For over 20 years, I have been searching for for baptism of my gggg-grandfather, William DOWN(E).

He was born c 1787, and died on 11th September 1841 in East Worlington. The informant named on the death cert was ANCILLA HODGE. According to the 1841 census, he was born in Devon.

In 1795, a William DOWNE was apprenticed aged 8 in the area. The document is too fragile to be viewed but the Record Office have assured me that no parents names are given.

William married JANE HODGE in 1806 in West Worlington.

I took an Ancestry DNA test last year and this has recently shown up a distant match. The matched person is descended from JOHN DOWN b c1792 in that area to JOHN DOWN (b c1750) and JOAN (nee WINDSOR).

I have long thought that William could be their son, but have not traced a baptism for him.

If one goes back a generation, the parents of JOHN DOWN b c1750 are WILLIAM DOWN and GRACE (nee WARREN), married in 1745.

They also have a son c1746 called WILLIAM.

I cannot find a marriage or burial for him in the area.

What has niggled me for years is a WILLIAM DOWN appears in Newton St Cyres, marries MARY DOWNING (in 1771), by whom he has 3 daughters.

After Mary's death, he marries SARAH ELSON, by whom he has 3 sons and a daughter.

The eldest son of the 2nd marriage is WILLIAM, baptised in 1786 (which is the right age for my William).

The father is buried in 1800. Although no age is recorded in the burial register, I am fairly sure it's him, rather than his son, as there are entries in the parish records for Mrs Down's children, being given money for clothes etc.

I can find no trace of any of the 7 DOWN children of Newton St Cyres in the marriage or burial registers, other than the daughter Grace, who is buried in 1815.

So where did they go?

I am pretty sure I am descended from William DOWN and GRACE WARREN, but via which of their sons, WILLIAM b c 1746 or JOHN b c1750?

I hope this makes sense, but am happy to clarify any of the points made above.