Person Page - 1211

     Sarah Townsend was born circa 1740 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. She was the daughter of Richard Townsend and (--?--) Collins. She died.

     Caleb Townsend was the son of Henry Townsend and Rhoda Philby. He died.

     Susannah Philby was born circa 1699 at Accomack, Virginia, America. She died.

     Arcadia 'Arcady' Townsend was born circa 1730 at Accomack, Virginia, America. She was the daughter of Richard Townsend and Susannah Philby. She died before 24 June 1793 at Accomack, Virginia, USA. She was buried circa 24 June 1793 at Accomack, Virginia, USA.

     Arcadia Townsend was born circa 1732 at Northampton, Virginia, British Colonial America. She was the daughter of Henry Townsend and Rhoda Philby. She married Nathaniel Evans in 1774 at Northampton, Virginia, British Colonial America. She died.

     (--?--) Collins was born circa 1715 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. She married Richard Townsend, son of John Townsend and Faith (--?--), circa 1735 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. She died BEF ABT 1742 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America.

     Rhoda Philby was born circa 1695 at Accomack, Virginia, America. She died before 25 April 1749 at Accomack, Virginia, America. She was buried circa 25 April 1749 at Accomack, Virginia, America.

     Rachel Townsend was born circa 1697 at Accomac County, Virginia, USA. She died.

     Thomas Townsend Jr. was born circa 1692 at Ewomus Branch, near present-day New Church, Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America; Thomas Townsend Jr was estimated to have been born in the early 1690's at his father's plantation near present day New Church.¹
He was the son of Thomas Townsend Sr. and (--?--) (Unknown). He married Hester Bevans, daughter of Roland Bevans Jr. and Mary Awbrey. He died before 4 October 1720 at Ewomus Branch, near present day New Church, Accomack, Virginia, America.²
     Biography of Thomas Townsend Jr.:

Thomas Townsend Jr. was the eldest son of Thomas Townsend Sr. and his first wife. He is estimated to have been born in the early 1690s on his father's farm on "Ewomas Branch," in the northern part of Accomack County, Virginia, near the present-day New Church and the Maryland border.
On April 2, 1716, Thomas Townsend Sr. gifted the western half of his 400-acre plantation on "Ewomas Branch" to his son, Thomas Jr.

Four years later, by October 4, 1720, Thomas Jr. had died, leaving a will.³

The following is a summary and transcription of that will:

Will of Thomas Townsend Jr.

"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Thomas Townsend Jnr; being sick and weak in body butt of sound & perfect memery prais be to ye, almighty God for it & Calling to mind ye. Uncertainty of this my fraill body doe make this my Last Will and Testament. In in maner & form as Foloeth yist. First of all I doe bequeath my soule to almighty God yt. Gave itt and in whose blessed death and glorias Resurection hope to be a pertaker of his heavnly Kingdom & my body to be decently buried by my Exucator hereafter mentioned & as for yt. Estate yr. Lord hath been pleased to Lene me this my Pilgrmage after all my Just debts being duly payde and my funeral Charg defraied ye reste of my Estate to be divide and bestowed by my Exuater heer after mentioned"

"Item I give and bequeath unto my Brother in law John Townsend the two hundred acres of land where I know live on it being ye. Land wch: my loving father gave me by his deed of gift recorded to in ye. Clarke office,"

"Item I give and bequeath unto Bevens Morris ye. son of hester Morris" two new feather beds, one feather bolster, four blankets, three pewter dishes, nine large plates, two four gallon potts, one new rugs and a dozen pewter spoons and "it is my will and desire" that My Executor shall keep those items in his custody in "new and in Good order" untill Bevens Morris arrives at the age of 18 at which time they are to be delivered to him.

"Item I give and bequeath my loving mother in law Sarah Townsend my gray Passing horse for her props use"

"Item I give unto my loving sister Jaen Marsay ten y’ards sagothie"

"Item I give and bequeath unto my loving sister Sarah Townsend thirteen yards of stoufe."

"Lastly I give unto my loving father Thomas Townsend all ye. rest of my estate not already given to be made use of for ye. skooling & bring up bevens Morriss to Reeding and writeing & ye. Said bevenes morress to be and Remain with my sd. Father Thomas Townsend while he arrive to ye age of eighteen & and no longer."

"And I doe ordain Constiture & appoint my loving father Thomas Townsend my whole and sole Executer of this my Last will & Testament Revokeing and Herby disnulling all other willes hereto for made or Caused to be made in witness wherof I have sett my hand & fixed my seale this 26th. Day of Aprill one thousand Seven hundred & twenty"

"Thos Townsnd (seal)"

"Signed and Sealed and Delivered in"
"Presents of us"
"Sebastian Delastatius Senr."
"Sebastian Delastatius Junor"

Recorded: 6 October 6, 1720

Analysis of the Will and Family Relationships

This will demonstrates that Thomas Jr. was literate, as he signed his will rather than using a mark. In contrast, his father and all his Townsend uncles, except for his Uncle John Townsend, signed documents with a mark. Thomas Jr.'s emphasis on education influenced his stipulation that Bevens Morris be taught "Reeding and writeing."

The will suggests that Bevens Morris is the biological son of Thomas Townsend Jr. It is highly unusual for a testator to leave the majority of his estate to anyone other than a child. The rationale for this interpretation is as follows:

Thomas likely had a relationship with Hester Morris, the widow of a neighbor, Dennis Morris. This relationship resulted in the birth of a child named Benene Morris. It is very doubtful that Thomas and Hester could marry. Thomas could not afford to marry and support a widow with five children; furthermore, Hester had little to contribute to a new marriage, as Dennis Morris's estate was left to her for her life or until she remarried, at which point the children would receive equal shares as they came of age.

