Individual Details
Daniel Townsend Sr.
(1727 - 1731 - Aft 1793)
Daniel's parentage is still unknown.
Beatrice Reynolds has extensively researched several early Maine families including Townsend. The following is from her latest work published in 2010.
i
PREFACE
Daniel Townsend, Sr., and Hannah Bibber filed marriage intentions in North Yarmouth on November 4, 1752 (Ruth Wilder Sherman, Vital Records of North Yarmouth, Maine to the Year 1850. 2nd ed. Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1980, p. 203). North Yarmouth included the present towns of Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, and Cumberland with Harpswell separating in 1789, Freeport in 1798, Pownal and Cumberland in 1820, so they could have married in any one of them. However, a search of the vital records of these towns on microfilm at the Maine State Archives did not cite anyone named Bibber or Townsend. All that is known is that James Bibber supposedly migrated from the Isle of Jersey, settling in Phippsburg in 1706. He later moved to Harpswell, which was settled in 1731. The Bibber genealogy published on the internet lists his descendants, but makes no mention of Hannah Bibber, wife of Daniel. There were only two Bibber men enumerated in 1790 in Maine: Lemuel and James who both lived in Harpswell. Likewise, a search of the vital records on Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine revealed neither Daniel’s date of birth or the birth dates of his wife and their children.
Early Settlers in Lincoln County. The only documents found on Daniel Townsend were at the Registry of Deeds in Wiscasset, Lincoln County which cited his residency, rank as “yeoman” and profession as “housewright” in his land tractions in Harpswell, Pownalborough (1757 and 1760-1761), and Vassalborough (that part which became Sidney in 1792) in the Province of Maine. In 1761, Daniel sold 34 acres of land on the island called New Dumascove (probably Damariscove) to William Haskell, mariner, of Harpswell (Cumberland deed Vol. 3:201), who was enumerated in 1790 in Harpswell seven houses north of James Bibber. On September 24, 1764 Daniel Townsend, Sr. “of the Kennebec River” purchased 250 acres of land from the Kennebec proprietors on the west side of the Kennebec River in Lincoln County, signed/sealed on September 24, 1765 in the presence of James Howard and James Howard, Jr. and recorded in the Registry of Deeds, Lincoln County, August 30,1766. On April 16, 1793, Daniel and Hannah and their son Dodivah “all of Sidney” sold land to Thaddeus Snell of Hallowell and William Snell of Vassalborough. Hannah Townsend set her seal on the deed, signed and delivered to the Kennebec County Court Registry of Deeds in Augusta. The Vassalborough Town Records (microfilm roll #597) indicate that Daniel Townsend took an active role in town government. On April 26, 1771, he was elected fence and field viewer (Alan Pierce Robbins, The History of Vassalborough, Maine, p. 15). On May 2, 1771 he was elected warden (microfilm roll #597, p. 7) and fence viewer again in 1776 (p. 33) and 1781 (p. 81), and again in 1787 (p. 141). According to Daniel’s grandson Ruel Townsend, his grandparents came from Massachusetts with seven children (James W. North, The History of Augusta, Maine [1981], facsimile of the 1870 edition, p. 95), but then, Maine was part of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, erroneous information has been published on this family, based on early records of the Townsend descendants who joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose lineages have since been rejected, except for the descent from Daniel Townsend Jr. and his ii
