Major Downing, Indian Trader

Disputed Origins

The John Downing in this profile CANNOT be the John Downing listed as born in Virginia and dying there in 1793 since the man in this profile is clearly documented as dying in 1760. The Virginia John Downing married Hannah Fallin in Northumberland, Virginia before 1752, had a number of children with her, and died in Virginia in 1793. [1] [2] (see also John Downing of Fairfields, Northumberland County, Virginia, and His Descendants @ https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915103?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents)

Biography

John Downing was born about 1710, possibly in England. He was a trader to the Cherokee, [3] in business at least by 1748. [4]

Emmet Starr lists him as the father of four children, George, John, William, and Nannie, with an unnamed Cherokee wife. [5] A newspaper article from 1760 references an unnamed son. [6]

He was killed in April, 1760, "tortured and mutilated" by the Cherokee, who were at war with the English at the time. [7]

David Corkran's "Cherokee Frontier," describes these events: In January, 1760, the Cherokee began to attack. Quoting Corkran: "Seroweh sent runners through the nation to proclaim the war. In the MIddle Settlements, Tuckaseigee Cherokees killed traders James Russell and James Crawford. The Nequassie Mankiller, however, intervened to save trader John Downing's life." (p. 192) Downing was not safe for long however. Following the disastrous massacre at Fort Prince George and a later attack on the white settlement at Ninety-six, in April, "scalping parties near Ninety-Six killed James Francis' son and captured Tuckasegee trader John Downing. The boy's scalp was vengeance on his father for the Justice's part in the 1751 disturbances. Downing they took to Estatoe, where they cut off his feet and burned him at the stake."[8]

John Downing in the Colonial Records of South Carolina “Indian Books” (records from 1750-1765) [9]

Letter from Brown, Rae, & Co. to William Pinckney, Esq. May 15 1751, “Yesterday John Downing arrived here from the Cherokees and brings us the agreeable News that not one white Man was killed…” Vol. II p. 59

List of Indian Traders, November 1751, Includes “Downing” Vol. II, p. 165

Deposition of John Elliott in Council Chambers May 25, 1752 “… on the 6th Instant he was in the Town of Cheowee in the Lower Cherokees from which the Indian People were all removed for Fear of the Creeks, and there then remained there James Welsh, and John Downing, and several other of the English Traders… and there heard the said Welsh, and Downing, in particular tell the circumstances of the Creek Indians plunder[in]g the House in Cheowee….” Vol. II p. 249

In August of 1754 a chief named Chuchecha of Tuckaseegee wrote to Governor Glen. He had been attacked by a white army deserter named John Burn and was dying. He asked the Governor to direct the local traders to arrest Burn and bring him to justice. He wrote “the names of the White Men that lives near to where he keeps is as follows: …. John Downing… (there were 26 white men listed) Vol. III, p. 74

In August/September 1756 Captain Demere wrote from Fort Price George to Governor Glen and to the local traders requesting assistance with the construction of Fort Loudoun. August 24, 1756 to Jas. May, Davd. McDaniel, Lewis Brannon, James Crawford, Jno. “Downen,” Jno..Butler, “… you are therefore required, without Delay, to proceed immediately here, with all the Horses you can possibly raise…. “ Vol. III, p. 181

Research Notes

According to Emmett Starr (apparently incorrectly), he was a Major in the British Army [10]

John Downing and Hanna Fawling are "gateway" individuals to the Shawnee Heritage Fraud

Descendants believe that John Downing established a conjugal relationship with Annie Beehunter [11] [12] in about 1744. Whether or not this was a traditional Cherokee Marriage or not is unknown. Marriage among the Cherokee at that time was often a more-or-less informal affair by European standards. Despite the similarity in names between Hannah Fallin and Hanna Fawling, there are numerous Cherokee Fawlings and Hanna was not an uncommon name. Beehunter, the name passed down in the family is also a legitimate Cherokee name, associated with the Downings. There is a Beehunter cemetery in Oklahoma where members of both families are buried.

