Person Page - 949

     Benjamin was born on 11 May 1835 at Madison Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of Allen Townsend and Sarah Briant. He married Martha M. E. Rykard, , on 25 February 1854 at Madison Co., Florida.² Benjamin died on 4 August 1910 at Madison Co., Florida, at age 75.³ His body was buried in August 1910 at Cherry Lake Church, Madison Co., Florida.
     Benjamin's occupation: Farmer.
Biography of Benjamin Franklin Townsend:

Benjamin Franklin was born, raised, lived and died in Madison County, Florida. He was a private in the Confederate Army, enlisting 28 Feb 1863 in Company E of the 11th Florida Infantry. He was paroled 17 May 1865 to his home in Madison at the end of the War.

A Memorial in The Enterprise Recorder of August 18, 1910, p. 4 reads as follows:
In Memorial

"The subject of this memoir, Bro. B. F. Townsend, was born in Madison county, Florida 75 years ago, and died August 4th 1910. He lived all his life in a mile or two of the place he was born. Bro. Townsend was a constant sufferer for several years so his death was not unexpected. He leaves a wife, two sons and one daughter to mourn their loss."

"Brother Townsend united with the Methodist Church South at Cherry Lake about four years ago in which he lived a respected member until his death. Brother Townsend was strictly honest in his dealings with his fellowman. He believed in the Pauline Precept "Owe no man". If he owed anyone a penny he was sure to pay it."

"May the God of all grace support and comfort the hearts of the bereaved."
T. F. Rowand.

     Benjamin was born on 20 January 1812 at Marlboro Co., South Carolina.¹ He was the son of John Townsend and Kiziah Hays. Benjamin I. Townsend married Rebecca Overstreet on 16 December 1835 at Madison Co., Florida.² Benjamin I. Townsend married Jane Suggs on 24 March 1841 at Madison Co., Florida.³ Benjamin I. Townsend married Elizabeth Ganey on 17 February 1864 at Lafayette Co., Florida.⁴ Benjamin I. Townsend married Martha Townsend on 27 October 1869 at Lafayette Co., Florida.⁴ Benjamin I. Townsend died before 1880 at Lafayette Co., Florida.
     
Biography of Benjamin I. Townsend:

The only record of Benjamin Townsend we have found in Marlboro County, South Carolina is his listing on the 1948 DAR application of Miss Annie Florence Kinney which shows that Benjamin was born 20 January 1812. This information was presumably obtained from one of the Bibles that were cited in the application. Virgil Light Townsend and Marie Townsend Butler said that Benjamin died young in their genealogies. We, however, found that Benjamin was in Florida by the mid 1830's.

The earliest record in Florida is his marriage to Rebecca Overstreet in 1835. The next record is his purchase of two tracts of land, lying next to two tracts of land owned by David R. Townsend his brother in 1837 and very near the land owned by his other brothers, Allen and John in Madison County, Florida.

He also served as a Pvt. in Capt. Bradley's Detachment,, 13th Regiment, 1st Brigade of the Florida Militia. Joining 28 October 1837 at San Pedro and mustering out 13 Feb 1838.

He is enumerated as Head of Household in the 1840 census of Madison County with two other adult males his age and three adult females. These are likely brothers or cousins that are staying or living in his household. On 24 March 1841 he marries Jane Suggs in Madison County. It appears that Rebecca may have died and he remarried. He and his family is next found in the 1850 Madison County Census. By 1860 he and his family have removed to Starke, Alachua County, Florida. After the Civil War he moved his family to Troy, Lafayette County, Florida Census as he is found there in the 1870 Census living again near his Brother David R. Townsend.

     Benjamin I. Townsend was born circa 1853 at Madison Co., Florida; Benjamin and Light Townsend are twins.¹ He was the son of Benjamin I. Townsend and Jane Suggs. Benjamin I. Townsend married Martha (--?--) on 27 October 1869 at Lafayette Co., Florida.²

     Benjamin Robert Townsend was born in October 1893 at Lafayette Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of Joseph Townsend and Emily Goff. Benjamin Robert Townsend married Lenora B. Buchanan on 16 January 1910 at Lafayette Co., Florida.² Benjamin Robert Townsend died on 31 May 1971 at Lafayette Co., Florida, at age 77.³ He was buried at Walker Creek Bethel Bapt. Chr., Lafayette Co., Florida.³

     Bertha May Townsend was born in June 1897 at Putnam Co., Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Asa Barton Townsend and Mary Jane Drew. Bertha May Townsend married Robert Johnson.

     Bertie Townsend was born circa 1902 at Alachua Co., Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Daniel S. Townsend and Daisy (--?--).

     Bessie Mildred Townsend was born on 1 November 1909 at Wauchula, Hardy Co., Florida.¹ She was the daughter of Asa Barton Townsend and Nancy Jane Altman. Bessie Mildred Townsend married Christopher Columbus McGowin on 2 January 1937. Bessie Mildred Townsend died on 17 September 1964 at age 54.

     Bethel Townsend was born circa 1843 at Madison Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of Benjamin I. Townsend and Jane Suggs.

     Bethel Townsend was born in March 1866 at New Troy, Lafayette Co., Florida.¹ He was the son of James Madison Townsend and Zilpha Thomas. Bethel Townsend died on 31 August 1936 at Lafayette Co., Florida, at age 70.² He was buried at Walker Creek Bethel Bapt. Chr., Lafayette Co., Florida.

     Betsy Townsend was born circa 1807 at probably Warren Co., Kentucky. She was the daughter of Coleson Townsend and Catherine Haynes.