wife Sarah (Butterfield) whose Revolutionary pension file provides proof of lineage and service in the military. Note: Fisher & Fisher‘s Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War, published by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, includes erroneous information on the Townsend family which is not acceptable for current membership in the society. Townsend Families in Hingham. A search of Townsend families in Lynn, Abington, Boston, Reading, Hingham, and other towns in Massachusetts made no reference to Daniel Townsend, nor is he cited in the vital records of the towns that comprised North Yarmouth, Maine in the 1700s, other than his marriage intentions to Hannah Bibber. It was thought at one time that Daniel was descended from Robert Townsend of Hingham who married on November 24, 1720 Abigail Beal of Hingham, Massachusetts, born December 13, 1699, daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Lane) Beal (Vital Records Hingham, Massachusetts; and the Beal genealogy in George Lincoln, The History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts: The Genealogies, Vol. 2, p. 57 [1982]), but the town in which they married was not cited in the History of Hingham, nor was the marriage recorded in the Hingham vital records. Robert Townsend’s name appears in the “Plymouth Court Records 1686-1859” (Vol. 3, 204) as a defendant with others in a court case on September 27, 1731 (Vol. 15, 470), and in another court case regarding the “warning out of Nappy, alias Abigail Cain” of Hingham “to depart town, August 20, 1767”, he being called “Ensign Robert Townsend.” He also served in French-Indian Wars 1748-1763, for Abington, Massachusetts, called Ensign Robert Townsend (New England Historical Genealogy Society, “Mass. Officers Soldiers in the Colonial War”). Robert Townsend, Jr. so called also served for Hingham in Capt. Read’s Company in Canada in Col. Clapp’s regiment (The History of the Town of Hingham, op. cit., p. 260). Ensign Robert Townsend filed marriage intentions at Abington, Massachusetts on April 14, 1770 with Patience Hersey (Vital Records Abington, p. 216) as her 3rd husband, although he was not called “Ensign” in the marriage records. Patience married (1) as Patience Soanes or Somes on March 15, 1721, at Pembroke, Massachusetts Elisha Bisbee by whom she had at least four children born 1724-1738 born at Pembroke. (Elisha Bisbee may the son of Ensign Elisha3 and his 2nd wife Mrs. Mary (Jacob) Bacon (The History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, (opt cit., p. 82) who “prob. removed from there after the birth of Elisha born 28 February 1687-88” (loc. cit.) As “Mrs. Patience Bisbee of Pembroke” she filed marriage intentions with (2) William Hersey on September 20, 1760 at Abington, Massachusetts (Vital Records, p. 31). The three marriages of Townsend women who married in Hingham were: (a) Mehitable Townsend (b. 1700; d. at Hingham, July 18, 1770, age 70, History of Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, p. 450) married December 2, 1725 Moses Lincoln (b. February 25, 1687-88, loc. cit.) as his 2nd wife, she possibly being Robert’s sister). Their children were Elijah (1727-1727/8), Elijah and Welcome (twins b. 1729), Sarah (1734-1736), and Sarah (1738-1781, loc. cit., p. 450) who married John Hersey, son of Jeremiah3 (John2, William1, p. 301) by whom she had nine children born 1765-1777, three of whom were born at Milton, Massachusetts (loc. cit.). (b) Abigail Townsend (b. 1718; d. September 30, 1754 age 36, History of Hingham, Vol. 3, p. 219). She married as his first wife November 25, 1742 Samuel4 Stowell, Jr., baptized iii
November 29, 1719 at Hingham (loc. cit.) by whom she had Abigail (died young) and Samuel born March 4, 1744/45 (loc. cit.). Note: Abigail may be the daughter of another Townsend or the daughter Robert Townsend by a first wife. If she were illegitimate, her birth name would have been that of her mother. Samuel Stowell married (2) November 6, 1755 Hannah Lambert (loc. cit.). (c) Lydia Townsend married December 13, 1748 Arthur Cain, whose six children were born at Hingham 1750-1763: Arthur, Lydia, Joanna, Miriam, Ann, and Robert (History of the Town Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, pp. 114). Note: a Joanna Townsend married May 21, 1761 John Lincoln at Abington, Massachusetts born at Weymouth, Massachusetts July 12, 1732, son of Elisha4 and Melia (Whitcomb) Lincoln (History of the Town of Hingham, op. cit. ol. III p. 7).
