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Regarding tracing Downie:
I am a descendant of Peter Downie born about 1795 and Agnes Goodfellow. Peter was a Professor of Religion [sp?] in Edinburgh. Their daughter, Ann Hunter Downie born 5 MAR 1831 in Greenlaw married Charles Watson born 16 MAY 1828 in Greenlaw.
Peter Watson born ABT 1818, brother of Charles, married Ellen McCubbin. My branch of Peter Watson born 1846, son of Charles, married Jessie Stonehouse and they went to Gray County, ON, Canada.

I have lots of information and I am willing to share it. William b. 1754 served under Thomas Ward, John Byard and Captain David Babcock. William received two land grants of two-hundred acres each for his military service, Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel Babcock, a Loyalist, and Rachel, also a Loyalist. My line is through Thaddeus b. 1793 m. Elizabeth Milligan; Timothy R. b. 1826 m. (1) Experience Holmes; Hugh T. b. 1848 m. Sarah Muir; Martha Lewis b. 1882 m. William Watson.
I have been very interested in the Babcock line and I have information available through relatives on Rootsweb. Please send me a personal message with any questions you have and I'll try to answer.

My first cousin successfully  completed the UEL application for our ancestors a few years ago. They settled in Lennox and Addington Co., ON in 1783 and I have Kelly relatives in that region that I will look at, to see if I can add to what you have. There is a lot of information that could be easily searched if it is known what the religion was and the occupation can sometimes be a help. Any other know family surnames closely related to Jr., born 1834, could help narrow the search field. Knowing Arthur Jr.'s birth date can usually allow a search of the Social security information to find the date and place of death, making obituary newspaper records easy to find, possibly leading to cemetery information and the name of his parents. In the roughly fifty-three years before Arthur left Canada there may well have been children born and details could pinpoint the location of library and newspaper records.

In addition to the PM I sent 21 Nov, Samuel PERRY, superior officer, led a group of about twenty Loyalists and changed location by Jul 7 1777. Samuel PERRY was from Palmertown, previously  in Albany Co. and later in Saratoga Co., NY. The group included James SEE and Philip SNYDER. When the Loyalists left Saratoga for British North America their possible destination was a blockhouse on the south shore of Lac St Pierre near Riviere Du Chene and near Sorel, PQ. The journey took seventeen days and covered two hundred miles, arriving 3 Nov [year not given clearly but may be deduced from other facts, possibly 1778]. The family bible of Dorcas WATCHMAN says she was born 7 Sep 1779. Dorcas WATCHMAN, spinster, m. 6 Jul 1795 at St Peter's Church, Ernestown, ON to Joseph PETERS, bachelor. William WATCHMAN, son of Joseph and Dorcas, d. Centerville, Camden Twp., Lennox & Addington Co., ON, children b. Moscow, Camden Twp. Hannah GORDANIER, daughter of Jacob UE m. Peter MATHIS. Some GORDANIER descendants use the surname GARDNER. The term, "spinster" would be a polite reference that someone was not a widow, married or divorced.

@DORAN54,
Thank you. The family of suspected ancestors was active in Sailing and some died at sea. Most families were related to the one that went to RI, USA and descend from James Babcock b. 1612. 1680 to 1730 saw descendants go to NJ, NY, MA, CT. Joseph was used interchangeably with Josiah and some early records are known to be wrong. It was not unusual for some family members to return to England for months. Often cousins of established families recruited other relatives. Merrough is news and I will check out Robert b. 1610.
Regards.