Commander Thomas Townsend (319)
| Date of Birth: | Feb 1785 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 22 Apr 1848 |
| Generation: | 6th |
| Residence: | Smithville, Castletownshend, Co Cork |
| Father: | Reverend Richard Townsend [310] |
| Mother: | Robinson, Dorothea |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table III ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Commander Thomas Townsend RN
Thomas was baptized on 10 February 1785 at Fanlobbus, Co Cork.
Married 21 October 1819 at Baltimore, Co Cork. Helena Freke (1) was the daughter of John Freke,(2) of Castle Freke, Deputy Governor of Co Cork 1798.(3) See ‘A Guide to Irish Houses’ by M. Bence-Jones, London, 1988 – ROSSCARBERY cor Castle Freke. Barrymore - Freke 1620? Orig. owned by Barrymore family; then Freke family since 1620. Nearly destroyed in 17 cent. Rebuilt ca 1820. Owned by John Evans Freke, Lord Carbery - J.P.
Thomas saw much active service with the Royal Navy in the Baltic. 'William O'Byrnes Naval Biographical Dictionary 1849' records "Townsend Thomas" joining the Royal Navy in August 1800 and a Commander in 1848 - the year he died. Burke's Irish Family Records shows Thomas as a Commodore; this is incorrect as Commodore is a naval appointment and not a rank.
Thomas lived for many years at Smithville near Castletownshend and is buried in the old church near Coronea, Skibbereen. In the book 'An Officer of the Long Parliament' he is rather patronizingly described as a "worthy, honest gentleman."
Samuel Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837, shows in the subscribers list - “Townsend, Thomas, Esq., Smithville, Skibbereen, co. Cork” whilst Aldwell's General Directory 1844-45 records on page 309 under the heading for Skibbereen - "Townsend Thomas, Smithville"
The records of the South Cork Light Infantry Militia show a 'Thomas Townsend’ commissioned as Ensign in 1806 - this could be Thomas who would have been 21 at the time. But it does conflict with his service in the navy. The Militia Act of 1793 sets forth that -"Every person who has been or shall hereafter be appointed an Officer of the Militia of any of the ranks following, shall be in possession of an estate for his own life or the life of another, or for some greater estate in land or heritage's in the United Kingdom of the yearly value hereinafter mentioned in connection with such respective rank, or be heir apparent of some person who shall be in possession of a life estate in property of the like yearly value. For an Ensign the sum was £20 a year, or heir to £200 personal property a year.”
The archives of the Royal Cork Yacht Club show "Thomas Townsend – admitted a member in 1812" and "Thomas Townsend – requested to attend a committee meeting in October 1828."
The entry for Skibbereen in 'Slater's Commercial Directory 1856' shows "Townsend Mrs. Smithville".
With the exception of Richard, who lived in Dublin, and William the remaining four of Thomas' sons emigrated - John to Canada and the remaining three to Australia. Thomas to Canowindra, NSW in 1838, Edward James to Corowa, NSW in about 1845 and James to Victoria in about 1859 and then later to Townsville, NSW.
Thomas' death was recorded in the diary of Agnes Townsend [334] - '22 April 1848 Tom Townsend of Smithville died.'
(1) Helena was born in 1800. She died on 31 August 1863 and this was reported in The Cork Examiner on 3 September 1863. Page 350 of the Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that the will of "Helena Townsend late of Smithville", was proved at the Principal Registry on 14 January 1864, by "the oath of the Reverend Richard Townsend, Clerk, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin".
(2) The entry for Freke in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "In 1702 and 1703 Percy Freke of Rathbarry [Castle Freke], county Cork, purchased parts of various forfeited estates in the baronies of Muskerry, West Carbery and Ibane and Barryroe. The Freke family came to Ireland in the seventeenth century and acquired parts of the Barry estates in the barony of West Carbery. In the eighteenth century the bulk of this estate became part of the Evans, Lords Carbery estate when John Evans married Grace Freke. Rev. James Freke of Glanmire was the owner of over 1900 acres in county Cork in the 1870s."
(3) The entry for Castle Freke in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "The existing building at Castlefreke was constructed at the end of the eighteenth century, replacing an earlier castle which had belonged to the Barry family, the original owners of the estate. It was modified in the late nineteenth century but subsequently gutted by fire in 1910 and restored by 1913. It was sold by John, 10th Lord Carbery, after WWI. Castlefreke fell into ruin throughout the twentieth century but a portion of it has since been restored At the time of Griffith's Valuation, it was held in fee by Lady Carbery and valued at £90. In 1906 it was held by the trustees of Lord Carbery and valued at £136 ."