David Downing

Note from leroy Gannon tree: Born about the year 1725, Cork County, Ir CONC eland, David was the only chil d of John Downing and Marguerite O'Donn CONC ell. Just after his birth, his father, John, died as a result of a hor CONC se accident. Months later, Marguerite, his mother died leaving David t CONC o be raised by his maternal grandparents, the O'Donnells. David's fath CONC er, before his untimely death, along with David's paternal Uncle David CONC , owned and operated a sugar plantation on Martinique Island . John, D CONC avid's father, was the salesman for this venture. David, upon reachin CONC g legal age, uprooted for the island of Martinique. His stay on the Is CONC land was brief, and upon his departure, he received an amountof cas CONC h from his uncle. David's planned return to Ireland was to be via Engl CONC and by way of a British merchant ship. During these years, being tha CONC t England and Franc e were at war, it was somewhat risky to travel th CONC e high seas. As faith would have it, their boat was captured. David fo CONC und himself caught up i n a war which was actually none of his concern CONC ; but never the less, he wa s in a French jail (a prisoner of war). I CONC n 1745 the end of the war, bothcounties began prisoner exchanges. Da CONC v id was eventually included in an exchange of prisoners of war; but n CONC ot before having to pledge a term (7 years) of duty to the British Arm CONC y. This tour of duty eventually brought him to St. John's, Newfoundlan CONC d. The year 1752, found David reaching Port LaJoie PEI by way of a Fre CONC nch merchant vessel which was traveling the Maritime coast. For the ne CONC xt fe w years, he worked for a Doctor George Berduleau. July 15, 1754 CONC , David ag e 29, married Dorothee Boudrot of Port LaJoie PEI. Their fi CONC rst three children were born on Prince Edward Island (CANADA)".