Henry Townsend of Oyster Bay

Townsend Society of America DNA testing project has established that the Oyster Bay family is not related to Thomas Townsend of Lynn, MA.

• said to be the brother of John Townsend. Assuming that is true , Henry cannot be a son of Thomas Townsend of Lynn MA.
• read partially correct bio at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Townsend_(Norwich) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flushing_Remonstrance

Further research

The great Quaker missionary Thomas Chalkley had for a second wife one Martha née Spicer. Martha was born Quaker at Oyster Bay. We might assume then that the Spicers and Townsends were at Meeting togehter on Long Island.... Flash forward to Thomas Chalkey's Journal pages 230-231: Chalkley visits a Richard Townsend at Cape May while on his way to visit with Jacob Spicer, his brother-in-law.

We may assume that this particular Richard Townsend is Richard Townsend (his mother died at Cape May (!)) and Richard is closely related to the subject of this profile.

The Journal of Thomas Chalkley: A Minister of the Gospel in the Society of Friends Front Cover Thomas Chalkley For sale at Friends' Bookstore, 1866 - Christian biography - 634 pages

Courtesy of Jan Mason:

Biography Disagreement exists surrounding the facts of Henry Townsend's place of birth and his parentage. The work Ancestral Heads of New England Familie from 1923 suggests that Henry Townsend was the son of Thomas Townsend (1594-1677) and Mary Newgate (1595-1692). These facts are disputed by findings of the "Townsend Surname DNA Project," conducted by the Townsend Society of America, a well-respected member organization composed of members with Townsend lineage. Henry Townsend (Norwich) These findings suggest that Henry Townsend was not the son of Thomas Townsend and Mary Newgate and that these families have "completely different DNA" according to Townsend Society sources.Naturally this raises questions surrounding date of birth of Henry Townsend, and to the date that he and his two brothers Richard and John emigrated to the colonies.

The work "A Memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend, and Their Descendants" published in 1865 is cited for more information on the topic. While some disagreement exists surrounding origins, general agreement exists around other aspects of Henry Townsend's biography.

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History and Genealogy of the Cock, Cocks, Cox Family: Descended from James and Sarah Cock, of Killingworth Upon Matinecock, in the Township of Oyster Bay, Long Island, N.Y.

By George William Cocks, John Cox, Compiled by George William Cocks, Published by privately printed, 1914

HENRY TOWNSEND, (prob.) son of Robert, was admitted as Townsman at Oyster Bay, Nov. 4, 1661. His first Home lot thereat was on the north side of the main street, adjoining on the east to the Home lot of Henry Disbrow, later in possession of James (1) Cock. In 1683 he had laid out to him a lot of six acres upon east side of Mill Hill upon which he built, and then gave the first homestead to his son Henry.

In 1661 he was granted я certain mill stream and adjacent lands on which to build a mill, like unto the one at Norwalk on the Main, for the maintenance of which, he and his successors were to be free of all rates and taxes (on said land and stream) forever. In 1668 he gave the three-fourths of the mill, etc.. to his sons Henry and John and the remainder to his dau. Rose, wife of Joseph Dickinson, who sold it to her brothers, reserving one-fourth of the toll. Henry also gave land to his three daughters. He held sundry Town offices; assisted the widows of his brothers John and Henry in the management of their estates; was one of the overseers of the will of Capt. John Underbill, charged to see that the children be not wronged If his widow should marry again. He died between Feb. 6 and Mar. 30, 1695, and was buried on Mill Hill, where a rough stone, marked "H. T." shows his grave. He m. Providence. R. I., about 1653,

Ann Coles, b. Roxbury about 1635; d. Oyster Bay after 1695; dau. of Robert and Mary (Hawxhurs Coles, of R. I.

Issue, order uncertain :

• 1. I Henry, b. — ; m. Deborah Underbill.
• 2. II John. b. : m. 1st, Johanna ; m. 2d. Esther Smith.
• 3. III Rose. b. ; m. Joseph Dickinson.
• 4. IV Mary, b. ; .m. John Wright.
• 5. V Susannah, b. ; m. Aaron Forman, Jr.
• 6. VI Elizabeth, b. ; d. unm. 16/7 mo. (Sept.) 168O.
• 7. VII Robert, b. 4.3.1667 ; d. unm. 1687.

