[blackirishgirl]

Looking for family of Henry J. Downing, New York City, born 1914 and raised by relatives for several years. Father's name was Harry Downing. His mother may have been Anna Henry or Anna Heinrich, and the suggestion for many years was that his mother had died before he was 5 yrs old.

[hcgCali]

Just to clarify... Are you looking for his children, or are you looking for his siblings and their children? Living people to connect with and learn about his later years, or information on his early life and ancestors to complete the family tree?

[blackirishgirl]

I wasn't sure how much to post at first! I'm his youngest daughter and have been trying to search for his mother or the aunt's family who raised him. He died in 1971 and never shared with us anything about his mom, was buried with the only photo he had with her and he looked to be about 2 yrs old when it was taken.

Trying to research his father...dead end. His mom...like she never existed. I have his birth certificate from NYC and can see him in the 1930 census with his father, new step mother and 2 half brothers.

The goal would be to find info about his mother and father to continue tracing the family tree.

[hcgCali]

I'll see what I can find.

I saw his SS record and your family tree plus another one last night. There's a slight discrepancy on his birthdate. SS and the other tree say Mar 18. Your tree says Mar 14. Is that what is on his Birth Certificate? Does the BC give his birth mother's full name, age or any other info about her? Any address?

There is also a WWII army enlistment for a person of his name, born in 1914.

The aunt who raised him, how is she related? Father's sister or mother's? Do you know her name or anything about her?