Hello Ed,

As you can tell by the long ago dates on my first post I am way behind in catching up with you! Its funny how things get away from you and I do appreciate your information. In the past week we have a located living members of a long lost Downie side of the family and information they have provided, led me to reopen my files on this branch.
I see you had a post from my cousin Ian, in Scotland. Here is what I know now and what I am trying to find.

James Downie (1834-1876)married Agnes Johnstone Downie. They actually had 5 children. I only knew of 3 until this past weekend when I discovered some new information from the 1870 Norwich census. Their kids were Agnes, Margaret, James, Betsy and Thomas.

After James Downie died on Feb. 10, 1876 in Norwich of "poison" according to the death certificate:

his daughter Agnes married James McNaught while Margaret married John Marks. In the 1880 Norwich census Agnes is listed as a boarder at the same home as Margaret, her husband John and their 1 year old son. Both of the daughters remained in Norwich until their deaths. Margaret died in 1907. I have pictures of Agnes and Margaret's gravestones at the Hickory Street Cemetery in Norwich
.
James J. Downie (age 13) moved to Hamilton Ohio at the age of 13 to live with his uncle David Downie (my great great grandfather.

Betsy died in Norwich at the age of 8 in 1873.

Thomas Downie age 6, we believe moved to Indianapolis to live with his uncle William Downie.

I can't find any information on James's wife Agnes Johnstone Downie after his death. On his death certificate James was listed as "married". She also does not appear on any Norwich city directory after 1876. (Some women are listed as "widow of...." in the directory and a search for her in the 1880 census just brings me to her daughter Agnes. I have always wondered if somehow Agnes was involved in the poison death of her husband and was put away or committed somewhere. I will work harder now on that premise.

I see from your reply that you had no information on her either, at least from several years ago. Has anything changed about that? Are there any family rumors of such an event?

I am reworking this branch and since I keep striking out on Agnes I thought I would work back on her kids and their families and maybe something would open up.

I am more than glad to share any documents and info I have on this branch.