Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend (5D00)
| Date of Birth: | 5 Nov 1749 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 26 Mar 1837 |
| Generation: | 4th |
| Residence: | Derry, (1) Rosscabery, Co Cork |
| Father: | Captain Philip Townsend [500] |
| Mother: | Hungerford, Elizabeth |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table VD ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend JP
Horatio's godparents were Richard Townsend [201], Thomas Becher, Penelope French [119] and Mrs Robinson.
Married 1st, May 1785. Helena Meade (2) was the fourth daughter of Rev Robert Meade (2a) of Ballintober, (2b) Co Cork, Rector of Dunderrow and granddaughter of Helena Townsend [209] (3). Married 2nd, October 1787. Katherine Corker (4) was the daughter of Ven Chambre Corker of Lota,(4a) Glanmire Co Cork, Archdeacon of Ardagh.
In a letter (5) from America in 1756 Horatio's father complained "I always suspect my Horace of tending a little to idleness, but I know fair means and a little coaxing will make him do anything". If Horatio was idle aged seven he certainly made amends for he entered Trinity College, Dublin on 1 November 1765 aged 16 and the TCD Graduation List shows that he qualified BA in Spring 1770 and MA in Winter 1776. Whilst there he took an 'ad eundem' to accompany his cousin Richard Boyle Townsend [219] to Magdalene College, Oxford. He also accompanied Richard Boyle on the Grand Tour ca 1768/9. John Townsend [309] and Samuel Philip Townsend [6B00] were undergraduates at TCD at the same time.
On returning home Horatio took holy orders and was ordained Deacon on 21 September 1770 and Priest on 29 September 1770, both by the Bishop of Cork. He was, from 1770 to 1780 Curate of Abbeystrewry (6), Ross; from 1780 to 1803 Priest of St Michael's, Cork and Curate Carrigaline; in 1785-86 he was Rector Dungourney, Diocese Cloyne; from 1786 to 1829 he was Priest The Island and Vicar Kilgariff & Desert, Ross; from 1786 to 1837 he was Vicar Kilkerranmore and Castleventry and from 1803 to 1837 he was Rector of Carrigaline. See page 63/64 of Brady's Parochial and Clerical Records Volume 1 for a summary of Horatio's ministry.
Over and above his clerical duties, Horatio was tutor and later agent to Lord Shannon. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1787 and Sovereign of Clonakilty in 1799 – a position he held until 1828. Not only was he the last Sovereign of Clonakilty but also he was preceded in this appointment by his great grandfather in 1686, his grandfather in 1692 and father in 1764. His kinsman, Commander John Townsend [316], was appointed Recorder of the Borough in about 1800 having been forced to retire from the Royal Navy on account of failing eyesight.
Exercising so many offices, he was possessed of great local influence, which he employed with so much benevolence that he was known as "The Friend of the Poor." He was admired as a brilliant talker and an excellent man of business and his warm heart made him greatly beloved by his many relatives and friends.
During the Rebellion of 1798, when his cousin Samuel Townsend [405] was busy restoring order in West Carbery, Horatio, according to the account in 'An Officer of the Long Parliament', kept the peace in the Clonakilty neighbourhood by telling the insurgents that he was their friend and that they had no chance of success and that any of them caught in possession of arms would face severe punishment. He asked the insurgents to pile their arms in a certain field, which they did and these were subsequently thrown into the sea in Courtmacsherry Bay.
Horatio published, among other things, Observations on Dr. Coppinger’s Letter to the Royal Dublin Society and Observations on Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction in County Cork. He wrote poetry, numerous books and also articles for Blackwood's Magazine under the pseudonym 'Senex''. His most notable work, however, is the 'Statistical Survey of County Cork' (9) which was published as two volumes in 1810 and again in 1815. The book demonstrates Horatio's shrewd sense and his quickness to see how scientific ideas might be applied in practice to the improvement of the country. Sponsored by the Royal Dublin Society it covers historical sketches, agricultural and trade statistics, notices on education, fisheries, antiquities, manufactures, etc. A large appendix and section of addenda includes a variety of interesting documents, on matters social, scientific, political, religious and other matters. The book criticised the Roman Catholic clergy, particularly its role in education and this generated considerable controversy. A digitized copy of the book can be bought on line from Archive CD Books Ireland.
