My 5 generations ago ancestor William Downey was born in Crediton. He was an engraver, but I can only find his marriage in 1802 and a legal Marriage Obligation in 1821, which have him as an engraver. I am unsure of his birth and death dates, but likely to be 1780 and 1850 respectively. He worked in London as an engraver with a Thomas Merrifield, who was also from Crediton, and on his own. I would be interested to receive any information on William Downey. Thank you.
Re: Downey Engravers
Posted by Sally Topliss on 28/7/2023, 10:19 am, in reply to "Downey Engravers"
There is a bapt. of a William Downe(sic) 1773 Crediton, son of William and Sarah Downe (sic). Wife Mary Frances Bedford bapt. 1771 Crediton. Mary buried 1831 Islington, London aged 58, but cannot find a definitive burial for William which assume would be in London rather than Crediton. There is a tree on Ancestry that has the death date as 1850, but cannot find this on the GRO index. Also on this tree, they have a William bapt 1794 marrying Mary Frances Bedford in 1802. Have checked this baptism and this William was born in 1791 so could not possibly have married in 1802. Sally
Re: Downey Engravers
Posted by Richard Downey on 28/7/2023, 5:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Downey Engravers"
Thank you for this. I will need to check my records & will come back to you. The William Downey I am trying to find was an Engraver and the 1802 Marriage certificate has him as such. Also a Marriage Bond of 1821 again describes him as such.
In my tree on Ancestry I have WD as 1780-1850, but originally had 1791 as birth which made him 11 at his wedding - same conclusion as you. I do not think 1780-1850 are correct either.
WD had a son, William Henry Downey, who was an engraver also. In 1802 WD was an engraver from the Crediton parish as per the Marriage certificate and then in London from 1805 trading as Merrifield & Downey. The Merrifield here was a Thomas Merrifield also from Crediton, who died in about 1804, but Charlotte Merrifield, his wife, per the London Gazette took over. It is possible that WD worked for Merrifield before 1802 either in Crediton or London.
All my ancestors on the paternal side were engravers going back 5 generations. I am almost embarrassed as I cannot draw and ended up as an accountant! My great aunt said that the family originated in Northern Ireland, but so far I have found no evidence.
Does the DFHS have all these BDM records in Crediton?