Townsend Families in Abington, Massachusetts and York County (Maine) Settling in Abington were Benjamin Townsend and his wife Sarah (Petty) who were married on April 29, 1750 at Weymouth, Massachusetts (VR Weymouth, p. 211) and whose children settled in Freeport, Maine. He was the eldest of the Townsend men who settled there, based on the birth records of his six children 1751-1773 (p. 369). Since Robert Townsend and Robert Townsend, Jr. were cited in the Vital Records of Abington, it is likely that Benjamin and Robert Jr. are the sons of Robert of Hingham. However, there is no evidence that Daniel Townsend of Maine associated with the families of Abington or Freeport, Maine where the sons of Benjamin settled just prior to 1790. Of interest is a Dodivah Townsend Jr. born say 1777 in Massachusetts who lived in Biddeford, Maine. He married there on May 7, 1812 Mrs. Dorcas McNelly (p. 175), but his parentage is unknown. Also, a Daniel Townsend, Jr. witnessed a will on December 25, 1811 for Phineas Downs of Phippsburg, Maine, who died testate (William D. Patterson, ed. Lincoln County Probate Records 1760-1800 [1991], p. 347). In 1790 Phineas (so spelled) Downs was enumerated in Little Falls, York County (Maine) within two doors of Daniel Townsend and Daniel Townsend, Jr. Other Townsend men enumerated in Little Falls in 1790 were Abraham, Jr., Nathan, Abraham, and Isaac. Bisbee and Lincoln Familes of Vassalborough (that part which is now Sidney): Ties to Hingham. Martha (Moore) Ballard, a midwife of Hallowell kept a diary in which she documented daily events from 1785 to 1812. Of interest are her numerous entries on Elisha and Polly Bisbee, the first being made on Mrs. Bisbee on June 15, 1785 (p. 11). Mrs. Ballard also wrote that Benjamin Bisbees’s daughter was born on March 6, 1788 and mentioned that Polly Bisbe (so spelled) “rode her the horse back” on March 28, 1788 (p. 88). On September 11, 1797 she wrote that the “Old Lady Tousin of Sidney, mrs, Savage & Cyfers here”. On January 22, 1797, she mentioned the birth of Mr. Linkon’s (so spelled for Lincoln) daughter (p. 398), probably born at Vassalbough (Sidney), since he was enumerated there in 1790 with a family of one male age 16 and upwards, 1 male under age 16, and 1 female. On September 11, 1797 she wrote that the “Old Lady Tousin of Sidney, mrs, Savage & Cyfers here”. On February 7, 1799, she wrote that “Old mr Townsin of Sidney” visited her (p. 470); and on April 15, 1802, she wrote “Death of Daniel Townsins wife in Child bed” (p. 574). iv
US Census and Tax Rolls.
The 1790 Daniel Townsen (so spelled) and Dodifer (so spelled) Townsend were enumerated in Vassalborough, and Daniel Townsend, Jr.’s name appears on the Hallowell tax roll in 1772. The Vassalborough Town Records show that a John Townsend was elected warden on March 8, 1779 (p. 55), but he is not enumerated in 1790 in Maine. Another John Townsend lived in Sidney, who was born in New York.
************ 1 DANIEL TOWNSEND, SR.
Children of Daniel and Hannah Townsend; no birth records found for them.
1. Daniel d. March 28, 1778 as a soldier in the American Revolution. His estate was probated June 15, 1779 at Wiscasset, Maine. He m. at Hallowell, Maine June 16, 1772 Sarah Ingles Butterfield, daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Snow) Butterfield of Hallowell, Maine. She m. (2) June 21, 1780 Nathan Sawtell.
2. Abigail m. June 16, 1772 (int. June 13, 1772) Philip Snow (Vital Records Hallowell, Maine to the year 1892 Vol. 1 Births and Marriages, p. 100), b. Februay 18, 1748 at Dunstable, Mass., son of Jonathan and Sarah Snow. He died 1850 at Charleston, Maine age 102.
3. Robert d. April 1846 at Siepio Twp. Meig’s County, Ohio. M. November 1, 1781 at Vassalborough Ruth Sawtell b. Dececember 14, 1759, Groton, Mass., daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Merriam) Sawtell, Sr.; d. unknown. Robert lived previously in Washington, Maine, now Belgrade.
4. Rebecca (unmarried) gave birth to a son on October 24, 1786. Martha Ballard wrote in her diary: “Rebeca Tounsen a Son Born” (The Diary of Martha Ballad, op. cit., p, 48).
5. Hannah m. July 6, 1788 at Vassalborough Hosea Gould (not enumerated in 1790 in Maine).
6. Dodivah m. (int. May 18, 1785) Sarah Hastings, daughter of Mathew and Mary (Battle) Hastings of Vassalborough (that part which is now Sidney). He m. (2) Sarah (Lovejoy) Lincoln, daughter of Capt. Abiel and Mary (Brown) Lovejoy of Vassalborough, wife of Matthew Lincoln who married (1) in 1809 Betsy Rollins in Vassalborough.
7. Betsy m. April 23, 1797 Isaac Cowin (Cowen) at Vassalborough (“Vassalborough Records, Book II Marriages 1780-1827,” p. 418).
