Dickson DOWNING [510]

  General Notes:

London Marriage Bonds and Allegations.
Page 322.
20th March 1720.
On this day personally appeared Dickson Downing of the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex aged 21 years and upwards and a bachelor and alleged that he intended to marry with Bridget Baldwin of the parish of St Martins in the Fields in the fields in the County of Middlesex aged 16 years and a spinster by and with the consent of Samuel Baldwin her father.
And that he knows of no lawful lett or just impediment by reason of any precontract or consanguinity affinity or otherwise to hinder the said intended marriage and of the truth hereof he made oath and prayed Licensed to be married in the parish church of St Martin in the Fields aforesaid.
Dickson Downing.

Jura P Coram
J V Phipps Jnr.

The same day appeared personally the said Samuel Baldwin and alleged that he was the natural and lawful father of the above named Bridget Baldwin and that he was consenting to the above intended marriage.
Samuel Baldwin

Jura P Coram
J V Phipps Jnr
Ref: London Marriage Bonds and Allegations.

Dickson was aged 44 at his death, a memorial ring to Dickson is recorded, page 18, IMG2808 in the Liveing Archive

Copy of a letter E H T Liveing to (possibly) his sister Harriet
21 Jan 1928
My dear Harry
Many thanks for your notes an particulars I will put in Richard Dixon as you suggest. I also have the fathers note re Richard Dickson of the Haberdashery Co and Denmark Street St Giles having had plague and recovering from it also that Dickson Downing lived in Denmark Street St Giles and died from effects of a fall in his own drawing room caused by catching his foot in the carpet.
I also remember our grandmother CML telling me both these stories when she showed me relics and letters in the cabinet drawers. I enclose a copy of 2 notes by Uncle George re Richard Dixon his wife and daughters. Mrs Sarah Dixon who died 20 October 1709 was evidently the wife of Richard Dixon and mother of Elizabeth Downing who died January 18, 1713. Her son Dickson Downing being then only 12 years old he inherited from his mother a considerable fortune (doubtless made by old Dixon in his clothing business) but being ill advised lent it out on some French . . . . . and before his death in 1745 he had lost most of it, it is evident from the letters of G Downing to his sister Bridget that she and her Mother were not too well off, and that Aunt Skrine widow of Richard Skrine (Dixon's half brother) wanted Bridget to come and live with her at Cobham (sic) this G.D. opposes and urges her to remain? with her mother and hopes to be able to provide for her on leaving college, subsequently her mother married again some man in the city, a match not approved by the family (according to Aunt Knottesford - G.D.L.) I do not know the man's name but only that she is buried at St Aldermanbury Church in the City. It is of course impossible to print particulars of people into the pedigree for want of space my intention is the pedigrees shall indicate who the people were and to add figures and separate notes about each person of whom I have relics or know facts regarding their lives.
The pedigree dated 1787 which I have shows the 3 children of Dickson Downing who died infants however I did not put them in the pedigree for want of space. The 1^st wife of Nathaniel Chambers (Sarah Boucher) by whom he had one child who died an infant is also omitted for the same reason.
With regard to the Chamberlains they certainly came from Westmorland possibly from Kendal, the father was a yeoman farmer and the 3 sons were doubtless educated at Kendal Grammar School. Zachary and Nathanial both became Attorneys in London and Ephraim the youngest was apprenticed to (Sennex) a globemaker (some type of instrument maker of today). There is an interesting account of him in the Penny Encyclopedia according to G.D.L. he of course compiled the 1^st encyclopaedia 3 large volumes and back? in 1728 an immense labour for one man to have accomplished, he died at the early age of 44 and is buried in the cloister of Westminster Abbey, in the tomb on the wall.
Nathanial was of Grays Inn but lived at Hackney which as the letter of his which I have dated 2 August 1750 speaks of peaches and nectarines in his garden was then a country place he died there 9 Dec 1755 aged 66 (mem Ring number 7) his burial there is recorded in the Hackney register. Zachary lived at Wesch...?
(Vide G.D.L. letter to sister. Died December 1773).
Further pages missing.

Will of Dickson Downing.
6th Jan 1742
In the Name of God Amen I Dickson Downing of the parish of St Giles in the Fields in the County of Middlesex Esq being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding though of ill state of health and considering the uncertainty of life do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say First I do direct all of my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid and satisfied and after payment thereof and subject thereto I do give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate whatsoever and wheresoever real and personal unto my dear wife Bridget Downing her heirs and assigns for ever not doubting of her maternal care of my two dear children George and Bridget Downing and I do make constitute and appoint my said dear wife sole executrix of this my Will which I do declare to be my last and I do revoke all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale this sixth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Two.
Dickson Downing.
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other.
Samuel Baldwin John Baldwin John Faulkner.

This Will was proved at London before the worshipful Henry Edmunds Dr of Laws surrogates of the Knights worshipful John Bottesworth also Dr of Laws Master keeper or commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted this first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty five by the oath of Bridget Downing widow the relict of the deceased and sole executrix named in the said Will of the said deceased to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased being first sworn duly to administer.
Ref: Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills PROB 11/741

  Research Notes:

Image: Liveing Family Archive 2005

  Other Records

1. Dickson Downing: Money Purse ?, 1729, Constantinople Turkiye.
Did Dickson buy this souvenir in Constantinople ?

Dickson married Bridget BALDWIN [511] [MRIN: 146], daughter of Samuel BALDWIN of St Martins in the Fields [9993] and Jane CROSS [9994], on 21 Mar 1721/22 in St Mary at Lambeth LND. (Bridget BALDWIN [511] was born on 23 Jun 1705 in London, baptised on 28 Jun 1705 in St Martin in the Fields LND MDX and was buried in St Aldermanbury London.)