downings of kilberry downing

[dukewm]

Thanks Aghadowey,

I think that settles it.  Catherine McCann was NOT Catherine Downing, but more importantly, for me, I did not have the maiden name (McErlain) of Terresa previously, so I get to fill in a blank there and learn of an older sister of Henry Downing of Drumard, b. 1897

[dukewm]

Just to be clear, my previous suggestion was that Catherine DOWNEY/Downing, who married Daniel McCann in 1885, may have been a sister of Henry DOWNING of Drumard, referred to Henry who married Terresa McErlain, not his son , Henry, b. 1897.
Aghadowey's last link shows the baptism of Catherine DOWNING, dau. of Henry & Terresa, bp. 1891, who obviously was not alive when Catherine DOWNEY married McCann.
I'm assuming Cathering DOWNEY, dau of Daniel DOWNEY of Leitrim, was Leitrim Townland in the Parish of Ballyscullion, Co. Londonderry, which borders the Townland of Killyberry Downing, just east of Castledawson.,

This also represents evidence that there MAY have been an earlier DOWNING who changed the spelling to DOWNEY, Daniel.  Presumably Catherine, b. 1866 (?) may have been referred to as a DOWNEY, or DOWNING, if her father changed the spelling AFTER she was baptized (a DOWNING).
Nevertheless, we KNOW Henry DOWNEY, b. c.1858, husband of Terresa, changed the spelling from DOWNING to DOWNEY after the 1901 census.

And could there be a connection between Henry and Daniel ?
Henry, b. c.1858, had a son, Henry, b. 1897, and a grandson, Henry, B. c.1928
It's also interesting that Leitrim is adjacent to Killybery Downing, where there was a John Downing and a James Downing (see earlier comments on this thread along with 1831 & 1901 census), perhaps descendants of John Downing of Rowesgift.

[dukewm]

uburu;

in your Reply # 3 you say you think the father of James (1839, or 1835 ?) may have been named 'John'
Looking at the 1831 Census, I might suggest his father was also named JAMES, not 'John'.
see Bill Macafees 1831 Census at:
http://www.billmacafee.com/1831census/1831derrycensusnames.pdf

Rec. No. 17745 - Jas. Downing of Killyberry, lived in House # 1 with 3 males + 3 females, and was Roman Catholic.
This most likely indicates he was married with 4 children (2 sons and 2 daughters), and your James, who married Bridget Henry, was not yet born.
It also suggests 'Jas', being married with 4 children by 1831, was likely born about 1800, give or take a few years.
And THAT 'Jas', could have been a son of John, or James, who would have been born sometime in the period 1760-1775, sons of Capt. John  Downing, b. c.1740.
With all the 'Johns' and 'James' in this line, plus the name DAWSON Patrick, I believe these are the same Downings as "Capt. John", whose brother was Dawson Downing, b. 1739.

If you call up the 1951 Census, the statistics indicate Killyberry Downing consisted of 135 acres and the population was 10 males + 5 females, so you can see this is a VERY small area, and probably doesn't support more than a few families.
Another clue is that the 'Widow' Downing occupied House No. 9 in 1831, so it's possible Killyberry Downing contained at least 9 dwellings, although there was a separate (and adjacent) Killyberry Boyd, which was not distinguished in the 1831 Census, but WAS distinguished in the 1901 Census.

That's speculative, but at least it gives you some leads that need to be followed for verification.

[dukewm]

Diving deeper into this subject and after further research, it has become clear that "Killyberry" was ONE Townland prior to 1831, as evidenced by Bill Macafees 1831 Census (see)
http://www.billmacafee.com/1831census.htm

If you download the Excel version, you can scroll down to Loughinsholin/Ballyscullion and see that there were 50 households in Killyberry, but there are no other Townlands by that name.

By the 1901 Census, there were 2 Downing households in "Killyberry Downing" and another Downing household in "Killyberry Boyd".
It is understood that when James Downing died in 1889, he was described as "of Killyberry Downing"
If we look at a map of the Townlands of Ballyscullion (see),
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/ballyscullion/

we can see there are THREE Townlands containing the name "Killyberry", specifically, Killyberry Boyd (the north division), Killyberry (the central division), and Killyberry Downing (the south division).
So the obvious conclusion is that "Killyberry" was subdivided sometime between 1831 and 1901, probably before 1889.

[dukewm]

As for Jamey Hanley's original question;
I've been trying to put together some puzzle pieces on his 'James' Downing of Killyberry Downing, b. 1835, and as I've mentioned in this thread, there are numerous clues that he was descended from John Downing of Rowesgift.
There are gaps that need to be filled in with unverified generations, and it's not ethical for any genealogist to build trees based on pure speculation, or uncorroborated evidence, BUT, I often wear my "detective hat" and "put names on a wall with strings attached", just to see how they MIGHT be connected.

Jamey believes that his great grandfather's name was 'John' and that he was born about 1805.
We know from the 1828 Tithe Applotment Books that there was a 'James' Downing, a 'John' Downing, and a 'Widow' Downing, all of Killyberry.  We also know from the 1831 Census that there was a 'James' Downing, and a 'Widow' Downing of Killyberry (but no 'John').
We know that John Downing of Rowesgift was assigned rights to 91 acres of farmland at Killyberry by Deed, dated 1 Apr 1734, from his mother-in-law, Anne Rowe of Ballydermot
(see Transcripts of Memorials of Deeds, Conveyances & Wills, 1733-1736, Ireland, Vol 77 ; p. 228 ; Film No. 8088379 ; img 134-135 ; Mem. No. 53470 - Microfilmed at the Registry of Deeds, Dublin)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN1-X3XC-H?i=133&cat=185720
(btw): Rowesgift lies in the Townland of Ballydermot and Killyberry adjoins the northern part of Ballydermot, literally across the street)
Jamey tells us that Edward Downing, son of James (b.1835), was farming 1/3 of the family farm, which he described as "30 acres" (Reply #12 in this thread).
We know that John Downing of Rowesgift had three surviving sons, two of whom held rights to the Rowesgift manor house at various times; Dawson Downing and Capt. John Downing. 
We know that none of the descendants of Dawson fit the names and dates to make him an ancestor of 'James' Downing of Killyberry Downing.
We know that Capt. John Downing (b. c.1740) had two sons, 'John' and 'James'.  We don't have birth years for them but it's likely they were born between 1765-1775.  By 1828, they could certainly have been still living, as could the wife of Capt. John, particularly if she was significantly younger than Capt. John.
   
Now for some speculation:
1. If 'John' Downing, father of James of Killyberry Downing, (b. 1835) was indeed born in 1805, it's quite possible he was not yet a head of house in 1828 or 1831.
2. Could 'James', 'John', and 'Widow' Downing of Killyberry, have been the two sons of Capt. John and their mother ?  answ: absolutely
3. Could 'James' and 'Widow' Downing of Killyberry have been the same two individuals, with 'John' either moving away, or having died ?   answ: absolutely
4. Capt. John could certainly have left the 91 acre farm, or part of it, to his sons, John and James.

So, with 'John' (b. c.1765-1775), son of Capt. John, having evidently "flown the nest", I would SPECULATE that James Downing of Killyberry Downing (b. 1835), was the son of 'John' Downing of Killyberry (b. 1805), the grandson of 'James' Downing of Killyberry (b. c.1765-1775), the great grandson of Capt. John Downing (b. c.1740), and the great great grandson of John Downing of Rowesgift (b. 1700).

Makes perfect sense to me, although I wouldn't etch it in granite.  All we need is confirmation.