Robert Townsend

Not the same as Parent Townsend

Henry Townsend 1558-1625 is from the Norfolk, England family with totally different YDNA. This is the Thomas Townsend of Lynn line and that is who the Thomas in the will was. Brother Robert seems to have died with no further trace and sister Elizabeth is likewise not traced.

Biography

From 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

The earliest New England records note : — "Thomas Townesend, a Freeman, at Boston N. E. Mar. 4. 1638" "Thomas Townesend, a Freeman, at Lynn, Mar. 14. 1B39" "Thomas Towenshend, a Juryman at Salem, 30 1st mo. 1641." This Thomas Townsend, bapt. Jan. 8, 1594/5, was the third son of Henry Townsend, Gentleman, and Margaret Forthe, Gentlewoman, who were m. by Rev. Ambrose Golden, Nov. 5. 1590, and the said Margaret was burled at Braconash June 23, 1596.

They had issue:

• I ROBERT, bapt. June 18, 1591 (о. в.).
• II Arthur, bapt. Nov. 16, 1593; d. young.
• III Thomas, bapt. Jan. 8, 1594/5.
• IV Elizabeth.

Henry Townsend in his will gave son Robert £400 to be paid £100 per annum, Thomas £300 to be paid £50 per annum and Elizabeth £300 to be paid £50 per annum. It having been queried in sundry genealogical publications that John, Henry and Richard Townsend, of Oyster Bay and elsewhere, were possibly sons of the abovementioned Robert; the dates being convenient, and the recurrence of similar Christian names among the descendants of Thomas of Lynn, would seem to Justify the hypothesis, which may well be elevated to a probability until a better one shall have been proposed. Martin I. Townsend, of Troy, N. T., In his sketch of the Townsend Family (March, 1871), says: "

The first Townsends who emigrated to New England, held the most advanced sentiments of that day, and shared with Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams the opinions which were supposed to endanger the peace of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay." This may be so, but as record proof is lack- Ing, it is more than likely that this opinion is a deduction from Henry Townsend's attitude toward the persecution of Quakers in Stuyvesant's time. In Savage's Gen. Diet, of Settlers of N. E. there appears "Townsend, John of Lynn, perhaps son of Thomas ; b. in England ; was of the Boston Artillery Co. 1641, and of the early settlers of Long Isl

and." This could not have been