GENEALOGY OF THE TOWNSEND FAMILY - of South Jersey (NJ) ---------------------------- Information located at http://www.rootsweb.com/~njatlant/ On a USGenWeb/NJGenWeb Web site, August 2007 TRANSCRIBED BY GEORGE PRICE, a volunteer for NJGenWeb Please see the web site for email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber. ======================================================== Source: The Daily Union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and county, with maps and illustrations specially prepared, by John F. Hall; Atlantic City, N.J.: Daily Union, 1900 TOWNSEND FAMILY Gen. Joseph Townsend, in his early life lived at Green Bank, Monmouth county, and was in command of the local militia in the War of 1812. He settled at Bridgeport, in Burlington County, soon after the war, and conducted a hotel there for many years. The building is still standing. He raised a family of three sons: (2) Daniel; (3) Joseph, and (4) Paul; and four daughters: (5) Rebecca; (6) Maria; (7) Louisa, and (8) Elizabeth. (2) Daniel, b. December 17, 1804; m. Jemima daughter of Samuel Loveland and Jerusha Burnett of Bridgeport, N. j., by whom there were thirteen children, eight sons and two daughters living past middle age. Daniel Townsend settled at Leeds Point, adjoining the well-known Japhet Leeds’ farm, on the most sightly and beautiful point along the New Jersey coast. He prospered as a sea captain and owner of vessels, trading from New York along the coast. all his eight sons became captains of vessels. There being scarcely any public schools in those days, Daniel Townsend, mostly at his own expense, built a private school house and employed teachers to educate his children and those of his neighbors. Many still living can remember and bless his generosity. He was a prime factor in building the Presbyterian Church at Leeds Point, close beside which is his grave. In later years he founded and named the town of Wheatland, N. J., and established a tile works there which promised to become immensely profitable owing to the very rich and extensive clay beds, but owing to financial difficulties the enterprise cost a fortune and never became profitable. Capt. Townsend was one of the promoters and builders of the New Jersey Southern Railroad, and but for the opposition from his own friends and neighbors where he might least expect it this line, in all probability, would have passed through Port Republic and Mays Landing and vastly changed the subsequent history of Atlantic County. In 1854 he represented this county in the Assembly, and was one of the most progressive and useful citizens of his day. The children of Daniel and Jemima Townsend were: (9) Joseph Towers, b. February 14, 1826; d. September 16, 1887. (10) E. Norris, b. November 3, 1828; d. July 31, 1894. (11) Samuel, lives in Texas. (12) Daniel, lives at Leeds Point. (13) William H., died in Boston, in 1890. (14) James d., b. August 8, 1839; d. October 14, 1870. (15) Van Doren, m. Patience Stafford, is a captain of a steamer running between Philadelphia and New York. His home is in Ashland, N. J. (16) Jesse L. , b. November 13, 1845; m. Malvinia Brugler, of Warren County, is a carpenter and builder in Atlantic city. (17) Joanna, a twin sister of Jesse, a widow of the late James s. Robinson, lives in Atlantic City. (18) Adaline, widow of Thomas Scull and R. S. Barrows, is deceased. (3) Joseph Towers, then oldest son, was a captain of a coasting vessel at the age of nineteen. He and his father and brother, next older, each had a vessel and had a large contract to bring fifty or more thousand cords of wood from southern points to New England ports for Boston and other railroads. This was before the general use of anthracite coal. Several other vessels were built at Poughkeepsie till their fleet numbered eight or nine and were very profitable. During the war three of the Townsend vessels were lost in the South. Two were burned and one was captured and stripped. At the close of the war Capt. Townsend took a cargo of cotton to Russia. During his lifetime he made fourteen trips across the Atlantic. On February 16, 1848, he married Eleanor, daughter of James Jones, of forked river. Seven children were born to them: Eliza J., b. January 29, 1852; m. Capt. John Lewis, deceased. Mordecai T. R., b. October 9, 1854; m. Frances Johnson, and lives in Atlantic city. James Beach, b. June 30, 1857; m. Estella Boice. Luthera Eleanor, b. September 9, 1858; m. Arthur HJ. Butler, deceased. Joseph Towers, b. November 15, 1861; m. Eugenia Hammell. John E. Jones, b. September 18, 1865; m. May Madden; d. January 7, 1900. Georgie Emma, b. July 26, 1872; m. Bryon S. Eastburn, lives in Philadelphia. During the last days of his life the health of Capt. Townsend failed, and for some years he did not follow the sea. On his last voyage home he was stricken with fever and died soon after his arrival in Brooklyn, September 16, 1887, aged 61 years. His mother Jemima Townsend, was a women of many sterling qualities, who had the full possession of all her faculties till her life went out, February 18, 1894, age the ripe age of ninety-one years. All the descendants of Daniel Townsend number seventy-eight: Thirteen children; thirty-six grandchildren, and twenty-nine great-grandchildren. (end)