Person:Charles Townsend (13)

About Charles Townsend

Charles Townsend was likely born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York [where the Townsend's originated] no later than 1727. He first shows up on a tax list in Carmel, [then Dutchess County] New York in 1748 [since 21 was legal age during that time]. Charles is listed as a "Tenant in possession of Lot #8" of the Patent of Adolph Philipse, commonly called the "Philipse or Upper Patent", Dutchess County records in 1754 and 1768. Charles is also listed in the 1777 Tax List of Philipse Patent with many of his fellow Townsend relatives: Amos, Benjamin, Christopher, Daniel, James, John, Levi, Robert, Urian and Zebulon Townsend.

Charles Townsend is listed as serving in the Seventh Regiment in Dutchess County, New York in 1776 during the Revolutionary War [New York Genealogical Records, 1675-1920], and is included in the U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 as inducted as a Private in New York. Also listed as serving in the Seventh Regiment in Dutchess County are Charles' sons Charles, Jr., Zephaniah, Eber, James and Daniel.

Charles died sometime between August 1783 and 1805, likely in Frederick Township, Dutchess County, New York [Putnam County was established in 1805]. Additional information is needed on his family.

Disputed Parentage

The parentage of Charles Townsend has not been proven and is disputed. Some researchers believe Charles MAY have been a son of Elihu⁴ Townsend (Daniel³, Daniel², John¹), but other researchers, including Mr. Harry Macy, a long-time Townsend researcher, believe him to be a brother of Elihu and a son of Daniel³ Townsend (Daniel², John¹), based upon his birthdate range and the fact that if he were the son of Elihu, he would have most likely been the eldest son of Elihu and inherited land that Elihu owned in Dutchess/Putnam County when he died (which apparently did not happen). A will for Elihu Townsend has not been located, which would also be able to shed light on the parentage of Charles Townsend. More research is necessary to conclusively prove his parentage.

Notes

There is also much uncertainty regarding Charles Townsend and his possible parentage of daughter Elizabeth. There is at least some circumstantial evidence to reconstruct his probable or possible family. This information was gathered from several researchers that have spent extensive time looking at Dutchess/Putnam county New York records (those few that exist!) including:

Margaret Behme, 7072 W. Coldwater Rd., Flushing MI 48433

William T. Joiner, 726 S. 294th Place, Federal Way, WA 98003-3613

Harry Macy Jr., 300 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 (V.P. of Townsend Society of America)

From letter of William T. Joiner relating a letter he received from Harry Macy dated 9/27/1982:

Charles Townsend's wife may have been a Dickinson. Some of that name did go from Oyster Bay to Dutchess/Putnam (County) about the same time as the Townsends. But among all his granddaughters, Charles didn't have a single one named Phebe. Is it likely so many of his children would name sons Charles, and not name daughters for their mother? I have to be very skeptical indeed that Phebe (Dickinson) is correct. The Dickinson-Dickerson genealogy by Wesley L. Baker (1978) doesn't show any Phebe, or any marriage to a Charles Townsend, but his account of the Dickinsons in Dutchess Co. is almost nil.

From Letter of Margaret Behme, 7072 W. Coldwater Rd., Flushing, MI 48433, dated 9/14/1985

Zephaniah 2 Townsend (Charles1) named a daughter Elizabeth "Betsy", and she married Daniel North and lived in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York. Then couple moved to other places in New York before coming to Michigan to Flat Rock for a short time, then to Saline Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, where Daniel North died. Elizabeth came to Vassar, Tuscola County, Michigan, where she is buried on a son's lot at riverside Cemetery. Son Townsend Nathan North, founded Vassar with James Edmonds given land there for building bridge across Cass River. Had hotel, sawmill, garment factory and bank. Bank has been moved to Crossroads Historical Villiage, near Flint. Evidently there was family Bible no descendants that I know of now, but daughter Ula North was a schoolteacher at Vassar and she submitted Pioneer Collection Sheet citing family recollection & bible records giving Zephaniah's parents as Charles and Phoebe (Dickinson) Townsend.

From "History of Putnam County, New York", pg. 710: (information questionable)

Charles Townsend is supposed to have been a brother of Uriah and son of Elihu. He had sons, James and Elijah and Eber. Of these, Gen James Townsend was born in 1756, and died March 13, 1832. He was a prominent man of Carmel, and once owned the land where the Court House now stands. He married Priscilla, daughter of Elihu Cole, 1st, (note: this is probably incorrect - Charles Townsend's son, Gen. James Townsend married Priscilla Cole, daughter of Elisha Cole - the author probably got the two confused) and his children were: James, Alvah, Charles (who had sons Albert, David and others), Ardillo, Susannah (wife of Stephen Waring), Naomi (2nd wife of Dr. Robert Weeks), Mercy (wife of Isaacher Merrick) and Priscilla (wife of Levi Bailey).

http://www.paarplace.com/ght/gp3375.htm#head2

Family Group

Husband

Charles Townsend

Born: ABT. 1735 - Dutchess County, NY

Marr: -

Died: BET. 1804 - 1805 - Dutchess County, NY

Father: Elihu Townsend

Mother:

Other Spouses:

Wife

Phebe Dickinson

Born: ABT. 1740 -

Died: ABT. 1777 -

Father:

Mother:

Other Spouses:

Children

1. Elijah Townsend

Born: -

Died: 3 APR 1824 - Dutchess County, New York

2. Levi Townsend

Born: -

Marr: - Rebecca

Died: -

3. Zephaniah Townsend

Born: 1755 -

Marr: 1783 - Sarah Woodin

Died: -

4. Elizabeth Townsend

Born: 15 JUN 1755 -

Marr: - Joseph Hopkins

Died: -

5. James Townsend, General

Born: ABT. 1756 - Dutchess County, New York

Marr: - Priscilla Cole

Died: 13 MAR 1832 - Dutchess County, New York

6. Absalom Townsend

Born: ABT. 1758 - Dutchess County, New York

Died: BEF. 1 AUG 1783 - Dutchess County, New York

7. Eber Townsend

Born: ABT. 1760 - Dutchess County, NY

Marr: 1782 - Elizabeth Drew

Died: 17 JUL 1822 - Urbana Township, Steuben County, NY

8. Charles Townsend

Born: 16 APR 1766 - Fredericktown, Dutchess Co., New York

Marr: 1782 - Hannah Hall

Died: 12 JUN 1839 - Sullivan Co, New York

9. Mary Townsend

Born: 8 JAN 1774 - Urbana, Steuben County, New York

Died: 30 JUN 1840 - Urbana, Steuben County, New York

1. ↑ Joiner, William T., 726 S. 294th Place, Federal Way, WA 98003-3613. (Letter of 8/29/1985).
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 William S. Pelletreau. History of Putnam County, New York. (W.W. Preston, Philadelphia, PA)
   419.
3. ↑ Behme, Margaret - Flushing MI 48433.
4.   Dutchess County, New York genealogical records. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973).

   New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920
   Name: Charles Townsend
   Residence Date: 1776
   Residence Place: Dutchess, New York, United States
   Comments: Seventh Regiment

5.   United States. National Archives and Records Service, and United States. War Department. Revolutionary War rolls, 1775-1783: National Archives microfilm publications, pamphlet describing M246. (Washington, District of Columbia: National Archives and Records Service, 1980).

   U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
   Name: Charles Townsend
   Rank - Induction: Private
   Roll Box: 74
   Roll State: NY