************
From her earlier work - Reynolds, Beatrice Kay. Maine Families in 1790, Volume 5, pages 306-308 (HBPL)
Daniel Townsend and Hannah Bibber (00252 / 00253)
Daniel Townsend, marriage intentions North Yarmouth 4 November 1752, Hannah Bibber (Vital Records). On 16 May 1761, Daniel Townsend, housewright, of Harpswell, sold 34 acres on an island called New Dumascove [probably should be Damariscove] to William Haskell, mariner, of Harpswell (Cumberland County deed 3:201). Daniel's wife, Hannah, signed off. On 5 November 1767, he bought land on the west side of the Kennebec River [the part now Sidney] from John Estes of Harpswell (Lincoln County deed 4:455). He was 'of the Kennebec River' on 24 September 1764 when he bought 250 acres in Vassalborough from the Kennebec proprietors (Lincoln County deed 1:122-23, 2:125). Daniel was active in the early town government of Vassalborough. In 1776, 1781, and 1787, he was elected fence viewer and, in 1784, warden (Town Records). Martha Ballard writes in her diary 11 September 1797 that "Old Lady Tousin of Sidney' visited her and 5 February 1799 that "old mr. ['Dear' scratched out] tousin was here" (Robert R. McCausland and Cynthia MacAlman McCausland, eds. The Diary of Martha Ballard 1785-1812 [1992], hereafter Ballard Diary, pp. 423, 470). Daniel is not listed in the 1800 USC although he and Hannah were living as of 7 May 1803 when they and their son Dodivah sold land in Sidney to Jeremiah Thayer and Paul Bailey, both of Sidney (Kennebec County deed 5:456). Daniel and Dodivah Townsend are the only landowners with that surname in Vassalborough up to 1805 and the only Townsends in Vassalborough in the 1790 USC. It is concluded that those named Townsend who married in Vassalborough in the late 18th century, or whose residence was Vassalborough when they enlisted in the Revolutionary War, are probably Daniel's children (Reynolds, 306).
James W. North's History of Augusta says that Daniel Townsend, an early settler, was of Kennebec when lot number eighteen, west side, was granted him in 1764. He came from Massachusetts. Reuel Townsend, his grandson, said that Daniel's wife followed him with seven children all the way in a canoe. She and her sons propelled the fragile bark following the indentations of the coast, the management of which she was very expert. The hardy habits of the early settlers make this traditionary adventure quite probable. The Townsends lived in a log hut on the front of their lot by the river, and after Howard's mills were built on the lot immediately opposite on the east side. Daniel worked in them for some years. Daniel Townsend, his son, who was the father of Dodivah Townsend and the grandfather of Reuel Townsend, died of camp fever in the army before Ticonderoga, in 1777.
Beatrice Reynolds has extensively researched several early Maine families including Townsend. The following is from her latest work published in 2010.
i
PREFACE
Daniel Townsend, Sr., and Hannah Bibber filed marriage intentions in North Yarmouth on November 4, 1752 (Ruth Wilder Sherman, Vital Records of North Yarmouth, Maine to the Year 1850. 2nd ed. Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1980, p. 203). North Yarmouth included the present towns of Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, and Cumberland with Harpswell separating in 1789, Freeport in 1798, Pownal and Cumberland in 1820, so they could have married in any one of them. However, a search of the vital records of these towns on microfilm at the Maine State Archives did not cite anyone named Bibber or Townsend. All that is known is that James Bibber supposedly migrated from the Isle of Jersey, settling in Phippsburg in 1706. He later moved to Harpswell, which was settled in 1731. The Bibber genealogy published on the internet lists his descendants, but makes no mention of Hannah Bibber, wife of Daniel. There were only two Bibber men enumerated in 1790 in Maine: Lemuel and James who both lived in Harpswell. Likewise, a search of the vital records on Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine revealed neither Daniel’s date of birth or the birth dates of his wife and their children.
