Person:Zephaniah Townsend (1)

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

Also, from Harry Macy's letter of 27 Sept. 1982, page 3: Sharon DuPont wrote to me that Mrs. Behme found the reference to Charles and Phebe (Dickinson) Townsend as parents of Zephaniah in the North Family Papers at Michigan State Library. I am now inclined to believe that Zephaniah was indeed Charles' son. Tagliapietra says Zeph had a brother Elijah, and of course Charles had a son of that name. Also, Levi named his sons Charles and Zephaniah, so he too may be a son of Charles, and a brother of Zeph.

Subj: Zepheniah Townsend Date:05/12/2001 9:14:51 AM Pacific Daylight Time From:sivory42@@earthlink.net ( ) Reply-to:sivory42@@earthlink.net To:delijim@@aol.com (Jim)

Hi Jim, I sent this in ASCII. If that made a mess, just tell me what word processor to send it in. A GEDCOM file of my genealogy files would not be useful as, from what you said, I surmise you have Margaret Behme's work and the Townsend Society publications. (Our original correspondence did not mention what you wanted me to send. I'll share anything you want.) Sharon

Zepheniah Townsend file

U.S. Census 1790 Frederickstown, Duchess Co. NY Zepheniah Townsend lived with three boys, probably a wife, and two girls.

U.S. Census 1800 Carmel, Duchess Co. NY Zepheniah Townsend lived with 3 boys, wife, and 6 girls

U.S. Census 1810 Rochester Township, Ulster County, NY

Zepheniah Townsend lived with 1 boy and 5 girls and probably his wife

Cutter, William. Genealogy and Family History of Western New York. (Lewis Historical Publishing Co. All.) Viol

page 985 Philetus Edward Townsend born 4 June 1818, son of Marcus Townsend (of whom further) was the father of Electa A. Townsend Curtis. He married Caroline Dodge, daughter of Don C. Dodge. His children: George E. born 1844, Electa Adelaide born 1846, Virginia A. born 1848 and one other who died in infancy. Philetus was a railroad contractor and for some years the warden of Auborn Prison at Auborn, New York. Marcus Townsend born 8 Sept. 1784 was a son of Zepheniah Townsend. He married Mary Bemus born 9 Dec. 1786 probably at Esopus-on-Hudson. Their children: Juliana, Roxana, Elijah, Martha, Martin, Philetus Edward, Mary and Sarah. Zepheniah Townsend (first name sometimes spelled Zepheniah) lived at Esopus-on-Hudson. He was a descendant of the Townsends who settled at Oyster Bay, Long Island in 1622. . . The Oyster Bay Townshends were Quakers. . . . Zepheniah married Sarah Woodin, an English girl. Their children were: Marcus, Richard, Nathan, George, Emily, Angeline, Betsey and Kate.

Michigan State Library - Pioneer Record Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan

page 501 Pioneer: Daniel North (l785-l851) m. Eliz. Townsend

Daniel North's wife was Elizabeth Townsend. Elizabeth's father was Zepheniah Townsend son of Charles Townsend and Phebe Dickenson of Connecticut.

Elizabeth's mother was Sarah Wright. [Wright should be Woodin. si]

Pelletreau, William. History of Putnam County New York (Brewster, NY: W. W. Preston Co., 1975. Reprint of l886 edition.)

The lands in the "oblong" by the Connecticut border were speedily settled because one could purchase lands with an indisputable title. Townsends came from Long Island. "Affidavit of Timothy Shaw l767" states that before l756 Dan Townsend was a tenant of Adolph Philipse (the patent holder.) John and James Dickenson were also tenants.

Population of Frederickstown in l790 was 5932

                  Carmel  in 1800 was l979
                Carmel in l810 was 2020

page 95-96 New York 30 August l788. Formal deeds were given to the following Townsends among many others for the forfeited lands of Robert and Mary Morris: James Townsend Lot 352 Isaac Townsend Lot l56 John Townsend Lot 100

page 119-120 The English inhabitants came to the Phillipse Patent as early as l725. Townsends were among the early settlers. Everyone leased farms until l765 when the first tract was sold. Daniel Townsend was a tenant as sworn to by Timothy Shaw.

page 121 Taxable inhabitants of Phillipse Patent in l777

   (Townsends were among many others.)

Southeast Precinct - Benjamin Townsend, Uriah Townsend Lot 2, Robert Townsend Lot 4 Fredricksburgh Precinct - Charles Townsend Lot 2, Benjamin Townsend Lot 2, Robert Townsend Lot 1, Christopher Townsend Lot 1, James Townsend Lot 1, John Townsend Lot 2, Levi Townsend Lot 1, Elijah Townsend Lot 1, Isaac Townsend Lot 1, Zebulon Townsend Lot 1, Uriah Townsend Lot 1, Daniel Townsend, Amos Townsend.

page 135-36 a highway was laid out in l754 that went past Thomas Townsend's

page l50 In l757 Daniel Townsend was an assessor

page 283-84 In the Field Book of Survey Lot 6 made April 12th l762 by Benjamin Morgan among others living on the part of the lot that now embraces the town(ship) of Carmel were Daniel Townsend and _____ Wooden.

