Person Page - 1002

     Waltena Townsend was born in 1879 at Marlboro Co., South Carolina.¹ She was the daughter of Walter A. Townsend and Anne J. (--?--).

     Walter A. Townsend was born circa 1844 at Marlboro Co., South Carolina.¹ He was the son of Meekin J. Townsend and Rachel Jane Pearson. Walter A. Townsend married Anne J. (--?--).

     Walter F. Townsend was born in February 1880 at Alachua Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of John Francis Townsend and Helen Waits. Walter F. Townsend died on 13 August 1934 at age 54.² He was buried at Townsend Cemetery, Hawthorne, Alachua Co., Florida.²

     Walter Street Townsend was born on 17 September 1881 at Alachua Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Lucinda Thompson. Walter Street Townsend married Mary Salita Thomas on 24 December 1902.² Walter Street Townsend died on 15 October 1933 at age 52.³

     Wilbur was born on 30 November 1897 at Columbia Co., Florida. He was the son of Joseph Allen Townsend and Mary Perry. Wilbur died on 11 June 1965 at Columbia Co., Florida, at age 67. His body was buried in June 1965 at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Lake City, Columbia Co., Florida.

     Wilford was born on 8 June 1859 at Madison Co., Florida. He was the son of Joseph Townsend and Gracie Brown. He married Rosalie D. Cottingham, daughter of Elkanah Cottingham and Cynthia Ann Caulk, on 4 January 1882 at Madison Co., Florida.² Wilford died on 12 August 1922 at Ft. Myers, Lee Co., Florida, at age 63.³ His body was buried in August 1922 at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Madison, Madison Co., Florida.

     Wilie was born on 10 September 1916 at Lafayette Co., Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Alford Townsend and Hattie Louise Wilson. She married Nathan Hill, . Wilie died on 10 September 1985 at age 69.

     William Townsend was born circa 1762 at probably Orange Co., North Carolina.¹ He was the son of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--).
     
Biography of William Townsend:

William Townsend is first found in a deed dated 4 September 1786 wherein "George Trayweak, planter of Marlborough, sells to William Townsend, son of John Townsend for the sum of 5 pounds sterling that parcel of “land containing One hundred & fifty acres more or less situate lying and being whereon Cortney Townsend now lives and hath such marks courses and scope as is agreed by the said parties … being part of a tract of land containing six hundred & forty acres granted to the said Geo Trayweak on the fifth day of June in the year 1786 by William Moutrie Governor & Commander in Chief in and over the State of South Carolina.” Signed. George Traweak, Witnesses: Wm Whitfield, John Hilson, Jessie John. ¹ This deed clearly shows that William is the son of John Townsend probably to distinguish him from his Uncle William Townsend, who must still be living in the area.

This 1786 deed suggests that William is one of the oldest male children of the family. His mother, Cortney Townsend, being female, had no right to buy land in her name thus leaving the buying and ownership of the land “whereon Cortney Townsend now lives” to an older son. As concluded in the biography of John Townsend (1760-1843), John already likely inherited his father's land probably by “right of primogeniture” as that right of inheritor ship was not eliminated until 1790. William also would have had to be at least 21 years of age in order to enter into such a contract, thus indicating his being born before 1765. His brother, John Townsend (1760-1843)’s tombstone reads born "About 1760" so we have assigned William’s year of birth as being circa 1762. As the family was probably living in Orange County, North Carolina in 1762 we show that as his probable place of birth.

Other than the above deed there are no further deeds found in Marlboro County involving William Townsend.

William Townsend is next found in the 1800 Census of Marlboro County, South Carolina² with a household containing 4 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, one male 26-45 (William), 2 females under 10, one female 16-26, and one female 26-45 (likely his unknown wife).

There is no William Townsend family enumerated in the 1810 Census of Marlboro County, South Carolina. There is a William Townsend family enumerated in the 1810 Census of nearby Marion County, South Carolina that has a large family that could possibly be this William Townsend, son of John. A search for further records on William Townsend in Marion County was unsuccessful as few records of that time period are extant.

     William Townsend was born circa 1746 at probably "Millfield" on Broadkill Creek, near Beaverdam Branch, Sussex Co., Delaware. He was the son of Benedictus Townsend and Lucilla Light.
     
Biography of William Townsend:

William Townsend (1746- ) is first found on the 1768 quit rent payments made by “William Benedictus & William Townsend” on the 50 acres of land that Benedictus Townsend had been granted on 16 July 1765. In that year they had a "new grant" made in their names.¹ The following year, 1769, William Townsend (1746- ) paid the quit rent on the 50 acres of land and there is no mention of a William Benedictus or Benedictus. Again in 1774, William Townsend (1746- ) is listed as paying quit rent in the amount of 4 shillings proclamation money per acre on 50 acres for the year 1772 & 1773.² These entries for Quit Rent payments and new grants made in these names suggest that Benedictus may have died before 1769 and his son, William, inherited or purchased the 50-acre tract. These are the only records found referring to William Townsend (1746- ), son of Benedictus Townsend.

It is very likely that William Townsend (1746- ) was still living in the Marlboro County area in 1786 as a deed dated 4 September 1786 between: "George Trayweak planter of Marlborough and William Townsend, son of John Townsend"³clearly distinguishes William, of this deed, as the son of John Townsend (1760-1843). This most likely was done to distinguish William, son of John from his Uncle William Townsend (1746- ) who must still be living in the area.

We estimate William as being at least age 21 in 1767 and thus he was likely born before 1746. We have assigned his birth year as circa 1746 although he could have been born before that date.

     William Townsend was born in 1834 at Marlboro Co., South Carolina.¹ He was the son of (Son) Townsend. William Townsend married Ann E. (--?--) circa 1853 at Marlboro Co., South Carolina.