Additionally, the deed transferring 200 acres from Thomas Townsend Sr. to Thomas Jr. included a legal stipulation that prevented Benene from inheriting the land because Benene was not an "heir of his body Lawfully begotton" as required by the deed's language.

It appears that Thomas and Hester planned to live together at some point, as by 1720, Thomas had accumulated household goods such as "two new feather beds, one feather bolster, four blankets, three pewter dishes, etc.," which he left to Benene in his will. This plan ended when Thomas faced death in 1720. Thomas surely prepared his will with the agreement of his father that the 200-acre plantation would be given to his half-brother John Townsend to keep the land within the family name, and in return, his father and John Townsend would "skooll and bring up" Benene until he turned 18. Benene likely came to live with Thomas Townsend Sr. soon after his mother, Hester, died in 1722 and when Thomas Sr. died in 1728, with John Townsend. John liklely taught Benene to read and write and subsequently changed Benene's name from Benene Morris to Benedictus Townsend.

     Esther (--?--) was born circa 1678 at Virginia Colony, United States. She died.

     Nathaniel Evans was born circa 1744 at Northampton, Virginia, United States. He married Arcadia Townsend, daughter of Henry Townsend and Rhoda Philby, in 1774 at Northampton, Virginia, British Colonial America. He died before 30 April 1783 at Accomack, Virginia, United States.

     Catherine Townsend was born circa 1703 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Townsend Sr. and Sarah (--?--). She married Adkins Massey. She died.

     Esther Townsend was born in 1695 at Accomac County, Virginia, USA. She married Dennis Kelly circa 1721 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. She died.

     Sarah (--?--) was born circa 1670 at Virginia, British Colonial America. She married Thomas Townsend Sr., son of John Townsend, circa 1698 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. She died before 4 July 1728 at Accomack, Virginia, America. She was buried before 4 July 1728 at Accomack, Virginia, America.

     Rachel Townsend was born circa 1694 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America; Benjamin Royal and his wife Rachel Taylor of Accomack County Virginia for consideration of value to me In hand paid by Darby Mackcarte of the said Place planter…. For a certain division of land John Townsend sold to his son Thomas Townsend To which the said land fell to my wife Rachel Royal and Esther Townsend being both sisters and daughters to the said Thomas Townsend As by Conveyance doth appear which land being in all 200 acres of the aforesaid division of land I said Benjamin Royal with Rachel my wife Grant Onto Darby Mackcarte 50 acres of the aforesaid division of land on the head of Checkotank
Dated 6 December 1726
Signed
Benjim (his mark B) Royal
Rachel (her mark R) Royal
Recorded 6 December 1726
**
This is Thomas Townsends land which he acquired in 1702 from his father John Townsend which fell to Rachel and Esther Townsend and which the Royal’s sold a 50 acre section to Darby Mackcarte. As no money or payment is mentioned this may be to have paid off any taxes or other debts.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Townsend Sr. and (--?--) (Unknown). She married Benjamin Royal circa 1724. She married William Cooke before 1751. She died before 25 June 1765 at Accomack, Virginia, America.
     She was (an unknown value) on 6 December 1726 at Accomack, Virginia.²

     Jane Townsend was born circa 1698 at Accomack, Virginia, America.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Townsend Sr. and Sarah (--?--).

     Ephriam Massey was born circa 1715 at Worcester Co., Maryland. He was the son of Adkins Massey and Catherine Townsend. He died after 1752.

     Adkins Massey was born circa 1697 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. He married Catherine Townsend, daughter of Thomas Townsend Sr. and Sarah (--?--). He died after 4 February 1726 at Worcester, Maryland, British Colonial America.

     Stephen Townsend was born circa 1714 at Ewomus Branch, near present-day New Church, Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America.¹ He was the son of Thomas Townsend Sr. and Sarah (--?--). He married Mary (--?--) circa 1729 at Accomack, Virginia, America. He died before 25 February 1767 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. He was buried circa 25 February 1767 at Accomack, Virginia, America.
     Biography of Stephen Townsend:

On 5 May 1736, Stephen Townsend gifted 200 acres of land that his brother John Townsend. had been given by his half brother Thomas when Thomas died in 1720.² According to their father Thomas Townsend Sr."s 1728 John was to gift that land to Stephen when Stephen reached the age of 23. This suggess that Steven was born about 1712.

On 4 February 1767 Stephen signed his Last Will and Testament³ leaving his five children: son Stephen Townsend, daughter Joan Cambell, son Littleton Townsend. daughter Mary Townsend and son James Townsend specific household furnishings, livestock, tools, implements, etc. to each of them and "all the rest be Equally divided between my five children as before mentioned”. There is no mention of his wife, suggesting she was deceased. Stephen, Littleton and Mary were named executors. The will was signed Stephen (his S mark) Townsend and proved 26 February 1767. He was (an unknown value) on 5 May 1735 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America.²

     Female Massey was born circa 1715 at Worcester Co., Maryland. She was the daughter of Adkins Massey and Catherine Townsend. She married Andrew Gray circa 1735 at Worcester Co., Maryland. She died.

     William Cooke was born circa 1720. He married Rachel Townsend, daughter of Thomas Townsend Sr. and (--?--) (Unknown), before 1751. He died before 30 December 1761.

     Thomas Kelly was born circa 1725 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. He was the son of Dennis Kelly and Esther Townsend. He married Tabitha Tatham circa 1748 at Accomack, Virginia, British Colonial America. He died in 1784 at Accomack, Virginia, United States.