A man named Wooden had a mill on the west branch of the Croton,

town(ship) Carmel about l745.

page 290 In l771 a boundary line was set that "at 550 made a monument of stones in Charles Townsend's field" town(ship) of Carmel.

page 308 Daniel Townsend signed the call given to Ebenezer Knibloe to be the pastor to the "Western Society of Philippi."

page 413 The Townsend family probably came to Lot 9 of the Philipse Patent (Southeast town(ship)) about l732 at the time of the division. David Townsend was the original owner of Oblong Lot 6. In l745 Elihu Townsend was living there (probably his son.) In l801 Elihu willed to his son Uriah's boys: Abijah, Elihu, Samuel, Abraham and Steven, lands in Lot 6.

1791 Isaac Townsend sold land next to the Connecticut border.

l773 Uriah Townsend chosen highway master

l754 Daniel Townsend Jr and Charles Townsend were listed as tenants on Lot 8. Charles was listed again in l786.

1754 Daniel Townsend Jr. leased a farm from Margaret Ogilvie (the Phillips patent holder.)

l754 a road went past Thomas Townsend's land

South precinct officers for l757 and l759 included Daniel Townsend

"Field Book Survey of Lot 6 made April l2, l762" ____Woodin, Daniel Townsend and others leased farms on Lot 6

l7 October l771 Charles Townsend had a field that was the west boundary

in a legal description.

Daniel Townsend was a member of the Western Society of Philippi in l756. The society had a log meeting house. It was the oldest Congregational Church in Carmel. May have been built as early as l745. In l774 the church became Presbyterian.

page 419 The survey in l754 showed Daniel Townsend jr. and Charles Townsend among other tenants on Lot 8 of the Philipse Patent.

Survey 1st May l768 tenant Charles Townsend et al

Survey Lot 8 l810 Abijah Townsend Lot l55 and woodlot 4.

page 657 Thomas and John Townsend from Oyster Bay lived in Patterson originally Franklin town(ship) in l790 and before.

pages 708-710 THE TOWNSEND FAMILY Among the early settlers of Queens county, Long Island, were John and Henry Townsend, who were the progenitors of a very extensive family. The first of the name who appears in Putnam county was David Townsend, who, in l735, was the owner of Lot No. 6 on the Oblong, which was the extreme southeast corner of the county. His son, Elihu Townsend, was born in Oyster Bay, Long Island, August l704, and moving to the Oblong, lived on the Lot No. 6, as above described. His house stood in the town of North Salem, a short distance south of the county line, and he died there in July, l805

His son, Uriah Townsend, was born in l732. His homestead was in the original lot but north of the county line in the town of Southeast. He died in l804, leaving five sons: Abijah, born l780, died November 5th l838; Elihu, Samuel, Abraham and Stephen. Elihu Townsend gave his farm to these grandsons by son, Uriah, whose son Keeler was a well known citizen of the town. Elihu went to Canada. He had two sons, Henry and James. Abraham left no descendants. Stephen went to Susquehannah.

Samuel Townsend was born November 25th, l772, and died May 20th, l853. His homestead, during the greater part of his life, was the tract in the town of Kent, who has long borne the name of Townsend's Ridge. The farm was originally in the possession of Nathan Crosby, who held it as a tenant of the Philipse family, and it was afterward purchased by Samuel Townsend. Mr. Townsend married Keturah, daughter of Nathan Crosby. Their children were: Polly, born May 7th, l792, married Lewis Ludington; Zillah, born May 9th, l794, married Peter Smith; Anna, born November 5th, l797, and now living at Brewster; Warren, born September 23rd, l802, died May 10th, l859; Horace, born December 20th, l804, died February 2d, l852; and Samuel A., born May 20th, l810, now living in Carmel.

Coleman Townsend, who is a well-known resident of Brewster, married Malinda Ogden. She died in l870. Their children were: Zillah, wife of Alanson Robinson; Elihu, who died at sea July 2d, l858, aged 38; and Peter B., deceased.

Warren Townsend was a prominent citizen of Carmel. He married Betsey, daughter of Thomas Caldwell. Their children were: John, who is now living in Pawling; Marriette, wife of George M. Hughson, of Carmel; Edgar, now living in Patterson; Thomas, deceased; Samuel K., deceased; Charlotte H., wife of David C. Hughson; and Eli, now living in Kent.

Horace Townsend was a resident of Farmer's Mills, and was a prominent citizen when that village was in the days of its glory. He married Philinda, daughter of Daniel Kent, and had two children: Laura, wife of Peter Smith, and Coleman K., now living near Brewster.

