The Family of Benjamin? DOWNS 
and Ruth C. WARK
(6th. Generation)

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34-Benjamin DOWNS?, b. bef. 1776, m. (35) Ruth C. WARK, b. ?, d. after 1820, d/o George and Catherine ____? WARK. 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, a common mistake when the transcriptions are done by a person or persons who are not familiar with the names in any given county. 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. 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. 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. Two 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

34.1-Margaret Emily DOWNS, b. 30 Sep 1910, d. 18 Oct 1879, Charles Town, Jefferson Co.,  m. 16 Oct 1828 (WVJE1), Jefferson Co., VA, John REED, b. 11 Mar 1798, MD, d. 29 Sep 1877, Jefferson Co., WV. Both are buried along with several children in Edge Hill Cemetery, Charles Town, WV. (O6, O2, WVJE12-13) Children:

• 34.1a May REED b. c1832
• 34.1b John REED b. c1833 d. 30 Jul 1875
• 34.1c William B. REED b. c1835
• 34.1d Albert D. REED b. 12 Dec 1840 d. 15 Feb 1871
• 34.1e Daniel G. REED b. c1847
• 34.1f Emma D. REED b. 21 Jun 1852

34.1b-John REED, b. c1833, d. 30 Jul 1875, m. 12 May 1858, Mary A. MARMADUKE, b. Dec 1830. John REED m. 2nd., 19 Nov 1873, wife unknown (LE22). Children:

• 34.1b1 Ida REED b. 13 Mar 1859
• 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

34.1b1-Ida REED, b. 13 Mar 1859, m. 9 Apr 1888, James C. MAIZE (LE22).

34.1b2-Vincent REED, b. 3 Feb 1862, d. 3 Apr 1934, m. Frances A. WELLINGTON (LE22).

34.1b4-Charles Luther REED, b. 3 Oct 1864, d. 17 Feb 1928, m. 31 Dec 1889, Justine E. FLOWERS, b. 17 Apr 1872, d. 1 Jun 1947. (LE22) Children:

• 34.1b4a Mary Emily REED b. 2 Jul 1890 d. 6 Oct 1933
• 34.1b4b Arlie REED b. Jan 1893 d. 17 Aug 1893
• 34.1b4c Walter Earl REED b. 22 Dec 1894 d. 4 Feb 1953

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. Madalene KIRSH.  (LE22) He had 1 children by the 1st. wife, and two by the 2nd:

• 34.1b4c1 Richard E. REED b. 28 Apr 1924
• 34.1b4c2 Charles N. REED b. 19 Sep 1935
• 34.1b4c33 Margaret E. REED b. 8 Jul 1937

The Research Record of Ruth C. DOWNS
and Benjamin DOWNS?

BIRTH: Benjamin (WVJE9); Ruth (WVJE9)
PARENTS: Ruth (WVJE4)
CHILDREN:
DEATH:
OBITUARY:
CEMETERY:
MARRIAGE:
34.1 Margaret Emily DOWNS m. John REED, 16 Oct 1828 (WVJE1)
FAMILY BIBLE:
RELIGION:
OCCUPATION:
WILL:
ESTATE RECORDS:
DEEDS:
Book 16 p89, 10 Oct 1829, Ruth C. DOWNS  of Charles Town, gives to John REED, her 1/3 interest in two houses and lots on Congress St., in Charles Town. House #1 was occupied by Mrs. Shope and was purchased by her father George WARK. Ruth's mother Mrs. WARK, purchased House #2, presently occupied by James Christman, from Richard Morgan (Book 11 p418, 1819, WVJE6)
CENSUS:
1810-Benjamin DOWNS: 2 males 45 and up (Benjamin, and father or brother), 1 female 10-15 (could be Ruth's sister Margaret), and 1 female 16-25 (fits Ruth WARK).(WVJE8)
1820-Ruth DOWNS: 1 female 45 and up (Ruth), 2 females 0-9 (Margaret Emily and Mary Ann). (WVJE9)
34.1 1850 Charles Town: John REID 50, Constable $600, b. MD, Margaret E. 40 b. VA, May 18, John 16, William B. 15, Albert D. 11, Daniel G. 3, Mary Ann DOWNES 33 female b. VA. (WVJE12) 1860 Charles Town: John REED 61, tailor, value real estate $1100, value personal property $150, b. MD, Margaret E. 50 b. VA, Daniel G. 12 b. VA, Maria D. 8 b. VA, William B. 24, painter b. VA. (WVJE13)
34.1b 1860: Shepherdstown: John REED Jr., 26 lawyer, value real estate $6000, value personal property $200, b. VA, Mary A. 24 b. VA, Ida 1 b. VA, Kate MARMADUKE 22 b. VA. (WVJE14)
HISTORY:

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