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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

It is believed that the first meetings of this body of believers were held in private houses at as early a date as 1648, although no regular organized body existed until 1660. From the erection of the old Bowne house, in 166?, to 1695 the meetings were held there and on the adjoining grounds when, as was sometimes the case, the crowds were too great to gain admittance to the house. Perhaps the most prominent members were the Townsend brothers, Henry and John, who removed to Newtown and Oyster Bay within a few years, where they still witnessed for the faith; the Hicks family; John Lawrence, who became a convert through the influence of his wife; John Bowne, whose exile to Holland we have already related; his wife, who became a well known and powerful preacher; the Cornells, Farringtons, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Matthew Franklin, and, in latter days, the Parsons, Roe, Cocks, and Titus families.

Birth: unknown Death: 1695

Brother of John and Richard Townsend

Must have settled in Oyster Bay before Sept 16, 1661 as the Grist Mill bears that date. He held the office of Town Clerk, and made many surveys. He assisted his sister-in-laws, wives of John and Richard, in settlement of their husband's estates.

Married Anne Coles, daughter of Robert Coles Children: -Henry -John -Rose -Susannah -Mary -Elizabeth -Robert

He died between Feb 6 and March 30th, 1695, when he must have been a very old man. "He is buried in Mill Hill, where a rough stone marked "H.T." marks his grave".(page 83)

(Source: a Memorial of John Henry and Richard Townsend and their descendants, W A Townsend, Publisher, 1865, Chapter IX, pages 80-84

Family links:

Spouse:

 Ann Coles Townsend (1635 - 1695)*

Children:

 Mary Townsend (1668 - 1695)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Townsend Cemetery Mill Neck Nassau County New York, USA

Created by: K Perry Record added: Oct 29, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 99828399

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U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about Henry Townsend

Name: Henry Townsend

Year: 1643

Place: Lynn, Massachusetts

Family Members: Brother Henry; Brother Richard

Source Publication Code: 9448

Primary Immigrant: Townsend, John

Annotation: In the years from 1925 to 1942, Frederick A. Virkus edited seven volumes with the title, The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, published in Chicago by the Institute of American Genealogy. Each volume has a section in the main body of the work, co

Source Bibliography: VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986.

Page: 67

GEDCOM Note

Category:Questionable_Gateway_Ancestors

Disputed Parentage ==Disagreement exists surrounding the facts of Henry Townsend's place ofbirth and his parentage. The work Ancestral Heads of New England Families from 1923 suggests that Henry Townsend was the son of Thomas Townsend (1594-1677) and Mary Newgate (1595-1692).<ref>Ancestral Heads of New England Families, Frank R. Holmes, (Originally published: New York, 1923, Reprinted: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21202-1964, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1989,1999, Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 64-19755, ISBN 0-8063-0182-1), Page 241</ref>

These facts are disputed by findings of the "Townsend Surname DNA Project," conducted by the Townsend Society of America, a well-respected member organization composed of members with Townsend lineage.<ref>Townsend Surname DNA Project Townsendsociety.org, Townsend Surname DNA project</ref> These findings suggest that Henry Townsend was not the son of Thomas Townsend and Mary Newgate and that these families have "completely different DNA" according to Townsend Society sources. Naturallythis raises questions surrounding date of birth of Henry Townsend, and to the date that he and his two brothers Richard and John emigrated to the colonies. The work "A memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend, and their descendants" published in 1865 is cited for more information on the topic.

Biography

Name

: Henry Townsend

Sources ==* Macdonough, Rodney. The Macdonough-Hackstaff Ancestry (Press of S. Usher, Boston, 1901) Page 365-81, Page 455* Townsend, W. A., A Memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend, and Their Descendants (New York, 1865) Page 84-92

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Townsend_%28Norwich%29* Death: Hughes, Thomas Patrick (1887). American Ancestry. New York: J. Munsell's Sons. pp. 83–84. <references/>

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GEDCOM Note

W.A. Townsend, publisher: A Memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend, and Their Descendants; New York: W.A. Townsend, 1865, pp. 180-184.

CHAPTER IX.

HENRY 1st.

Must have settled in Oyster Bay before September 16th, 1661, as the Mill Grant bears that date, but he was not admitted as a townsman until the 4th of November.