Mr. Samuel A. Townsend was born on the old homestead on Townsend's Ridge, and the early part of his business life was passed on the farm in the town of Kent, now owned by Putnam Light. About l852 he went to reside on the homestead of his father, and continued there till l868, since which time he has passed a life of retired leisure in the village of Carmel. Besides conducting his extensive farm he was in earlier years an extensive dealer in cattle. Mr. Townsend married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Caldwell. Their children were: Henry, born April 30th, l832, died August 5th, l871; Mary A., Cyrus C., Zillah and Susan.

Mr. Cyrus C. Townsend, who is well known as an extensive farmer of the town of Kent, was born on his father's farm March l7th, l837. When fifteen years old he came with his father to reside on the old homestead of his grandfather, on Townsend Ridge, and this has been his residence till the present time. The original farm has been largely increased till it now embraces 280 acres and is one of the finest in the town and county. On this homestead, near the present barn, was, in the middle of the last century, an enclosure known as the "Horse Pound," which gave its name to the principal road through Kent and Carmel. It was made for the purpose of securing the large numbers of stray horses which ran at large in early times. Long lines of fence converged to the pound, and between these the horses were driven to the enclosure.

Mr. Townsend married Eunice, daughter of Alexander Penney. They have two children, Ethel Glenn and Bessie.

Henry Townsend, brother of Cyrus C. Townsend, married Angeline, daughter of Stephen R. Barrett. Their children were: Arthur, Wilbert, Byron, Cassie (wife of Coleman T. Henion), and Emily.

Besides the family of Elihu Townsend, whose descendants have been traced above, there are several other families of the name, the exact relationship of whom is unknown. On the assessment roll of l777, the names of Daniel, Charles, Benjamin, Robert, Christopher, James, John, Levi, Elijah, Isaac, Zebulon and Uriah Townsend are found. Charles Townsend is supposed to have been a brother of Uriah and son of Elihu. He had sons, James and Elijah (mentioned above) and Eber. Of these Gen. James Townsend was born in l756, and died March 13th, l832. 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, lst, and his children were: James, Alvah, Charles (who had sons Albert, David and others), Ardillio, Susannah (wife of Stephen Waring), Naomai, (2nd wife of Dr. Robert Weeks), Mercy (wife of Issacher Merrick) and Priscilla (wife Levi Bailey).

Elijah Townsend (brother of General James) died in l823. He had sons, James, Melankie, Charles and Joshua. The last died November 9th, l858, aged 70 years, 11 months and 11 days. He had sons: Stephen, born in l810; Harvey, Alonzo, Coleman and Hamilton. Stephen has children: Isaac, Orville, James, John, Freeman, Augustus and Coleman S., who lives in Carmel, near Long Pond.

Benjamin Townsend was living near Lake Mahopac in the early part of this century. His house stands about a quarter of a mile east of the railroad station. The first Methodist meetings were held there. He died May 2d, l838, aged 79. He had a wife Anna, and a daughter who married Nathaniel Crane.

Isaac Townsend was living on Lot 6 on the Oblong, near Uriah Townsend, in l791. Nothing is known of his family.

Christopher Townsend is supposed to have been the father of John Townsend, who married Jemima Travis. Among his descendants may be mentioned Professor Cleveland Abbe of Washington, D.C.

Revolutionary War Records, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Pay Roll (copy of N.Y. Record) Captain Myricks Co. Rangers N.Y. (Raised in Dutchess County) Sergt. Zepheniah Townsend Enlistment to Dec. 26, l776 Roll dated Feb. 24, l777 Commencing Oct. 8, l777 Ending Dec 26, l777 Weeks 11 days 2

Enlistment 27 Dec l776-Jan. 31, l777 Roll dated Feb. 24, l777 Commencing Dec. 27, l776 Ending Jan. 31, l777 5 weeks 1 day

for Feb. 1 to Mar. 31, l777 Roll dated Fishkill April 1, l777 Beginning Feb 1 Ending March 15 6 weeks 1 day

Zepheniah Townsend Grahms regiment NY militia Captain Elijah Townsends Co.

  Payroll Aug 1 - Sept. l8, l778
  Commencing Aug 1 
  Pay date Sept. 9

Roberts, James. New York in the Revolution. (Albany, NY.: Brandow Printing Co., 1898.)

page 148 Dutchess County Militia 6th regiment

         Colonel Morris Graham

Colonel Roswell Hope

             enlisted men:

Townsend, Charles Townsend, James Townsend, Zephaniah et al Associated exempts Townsend, Amos

page l52 Dutchess County Militia 7th Regiment

         Colonel Henry Ludington. 

Adjutant Elijah Townsend

              enlisted men:
               Townsend, Zephaniah et al       

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1. ↑ Joiner, William T., 726 S. 294th Place, Federal Way, WA 98003-3613. (Letter of 8/29/1985).
2. ↑ Behme, Margaret - Flushing MI 48433.
3.   New York in the Revolution as colony and state. (Albany, N.Y.: unknown, 1904).

   Heading: Dutchess County Militia -- Seventh Regiment
   Rank: Enlisted Men
   Name: Zephaniah Townsend