Who was Tillman Andrew/William Downs?

William Downs and Tilman Andrew lived near each other

We have concluded that Tillman Andrew of southern Illinois and William Downs of the Massachusetts 3rd Volunteer Cavalry were one and the same person, ? [See Sleuthing] but who was that person? Was he born “Tilman Andrew” or was he born “William Downs”? Which was the alias? Might they both be aliases? [Hope not!] The name “Tillman/Tilman/Tilghman Andrew/Andrews is relatively rare. With limited research one can eliminate, one by one. all individuals in the 1850 and/or 1860 censuses with one of those names and having an age corresponding to a birth year anywhere around 1844. On the other hand, several William Downs/Downes prove to be candidates.

The most likely is William, son of William and Caroline Downs, who was living in Sussex Co, Delaware, in 1850. Born in Maryland around 1844, the younger William cannot be located after 1850. Of course he could have died, but he also could have joined the Army and then changed his name. His Maryland birthplace matches that claimed by Tillman in federal censuses, and his Delaware childhood could explain the listing of Delaware as William’s birthplace in at least one Army record and as the father’s birthplace in some census records for the Andrews children. And there is a final indicator. Living in the same county as the William and Caroline Downs family was Tilman D. Andrew, born c1845. Tilman’s family lived in Northwest Fork Hundred and William’s family lived in Broad Creek Hundred, two townships (essentially what they were) only fifteen or so miles apart. William Downs may have chosen the name of a childhood acquaintance as an alias. 

The parentage of William Downs of Sussex Co, Delaware, and possibly of Tillman Andrew of White Co and Franklin Co, Illinois, is shown below. No documented research and few contemporary records are found for the family, which limited census data indicate may have been illiterate, fragmented, and low-income. And the father’s surname is said by some to have actually been “Thomas.” But that is just the sort of family that might include someone ready to take on an alias. Further investigation of this obscure family is a job for a better detective than I am, or at least one with a lot of time on their hands. Perhaps some of you Tillman descendants would like to take it on. And perhaps one of you male Tillman descendants with the name “Andrews” would like to take a yDNA test to confirm (or negate) “Downs” as the original family name. Don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss this.

Let’s end the Tillman saga with a bang.

In Nebraska, in the later part of the 19^th century lived Frank Allison, a Civil War veteran who had served in the Indiana Infantry. In 1890, Frank applied for a pension. Take a look at his pension index card and that for Tillman Andrews. See any similarity?

That’s right. Both show William W. Downs/Downes as an alias! Extensive research shows no connection with our Tillman.  But what are the odds?

Well that’s it for Tillman. Without yDNA results, we may never be certain whether Tillman’s descendants are Andrewses or Downses. But I must admit that I lean towards Tillman who married Lucinda Russel being a Downs, specifically the son of William and Caroline Downs of Maryland and Delaware.