Notwithstanding all he had suffered at Jamaica (then called Rusdorp), he seems to have entertained an affection for the place. In 1663, he gave a legacy, left by Richard Grassmore to his wife and children, to that Town, for the support of the poor, of which, Thompson says, that in his day the tax-payers were still enjoying the benefit. The following is a copy of this deed of gift:

Rusdorp, the 25th day of third month, 1663, stylo novo. These presents declareth to all people and patrons whom it may concern, that I, Henry Townsend, of Oyster Bay, late of Rusdorp, in the province of New Netherlands, being approved of by the Court, of Rusdorp, aforesaid, to be the lawful executor of Richard Grassmore, deceased, late inhabitant of the said Rusdorp; I say, approved of by the Court, being made by the last will and testament of the said Richard Grassmore, to be his lawful executor, as stated by the Court aforesaid, from the virtue, right, and power, I received in and by the will of the deceased, Richard Grassmore, aforesaid:

I do fully and freely, by these presents, give and bequeath all my right, of all the housing and lands of the said Richard Grassmore, that he had in the abovesaid Town, with the meadows and accommodations, with all privileges and appurtenances belonging thereunto, that was his, or did in any way belong to him, with all the debts that was due from any inhabitant, in the jurisdiction of the New Netherlands; and also what is due from Captain Thomas Millett, merchant, for the house, his son bought of the deceased, Richard Grassmore; and what is also due from John Barker, butcher or grazier, or any other, within the jurisdiction aforesaid. I say, I do give and bequeath, all my right, in money and lands, aforesaid, I say unto the poor, viz., poor widows and children, persons blind, or lame, or aged, that are unable to get their living, or any that shall suffer by fire, whose necessity shall call for relief, or any other of the like nature, within the said Town. And the Town, aforesaid, shall annually make choice of two men, which shall have the ordering and disposing of the said moneys, during their year, for the use aforesaid, and then to give an account to the Town, of their proceedings. Those two men, aforesaid, shall have liberty to make sale of the lot and accommodations, and also to collect the debts, and with the money, to buy mares or cows, which may be for a stock for the use of the poor, as aforesaid; and that these cattle or mares shall be put out, so that increase may arise, out of which, as aforesaid, the poor may be relieved; and the principal shall be reserved for a stock, for the use of the poor of the Town, aforesaid, forever. And whereas, the said Richard Grassmore did give the said land and moneys unto my wife and children, I do by these presents, to prevent the suffering wrong, give unto my wife and children, my house and orchard, with my house lot and half my accommodations, and half my meadow, in the Town of Rusdorp, and so by these presents, take off their rights, in the said lands and moneys. I say, I, the said Henry Townsend, do for myself, my heirs, executors, or assigns, fully and freely, make over, give, and bequeath, all my right, title, and interest in the said lands and moneys, unto the poor of the Town aforesaid, to enjoy and possess forever, as is before expressed. That this is my act and deed, I certify, by subscribing my hand, the day and date above written, namely the 25th of the third month, anno 1663, stylo novo.

Henry Townsend.

Thompson says that, beside the real estate, this gift included £176 in money. When he settled in Oyster Bay, he bought or built a house on the Main street, one homestead being between that and Quogue Lane. He seems to have had occupation enough for two or three men. Beside the grist and saw mills he managed, he held the office of Town-Clerk, made many surveys, and was employed, with his nephew Thomas, in all public business, such as adjusting boundaries, procuring patents, and buying lands of the Indians. He assisted his sisters-in-law, the widows of John and Richard, in the settlement of their husbands' estates, and was executor and overseer (as they called persons appointed to assist an executrix) to several wills, and was one of those appointed by Captain John Underhill, to see that his children were not wronged, in case his widow married again. While thus active for the benefit, public and private, of his neighbors, he was not negligent of his own affairs. The conveyances to and from him are innumerable. He was endeavoring to bring his property into a more compact form by sales and exchanges, and made, besides, gifts to all his children. In 1683, he had six acres laid out to him, on the hill, upon which he built, and gave his old homestead to Henry. In 1668, he gave the mill, or three-fourths of it, to his sons, Henry and John; the other quarter he gave to Rose, wife of Joseph Dickenson, who sold to her brothers, reserving one-fourth of the toll for himself and wife, during their lives. Henry sold his share to John. His son, Henry 3d, bought it again, but finally John's son, Jotham, bought it from Henry's sons, Henry and Absalom. Henry 1st gave land also to his three daughters. His was indeed a most active old age, and it is pleasant to think, after all the storms and contentions of his youth, a peaceful one. He died between February 6th and March 30th, 1695, when he must have been a very old man. He was buried on Mill Hill, where a rough stone, marked H.T., shows his grave. His wife survived him. She was Anne, daughter of Robert Coles. Issue, Henry, John, Rose, Susannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Robert. Elizabeth died unmarried, September 13th, 1680. Susannah married Aaron Furman, Jr. She had two sons, Aaron and Jacob, who moved to New Jersey and Westchester, and nothing more is known of them.

References

• Torrey’s “New England Marriages Prior to 1700”, page 749. Towle-Townsend. (document attached)