Early Settlers in Lincoln County. The only documents found on Daniel Townsend were at the Registry of Deeds in Wiscasset, Lincoln County which cited his residency, rank as “yeoman” and profession as “housewright” in his land tractions in Harpswell, Pownalborough (1757 and 1760-1761), and Vassalborough (that part which became Sidney in 1792) in the Province of Maine. In 1761, Daniel sold 34 acres of land on the island called New Dumascove (probably Damariscove) to William Haskell, mariner, of Harpswell (Cumberland deed Vol. 3:201), who was enumerated in 1790 in Harpswell seven houses north of James Bibber. On September 24, 1764 Daniel Townsend, Sr. “of the Kennebec River” purchased 250 acres of land from the Kennebec proprietors on the west side of the Kennebec River in Lincoln County, signed/sealed on September 24, 1765 in the presence of James Howard and James Howard, Jr. and recorded in the Registry of Deeds, Lincoln County, August 30,1766. On April 16, 1793, Daniel and Hannah and their son Dodivah “all of Sidney” sold land to Thaddeus Snell of Hallowell and William Snell of Vassalborough. Hannah Townsend set her seal on the deed, signed and delivered to the Kennebec County Court Registry of Deeds in Augusta. The Vassalborough Town Records (microfilm roll #597) indicate that Daniel Townsend took an active role in town government. On April 26, 1771, he was elected fence and field viewer (Alan Pierce Robbins, The History of Vassalborough, Maine, p. 15). On May 2, 1771 he was elected warden (microfilm roll #597, p. 7) and fence viewer again in 1776 (p. 33) and 1781 (p. 81), and again in 1787 (p. 141). According to Daniel’s grandson Ruel Townsend, his grandparents came from Massachusetts with seven children (James W. North, The History of Augusta, Maine [1981], facsimile of the 1870 edition, p. 95), but then, Maine was part of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, erroneous information has been published on this family, based on early records of the Townsend descendants who joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose lineages have since been rejected, except for the descent from Daniel Townsend Jr. and his ii
wife Sarah (Butterfield) whose Revolutionary pension file provides proof of lineage and service in the military. Note: Fisher & Fisher‘s Soldiers, Sailors, and Patriots of the Revolutionary War, published by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, includes erroneous information on the Townsend family which is not acceptable for current membership in the society. Townsend Families in Hingham. A search of Townsend families in Lynn, Abington, Boston, Reading, Hingham, and other towns in Massachusetts made no reference to Daniel Townsend, nor is he cited in the vital records of the towns that comprised North Yarmouth, Maine in the 1700s, other than his marriage intentions to Hannah Bibber. It was thought at one time that Daniel was descended from Robert Townsend of Hingham who married on November 24, 1720 Abigail Beal of Hingham, Massachusetts, born December 13, 1699, daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Lane) Beal (Vital Records Hingham, Massachusetts; and the Beal genealogy in George Lincoln, The History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts: The Genealogies, Vol. 2, p. 57 [1982]), but the town in which they married was not cited in the History of Hingham, nor was the marriage recorded in the Hingham vital records. Robert Townsend’s name appears in the “Plymouth Court Records 1686-1859” (Vol. 3, 204) as a defendant with others in a court case on September 27, 1731 (Vol. 15, 470), and in another court case regarding the “warning out of Nappy, alias Abigail Cain” of Hingham “to depart town, August 20, 1767”, he being called “Ensign Robert Townsend.” He also served in French-Indian Wars 1748-1763, for Abington, Massachusetts, called Ensign Robert Townsend (New England Historical Genealogy Society, “Mass. Officers Soldiers in the Colonial War”). Robert Townsend, Jr. so called also served for Hingham in Capt. Read’s Company in Canada in Col. Clapp’s regiment (The History of the Town of Hingham, op. cit., p. 260). Ensign Robert Townsend filed marriage intentions at Abington, Massachusetts on April 14, 1770 with Patience Hersey (Vital Records Abington, p. 216) as her 3rd husband, although he was not called “Ensign” in the marriage records. Patience married (1) as Patience Soanes or Somes on March 15, 1721, at Pembroke, Massachusetts Elisha Bisbee by whom she had at least four children born 1724-1738 born at Pembroke. (Elisha Bisbee may the son of Ensign Elisha3 