administer to him the freeman's oath. The General Court granted him
six hundred acres of land. He was immediately appointed a judge of the
local court in Salem, and, for many years, elected one of its two
deputies to the General Court. In anticipation of his arrival in the
country, the town of Salem, on the 16th of July, granted him five
hundred acres. He afterwards purchased the farm on which he seems to
have lived, for the most part, until he went to England in 1652. The
condition of public affairs, and his own connection with them,
detained him in the mother-country much of the latter part of his
life. While in this colony, he was indefatigable in his exertions to
secure its prosperity. His wealth and time and faculties were
liberally and constantly devoted to this end.

The active part taken by Mr. Downing in the affairs of the settlement
is illustrated in the following extract from the Salem town records:--

"At a general Town meeting, held the 7th day of the 5th
month, 1644--ordered that two be appointed every Lord's Day,
to walk forth in the time of God's worship, to take notice
of such as either lye about the meeting house, without
attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or
in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to
take the names of such persons, and to present them to the
magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded
against. The names of such as are ordered to this service
are for the 1st day, Mr. Stileman and Philip Veren Jr.
2d day, Philip Veren Sr. and Hilliard Veren. 3d day, Mr.
Batter and Joshua Veren. 4th day, Mr. Johnson and Mr.
Clark. 5th day, Mr. Downing and Robert Molton Sr. 6th
day, Robert Molton Jr. and Richard Ingersol. 7th day, John