First found in Cheshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the oppurtunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Downer or a variant listed above: Joseph Downer, who settled in Newbury in 1662; Henry Downer, who settled in Virginia in 1654; Robert Downer, who arrived in Maryland in 1677; and then settled in Salisbury in N.Carolina.

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