and his 2nd wife Mrs. Mary (Jacob) Bacon (The History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, (opt cit., p. 82) who “prob. removed from there after the birth of Elisha born 28 February 1687-88” (loc. cit.) As “Mrs. Patience Bisbee of Pembroke” she filed marriage intentions with (2) William Hersey on September 20, 1760 at Abington, Massachusetts (Vital Records, p. 31). The three marriages of Townsend women who married in Hingham were: (a) Mehitable Townsend (b. 1700; d. at Hingham, July 18, 1770, age 70, History of Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, p. 450) married December 2, 1725 Moses Lincoln (b. February 25, 1687-88, loc. cit.) as his 2nd wife, she possibly being Robert’s sister). Their children were Elijah (1727-1727/8), Elijah and Welcome (twins b. 1729), Sarah (1734-1736), and Sarah (1738-1781, loc. cit., p. 450) who married John Hersey, son of Jeremiah3 (John2, William1, p. 301) by whom she had nine children born 1765-1777, three of whom were born at Milton, Massachusetts (loc. cit.). (b) Abigail Townsend (b. 1718; d. September 30, 1754 age 36, History of Hingham, Vol. 3, p. 219). She married as his first wife November 25, 1742 Samuel4 Stowell, Jr., baptized iii
November 29, 1719 at Hingham (loc. cit.) by whom she had Abigail (died young) and Samuel born March 4, 1744/45 (loc. cit.). Note: Abigail may be the daughter of another Townsend or the daughter Robert Townsend by a first wife. If she were illegitimate, her birth name would have been that of her mother. Samuel Stowell married (2) November 6, 1755 Hannah Lambert (loc. cit.). (c) Lydia Townsend married December 13, 1748 Arthur Cain, whose six children were born at Hingham 1750-1763: Arthur, Lydia, Joanna, Miriam, Ann, and Robert (History of the Town Hingham, Massachusetts, Vol. 2, pp. 114). Note: a Joanna Townsend married May 21, 1761 John Lincoln at Abington, Massachusetts born at Weymouth, Massachusetts July 12, 1732, son of Elisha4 and Melia (Whitcomb) Lincoln (History of the Town of Hingham, op. cit. ol. III p. 7).
Townsend Families in Abington, Massachusetts and York County (Maine) Settling in Abington were Benjamin Townsend and his wife Sarah (Petty) who were married on April 29, 1750 at Weymouth, Massachusetts (VR Weymouth, p. 211) and whose children settled in Freeport, Maine. He was the eldest of the Townsend men who settled there, based on the birth records of his six children 1751-1773 (p. 369). Since Robert Townsend and Robert Townsend, Jr. were cited in the Vital Records of Abington, it is likely that Benjamin and Robert Jr. are the sons of Robert of Hingham. However, there is no evidence that Daniel Townsend of Maine associated with the families of Abington or Freeport, Maine where the sons of Benjamin settled just prior to 1790. Of interest is a Dodivah Townsend Jr. born say 1777 in Massachusetts who lived in Biddeford, Maine. He married there on May 7, 1812 Mrs. Dorcas McNelly (p. 175), but his parentage is unknown. Also, a Daniel Townsend, Jr. witnessed a will on December 25, 1811 for Phineas Downs of Phippsburg, Maine, who died testate (William D. Patterson, ed. Lincoln County Probate Records 1760-1800 [1991], p. 347). In 1790 Phineas (so spelled) Downs was enumerated in Little Falls, York County (Maine) within two doors of Daniel Townsend and Daniel Townsend, Jr. Other Townsend men enumerated in Little Falls in 1790 were Abraham, Jr., Nathan, Abraham, and Isaac. Bisbee and Lincoln Familes of Vassalborough (that part which is now Sidney): Ties to Hingham. Martha (Moore) Ballard, a midwife of Hallowell kept a diary in which she documented daily events from 1785 to 1812. Of interest are her numerous entries on Elisha and Polly Bisbee, the first being made on Mrs. Bisbee on June 15, 1785 (p. 11). Mrs. Ballard also wrote that Benjamin Bisbees’s daughter was born on March 6, 1788 and mentioned that Polly Bisbe (so spelled) “rode her the horse back” on March 28, 1788 (p. 88). On September 11, 1797 she wrote that the “Old Lady Tousin of Sidney, mrs, Savage & Cyfers here”. On January 22, 1797, she mentioned the birth of Mr. Linkon’s (so spelled for Lincoln) daughter (p. 398), probably born at Vassalbough (Sidney), since he was enumerated there in 1790 with a family of one male age 16 and upwards, 1 male under age 16, and 1 female. On September 11, 1797 she wrote that the “Old Lady Tousin of Sidney, mrs, Savage & Cyfers here”. On February 7, 1799, she wrote that “Old mr Townsin of Sidney” visited her (p. 470); and on April 15, 1802, she wrote “Death of Daniel Townsins wife in Child bed” (p. 574). iv
US Census and Tax Rolls.
