Person:Richard Townsend (9)

Information on Richard Townsend

From "A memorial of John, Henry, and Richard Townsend, and their descendants", pg. 211:

Richard Townsend 1st. Nothing is known of this youngest of the Townsend brothers until he appears at Jamaica, in 1656. The first time his name occurs on the Oyster Bay Records is in 1668, when he bought land at Lusum, of Robert Williams. It is only in connection with that, and other purchases and allotments, that he appears upon the Records, His first wife was a sister of Henry's wife, and a daughter of Robert Coles. The second was Elizabeth Wicks, or Weeks, of Warwick, R. I., whose brother John married Rose, daughter of John 1st. The date of his death is not known, but the settlement of his estate, which we copy below, is dated early in 1671, and as his son Richard was then but twelve weeks old he could not have been dead a great while.

Will of Elizabeth Townsend, wife of Richard Townsend

"These presents declareth unto all whom it may anywise concern, that I, Elizabeth Townsend, widow of the late deceased Richard Townsend, of Lusum, near Oyster Bay, in the North Riding, on Long Island, with the advice and consent of my husband's brother, Henry Townsend, and John Townsend his cousin, of the above said place, do consent and agree to divide and part my estate as followeth, being made executors by the Goveruor's order, because no will was made by my husband.

"Therefore, it is ordered and agreed that I am to have my house I now possess and house lot, with all the land I now possess belonging to it, fenced and broken up and improved, and so much more westward joining to the rear of it to the sum of fifteen acres, with meadow at south and Plains, during my life; but the rest of the woodland my husband bought of Robert Williams is to be my son John Townsend's, when he comes to age, except six acres I reserve for a daughter, if I see cause.

"But after my decease my son Richard Townsend, now twelve weeks old, is to have my house and house lot and one-half the house plot, with the orchard that now is, and so much land to the rear of it westward, to the sum of fifteen acres, being all of the first purchase of the land of Robert Williams ; and at my decease, then my son John Townsend above said is to have all the lands remaining of the first and second purchases, except six acres I reserve for a dauo-hter above said, and the other half of the house plot above excepted to build on, if he see cause ; but it is to be understood that the said six acres is on the nortli side of the last purchase, and that all my husband's right of meadow and plains is to be divided between my sons John and Richard Townsend, for their own proper right and interest forever; but if either of them die under age, his living brother is to possess and enjoy the deceased's lands as his own proper right; but, if I see cause, ten acres of plains is to be my son John's, when he comes to age, to possess and enjoy as the other woodland above said.

"And to my above said husband's two oldest daughters, Dinah and Leah, I do give, and by this deliver in present possession, for their part of their father's estate, two young horses, three years old, apiece, and two two-year-old heifers, two cushions, two feather pillows, two coverlets, a white wrought petticoat, and bedding blankets—all to be divided between them two ; and the twenty acres of land the Town of Oyster Bay did give their father, I do also give and confirm unto the said Dinah and Leah, for their own proper right and interest; but if they sell it,

"I desire that for my son or my brother John Weeks, or one of the above-mentioned persons, may have knowledge and refusal of it, giving so much as another will for it.

"And to my three youngest daughters, Hannah, Deliverance, and Mary, I give in present possession one three-year-old bay mare, that is, in consideration of a colt their grandfather Weeks gave them. But all the rest of bedding, goods, and household stuff, with the rest of horses and cattle, are to remain in my hands for my use and comfort, toward the bringing up of my children; being but young and tender, do not know but it may be all spent in bringing them up, the estate being but small ; therefore to engage to give portions to them —I mean to my own three youngest daughters, Hannah, Mary, and Deliverance—it is hard for me to promise and engage, least that I have may be spent in bringing them up. But I do by this promise and firmly agree, that if I marry, or go out of this jurisdiction in way of removal, to give an invoice of all movables, household stuff, goods, and chattels unto my husband's brother, Henry Townsend, and his cousin, John Townsend, who are chosen by me, bemg related to the children, and my brother John Weeks, if he comes to dwell here in this jurisdiction, for overseers ; but if he come not here, then the said Henry Townsend and John Townsend may act as overseers betw een the children and myself. But if one or both of them die, then all, or some of them (I mean of my children under age that then are), shall have liberty to choose one or more, as need shall require, provided they inhabit in this jurisdiction, for their overseers. 'That then the said overseers that are then extants are to take the invoice, if they like it, or take another themselves, if they please ; that I may then have my thirds out of all the movable goods and chattels, and the other two-thirds is to be divided amongst my three daughters, Hannah, Mary, and Deliverance, or to them that are then alive; and the overseers shall by this have power to do it if I marry again, or remove out of this jurisdiction above said, or if I decease it shall be the same, only then my one-third s hall be theirs to whom I shall give it; but if I remain here during this my widowhood, I have liberty to give to my own three daughters above said, on marriage or otherwise, for their portion as I shall see cause, according to my ability.

