BIO:

Deering, New Hampshire, Farmer

John was the first son of Joshua Downing (1769-1858) and Patience Chase (1771-1844), who were natives of Hampton Falls, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

John was born and raised at Deering; he probably died there aged 75 years; and was buried there at East Deering Cemetery [Francis Lane Child, Gravestone Inscriptions East Deering Cemetery, 1927 hereafter East Deering Cemetery, p. 3].

John married Sarah (Sally) CHASE at Francestown, New Hampshire on 28 March 1833 (N.H. VR).

John farmed at and was a life-time resident of Deering [U.S. Censuses].

There, he bought a share of a pew of the Deering East Meeting House, in 1830 [Evangeline Klee Poling, Welcome Home to Deering, New Hampshire, p. 51-52, 1977].

Following their mother's death in 1844, his brother Stephen lived with and cared for their father. Stephen inherited his father's farm at Deering and the bulk of his father's estate [Hillsborough Co., N.H., Probate No. 02887, 1858]. John and his other siblings each received $5 from the estate.

His own will, dated 3 March 1868, stated that he was "weak in body." It mentions his wife and brothers Joshua, Stephen C., and Peter Downing. It was probated at Manchester, New Hampshire on 22 March 1868 [Hillsborough Co., N.H., Probate No. 1688, 1868].

John appointed Herod CHASE of Deering, New Hampshire as the executor of his estate.

John and Sarah had no children.

Biography by Tom Brocher; last updated on 3 January 2022.