The 1790 Daniel Townsen (so spelled) and Dodifer (so spelled) Townsend were enumerated in Vassalborough, and Daniel Townsend, Jr.’s name appears on the Hallowell tax roll in 1772. The Vassalborough Town Records show that a John Townsend was elected warden on March 8, 1779 (p. 55), but he is not enumerated in 1790 in Maine. Another John Townsend lived in Sidney, who was born in New York.
************ 1 DANIEL TOWNSEND, SR.
Children of Daniel and Hannah Townsend; no birth records found for them.
1. Daniel d. March 28, 1778 as a soldier in the American Revolution. His estate was probated June 15, 1779 at Wiscasset, Maine. He m. at Hallowell, Maine June 16, 1772 Sarah Ingles Butterfield, daughter of Ephraim and Mary (Snow) Butterfield of Hallowell, Maine. She m. (2) June 21, 1780 Nathan Sawtell.
2. Abigail m. June 16, 1772 (int. June 13, 1772) Philip Snow (Vital Records Hallowell, Maine to the year 1892 Vol. 1 Births and Marriages, p. 100), b. Februay 18, 1748 at Dunstable, Mass., son of Jonathan and Sarah Snow. He died 1850 at Charleston, Maine age 102.
3. Robert d. April 1846 at Siepio Twp. Meig’s County, Ohio. M. November 1, 1781 at Vassalborough Ruth Sawtell b. Dececember 14, 1759, Groton, Mass., daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Merriam) Sawtell, Sr.; d. unknown. Robert lived previously in Washington, Maine, now Belgrade.
4. Rebecca (unmarried) gave birth to a son on October 24, 1786. Martha Ballard wrote in her diary: “Rebeca Tounsen a Son Born” (The Diary of Martha Ballad, op. cit., p, 48).
5. Hannah m. July 6, 1788 at Vassalborough Hosea Gould (not enumerated in 1790 in Maine).
6. Dodivah m. (int. May 18, 1785) Sarah Hastings, daughter of Mathew and Mary (Battle) Hastings of Vassalborough (that part which is now Sidney). He m. (2) Sarah (Lovejoy) Lincoln, daughter of Capt. Abiel and Mary (Brown) Lovejoy of Vassalborough, wife of Matthew Lincoln who married (1) in 1809 Betsy Rollins in Vassalborough.
7. Betsy m. April 23, 1797 Isaac Cowin (Cowen) at Vassalborough (“Vassalborough Records, Book II Marriages 1780-1827,” p. 418).
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From her earlier work - Reynolds, Beatrice Kay. Maine Families in 1790, Volume 5, pages 306-308 (HBPL)
Daniel Townsend and Hannah Bibber (00252 / 00253)
Daniel Townsend, marriage intentions North Yarmouth 4 November 1752, Hannah Bibber (Vital Records). On 16 May 1761, Daniel Townsend, housewright, of Harpswell, sold 34 acres on an island called New Dumascove [probably should be Damariscove] to William Haskell, mariner, of Harpswell (Cumberland County deed 3:201). Daniel's wife, Hannah, signed off. On 5 November 1767, he bought land on the west side of the Kennebec River [the part now Sidney] from John Estes of Harpswell (Lincoln County deed 4:455). He was 'of the Kennebec River' on 24 September 1764 when he bought 250 acres in Vassalborough from the Kennebec proprietors (Lincoln County deed 1:122-23, 2:125). Daniel was active in the early town government of Vassalborough. In 1776, 1781, and 1787, he was elected fence viewer and, in 1784, warden (Town Records). Martha Ballard writes in her diary 11 September 1797 that "Old Lady Tousin of Sidney' visited her and 5 February 1799 that "old mr. ['Dear' scratched out] tousin was here" (Robert R. McCausland and Cynthia MacAlman McCausland, eds. The Diary of Martha Ballard 1785-1812 [1992], hereafter Ballard Diary, pp. 423, 470). Daniel is not listed in the 1800 USC although he and Hannah were living as of 7 May 1803 when they and their son Dodivah sold land in Sidney to Jeremiah Thayer and Paul Bailey, both of Sidney (Kennebec County deed 5:456). Daniel and Dodivah Townsend are the only landowners with that surname in Vassalborough up to 1805 and the only Townsends in Vassalborough in the 1790 USC. It is concluded that those named Townsend who married in Vassalborough in the late 18th century, or whose residence was Vassalborough when they enlisted in the Revolutionary War, are probably Daniel's children (Reynolds, 306).
