Mary E. Downing

Notes:

In the Federal Census of 1880, Columbia & Mary R. Downing are ages 45 & 35, and living at Savannah, Chatham Co., GA. They have a 1-year-old daughter, Mary E. The census data says that Columbia's parents both were born in OH, while Mary's parents both were born in RI.

Columbia married Mary Helen Remington 14 Oct 1875, OH. Mary (daughter of William Holdredge Remington and Elizabeth Palmer Randall) was born Abt 1849, OH. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The daughter Mary in the 1870 Federal Census is age 19. Perhaps their first daughter Mary died young and another one was born in 1851 (?). Otherwise, there is an age discrepancy of about two years.

Notes:

From web site newenglandancestors.org:
"REMINGTON, William Holdredge, ' Moved from R. I. to Pomeroy, Ohio,' h. REMINGTON, Eliphalet (d. Job Randall of Cranston, R.I. ), ch. William and Patty or Martha (Adams), b. --, 1810 [? in Pawtuxet, R.I. ], P.R.28. Greenfield," MA records (probably from Adams family Bible records). Eliphalet is likely a mistranscription of Elizabeth.

In the 1850 Federal Census, William & Elizabeth are living at Pomeroy, Meigs Co., Ohio, with their five children: P. E., Anne C., Benjamin R., Martha M., & Mary H. William is a merchant.

In 1860 the family is at Salisbury, Meigs Co., OH. The household includes: W. H. Remington, 50 RI, merchant; Elizabeth P., 41 RI; Ansela, 16 OH; Benjamin R., 13 OH; Martha, 11 OH; Mary, 9 OH; & Emer, 7 OH.

They are still living there in 1870, and their young adult children in the household are: Benjamin, Mary, & Emma. William 60 and son Benjamin 24 are dry goods merchants; Elizabeth 57 is keeping house; Mary 19 "helps mother"; and Emma 17 is attending school. (Roll: M593_1242, Page: 165, Image: 331)

In 1880 William & Elizabeth are still at Pomeroy, OH, and are ages 70 & 61. William is a retired merchant. With them is son Benjamin R., 43; it looks as if his occupation is "Hardware & stationery."

As a point of interest, William was likely named after his father William, and also after Deacon William Holdridge/Holdredge, who died at Pawtuxet 5 Dec 1828 in his 86th year.

William married Elizabeth Palmer Randall Abt 1835, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Job Randall and Ann Celia Greene) was born Abt 1816, RI; died Aft 1 Jun 1880, OH. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The marriage reference says her name was "Eliphalet Randall, d. of Job, of Cranston." (newenglandancestors.org) I think it likely that her name was Elizabeth, and was misread in the transcription.

A family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has her name as Elizabeth Palmer Randall, so I have added her middle name as Palmer, pending verification. Her great-grandmother was Bethiah (Palmer) Randall (see notes for her). "Elizabeth P. Randall" is mentioned by name as a granddaughter in the 5 Jan 1835 will of Patience Randall of Cranston, RI. The will also mentions a son named Job. (RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 10, p. 52, Cranston Wills)

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give source credit to Lois Sorensen, Remington family researcher and compiler, and to other sources as noted herein.)

William's will dated 31 May 1852 mentions his (second) wife Avis and sons Henry A., Edward, & William H.

The death record at Warwick City Hall reads: "William Remington, son of Thomas; trader, d. 23 June 1852 age 73." (Note: James N. Arnold's published transcription of this record is incorrect; I have viewed the original twice for verification) The RI Death Index agrees with the original.

I do not have absolute proof of the identity of William's parents, but the available evidence points to this Thomas and Mary. It is known that his father is Thomas. The most likely possibility is Thomas Remington, Jr., who married Mary Wood, d/o William, at Warwick on 7 June 1778, by Elder Charles Holden. (Consequently, I am tentatively placing him in this family; research is ongoing to confirm.)

William is mentioned as a son in Thomas Remington's Revolutionary War Pension File # W13847.

Research throughout Rhode Island has shown that there is no record of any other William, son of Thomas.

