Zachariah Downs

According to an "affidavit" signed by "Chief John Ross" he was well acquainted with Zach Down - or Zach Downing and was acquainted with his father who was a Cherokee Indian by Blood. Zack Downing was an agent issuing Rations for the Cherokee Back in the old nation. Zack Downing was a Cousin to Lewis Downing & they all came west together

From Find A Grave.com: Zach was born Zachariah Downing in the Old Cherokee Nation (North Carolina). According to an affidavit he came west and changed his name to Downs*. Zach married Drusilla of Indiana and began a family in Arkansas around 1834**. Zach Downs purchased Land in St. Francis County, Arkansas, from the United States Government in 1937***.

Children** are: Benjamin b.1834, Caroline b.~1836, Francis b.~1837, Anderson b.1839, Tena b.~1845, and Missouri b.~1849. See Drusilla Downs for name variations of children.

In the Old Cherokee Nation, Zach is said to have been an agent, issuing rations and a cousin to Chief Lewis Downing. (ref. Affidavit signed by John Ross of the Flint District).

A note of thanks to Pauline Castillo for forwarding a copy of the affidavit as accepted by the Dawes Commission. It confirmed my Daddy Ro's tales that we had a chief in the family.

See Dawes Roll Card #R1223 Case#5504 where descendants of Zach Downs Petitioned Dawes Commission and an affidavit signed by John Ross of the Flint District was accepted. *

Ref. 1850 Census of St. Francis Co. Arkansas **

Ref. US Dept of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records. ***

Spouse:

Drucilla Downs (1814 - ____)

Children:

Seny Clementine Downs Mooney (1844 - 1875)

Burial: Non-Cemetery Burial

Created by: Tod Ro

Record added: September 20, 2011

Find A Grave Memorial# 768107

The document attached as a photo above was also found on Find A Grave.com, and reads as follows:

Cherokee Nation, Flint District, SS...In the nature of the Citizenship Claim - G A Crain, this day personally appeared before me, B. Fletcher Crain, in and for the Flint District Cherokee with John Ross of Flint District Cherokee Nation and makes the following affidavit. Affidavit states that he is 67 years old, a full blood Cherokee Indian and so recognized by the Cherokee Nation. Affidavit further states that he was well acquainted with Zach Down or Zach Downing, was acquainted with his father who was a Cherokee Indian by blood. Zach Downs is the father of Carolin Downing who married a man by the name of G.A. Crain. Zach Downing was an agent issuing rations for the Cherokee back in the old nation. Zach Downing was a cousin to Lewis Downing and they all came west together. I am not concerned in the prosecution of this claim. Signed by John X (his Mark) Ross.