am i scottish downie

[lila]

hi i have traced my family back to william downie born 1785 in newbiggin by the sea northumberland died 1866 north shields and dont know how to get back any further or even if i could i know a lot of the downie familys were either scottish or irish and altho its a long shot i was wondering if anyone has come across this fellow in their research he married mary ann cross born 1793 who died aged 90 in 1883 in scotland any little slither of info would be a great help      thanks for looking lila

[WILLIAM 1]

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/VG/
you can look for a contact us and send them an e.mail with the stuff you have for that area and they will send you an e.mail back. i do that all the time. i had someone born in dundee so i looked for the town hall and sent them an e.mail and i get e.mails back all the time with the stuff that i want. there are downie in renfrew in scotland i went to school with some

[lila]

william what exactly am i looking for on this link? lila

[PrueM]

Hi Lila 
Welcome to Rootschat!

What information do you have about William's birth?  I.e. the date, and who his parents were?  And where did you get the info?

That will give us some clues of where to start looking.  I've found a William DOWNEY christened 10 Oct 1785 in Belford, Northumberland - father Peter DOWNEY.  Is that him?

Prue

[lila]

hi prue most of my info has come from my cousin who has been doing this for quite a while and now i am hooked to she sent me copies of death birth certs etc i have williams death cert and now and found his grave stone in north shields which said he was a shipowner .my cousin wrote to me and said she is looking at holy island because she thought williams father was called john and could have been born on the island but has not found proof yet     however i believe belford is near holy island so it could be him i just feel it in my bones that we originate from scotland as that is where most the downies are from  and i know that i have with my cousins help got quite far back in our line trouble is i just want more  i think i must be very nosy!!!!!!!! thanks for helpingme tho and for your time   lila

[PrueM]

Do you know whether William was married, and do you have his marriage cert?  That will have his father's name on it.
Prue

[lila]

 hi got no cert and i dont know how she foundthis out but married mary ann cross daughter of alexander cross newcastle upon tyne mary born 1793 dies 1883 aged 90 they had 9 children among them another william born 1816 this one being my gggg grandfather   lila

[lila]

prue  i cant grumble really i have done quite well and only been looking 6 months and found loads of info but its just so addictive and cant stop looking for them wonder if its just me     lila

[lila]

oh prue forgot to tell you family legend has it that we are related to coats cotton from scotland dont know if thats true tho have 2 peter coats downies as great grandfather and gg grandfather