James W. North's History of Augusta says that Daniel Townsend, an early settler, was of Kennebec when lot number eighteen, west side, was granted him in 1764. He came from Massachusetts. Reuel Townsend, his grandson, said that Daniel's wife followed him with seven children all the way in a canoe. She and her sons propelled the fragile bark following the indentations of the coast, the management of which she was very expert. The hardy habits of the early settlers make this traditionary adventure quite probable. The Townsends lived in a log hut on the front of their lot by the river, and after Howard's mills were built on the lot immediately opposite on the east side. Daniel worked in them for some years. Daniel Townsend, his son, who was the father of Dodivah Townsend and the grandfather of Reuel Townsend, died of camp fever in the army before Ticonderoga, in 1777.
Events
| Birth | 1727 - 1731 | ||||
| Marriage | 4 Nov 1752 | Maine Province, North Yarmouth - Hannah Bibber |  |  | |
| Census | 1790 | Vassalborough, Lincoln, Maine, United States | | | |
| Death | Aft 1793 | Maine, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Hannah Bibber (1732 - ) |
| Child | Daniel Townsend Jr. (1753 - 1778) |
| Child | Abigail Townsend (1754 - ) |
| Child | Robert Townsend (1756 - 1846) |
| Child | Dodivah Townsend (1765 - 1833) |
| Child | Rebecca Townsend (1767 - ) |
| Child | Hannah Townsend (1769 - ) |
| Child | Betsy Townsend (1778 - ) |
Notes
Marriage
In Sherman's Vital Records of North Yarmouth, Maine to the year 1850, only a marriage intention is found for Daniel Townsend and Hannah Bibber in 1752.Marriage Intentions:
Jacob JOHNSON, No. Yarmouth and Abigail BIBBER, No. Yarm. 2 Dec. 1752 VR. 1:4
Daniel TOWNSEND/TOWNSHEND No. Yarmouth and Hannah BIBBER, No. Yarmouth 4 Nov. 1752 VR 1:4
In 1751/2 North Yarmouth included the present towns of Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal, and Cumberland, so the actual marriage could have occurred in any of them. A search of the records only shows the following marriages.
Marriages North Yarmouth VR:
Daniel JOHNSON and Hannah BIBBER m. 3 Dec. 1751 VR. 1:786.
Jacob JOHNSON and Abigail BIBBER m. 17 Dec 1752 VR 1:786.
From the Cumberland Town Hall records:
MARRIAGES:
Daniel JOHNSON / Hannah BIBBER Dec. 3, 1751 by Rev. Nicholas Loring
Jacob JOHNSON / Abigail BIBBER Dec. 17, 1752 by Rev. Nicholas Loring
Census
Townsen, Daniel 47 c 1-2-3-0-01 male 16+ (Daniel )
2 male < 16
3 females (Hannah,
Endnotes
1. Janice., Email of genealogical research on Townsend and Bibber families. (Janice,
2. Beatrice Reynolds, "Townsend, Bibber, Hastings," e-mail messages from
3. , "Marriages in North Yarmouth, Maine: (from the records of North Yarmouth.," Old times: a magazine devoted to the preservation and publication of documents relating to the early history of North Yarmouth, Maine, Volumes 5-8 (1881) ( : accessed ), p 659.
4. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1790 > MAINE > LINCOLN > VASSALBOROUGH Series: M637 Roll: 2 Page: 135.
5. Reynolds, Beatrice Kay. "Daniel Townsend." Maine Families in 1790 v : 5 Maine Genealogical Society Special Publication No. 26 . Ed. Joseph C. Anderson, II, Rockland, ME: Picton Press, 1996..
6. Beatrice Reynolds, "Townsend, Bibber, Hastings," e-mail messages from