What
You Will Find on This Site
Basically
there is two types of research contained on this web site, mine own and
research I have compiled from others. My work is mostly highlighted in
the articles I have written and made available here.*
There is so much more written about our ancestors that I also want this
web site to be a clearing house of information concerning our family.
I have endeavored to provide you with as much as I can, from the most
accurate sources available. Along with this you will also get my opinion
and judgement on many of these sources. New discoveries by others will
also be highlighted and discussed here.
Why
I Made This Web Site?
I have been researching my family history and genealogy since 1978. I
had a head start using the works of Giles E. Hopkins, affectionately known
as Uncle Giles to the family. I took the great store of information that
he had accumulated and I begun to add to it and have been doing so for
26 years.
I have been asked if I ever intend to write a book. The best answer I can give is that I want to freely share my research with anyone who is interested. The problem with writing a book is deciding when to do it. Any information I research past a given date, will not make it into a book in time for publication. I also don't want to keep putting it off until my dying day. If I live another 40 years, many others will not be around to share in my research who would love to do so.
The web site seems to be the perfect solution. I can publish it today, even though it is not yet complete. This way I can share with everyone today. Even after I have put everything I now have here, there will still be future discoveries. Think of this site as my book, but you have the latest edition in your hands every time you open it!
This site has a second major purpose, besides sharing what I have learned with others. I hope that this site puts me in touch with people who can give me help in places that my research has run into dead ends. If you can supply me with any information that I am missing or could help me, I would greatly appreciate it.
The information on this site centers around my grandparents. My grandfather was John W. Downs. He was born in Eastham, Massachusetts, in 1888 and was the son of Thomas Downs. I will include what I know of this family and I hope to trace it back to England and Ireland. My grandmother, John's wife, was Helen Hopkins. If you go Orleans, Massachusetts, the town next to Eastham, and you go down Tonset Road, you will find a historical marker a short ways down on your left. (see image #3) It is in memory of Giles Hopkins who settled in that area in 1644 with his family. The Hopkins family has resided in the Tonset area of town ever since and Helen was a direct descendant of that Hopkins family.
Coincidentally, when John's father, Thomas, moved his family to Orleans, he moved his house with them. (see image #2) It now sits on Tonset Road a few yards from the historic marker commemorating Giles. In another twist of fate, John and Helen built a house on Tonset Road across the street from the intersection of Hopkins Lane, named after Helen's family. (see image #1)
This work will primarily be one working back from John Downs and his wife, Helen (Hopkins) Downs. Since I have also done work on a number of collateral lines, I will eventually include that information here too.
*All of the research work I have done is included in my articles, but not every article concerns exclusively my research. It should be obvious to the reader when I am relying on the work of others.
 Image 1 |
 Image 2 |
 Image 3 |
Image 1 - The intersection of Tonset Rd. and Hopkins Lane. Photo by Bill Downs, 2004.
Image 2 - Thomas & Anna's house on Tonset Rd. today. Photo by Bill Downs, 2004.
Image 3 - The Giles Hopkins Homestead historical marker on Tonset Rd., next to Thomas and Anna's old house. Photo by Bill Downs, 2004.