.com, online findagrave.com, old standing grave marker. Timothy Downen, d. 28 Dec 1828, aged about 51 yrs. Narrative: Timothy, son of Josiah and Mary, b. 96th Dist., Pendleton Co. SC, 1777, d. Posey Co. 28 Dec 1828. Marr. Jane Lacey Brice, children: George Tillman Downen, b. Giles Co. TN 1805, Brice Martin Downen (1807 - 1876), Elizabeth Downen Ridenour (1808 - 1902), Elethe Downen Murphey (1810 - 1884), James Downen (1812 - 1880), John Downen (1814 - 1872), Louisa Jane Downen Ridenour (1820 - 1899). Memorial 47266370, created by Mark Downen, photo added by Charles Hofer.
    Bob Downen has more on the life of Timothy Downen. He has helpfully given the location of the cemetery: "Timothy Downen cemetery sits on private farm property, surrounded by a five-foot chain link fence erected by his descendants. A bronze plaque marks the site, and briefly describes the Downen settlement in this area. To visit the homestead site and cemetery, take Route 66 to Blairsville, Indiana. Take the gravel road heading south out of Blairsville, and go two miles. Turn right (west) onto the old Downen Road and go approximately one mile to the bronze marker on the left side of the road. The old cemetery sits in a grove of trees on the ridge of the field behind it." [http://wiki.geni.com/index.php/Downen
  12. [S1378] Posey County Indiana Cemeteries Names, online www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inposey2, standing grave marker. Timothy Downen, d. 28 Dec 1828, aged about 51 yrs. Contributed information: husband of Jane Lacey Brice, son of Josiah and Mary Elizabeth Smith.
  13. [S478] Ancestors and Relatives of Harmon Victor Mills and Carol Joyce Miller Mills James, hereinafter cited as Mills-Miller FT, online http://mills-sfv.com/Genealogy/Families/Mills-Miller.html. http://mills-sfv.com/Genealogy/People/D/Downen/…
  14. [S2089] Elizabeth Myers, "Early Downen History", p. 3.
  15. [S627] Blanche Moye Cook, History of the Downen Family, p. 20.