Notes:

According to her descendant, Graham Tithecott, Henrietta was born out of wedlock in the Bideford Union Workhouse. She became known as Hetty, but as an an adult, she felt that her middle name should be Fortescue, because of the presence of the prominent Fortescue family in her family history. As a child, she lived with her mother Mary Ann Downing, and her stepfather John Cole at Castle Cottage in Abbotsham.

Graham Tithecott knew Henrietta when he was young. He believes she was in service in Kenwith Castle, in Abbotsham Parish.

Henrietta had two children born out of wedlock in the Union Workhouse in Bideford, before she married reuben Tithecott. Reuben and Henrietta had five children, of whom the youngest was Vernon William Reuben Tithecott.

Family/Spouse: UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles William DOWNING was born on 15 Jan 1899; died on 8 Mar 1916 in Mesopotania.
2. William Edward DOWNING was born in 1904 in Bideford, Devon, England; died on 28 Nov 1968.

Henrietta married Reuben TITHECOTT on 10 Nov 1907 in Bideford, Devon, England. Reuben was born on 5 Nov 1854; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Vernon William Reuben TITHECOTT was born on 13 May 1915 in Northam, Devon, England; died on 29 Nov 1964 in Bideford, Devon, England.

married Mary Ann DOWNING. Mary (daughter of James ACKLAND and Eliza DOWNING) was born on 25 Jul 1855 in Buckland Brewer, Devon, England; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to her descendant, Graham Tithecott, Mary Ann was born out of wedlock, and was raised by her father's parents, William and Mary Ackland in Parkham Parish, Devon. She was listed as their granddaughter in the 1861 census, and as a "visitor" in their home in the 1871 census. Mary Ann's marriage certificate to John Cole confirmed James Ackland as her father.

James married Eliza DOWNING. Eliza (daughter of James Fortescue DOWNING and Elizabeth ASHTON) was born on 29 Sep 1839 in Parkham, Devon, England; died on 7 Apr 1895 in Paddington, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Most of the information about Eliza and her descendants comes from Graham Tithecott.

Eliza was born on Goldworthy Farm In Parkham Parish, Devon. She was baptized in St. James Church, Parkham on 27 Oct 1839. She was listed in the 1861 census in London, in service with a Dalgety family in Paddington. Her descendant Graham Tithecott believes that Mr. Dalgety was a friend of the Downing family.

The head of the Dalgety household was Frederick Gonnerman Dalgety. His wife was Blanche E.T. Dalgety. Their marriage was registered in 1855 in Kingsbridge, Devon. Quebec baptismal records show that Frederick had been born in Montreal, Lower Canada in December, 1817, the son of Alexander Dalgety, a lieutenant in H.M 89th Regiment, and Eliza Doidge. Witnesses to his baptism included a Frederick Gonnerman.

Australian electoral and land transfer records show that Frederick Gonnerman Dalgety was a prosperous merchant in Port Philip (now Melbourne) and in Sydney in the 1840s and 1850s.

The 1861 Dalgety household in London, included aunts, cousins and a brother, as well as 11 servants, including Eliza Downing. Frederick's 1894 will showed that he left a huge estate.

Eliza Downing, while still a servant to the Dalgetys, married William Shelton, a grocer's assistant, in 1865 in Kensington, Middlesex County, England. The 1871 census showed them living, with two young daughters, in Paddington, London. Also in the household were Eliza's mother, Elizabeth Downing, and a servant, Mary Thompson. The 1891 census showed William and Eliza living in the Kensington District in London.

Eliza died of liver cancer and exhaustion on 7 April 1895. Her address at the time was 14 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London.

Notes:

In the baptismal records of the Parish of Parkham, James was listed as a yeoman, living with his wife Elizabeth, in Goldsworthy. The Parkham Parish baptismal registers show the children being born in Goldsworthy.

In 1841 census, James and his family were living at West Goldsworthy Farm in Parkham, Devon. The 1842 tithe map of Parkham shows James leasing Goldworthy Barton, Bartons Goldworthy and Hunger Road farms from Rev. John Thomas Pine Coffin. James and his family lived and farmed on part of Goldworthy Barton, and sub-leased the rest of it and the other properties to tenant farmers. In the 1851 census his acreage was 150. In the 1861 census he was living at Thortridge in Buckland Brewer, Devonshire. His wife was on the neighbouring property with their son and a very large family. [Colleen Evans [[email protected]], Downing family tree.]

James married Elizabeth ASHTON about 1822 in Parkham, Devonshire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of John ASHTON and Sarah CLEMENTS) was born about 1802 in Parkham, Devonshire, England; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to Graham Tithecott, Elizabeth was baptized at St. James Church, Parkham, on 18 Nov., 1802. Her first name was shown as Betty.

The 1871 census showed Elizabeth living with her daughter Eliza and son-in-law William Shelton in London.