Generation 1

GEORGE DOWNING 1 (d. 1561/4) of Beccles, co. Suffolk

Parents: Unknown

George Goode died between 15 Dec 1561, when he signed his will, and 26 Jun 1564, when it was proved. [Ref] He married Cecily Unknown.

In his will, he mentions his wife Cecily and his second and third sons, John and George. They were to go to grammer school and the University of Cambridge. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Goode and (possibly) Cecily Unknown:

1. Unknown eldest son
2. George Downing 2 married Unknown Bellamy.
3. John Downing

Generation 2

GEORGE DOWNING 2 (d. aft. 1611) of Ipswich, co. Suffolk

Parents: George Downing 1 and (possibly) Cecily Unknown

George Downing died after 17 Jan 1610/11, when he signed his will. [Ref] He married Miss Bellamy. [Ref] She must have died before 1610/11, as she is not mentioned in her husband's will. [Ref]

He received his bachelors degree from Cambridge in 1573/4 and his masters degree in 1577. [Ref] He was master of the grammer school in Ipswich, co. Suffolk, in 1589 - 1610. [Ref]

Children of George Dowing and Miss Bellamy:

1. Emanuel Downing was baptised on 12 Aug 1585 in St. Lawrence, Ipswich. [Ref] He died about 1656/60, while on business in England or Scotland. [Ref] He married first Anne, the daughter of Sir James Ware of Dublin. [Ref] He married second Lucy, the younger sister of Gov. John Winthrop. [Ref]
   Emanuel came to New England on the Thomas and Frances, arriving by 1638. [Ref] Emanuel and Lucy were the parents of the famous Sir George Downing, after whom Downing Street in London is names. [Ref]
2. Nathaniel Downing was baptised on 8 Oct 1587 in St. Lawrence, Ipswich. [Ref] Nathaniel Downing, gentleman of London, died after 7 May 1616, when he signed his will. [Ref]
3. Susanne Downing married Francis Kerby, a "skinner" and merchant of London. [Ref]
4. Nahomie Downing probably married Richard Hill of London. [Ref]
   
5. Abigail Downing was born about 1618/22. She married John Goode.
6. Joseph Downing [Ref]

Generation 3

JOHN GOODE

Parents: Unknown

John Goode married Abigail Downing between 1618 and 1622. [Ref]

John was a "skinner": a dealer in hides, furs and leather. [Ref]

ABIGAIL DOWNING

Parents: George Downing 2 and Unknown Bellamy

Children of John Goode and Abigail Downing:

1. John Goode was born by 1615/16. [Ref] He is mentioned in the 7 May 1616 will of his mother's brother Nathaniel. [Ref]
2. Thomas Goode was born about 1620. He came to New England at age 15 on the Abigail as a servant of John Winthrop in 1635. [Ref]
3. Abigail Goode was born about 1618/22. She died between 5 Jan and 22 Mar 1665/6. She married Robert Moulton 2.

Generation 4

ABIGAIL GOODE (abt 1618/22 - 1656)

Parents: John Goode and Abigail Downing

Abigail Downing was born about 1618/22. [Ref] She died between 5 Jan and 22 Mar 1665/6. [Ref] She married Robert Moulton 2 about or soon after Feb 1640/1. Robert Moulton 2

Abigail went to New England by 1640, to live in her uncle Emanuel's household. [Ref] Her aunt Lucy wrote to her sister in law, the wife of Gov. John Winthrop, in early 1640/1:

I thank you for the mayde. I have good hopes for her. My cozen [niece] NAB and she were fellow trauillers in the ship from Eng: NAB gives her the the report of a good carigd there: ... My mayde ABYGALL is suddaynlie to be mared to ROBERT MOULTON of this town: and I hope it may proue a blessing of comfort to her, for the parents and sonne [Moulton] are people of a religious peacable life and prouident in their estates. [Ref]

Her uncle Emanuel wrote to Governor Winthrop on 20 Jan 1640/1:

I have provided a verie good match for my neice NAB GOADE; he is old Moulton his only sonne, a member of our church, of 4 or 500 li [pounds] estate. [Ref][Ref]

References

Encyclopedias

Great Migration Project: http://www.greatmigration.org/, entries for Robert Moulton.

Family Genealogies

Ferris, Mary Walton, Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines: A memorial volume containing the American ancestry of Rufus R. Dawes, Milwaukee, Cuneo Press, 1931-1943.