William Downing (Senior) was born in 1782 in North Carolina.² He was the son of (?) Downing. William married Rhoda Short, daughter of Obediah Short and Mary Jackson, on 9 August 1808 in Saint Clair County, Illinois.³ William and Rhoda had at least eight children. These children are John Vandalia, James, Carter T., Obediah, Esther H., Mary, Joel and William T..² William became an original owner of 320 acres in Mills Township, Bond County, Illinois. It was described as the S2 of section 14. He was from Madison.⁴ William became an original owner of 160 acres in Mills Township. It was described at the NW quarter of section 23. He was from Madison.⁵ William filed his stock mark and brand with the Bond County Courthouse on 15 January 1818. The marks on the right and left ear were described as "under slosse" and his brand was WD.⁶ William appears to have been active in his community. He brought a petition to have a road built to the county commissioners and he was appointed several years to serve as a judge during elections.⁷ William became an original owner of 80 acres in Mills Township. It was described as the W2NE quarter of section 23. He was from Bond.⁸ Either William or his father (also William) purchased 80 acres of land from the Edwardsville land office on 15 October 1835. It was for Section W 1/2 Northeast, in township 4 North, Range 3 west from the 3rd prime meridian in Bond County, Illinois.⁹ Either William or his father (also William) purchased 40 acres of land from the Edwardsville land office on 1 January 1840. It was for the Southeast Southeast corner in township 4 north and range 3 west from the 3rd prime meridian in Bond County, Illinois.¹⁰
          William was enumerated on the 1840 census for Polk County, Missouri as William Downing Sr., aged between 50 and 60. I have not been able to identify these people that were also enumerated with him: one male and one female between 10 and 15 years old; one male between 20 and 30 years old; and one female aged between 50 and 60 years old. William Downing Jr. and Joel Downing, suspected sons, were also listed on the same census page.¹ Follow the link to see the census image. William died in 1857 in Dade County, Missouri.²

Child of William Downing (Senior)

Joel Downing b. bt 1810 - 1820

Children of William Downing (Senior) and Rhoda Short

James Downing b. s 1811
Obediah Downing b. s 1813
William T. Downing (Junior)+ b. c 1815
John Vandalia Downing+ b. 23 Mar 1820, d. 1 Mar 1855
Esther H. Downing+ b. 18 Mar 1823, d. 29 Dec 1869
Mary Downing b. s 1826
Carter T. Downing+ b. 10 Apr 1830, d. 1898

Citations

1. [S944] William Downing Sr., 1840 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri, page 183, line #2; National Archives micropublication M704, roll 228, viewed on Ancestry.com 6 April 2004 (image 1 of 10). PDN: Downing-MO-0001.
2. [S1671] MMoloy, (< and e-mail address>), viewed 24 April 2005, entry for William Downing. PDN: Downing-IL-0029.
3. [S75] Rhoda Short & William Downing, State Wide Marriage Index (9 Aug 1808), St. Clair County, Illinois. Available online at <<http://www.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/archives/marriage>>. PDN: Downing-IL-0032.
4. [S1668] "Original Land Owners, Sec 23, Township 4N, Range 3W and Original Land Owners, Sec 14, Township 4N, Range 3W," Bond County Genealogy, online <http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilbond>, viewed 23 April 2005; citing Vol 318, page 188. PDN: Downing-IL-0007 & 0016.
5. [S1668] Bond County Rootsweb List , "Original Land Owners, Sec 23, Township 4N, Range 3W"; citing Vol 318, page 188. PDN: Downing-IL-0007.
6. [S1668] Bond County Rootsweb List , "Early Courthouse Records, ledger page 41"; citing Marilyn Glenn Szum, transcriber. PDN: Downing-IL-0031.
7. [S1668] Bond County Rootsweb List , "Early Court Records."
8. [S1668] Bond County Rootsweb List , "Original Land Owners, Sec 23, Township 4N, Range 3W"; citing Citing Vol 343, page 166. PDN: Downing-IL-0007.
9. [S1658] William Downing, 15 Oct 1835, Land Patent Files (online) , 2004, Accession & Serial Number unknown number, (Bureau of Land Management: Washington, D.C.). This was a cash purchase. PDN: Downing-IL-0002 Hereinafter cited as: William Downing, land patent #8312.
10. [S1659] William Downing, 1 Jan 1840, Land Patent Files (online) , 2004, Accession & Serial Number unknown number, (Bureau of Land Management: Washington, D.C.). This was a cash purchase. PDN: Downing-IL-0003 Hereinafter cited as: William Downing, land patent #16129.