Christopher Townsend1,2,3,4,5,6
M, b. circa 1739, d. before 22 March 1809
Christopher was born circa 1739 probably at the Town of Oyster Bay, Queens County, Long Island, New York. He was the son of Thomas Townsend I. Christopher married Lydia (?) before 1760 in New York. Lydia's maiden name maybe Doty or Doughty but there is no proof. The 1790 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Fredericks Town, Dutchess County, New York, the family of Christopher Townsend [23:3].7 The 1800 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Southeast Town the family of Christopher Townsend [20201:00021].8 Christopher made his will on 7 March 1808 at Southeast Town, Dutchess County, New York.
I Chistopher Townsend of the town of South East County of Dutchess and State of New York being infirm in Body but of sound mind and memory and realizing the uncertainty of life do make and publish this my last will and testament Firstly I do direct that all my just debts to be paid and satisfied. Secondly I direct that my wife have and enjoy one third part of the property I die possessed of after my debts are paid during her natural life after which said property to be distributed among my children in proportion as I shall hereafter dispose of the remainder of my property Thirdly I direct that my daughter Sarah have one hundred and fifty dollars in cash to be paid her in one year after the time of my decease or have the value thereof set off to her in land and I further direct that my said daughter Sarah have the previledge of a comfortable room in my dwelling house for herself to live in and such attendance as shall be necessary in case of sickness And also to have the previledge of a small garden Fourthly I direct that my daughters Elizabeth, Susannah, Freelove, Phebe and Hannah have forty dollars each to be paid to them in one year from the time of my decease or to have the value thereof set off in land by my Executors Fifthly I direct that the heirs of my deceased daughter Rhoda have five dollars each to be paid one year after the time of my decease Sixthly I direct that Abner, Elias and Stephen sons of my deceased daughter Lydia have fifty cents each to be paid as above And also that Elizabeth Bethana Phena Phebe and Hannah daughters of my said daughter Lidia have one dollar each to be paid as above Seventhly I direct that that my son Samuel have sixty dollars to be paid him as above mentioned Eightly I direct that my son Darius have forty dollars to be paid as above Ninthly I direct that my son Christopher have one dollar to be paid as above Tenthly I direct that my grandson Henry son of my daughter Hannah have forty dollars over and above a certain bay colored two years colt and nine sheep which I have previously given to him which said forty dollars is to be paid as above and the said colt and sheep he is to take immediately upon my decease Eleventhly I direct that after my above mentioned legacies are paid and satisfied together with the necessary expenses what remains shall be equally divided among my sons and daughters which are now living Lastly I direct that David Reed and David Jackson be my Executors to execute this my last will and testimony In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and nine Note that the wife’s thirds is considered to be divided with the remainder after my legacies are paid
Christopher Townsend his mark, - Signed in the presence of Samuel Bailey Hannah Bailey Samuel Bailey Jr Dutchess County.
Christopher departed this life in Frederick, Southeast Town. On the 15th of April 1809, The Providence Gazette (Rhode Island) reported the death of Christopher Townsend at Newport in his 70th year. His will was probated on 22 March 1809 at Dutchess County, New York.
I Chistopher Townsend of the town of South East County of Dutchess and State of New York being infirm in Body but of sound mind and memory and realizing the uncertainty of life do make and publish this my last will and testament Firstly I do direct that all my just debts to be paid and satisfied. Secondly I direct that my wife have and enjoy one third part of the property I die possessed of after my debts are paid during her natural life after which said property to be distributed among my children in proportion as I shall hereafter dispose of the remainder of my property Thirdly I direct that my daughter Sarah have one hundred and fifty dollars in cash to be paid her in one year after the time of my decease or have the value thereof set off to her in land and I further direct that my said daughter Sarah have the previledge of a comfortable room in my dwelling house for herself to live in and such attendance as shall be necessary in case of sickness And also to have the previledge of a small garden Fourthly I direct that my daughters Elizabeth, Susannah, Freelove, Phebe and Hannah have forty dollars each to be paid to them in one year from the time of my decease or to have the value thereof set off in land by my Executors Fifthly I direct that the heirs of my deceased daughter Rhoda have five dollars each to be paid one year after the time of my decease Sixthly I direct that Abner, Elias and Stephen sons of my deceased daughter Lydia have fifty cents each to be paid as above And also that Elizabeth Bethana Phena Phebe and Hannah daughters of my said daughter Lidia have one dollar each to be paid as above Seventhly I direct that that my son Samuel have sixty dollars to be paid him as above mentioned Eightly I direct that my son Darius have forty dollars to be paid as above Ninthly I direct that my son Christopher have one dollar to be paid as above Tenthly I direct that my grandson Henry son of my daughter Hannah have forty dollars over and above a certain bay colored two years colt and nine sheep which I have previously given to him which said forty dollars is to be paid as above and the said colt and sheep he is to take immediately upon my decease Eleventhly I direct that after my above mentioned legacies are paid and satisfied together with the necessary expenses what remains shall be equally divided among my sons and daughters which are now living Lastly I direct that David Reed and David Jackson be my Executors to execute this my last will and testimony In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of March one thousand eight hundred and nine Note that the wife’s thirds is considered to be divided with the remainder after my legacies are paid
Christopher Townsend his mark, - Signed in the presence of Samuel Bailey Hannah Bailey Samuel Bailey Jr Dutchess County.