"And to every of the above-mentioned promises and engagements, I firmly engage to perform. As witness my hand and seal, this eighth day of the 2d month, 1671.

"Elizabeth Townsend. "In presence of us, "Joseph JS'icholson, "Mary Willis, "Henry Townsend, "John Townsend.

"And we, the above-mentioned Henry and John Townsend, do own and consent to the above said, -and do stand as witnesses also.

Note: The John Townsend here mentioned as the cousin of Richard was his nephew, John, Sen., of Lnsum. There are many instances in which nephews are called cousins; indeed, we do not remember their being called any thing else by that generation. Of Richard's daughters we know nothing. •

Additional Information Richard Townsend

http://cgi.cs.arizona.edu/~gmt/gdb/gdb.cgi/RT00TYZ

Richard Townsend born England died 1670 Lusum, Long Island, NY

father: [Unknown] Townsend

married Deliverance Coles abt 1651

married Elizabeth Weeks

1. ↑ Behme, Margaret - Flushing MI 48433.
2.   Bunker, Mary Powell. Long Island Genealogies. (Albany, New York, United States: Joel Munsell's Sons, 1895)
   p 124.

   In 1657, Richard Townsend and his older brothers were all living at Jamaica, L. I., but in 1658 Richard settled at Pawtucket, where he married 2d Elizabeth, dau. of John Wicks, one of the original settlers of Warwick who had changed his place of abode on account of persecution for not joining the authorities against Quakers and others. Richard1 Townsend died at Jericho, L. I., about 1671. He and his family, and the brother and sisters of both his wives having all removed and settled with their families in Queens Co., L. I. The children of Richard1 and his 2d wife Elisabeh Wicks, were :
   
   John3 m. 1st Phebe, dau. of Robert Williams, m. 2d Mercy , he d. 1721.
   
   Richard3 m. Ruth Marvin, dau. of John and Hannah (Smith).
   
   Hannah,3 Mary,3 Deliverance.3
   
   Richard2 Townsend1s widow m. John Smith of Hempstead, whose first wife was a dau. of Richard and Experience (Gildersleeve), Smith died in 1694. Will gives some property to Richard3 Townsend, he to provide for his mother and sister Elisabeth Smith.

3.   Cutter, William Richard. New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of the Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation. (New York, New York, United States: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913-14)
   3/1202.
4.   Cocks, George William. 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. (Somerville, New Jersey: Unionist Gazette Association, 1914)
   365-372.

   It seems probable that Henry and Richard being unmarried and possibly under age. had been a part of John's household, and with him sometime In the year 1648 removed to Rhode Island and Providence Plantations ; from Dr. Peter Townsend's mss. notes on the records of which, it Is possible to show much of interest about the three brothers. In the latter part of 1648 they each had lots laid out, and meadows apportioned to them. Jan. 23. 1648/9 all three names appear on "The Fundamental Agreement or Bill of Rights for the Town of Warwick." They were officially received as Inhabitants of Warwick and so recorded.

5.   Rhode Island. General Assembly, and Rhode Island Historical Society. Librarian. The early records of the town of Warwick. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1973)
   278.

   Know all men by these Presentes that wheras I Mary Coles widdowe of Robert Coles late diseased Inhabiting in this Towne of warwicke in ye Coloney of Providence Plantationes in new england beeing Apoynted by ye Towne Counsell to give deedes of such launds as my husband during the time of his life had either Sould or given, therefore I Mary Coles doe by this Act give and graunt unto my Soninlaw Richard Townsend 8 akers of meddowe more or lesse at the south end of ye greate meddowe: Called by ye Indians Ochinainonankanett and doe by this act passe over Establish and Confirme the sayde Meddowe with Apurtinances therin Contayned to him his heires Executors Administrators from mee my heirs Executors Administrators forever quietly to heave and to hould without molestation from mee or any by mee witnesse my hand this 5th of Aprell 1656
   Mary Coles (her mark)
   Sighned Sealed and delivered in Presenc of us
   John Greene Junior
   Mathias Harvy

6. ↑ Lusum was later renamed Jericho