... 65 Penn (Moses 51 Penn 45 Peter 5 William 1), born in Salem, 15 Sept. 1772, went to sea when a mere boy and was actually in command of a vessel before he had legally entered into manhood. His voyages were chiefly European, to the various Mediterranean ports or the northern ports of Russia. He lived two or three years in the latter country, at Archangel, and in Moscow. Later, he was for several years a Lieutenant in the U.S. Revenue Service, but finally retired from service and was afterwards engaged more or less actively, in business as a merchant. In the war of 1812 he was active in promoting privateering, being part owner with his brother Moses and others, of numerous private armed vessels and was himself in command of some of them, viz., the Mascedonian, the Grumbler, etc. He was noted for his daring, and became an object of dread on the part of British merchant vessels as is shown by the story printed in the Sailor's Magazine for July, 1855 (vol. 27, no 11). He died 20 Jan'y, 1846.
Capt. Townsend married, first (1 Dec., 1793), Mary, dau. of Capt. Addison and Mary (Greenleaf) Richardson, b. 19 Jan'y, 1772, d. 6 July, 1824 (for a notice of whose family and character see the RICHARDSON MEMORIAL by the Rev. Dr. Vinton); and, secondly (10 Jul 1827), Mrs. Sarah, widow of Capt. Jonathan Beckford and daughter of Samuel and Sally (Rind) Cheever, who survived him. By this second wife he had no issue. By Capt. Beckford she had a daughter Sarah who was married to Moses Stevens, esq., of Andover, and afterwards of Nashville, Tennessee. Three of Mrs. Stevens' children are still living, viz., the widow of Professor Lindsley, in Tennessee, the wife of Mr. Henry D. Johnson, and the widow of Mr. William Henry Emmerton, both in Salem.
Capt. Townsend's residence was the three story wooden house, built in 1795 by Joseph Hosmer and afterwards the property of Capt. Joseph White, who sold it to Capt. Townsend in 1814. It was here that he died. By his will of 8 Aug., 1845, proved 17 Feb, 1846, his wife Sarah and unmarried daughter Mary were to have the income of his property during their lives. After the death of the last survivor of them the whole estate was to go to his daughter, Mrs. Eliza G. Waters, or her heirs. William D. Waters, esq., was appointed executor.