Christopher departed this life in Frederick, Southeast Town. On the 15th of April 1809, The Providence Gazette (Rhode Island) reported the death of Christopher Townsend at Newport in his 70th year. His will was probated on 22 March 1809 at Dutchess County, New York.
Children of Christopher Townsend and Lydia (?)
- Lidia Townsend b. c 1761, d. b 7 Mar 1808
- Sarah Townsend b. c 1763
- Elizabeth Townsend b. c 1765
- Susannah Townsend b. c 1767
- Freelove Townsend b. c 1769
- Phebe Townsend b. c 1771
- Hannah Townsend b. c 1773
- Darius Townsend b. c 1774, d. 13 Jan 1834
- Christopher Townsend+ b. 25 Jul 1776, d. 23 Jun 1855
- Roda Townsend b. c 1778, d. b 7 Mar 1808
- Samuel Townsend b. c 1780
Citations
- [S124] A Memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend & their descendants., pages 94-95 - says Christopher was of Rhode Island & was probably a grandson of Solomon, who was son of John of Jericho; pages 231-233.
- [S448] Martha J. Burke, Two John Townsends & the Mayflower Connection, page 1 - "Christopher, b. ca. 1739, d. 1809, Frederick, South East, Dutchess Co., NY. His will was probated 22 March, 1809 in Dutchess Co., NY. (Thomas Townsend had every right to name a son Christopher, as his maternal grandfather was Christopher Almy.)."
- [S451] Townsend Society Newslwtter: Query: [Winter 1999-2000] - "... Christopher Townsend who died in Dutchess Co., NY in 1809. In his will he named a son as Darius. Darius' brother was named Christopher, Jr. and he died at Somerset, Niagara Co., NY."
- [S453] Martha Burke, Solomon Townsend of Rhode Island, The said Christopher died in Dutchess Co. in 1809 and was the BROTHER of John Townsend , NOT THE FATHER OF, who md . Jemima Travis and went to Seneca Co., NY. Pelletreau made this mistake. Abbe and Nichols almost did in 1909 but in the preface to their work they admit to knowing that there was supposed to be a Christopher in the lineage somewhere. They simply never found out where so they left John's parentage open.
- [S458] Martha J. Burke, Townsends: Dutchess County, New York [Part II], V. CHRISTOPHER TOWNSEND - Born ca 1739 and died 1809. Lived at Frederick and South East, Dutchess County, N.Y., where first noted 5 February, 1760. The Providence Gazette (Rhode Island) of 15 April, 1809, reported the death of Christopher Townsend at Newport in his 70th year. (Rhode Island Vital Records, Vol. 4). This was almost certainly Christopher Townsend of Dutchess County whose will was probated in Dutchess County on 22 March, 1809. That Christopher's death was reported in Rhode Island should be no surprise as he certainly had strong ties to Rhode Island. The line should probably have read, Christopher Townsend of Newport.. Records of the Rhode Island Townsends do not indicate another Christopher Townsend with these dates. Among Christopher's descendants there was a tradition that he came to Dutchess County directly from Rhode island. As shown elsewhere in this article, traditions among descendants of V. Sylvanus and V. John indicate that Christopher was of the same family, and thus probably born on Long Island, but with extensive roots in Rhode Island. The Christian name Christopher, also borne by at least two other Rhode Island Townsends, no doubt derived from his Almy and Unthank ancestors of the same colony. Christopher Townsend appears on the 1777 tax list and 1790 census (233) of Frederick, and the 1800 census of South East, Dutchess County, N.Y. His will was dated 7 March, 1808 at South East (Dutchess County Abstract of Wills 5:7). Will of Christopher Townsend. Wife: not given. Daughters: Sarah, Elizabeth, Susannah, Freelove, Phebe, Hannah and Rhoda. Sons: Samuel, Darius and Christopher, Jr. A deceased daughter Lydia. Grandchildren: Abner, Elias, Stephen, Brondage, Elizabeth, Bethana, Phebe and Hannah. Grandson, Henry, son of Hannah. To date we have no record of any of these children or grandchildren except his daughter Lydia and son Christopher, Jr. Abner Doty of Frederick, Yeoman, made his will on 12 October, 1785. Legacy to wife not named. Devised sons Abner, Gunslias (probably Elias ) and Stephen. Daughters: Sarah and Polly. Executors: Lydia Townsend, Christopher Townsend and Nehemiah Wood. Witnesses: Ebenezer Bailey and Gilbert Townsend. - Of these sisters, one was a Mrs. Tompkins, the other a Mrs. Appleby.
- [S1324] Gertrude Mann, Christopher Townsend and some of his Descendants, page 1.
- [S668] 1790 United States Federal Census: Fredericks Town, Dutchess County, New York - page 8 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.
- [S669] 1800 United States Federal Census: Dutchess County, New York - page 177 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.