There were more than one Francis Downing in his area, and there's a little confusion over his birth date and parents. The 1776 Census says he was born about 1736, but the Lexington Gazette says he died at 90 in 1814.
The Downings first lived in Baltimore, but soon moved to Broad Creek Hundred in Harford County, about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore. The 1776 census reported that Francis owned eight slaves.
Francis and Susannah settled in Harford County, Maryland, near where the Susquehanna River flows into Chesapeake Bay. They lived there for about 30 years. After Susannah died, he moved to Fayette County, Kentucky, maybe in 1791.
"The Francis Downing who married to Henrietta Viley, must also have lived in Scott County, KY with her, as a Francis Downing is listed in both counties. This Francis was supposed to have been born in 1746, and died 1834, Scott County, a Rev. War Vet. It is said that Francis came first to Maysville, Ky in 1791, and then on to Fayette County, Ky. I don't believe they are the same man and private researcher, Anne W. Cissel doesn't think so either. I think there were two Francis Downings about 10 years apart, both coming from Yorkshire, England. One moved to Fayette county, the other to Scott county. They are on tax rolls in each county in the same year. He could conceivably be a nephew to Francis of 1726. Henrietta had a twin brother, the only other relative so far that we know of for her. We have reason to believe that Susannah lived at least until 1782."
Francis Downing 