Family tradition has always maintained that when Horatio's father, Philip, died in 1786 Derry passed to his eldest son, Dr Richard Townsend [501] and, according to 'An Officer of the Long Parliament', Richard then sold Derry to Horatio Townsend in about 1810. However Philip’s will, dated 3 June 1781 and recently transcribed (2010), shows that apart from legacies and bequests for his other children he actually bequeathed Derry to his sons Thomas Hungerford and Horatio as tenants in common -– “all the rest and residue of my real estate that I have in the lands of Derry and all my personal fortune I give leave and devise to my two sons Thomas Hungerford Townsend and the Rev Horatio Townsend and their heirs forever”.
When Thomas Hungerford died in early 1799 Horatio was left as sole possessor of Derry. In his will dated 1 June 1794 Thomas devised “to my brother Horatio Townsend (sole executor) all my estates real and personal and all my goods and chattels subject to the following bequests” - these bequests totalled £1,800 to his other siblings.
Horatio built a fine new house at Derry, about a quarter of a mile from the original, in the late Georgian style consisting of four bay windows in the central block with wings set back on either side. Once he completed the house he set about improving the estate by planting trees and creating a lake in a hollow not far from the front of the house. The property was subsequently sold out of the family by Charlotte Payne-Townsend [5D27] in 1915, seriously damaged by fire in 1922 and is now owned by the by the Cullinane family - 1979.
Horatio must have been a wealthy man, for not only did he build a new house, he purchased the lands of Knockavoher, Corran and Kilnacally from Abraham Morris for £1600 in January 1814 (7) and further land at Ballinagorna from Thomas Hungerford for £840 in August 1827 (8). He was also a benefactor - the entry for the parish of Clonakilty in 'Lewis' Topographical Dictionary 1837' records that "The parish church of Kilgariff is situated in the town, on an eminence to the north of the main street: it is a plain edifice, with a square tower at the west end, and was rebuilt in 1818, at an expense of £1300, of which £500 was a loan from the late Board of First Fruits, and the remainder was contributed by the Earl of Shannon and the Rev. H. Townsend". A further entry records that "the parochial school-house for the girls was built in 1810 by subscription, and that for the boys, a good slated building, was erected at an expense of £150, of which £50 was given by the Association for Discountenancing Vice, £50 by the Earl of Shannon, and £50 by the Rev. Horatio Townsend".
Horatio’s will (10) is dated 12 December 1828 with codicils dated 11 September 1830 and 25 April 1831. The executors were Thomas Poole Esq and Horatio's son Rev Chambre Townsend [5D01] and probate was granted on 26 May 1837 (No 1434 Court of Probate). The major part of his estate was settled on Chambre along with “having lately purchased from Thomas Hungerford of The Island the fee and inheritance of the lands of Ballinagorna” (which was settled on him at his marriage to Elisa Oliver). Horatio’s “houses in Castletownshend, now under Major John Townsend (11), and in Rosscarbery held under Mrs Donovan” he left to his son, Horatio. He left some land to his son Richard along with an annuity of £40 per year. “And as to the sum of £4,000 secured on my life, the sum of £1,000 secured by Mr Creagh’s bond shall be divided equally amongst my daughters Katherine, Isabella, Susannah, Harriet and Caroline.” Isabella’s share of this money was revoked in the codicil of 11 September 1830 as she was given £1,000 on her marriage to Edward T [620].
Horatio is buried in St Fachtna's Cathedral,Ross where there is a fine Thomas Kirk memorial to him on the wall. There is a small tribute to him on page 141 of J. Windele's book 'Historical and descriptive notices of the city of Cork and its vicinity' first published in 1839: - "The Rev. HORATIO TOWNSEND, rector of Carrigaline in the neighbourhood of Cork, died at an advanced age in March 1837. He was the author of a "Statistical survey of the County of Cork", published in 1815, which is admittedly the best of all the County surveys published under the auspices of the Dublin society."
Horatio was admitted a Freeman of the City of Cork on 9 September 1788. 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.
'Pigot's Provincial Directory 1824' records for the parish of Clonakilty "Townsend Horace, Magistrate, Derry near Rosscabery."
The list of subscribers to 'Lewis' Topographical Directory 1837' shows "Townsend, Rev. Horace, MA. JP. Derry, Rosscarbery, co. Cork".
'Rosscaberry Tithe Applotment 1830' records "Townsend H Rev" owning townland at Barley Hill East and Meel.