Due to conflicting genealogies floating around on the internet, including what appear to be completely invented or unsubstantiated Cherokee lines (the existence and/or ancestors of Hannah Fawling, for instance), Major John Downing is controversial. Lela Bess Kite Patterson has in her possession the family bible passed down through Jennie Crittenden Wright and Rebecca Wright Bryan, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Annie Beehunter. This is about as close to an original source as is possible. According to family history and that of other Cherokees, Annie Beehunter was the mother of Nannie, John, William, and George Downing. Note from Duane Poncy: Please add comments or documentation to this Free-Space page (under construction) to explore this question: The Virginia Downings and the Cherokee Downings

Sources

1. ↑ Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003. p. 113. Digitized at Ancestry.com
2. ↑ Northumberland County, VA Record Book, 2, 1751-1753, pp. 122, 123; Lewis & Booker, Northumberland Co. Wills and Administrations, 1750-1770, p. 22 Will of CHARLES FALLIN; Written 23 January 1752, proved 8 June 1752 "Item I give to my Daughter Hannah [Fallin] Downing ..."
3. ↑ "List of Indian Traders", McDowell, William, Ed. Documents Relating to Indian Affairs, May 21st 1750- August 7, 1754. South Carolina Archives, 1755. Vol. I, p. 165. and other references to Downing as a trader
4. ↑ The South Carolina Gazette July 25, 1748 "...and Robert Scott, packhorseman to one “Downing”
5. ↑ Starr, Emmet. History of the Cherokee Indians. Oklahoma Yesterday Publications edition, Tulsa, OK. 1979. p. 467. Digitized edition at Starr
6. ↑ The South Carolina Gazette, July 5, 1760:
"That on the 15th, the time being expired for Tistowee's return, the army began to bag up flour and make other dispositions for proceeding further into the enemy's country, and the day was even fixed for marching: But towards evening came in, half-breed Tom of the Middle-Settlements and another half-breed (son of John Downing ) with a white flag, which put a stop to further proceedings. "
7. ↑ South Carolina Gazette, June 7, 1760
"LAST Saturday Night the Negro Abram, arrived in Town with the Dispatches he brought from Fort Londoun and Fort, prince-George. when he left the former Fort, the Garrison was very miserable, and their Provisions reduced to two Ounces of rotten Meat, and a pint of Corn per Day, at which Allowance they had nor more than would last them six Weeks; The Little-Carpenter has sent down a good Talk; and says his Countrymen will ask for Peace, but he believes will not be sincere; The Indians burn all their Men Prisoners; they had lately burnt Six at Conasatchee (the Sugar-Town ) amongst them john Downing, whose Arms and Legs they cut off, and otherwise tortured him; Such Actions being a Breach of the Truce agreed on between Mr. Mill and the Indians... "
8. ↑ Corkran, David H. The Cherokee Frontier 1740-1762. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 1962; pp. 192-193, 202-203.
9. ↑ McDowell, William, Ed. Documents Relating to Indian Affairs, May 21st 1750- August 7, 1754. South Carolina Archives
10. ↑ Starr, Emmet. History of the Cherokee Indians. p. 467.
11. ↑ Marjorie L. Kopacsi, 2013 PHD dissertation: "How Native American Women Perceive Their Unique Lived Experiences: Three Women Tell Their Story. Louisiana State University. Includes an interview with a descendant of Annie Beehunter and Nancy "Nannie" Downing. Digitized at Kopacsi
12. ↑ Margie Thompson Poncy Family History, a descendant of Annie Beehunter. In the possession of Duane Poncy

Source: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Downing-1042
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Downing.

11 Major Downing A11 ( A14. Major Downing, said to have been a Major in the British army married a full blood Cherokee woman of the Wolf clan. )
1112 George Downing.
2 John Downing. Jennie and Nannie.
3 William Downing.
4 Nannie Downing,

Source: Starr, Emmett. “History of the Cherokee Indians and Their Legends and Folklore.” Warden Company, 1922.
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JOHN (I) DOWNING, MAJOR was born Abt. 1720, and died Abt. 1762 in tortured, mutilated, and burned at the stake.
He married HANNA FAWLING.She was born Abt. 1730. (Unproven!)

• Occupation: Major in the British Army (unproven!)

More About HANNA FAWLING: (Curator Note: this marriage is probably NOT accurate)

• Blood: Full Blood Cherokee
• Clan: Ani'-Wa'ya = Wolf Clan (H Fawling)

Children of JOHN DOWNING and HANNA FAWLING are:
2. i. NANNIE (FAWLING)2 DOWNING, b. Abt. 1750.
3. ii. JOHN DOWNING II, b. Abt. 1754.

	iii.	 	WILLIAM DOWNING, b. Abt. 1756.

• Clan: Ani'-Wa'ya = Wolf Clan (H Fawling)

4. iv. GEORGE DOWNING, b. Abt. 1760.

(Curator Note: the children listed above do conform to Starr)

Source: Hicks, James R. “Cherokee Lineages: Descendants of John Downing, Major” Genealogy.com, Sites.Rootsweb.com, 2023, https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/i/c/James-R-Hicks-VA/BOOK-0001/0010...
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