William owned a house which is now known as the Remington House, at 71 Remington Street in Pawtuxet, Warwick, RI. This house was at one time rented to the Pawtuxet school district for use as a school. An old receipt shows that William was paid $3 per month, for a total of $12, covering the period from 9 Dec 1833 to 8 Apr 1834. Most likely, ownership of the house was passed down to son Henry after William's death, since Henry is indicated as owner on an 1855 map. (source: "Pawtuxet Schools" by Henry A. L. Brown, an article in "The Bridge" Fall 2005 Vol. 31 No. 2, p. 10 -- A Newsletter of the Pawtuxet Village Association)

The plaque on the front of the William Remington house has the date 1728. Does this mean the house was built that year? Also, who built the house -- a Remington ancestor or someone else? This needs more research. (I have photographed this house; image available upon request.)

From RI Cemetery Database:
REMINGTON WILLIAM 1779c - 23 JUN 1852 WK001

Cemetery notes:
Historical Cemetery # WK001, Lakewood Burial Ground, Warwick, RI / Location: 75 ft west of IRVING RD at TEL pole # 4 / 24 burials with 5 inscriptions from 1822 to 1862 / 100 ft x 200 ft in poor condition no enclosure; sign missing / Tax Assessors Map #: Plat #: 289, Lot #: 551 / James N. Arnold visited this lot 10 Aug 1891; Vol 4 Pg 87 "At Lakewood on the north side of the Greenwich Rd. and west of the Warwick branch Road, in plain sight of both, a burial yard showing neglect, both fence and yard." In 1994 this burial ground was almost totally destroyed and most of the stones were missing. This cemetery has been recorded and checked.

William married Martha "Pattey" Adams 12 Apr 1804, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Martha (daughter of Andrew Adams and Molly Morse) was born 4 Jan 1784, Northbridge, MA; died 11 Jun 1822, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick, RI; was buried , Lakewood Burial Ground, Warwick, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From MA vital records:

1804 ADAMS Patty " (also called Martha)," ch. Andrew and Molly (Morse), and William Remington, b. Patuxat, R.I. , Apr. 12, 1804, in Warwick, R.1. ,* P.R.28. Marriage Greenfield

Death notice in the Providence Journal: "Martha Remington, wife of William at Pawtuxet, RI, in 37th year, June 11, 1822."
(James N. Arnold's Vital Record of RI, Vol. 12, pp. 607/8)

From RI Cemetery Database:
REMINGTON MARTHA 1785c - 11 JUN 1822 WK001

Notes:

William & Pattey were married by Alexander Havens, Justice.

Notes:

A family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has the following information on Job:
Birth: 1 OCT 1794 in Cranston, RI
Death: 5 JUN 1876 in Athens, OH

In the Federal Census of 1850, Job & Anne are living at Athens, OH. Son Benjamin P. Randall, age 27 is with them; also a black woman named Betsy, 31; and Joseph 2 mulatto.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Job & Ann C. are still at Athens. There are three other individuals living with them; Ann Eliza Stewart 40 (may be Betsy above), Joseph 12 (may be Joseph above), and Kingsly Sunderland 16. Next door is Benjamin P. Randall, his wife Ann, and their two children.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Job is a widower, still living at Athens. His son Benjamin, wife and five children, are with him, along with three other individuals, two of whom are probably Ann Eliza (Sweet, Stewart?) and Joseph as above.

Job married Ann Celia Greene Abt 1815. Ann was born Abt 1795, RI; died Aft 1 Jun 1860, Athens, OH. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name of Ann Celia Greene as wife of Job was obtained from a family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect. I have not yet verified this. However, in the censuses she is Ann C. Randall. Also, both of her children named a daughter Ann C. or Anne Celia.

Could she be this individual?
Cecelia Ann Celia Greene was born on 18 Mar 1789 in Cranston, Providence, RI, d/o John Coddington Greene and Anna Chapman
(source: http://www.comnett.net/~benjamin/geneology/pafg11.htm#688)

Elsewhere her dob is given as 17 June 1798 (no documentation noted).