Individual Details
Thomas Townsend "of Lynn"
(Abt 1600 - 22 Dec 1677)
Thomas Townsend of Lynn, Mass. (The "Townshend Genealogy" in the New England Historical Genealogical Register Vol. 29 [1873]:103).
Thomas Townsend was of Lynn as early as 1638, recorded as a freeman 14 March, 1639 (Waters 37).
Tradition and family records state that he was born in England, county of Norfolk, Bracon Ash. He was a cousin of Governor John Winthrop and was supposed to have been a relative of the first Lord Townsend, who was created Baron by Charles II. He was a man of education, and beautiful specimens of his handwriting are still preserved in the office of the secretary to state, in Boston (Cutter 59).
THOMAS TOWNSEND son of HENRY TOWNSEND & MARGARET FORTHE was born on 8 Jan 1594/1595 in Bracon Ashe, Norfolk Co., England. He died on 22 Dec 1677 in Lynn, Essex Co., MA. Thomas Townsend appeared in Lynn, MA in 1638 when he was granted 60 acres of land by the town.3 His town house and seven acre lot was located on the south side of Hill Street near the common. He owned other land in Rumney Marsh (Chelsea,MA). He became a freeman in Lynn on 14 Mar 1639. Thomas served on the jury in June 1641. On 12 Dec. 1661, Thomas Townsend, aged about 60 years, deposed that he sold Mr. Dillinghan six acres of marsh land located in Rumney Marsh. In June 1672, he signed a complaint against John Hathorne for selling too much liquor to the Indians and others. Thomas was on a list as a debtor to Capt. Nathaniel Davenport dated 7 Dec. 1675. On 1 Jan. 1674/75 Thomas and Mary Townsend deeded two acres of land on the south side of Mill St. in Lynn to their son Andrew Townsend. Andrew was to care for his parents for the rest of their lives. He was to live with his parents and "Carry on all their business for their comfortable livelihood...". One of the provisions of he deed was that "if Andrew should marry and he and his wife cannot with his parents live comfortably together", the said Andrew shall build a house for himself on the two acres of land and conduct the affairs of his parents. After the parents decease the land was unconditionally Andrews. He was to pay his brother Thomas 10 pounds and his brother Samuel Townsend five pounds as legacies of his parents. The deed was witnessed by William Clark and Andrew Mansfield and recorded 24 Mar 1674/75. John Townsend had been given 60 acres of land in Lynn by his father on 23 Nov.1668. THOMAS married MARY NEWGATE. Mary died on 28 Feb 1692 in Lynn, Essex Co.,MA. Mary was probably the sister of John Newgate of Boston, who in his will probated 11 Sept. 1665 mentioned his brother-in-law Thomas Townsend of Lynn, MA. (DORIS R. SHERIDAN Troy, NY)
Thomas Townsend was of Lynn as early as 1638, recorded as a freeman 14 March, 1639 (Waters 37).
Tradition and family records state that he was born in England, county of Norfolk, Bracon Ash. He was a cousin of Governor John Winthrop and was supposed to have been a relative of the first Lord Townsend, who was created Baron by Charles II. He was a man of education, and beautiful specimens of his handwriting are still preserved in the office of the secretary to state, in Boston (Cutter 59).
THOMAS TOWNSEND son of HENRY TOWNSEND & MARGARET FORTHE was born on 8 Jan 1594/1595 in Bracon Ashe, Norfolk Co., England. He died on 22 Dec 1677 in Lynn, Essex Co., MA. Thomas Townsend appeared in Lynn, MA in 1638 when he was granted 60 acres of land by the town.3 His town house and seven acre lot was located on the south side of Hill Street near the common. He owned other land in Rumney Marsh (Chelsea,MA). He became a freeman in Lynn on 14 Mar 1639. Thomas served on the jury in June 1641. On 12 Dec. 1661, Thomas Townsend, aged about 60 years, deposed that he sold Mr. Dillinghan six acres of marsh land located in Rumney Marsh. In June 1672, he signed a complaint against John Hathorne for selling too much liquor to the Indians and others. Thomas was on a list as a debtor to Capt. Nathaniel Davenport dated 7 Dec. 1675. On 1 Jan. 1674/75 Thomas and Mary Townsend deeded two acres of land on the south side of Mill St. in Lynn to their son Andrew Townsend. Andrew was to care for his parents for the rest of their lives. He was to live with his parents and "Carry on all their business for their comfortable livelihood...". One of the provisions of he deed was that "if Andrew should marry and he and his wife cannot with his parents live comfortably together", the said Andrew shall build a house for himself on the two acres of land and conduct the affairs of his parents. After the parents decease the land was unconditionally Andrews. He was to pay his brother Thomas 10 pounds and his brother Samuel Townsend five pounds as legacies of his parents. The deed was witnessed by William Clark and Andrew Mansfield and recorded 24 Mar 1674/75. John Townsend had been given 60 acres of land in Lynn by his father on 23 Nov.1668. THOMAS married MARY NEWGATE. Mary died on 28 Feb 1692 in Lynn, Essex Co.,MA. Mary was probably the sister of John Newgate of Boston, who in his will probated 11 Sept. 1665 mentioned his brother-in-law Thomas Townsend of Lynn, MA. (DORIS R. SHERIDAN Troy, NY)
Events
| Birth | Abt 1600 |  | |||
| Death | 22 Dec 1677 | Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, British America | |
Families
| Spouse | Mary ( - 1692) |
| Child | Thomas Townsend Jr (1637 - 1700) |
| Child | Samuel Townsend (1638 - 1704) |
| Child | Elizabeth Townsend (1645 - 1705) |
| Child | John Townsend (1641 - 1726) |
| Child | Andrew Townsend (1642 - 1692) |
Endnotes
1. Henry F. Waters (compiler), "Sketch of the family of Thomas Townsend of Lynn," Essex Institute historical collections, Volume 20 (1883) (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 11 October 2009), p 37-45.
2. Henry F. Waters (compiler), "Sketch of the family of Thomas Townsend of Lynn," Essex Institute historical collections, Volume 20 (1883) (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 11 October 2009), p 37-45.