'The Post Chaise Companion or Traveller's Directory through Ireland 3rd Edition 1804' page 352 records "Within two miles of Kinsale, on the R. is Ballintober, the fine seat of the Rev Mr Meade." Whilst on page 333 it records "A little beyond Ross on the R. is Derry, the seat of Mr Townsend; and near it, Castle Sally (Salem), the seat of Mr Morres". And further on page 333 - "Within three miles of Castle-townsend on the R. is Braad (Brade), the seat of Mr Jervis" (12).
(1) The entry for Derry in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Held in fee by Rev. Charles* Townsend in 1851 when it was valued at £44. A house and substantial farm still exist at the site." *Should be Chambre - NUI informed.
(2) Helena was born on 4 May 1760 and died in May 1786.
(2a) The entry for Meade of Cork in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "This family was related to the Meades, Earls of Clanwilliam. In 1787 the Reverend John Meade, Rector of Ballymartle, near Kinsale, county Cork, bought the estates of Ballymartle and Ballintober from his cousin John 1st Earl of Clanwilliam. His nephew the Reverend Richard Meade succeeded to the Ballymartle estate and another nephew John succeeded to the Ballintober estate. Rev. John Meade held townlands in the parish of Templemichael, barony of Kinalea at the time of Griffith's Valuation. William R. Meade was among the principal lessors in the parish of Ballymartle at the same time. He was the proprietor of over 1100 acres in the 1870s while John Meade of Ballintober owned 982 acres."
(2b) The entry for Ballintober House in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Sir John Meade, Knight, was located at Ballintober at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1777 it was the seat of the Rev. Mr. Meade. Ballintober House was held in fee by Rev. John Meade at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £30. Lewis refers to it as the seat of J. Meade in 1837. In the 1870s it was the property of Rev. Mr. Meade. There is still a house at this site though some modernisation may have taken place."
(3) Joanna Townsend [5D04] was the only child from this marriage.
(4) Katherine died in September 1811. An entry in the Church of Ireland Parish Records Ross Cathedral 1690–1823 records on page 66 under the heading ‘Deaths’ - "1813 May 2nd Mrs Townsend Derry." Whilst the dates don't quite match this probably refers to Katherine; though it might refer to Elizabeth, third wife of Dr Richard Townsend [501].
(4a) The entry for Corker in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Family history sources suggest the Corkers were originally a Lancashire family. Thomas Corker purchased or leased property in the Inishannon area from the Earl of Cork (later the Duke of Devonshire)'s estate in the early eighteenth century. In 1850 the rental of lands in the barony of East Carbery, the property of Chambre Corker, was offered for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court. James Corker was one of the principal lessors in the parish of Inishannon, barony of East Carbery, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In the 1870s, Mrs. Corker of Inishannon owned over 160 acres, while the representatives of John Corker were proprietors of 300 acres in county Cork."
(5) Letters in ‘An Officer of the Long Parliament’.
(6) When he was appointed to the Curacy of Abbeystrewry his stipend was £20 per annum. Horatio was succeeded in the living at Abbeystrewry by Rev William Robinson in 1780 who married Mary Townsend [314]. He in turn was succeeded in the living in 1819 by Rev Richard Boyle Townsend [332] who was succeeded in 1850 by his brother Rev Horace Thomas Townsend [334] who remained there until 1867 - in all 96 years of Townsend or Townsend connections with the parish. See page 454 et seq of Brady's Parochial and Clerical Records Volume 2. Rev Horace Webb Townsend [634] was vicar of Abbeystrewry 1896-1915 and extended the Glebe House.
(7) Derry Papers DD/44 dated January 1814.
(8) Derry Papers DD/10 dated 17 August 1827.
(9) A first edition copy of the book is in the possession of Colonel John Townsend [5A26].
(10) Derry Papers 5D00/14.
(11) Major John Townsend [230].
(12) The entry for Brade House National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "John Swanton was leasing this property from Rev. Maurice Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £15 10s. Lewis had noted it as the seat of Rev. E.P. Thompson in 1837. It was the residence of Samuel Jervois in 1814. Taylor and Skinner's 1783 map also indicate it as a Jervois residence. In 1906 it was owned by Katherine Townsend and valued at £44 5s. There is still an extant house at the site. (Maurice Townsend [231] & Katherine Townsend [523])
For other connections with Abbeystrewry see Richard Townsend [310], Mary Townsend [314], Richard Boyle Townsend [332], Horatio Thomas Townsend [334], Dorothea Townsend [404], Charlotte Frances Townsend [422], Horace Webb Townsend [634].
‘An Officer of the Long Parliament’ Ch XI p. 258-63 and 'Pooles of Mayfield' p 242 refer.