Cut flowers & falling fruit - Instow church Devon
"Sacred to the memory of that virtuous and hopefull yong man John Downe son of that late reverend Mr John Downe and Agnes his wife who after some two years studying the university of Oxford departed this life the 12 of July AD 1640 aged 21
Whiles this sweet youth with studious care did strive
to excel in grace and vertues being alive:
So fair a progress his yong years did make
As made (it seems) even death himself mistake
Who numbering years by vertues, thence grew bold
To mow him downe, because hee thought him old
Unhappy errour since the world must want
So rare example in its greatest scant:
Ah reader then with tears well may thine eye
Bedew the place here where his ashes lye"
John matriculated at Exeter College in 1637 where his studies would have been entirely based on classical literature and scholastic philosophy based on the works of Aristotle. After 2 years John became ill th and returned to die here at Instow .
He was the grandson of Henry Downe, merchant of Barnstaple by Cicely daughter of John Jewel of East Downe by Alice daughter of Richard Bellamie and sister of John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury dsp 1571.
He was the son of Rev John Downe 1570-1631, rector of Instow for 30 years by 2nd wife Agnes of Pilton . His father had m1 Rebecca of Fremington d1614 having 2 daughters
and "although he had no great income, yet God so blessed him with competent means that he lived contentedly, brought up his children in a decent manner, furnished himself with a library, relieved the poor and was not wanting to his kindred that stood in need of his help. And for hospitality, he was constant in entertaining his friends and such as came to visit him in a cheerful and plentiful manner’.
His elder brother Henry (d1665) graduated from Exeter College Oxford, became a Barnstaple GP in 1647 after reading Medicine in Caen, Normandy (probably going abroad because of the Civil War) m Honor daughter of John Berry by Mary Leigh and sister of Sir Thomas Berry of Burrough House Northam having a son Henry who m Anne daughter of Sir John Chichester
Arms: — Gules, a buck's head caboshed, Erm., attired, Or.
Cut flowers & falling fruit - Instow church Devon
"Sacred to the memory of that virtuous and hopefull yong man John Downe son of that late reverend Mr John Downe and Agnes his wife who after some two years studying the university of Oxford departed this life the 12 of July AD 1640 aged 21
Whiles this sweet youth with studious care did strive
to excel in grace and vertues being alive:
So fair a progress his yong years did make
As made (it seems) even death himself mistake
Who numbering years by vertues, thence grew bold
To mow him downe, because hee thought him old
Unhappy errour since the world must want
So rare example in its greatest scant:
Ah reader then with tears well may thine eye
Bedew the place here where his ashes lye"
John matriculated at Exeter College in 1637 where his studies would have been entirely based on classical literature and scholastic philosophy based on the works of Aristotle. After 2 years John became ill th and returned to die here at Instow .
He was the grandson of Henry Downe, merchant of Barnstaple by Cicely daughter of John Jewel of East Downe by Alice daughter of Richard Bellamie and sister of John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury dsp 1571.
He was the son of Rev John Downe 1570-1631, rector of Instow for 30 years by 2nd wife Agnes of Pilton . His father had m1 Rebecca of Fremington d1614 having 2 daughters
and "although he had no great income, yet God so blessed him with competent means that he lived contentedly, brought up his children in a decent manner, furnished himself with a library, relieved the poor and was not wanting to his kindred that stood in need of his help. And for hospitality, he was constant in entertaining his friends and such as came to visit him in a cheerful and plentiful manner’.
His elder brother Henry (d1665) graduated from Exeter College Oxford, became a Barnstaple GP in 1647 after reading Medicine in Caen, Normandy (probably going abroad because of the Civil War) m Honor daughter of John Berry by Mary Leigh and sister of Sir Thomas Berry of Burrough House Northam having a son Henry who m Anne daughter of Sir John Chichester
Arms: — Gules, a buck's head caboshed, Erm., attired, Or.