 His mother, Lucy Winthrop, was the younger sister of Governor Winthrop and she married Emmanuel in April 1622.There is some doubt about Downing's birthplace and the year of his birth.These are stated to be either circa 1624 in Dublin during his father's mission there,  or in 1625, in London During his later life, he was frequently insulted because of his obscure origins and supposedly dubious New England education.