Richard Townsend (221)
| Date of Birth: | 1770 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 11 Dec 1847 |
| Generation: | 5th |
| Residence: | The Point, Dunbeacon and Ballinatona |
| Father: | John Townsend [214] |
| Mother: | Morris, Mary |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table II ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Richard Townsend JP
Richard was always known in the family as 'Dick of the Point' though John FitzHenry Townshend [250] referred to him as 'Punctum'
Married 1st 5 July 1790. Barbara Mellifont (d 1806) was the daughter of David Mellifont (deceased) of Dublin and late of the 14th Dragoons (1). Married 2nd 1812. Katherine (Kitty) Ancram was the daughter of Major Ancram 34th of Foot and widow of Mr Baldwin (2). Married 3rd 1822. Anna Townsend [408] was the widow of Thomas Warren MP of Prospect Villa (3), Monkstown, Co Cork and younger daughter of Edward Mansel Townsend [401] of Whitehall. (3a)
When Henry Townsend [215] died without issue in February 1788 his lands at Dunbeacon, Ardra and Ballinatona passed to Richard's father, John, who passed them on Richard. Thus when Richard's father died in 1810, knowing Richard was cared for, he left his estate to his other sons - Shepperton (3b) to Jonas Morris Townsend [222], the Kilcoe and Myross lands to Henry Townsend [223] and the Drishane and Glannafoyne lands to Abraham Townsend [224].
Like his Uncle Colonel Richard Townsend [213] and his father, Richard was a Collector of Excise but it is not known when he was appointed. Most likely it was after 13 August 1799 when his father was appointed.
There is a manuscript note on Table I of 'An Officer of the Long Parliament' which records that he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1798 - other sources indicate 1822. 'Aldwell's General Directory 1844-45', County Directory - Skibbereen page 306, shows Richard as a Justice of the Peace living at Dunbeacon.
‘Aldwell's General Directory 1844-45’ also records that Richard was Chairman of the Skibbereen Poor Law Union (4) - “Richard Townsend, Esq., Point House, Castletownsend” – and his brother, Henry Owen Townsend [223] was Deputy Vice Chairman – “H. Townsend, Esq., Malmaison, Castletownsend”. (5)
Rather confusingly, ‘An Officer of the Long Parliament’ and ‘Aldwell's General Directory’ (pages 284 & 306) show Richard living at The Point, (6) Ballinatona, (7) and Dunbeacon (8); at the time of his death he was living at Ballinatona near Castletownshend where he is buried.
In his will (9) Richard devised the Dunbeacon estate and one moiety of Ardra and Ballinatona to his eldest son Richard [236] and £1200 each to Jonas Morris [237] and John Henry [238]. To William [240] and Henry [241] he devised one moiety of Ardra and Ballinatona and £800 each to Henrietta [242] and Elizabeth [244]. Following the early death of Henry and William in 1849, the moiety of Ardra and Ballinatona passed to Jonas Morris and John Henry. The will is dated 19 January 1841 and was witnessed by William Clarke Walter, Edward Townsend [411] of Whitehall and W. Baylie of Castletownshend. The executors were John FitzHenry Townsend and Thomas Somerville son of Elizabeth [225].
Richard was elected a Freeman of the City of Cork on 1 June 1792.(10) Page 318 of Francis G Tuckey's "Tuckey's Cork Remembrancer" records that 'Richard Townsend' was High Sheriff of County Cork in 1807; there is no supporting evidence to show that this refers to Richard - it could equally apply to four others named Richard [315], [501], [508] and [6A00] or to someone from another family. On balance of probability it is most likely this Richard.
Richard's death was recorded in the diary of Agnes Townsend [334] - 'Dec 11th 1847 Mr Townsend of Ballinatona died.'
(1) Lovera Papers 221/1. In the marriage settlement, dated 5 July 1790, Richard was shown as a ‘student of Trinity College’. Settlement of £2000 and land, signed and witnessed by John and Mary Townsend [214], Hannah Mellifont, George Mellifont, WD Mellifont, Richard Boyle Townsend [219] Babara Mellifont, Richard Townsend [221] and Abraham Morris of Dunkettle. The settlement was drawn up by John Sealy Townsend [507].
(2) Her children were Willy, Harry and Katie (Baldwin).
(3) Ordnance survey of Ireland. Discovery Series. 1:50,000. Map sheet 87, grid reference W774641.
(3a) The entry for Whitehall in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Edward Townsend held this property in fee at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £22. Lewis noted it as the residence of S. Townsend in 1837. In 1906 it was owned by the representatives of Samuel R. Townsend and valued at £21. Bence-Jones indicates that it later became the property of the Alleyne family."
(3b) The entry for Shepperton in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "John Townsend held this property in fee at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £20 10s. Noted by Lewis as the seat of M. Townsend in 1837 and by Leet as the residence of Jonas M. Townsend in 1814. Shepperton is still extant but in poor repair."
(4) Poor Law Unions. Skibbereen Union containing an area of 3694 square miles had a population of 91,736. There were 37 elected and 9 ex-officio Guardians. The Work-House, opened 19 March 1842, was built to accommodate 800 paupers and on the 2 December1843 there were 265 inmates. The Guardians met at the Work-House on every Saturday.
(5) Malmaison is now called Bow Hall and was later the home of Margaret Champernoune Townsend [5A23].
(6) The entry for Point House in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "John Somerville was leasing Point House from Rev. M. Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £20. Lewis recorded it as the seat of R.B. Townsend in 1837. It is labelled Point House on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map but as Cosheen on the 25-inch edition of the 1890s. It is still extant and known by the latter title."
(7) The entry for Ballinatona in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Daniel Welply was leasing this property to William Warren at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £13 5s. There is still an extant house at the site." Ballinatona was subsequently sold in the Land Court on 26 November 1850.
(8) The entry for Dunbeacon in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Richard Townsend held this property in fee at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £11 5s. In 1906 it was also the property of Richard Townsend and valued at £8."
(9) Lovera Papers 221/3 & 221/4.
(10) Between 1710 and 1841, when the power of admitting Freemen only by birth or right ceased, a total of thirty three members of the Townsend family were admitted as Freemen.
For other Warren connections see also daughter of Henrietta Anna Townsend [242], Elizabeth Hildegardis Townsend [244], John Townsend [318], Anna Townsend [408], Edward Henry Townsend [411] and Augusta Amelia Townsend [424].