HAYS, Mary Ann*

   Other names for Mary were DOWNING, Annie,²⁹⁰⁷ DOWNING, Mary A. ^{743,745,910,2906} and DOWNING, Mary Ann.²⁹¹¹

  Birth Notes:

Mary Ann was the only child of Peter and Penelope Hays. (from notes of Lenward Hair)

  Burial Notes:

She is buried at the home of Evan Downing, her son. (from notes of Lenward Hair)

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Alt. Birth, 1782. ²⁹¹¹

2. Alt. Birth, Cir 1782, North Carolina, United States. ⁷⁴³

3. Alt. Birth, Cir 1785, North Carolina, United States. ⁷⁴⁵

4. Residence: Garland, Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. Hay family lived at Garland, near Sloan's Bridge - South River. (from family sheet in posession of Lenward Hair). NC Gazatteer says Garland was originaly called Sloan's Crossing.

5. Census, 1820, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. George Downing's household includes one F 25-44 [wife Mary Ann] (Bladen Co, p144)

6. Appearance in Document, 4 Nov 1837, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. George Downing will mentions "my beloved wife Mary Ann Downing".

7. Property, Sep 1839, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. ⁷⁵⁴ John J Downing to Mary Ann Downing [his mother], all my right in estate of my father George Downing, deceased ... 148 acres. Witnessed by Valentine Downing (Bladen Co Deed Book 8, p19).

8. Census, 1840, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. Ann Downing listed as head of family. The family has one M 20-30 [either John J or George W], one F 15-20 [daughter Mary Ann], one F 50-60 [could be this Mary Ann], and one F 70-80 [probably Mary Ann's mother Penelope]. (Bladen Co, p209)

9. Appearance in Document, Oct 1843, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. Several members of Beaverdam Baptist Church are dismissed to found Briar Branch Baptist Church, both churches in Bladen County. The list of members that are dismissed includes Daniel L. Smith, Daniel Smith, Daniel Register, George W. Downing, William D. Smith, Sarah A. Smith, Mary A. Downing, Elizabeth Smith, Anna M. Tatum, Elsa McLemore, May J. Tatum, Mary Register, John Smith Sr., Evin Downing, John H. Tatum, William J. Cowan, John D. Smith, Mary Smith, Susan Smith, Martha Smith, Elizabeth A. Downing, Susan Smith Sr., James Smith, Theophlus Tatum, Wright McLemore, John Downing, James S. Beard, Milton J. Smith, Thomas B. Cowan, Mary Downing, Pen[n]y Hayes, Claressa Beard, Susan Smith, Zillpha Smith. (posted at Bladen Co Rootweb site)

10. Census, 19 Aug 1850, Cape Fear NE Side, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. ⁷⁴³
1) Mary A. Downing, age 68, $150 real estate, born NC, cannot read or write
2) Mary J. Downing, age 25, born NC
3) Penny Hayse, age 93, born NC, cannot read or write, blind pauper.

11. Census: Slave Schedule, 19 Aug 1850, Cape Fear NE Side, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. ⁹¹⁰ Mary A. Downing has 1 slave, a female black age 12.

12. Census, 19 Jul 1860, Elizabeth Town Post Office, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. ⁷⁴⁵
1) Mary A. Downing, age 75, born NC, cannot read or write
2) Mary J. Downing, age 29, domestic, $1005 personal estate, born NC.

13. Religion: Baptist. ²⁹¹¹ Member of Missionary Baptist Church for 41 yrs. ("Marriage and Death Notices", Wilmington Newspapers 1860-1865, p59, citing DJ Sat 2 Nov 1861 and WJ Thur 14 Nov 1861)

14. Alt. Death, 2 Nov 1861, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States. ²⁹⁰⁹ Died at her home, age 79 Yrs, 9 mos, 16 days. Death date from "Marriage and Death Notices", Wilmington Newspapers 1860-1865, p59, citing DJ Sat 2 Nov 1861 and WJ Thur 14 Nov 1861 .

15. Obituary: Fayetteville Observer, 31 Oct 1861. ²⁹¹¹ Died, at her residence in Bladen County, on the 24th inst., Mrs. MARY ANN DOWNING, widow of the late Geo. Downing, Esq., aged 79 years, 9 months and 16 days - leaving 8 children, 47 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. She had been a member of the MIssionary Baptist Church 41 years and died in the full hope of eternal rest.

Mary married George* DOWNING, son of James* DOWNING and Nancy* UNKNOWN, in 1801 in Nr Sloans Bridge On South River, Bladen or Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. (George* DOWNING was born in 1776 in Nr Snow Hill, Dobbs County, North Carolina, United States,²⁹⁰⁸ died in 1838 in Bladen County, North Carolina, United States ²⁹⁰⁹ and was buried in Nr Briar Branch Church, Bladen County, North Carolina, United States.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. Marriage Notice, 1801, Nr Sloans Bridge On South River, Bladen or Sampson County, North Carolina, United States. ²⁹⁰⁸ George Downing married Mary Ann Hays (daughter of Peter Hays and Penelope Hainey) in 1801 near Sloans Bridge on South River (at her parents home).