MAJOR JOHN B. DOWNING

Born About 1710-1720 in England

migrated to the United States Colonies

located in Georgia and

Died in Northumberland County, Virginia

on October 14, 1793.

According to the book by Emmett Starr "the History of the Cherokee" Major John B. Downing was said to have been an Officer in the British Army, who supervised the manufacturer of gun powder for the British troops. Major Downing was one of the white settlers who lived amongst the Cherokee Indians in the 1700's. He was said to have married Hanna (Cherokee) Fawling who was born about 1720 in the Cherokee Nation (East) and she died after 1755. She was the daughter of Redman Fawling and Annie Beehunter. Hanna Fawling was a full-blooded Cherokee and was a member of the Wolf Clan (N Fawling).

Major John B. Downing was the son of then Major John Downing who resided in England, and was born in 1667 and died Feburary, 1717/1718 and Elizabeth Downing born about 1669 in England._______

Major Downing lived many dangerous adventures while living amongst the Indians. For example in 1752 the Creek Indians attacked the lower Cherokees and plundered three packhorsemen at the Keowee Village, and those were James Welch, Major John Downing and William Bailus. By 1753 many mixed settlers White and Indian came down from the Cherokee Nation to live at Fort 96 and among them was Major John Downing and family. On any Cherokee list, East or West, you are likely to find names like Welch, Murphy, Downing and Bushyhead names or decendents close together. Major John Downing partnered with James Welch when they worked for James Beamer in the Lower Towns of the Cherokee Nation. Also, the Downing name was closely related to the infamous Vanns of his day, by intermarriage. And the Crittenden, McCarter, Johnson name descended down from the Downey name. In addition to these things, Major John Downing was the great-great-grandfather of "Principal Chief of the Cherokee's" Lewis Downing.

Also in 1760 Major Downing and Benard Hughes fled some unfriendly Cherokees and stayed at John Vann's house on the Board River in Georgia . These were the types of events that formed family ties that endured and are still written about.

There are other events that are written about Major John B. Downing but finally, again written by Emmett Starr, "Major John B. Downing was captured by the attacking Cherokee's who were not friendly to the British Army at or near Fort 96 in South Carolina, he was tortured, mutilated, and finally burned at the stake. His body was completely destroyed by the fire and no burial was recorded. There is a gravestone placed in the area as shown above where it is believed he was tortured and died.

Major John B. Downings and Hanna Fawlings children were:

1. George Downing B: about 1739 in Georgia Wolf Clan

(H Fawling)

2. William Downing B: about 1736.

3. Nancy "Nannie" Downing B: January 20, 1744

in the Cherokee Nation (East)

Georgia.

D: December 15, 1815

Married Joshau Pettit, 1760;

Married Charles Crittenden, 1769

Married Alexander McSwain 1779

4. Richard Downing B: about 1750 and lived in North

Carolina.

5. Charles Downing B: July 4, 1738.

6. Elizabeth Downing B: April 19, 1740 ) Twins

7. Hanna Downing B: April 19, 1740 ) "

8. Edward Downing B: April 22, 1750

9: Sarah Downing B: February 18, 1753

10: John B. Downing IV B: about 1754 in Cherokee Nation

East. He was the father of Samuel

Downing who in turn was the father

of Lewis Downing who became the

Principal Chief of the Cherokee.