Harriet Townsend
F, b. 5 March 1827
- Relationship
- 2nd great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Harriet Townsend was born on 5 March 1827 at Lowndes, Georgia, United States.1 She was the daughter of John "Jack" Townsend and Vicie Hargrove.
Citations
- [S42] Allen Townsend 1829 Bible. The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, The births of four of John Townsend's children are recorded in the bible of Allen Townsend, John's brother. They are Saryan, Noah, Harriett, and Greenberry.
Henrietta Lemontine Georgia Ann Townsend
F, b. 15 December 1869, d. 16 October 1935
- Relationship
- 3rd great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Henrietta Lemontine Georgia Ann Townsend was born on 15 December 1869 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 She was the daughter of John Hill Townsend and Malinda Ellen Shepherd. She married William Jackson Cannon on 8 July 1886 at Alachua, Florida, United States.2 She died on 16 October 1935 at age 65.3
Children of Henrietta Lemontine Georgia Ann Townsend and William Jackson Cannon
- John Cannon b. 9 Jul 1889, d. 18 Jul 1927
- Louis Cannon b. 7 Sep 1889, d. 10 Mar 1962
- Laura Cannon b. 1 Nov 1892, d. 30 Nov 1924
- Eddie "Cap" C. Cannon b. 18 Feb 1894, d. 1919
- Linnie Cannon b. 1896, d. 1981
- Gilbert Dexter Cannon b. 22 Mar 1898, d. 4 Dec 1988
- Florida Cannon b. 20 Feb 1899, d. 25 Mar 1926
- Lila D. Cannon b. 28 Apr 1902, d. 1 Nov 1927
- Lollie Cannon3 b. c 1903
- Vander C. Cannon b. 7 Mar 1904, d. 25 May 1960
- Ola Cannon b. 3 Jul 1904, d. 7 Jan 1979
- Nola Cannon b. c 1905
- William Mannie Cannon b. 25 Apr 1906, d. 23 Nov 1985
- Lona Cannon b. 8 Oct 1909, d. 15 Jan 1988
Henry W. Townsend
M, b. circa 1908
- Relationship
- 4th great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Henry W. Townsend was born circa 1908 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of Walter Street Townsend and Mary Salita Thomas.
Citations
- [S670] 1910 Census Alachua FL, ED 19, p. 180, Dw. 293, Fm. 295, Household of W. S. Towsend, Twp. 8, Dist. 20, 7 May 1910.
Henry Franklin Townsend
M, b. 15 February 1861, d. 3 May 1930
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Henry Franklin Townsend was born on 15 February 1861 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Malinda Ellen Shepherd. He married Maria E. May on 8 January 1882.2 He married Mary Alice Thomas on 8 January 1908 at Alachua, Florida, United States.3 He died on 3 May 1930 at Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 69. He was buried at New Hope Cemetary, Alachua, Florida, United States.3
Children of Henry Franklin Townsend and Maria E. May
- William Jesse Townsend b. 16 Feb 1882, d. 19 Oct 1935
- Susan A. Townsend b. 27 Nov 1886, d. 8 Feb 1961
- Asa Franklin Townsend b. 14 Jan 1889, d. 2 Nov 1983
- George Elias Townsend b. 19 May 1890, d. 25 Oct 1951
- Mary Eugenia "Minnie" Townsend b. 8 Feb 1892, d. 27 Jul 1973
- Alexander Jackson Townsend b. 12 Sep 1894, d. 4 Oct 1984
- Lela Malinda Townsend b. 31 Jul 1897, d. 22 Jan 1974
Child of Henry Franklin Townsend and Mary Alice Thomas
- Nellie Mae Townsend b. 2 Oct 1910, d. 9 Apr 1995
Isaac Cleveland Townsend
M, b. 25 January 1900, d. 16 April 1964
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Isaac Cleveland Townsend was born on 25 January 1900 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Mary F. Davis. He married Elsie Mae Wilkinson.2 He married Nona May Moore on 17 April 1924 at Alachua, Florida, United States.3 He died on 16 April 1964 at age 64.2
Child of Isaac Cleveland Townsend and Elsie Mae Wilkinson
- Euenia Townsend b. 23 Jun 1940, d. 11 Nov 1988
James Light Townsend
M, b. 29 June 1862, d. 14 October 1930
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
James Light Townsend was born on 29 June 1862 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of Noah Townsend and Sarah "Sallie" Gillette. He married Olive Drew circa 1882.2 He married Annie Rebecca Bell on 23 November 1890 at Alachua, Florida, United States.3 He died on 14 October 1930 at age 68.2 He was buried at Lake Placid Cemetery, Highlands, Florida, United States.4
Children of James Light Townsend and Annie Rebecca Bell
- Mary Bell Harley Townsend4 b. 3 Jun 1892, d. 23 May 1953
- Caro Lottie Townsend b. 6 Jan 1894
- Homer Wendell Townsend b. 11 Sep 1896
- Virgil Light Townsend b. 29 Mar 1901, d. 29 Dec 1988
- Jessie Anita Townsend b. 18 Jul 1903, d. 28 Nov 1969
- Ella Imogene Townsend+ b. 2 Feb 1906, d. 4 Feb 2003
- Ralph Emerson Townsend b. 20 Feb 1910
Citations
Jesse Aarom Townsend
M, b. 11 February 1905, d. 23 April 1992
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Jesse Aarom Townsend was born on 11 February 1905 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Mary F. Davis. He married Ruby Earls on 1 September 1928.1 He died on 23 April 1992 at age 87.1
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
Joel Noah Townsend
M, b. 17 June 1855, d. August 1925
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Joel Noah Townsend was born on 17 June 1855 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of Noah Townsend and Sarah "Sallie" Gillette. He married Mary Bania Adkins circa 1876.2 He married Sarah Ann Elizabeth Adkins circa 1886.2 He died in August 1925 at age 70.2
Children of Joel Noah Townsend and Mary Bania Adkins
- Lucian N. Townsend b. Jun 1878
- Ford Townsend b. Sep 1880
- James E. Townsend b. Jan 1883
Children of Joel Noah Townsend and Sarah Ann Elizabeth Adkins
- Leona Townsend b. Sep 1888
- Ivy Townsend b. Mar 1891
John Francis Townsend
M, b. 2 January 1853, d. 12 June 1927
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
John Francis Townsend was born on 2 January 1853 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of Noah Townsend and Sarah "Sallie" Gillette. He married Helen Waits on 18 November 1873 at Alachua, Florida, United States.2 He died on 12 June 1927 at Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 74.3 He was buried at Townsend Cemetery, Hawthorne, Alachua, Florida, United States.3
Children of John Francis Townsend and Helen Waits
- William N. Townsend b. c 1875, d. 14 Apr 1938
- Sarah Townsend b. c 1876
- Walter F. Townsend b. Feb 1880, d. 13 Aug 1934
- Florence V. Townsend b. Mar 1883
- Eva R. Townsend b. Apr 1885
- John F. Townsend b. Apr 1885
- George G. Townsend b. Mar 1888
- James A. Townsend b. Apr 1892
- Rufus Townsend b. Sep 1896, d. 1967
John Hill Townsend
M, b. 18 March 1833, d. 2 January 1903
- Relationship
- 2nd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
John Hill Townsend was born on 18 March 1833 at Lowndes, Georgia, United States.1 He was the son of John "Jack" Townsend and Rachel Jane Hill. He married Malinda Ellen Shepherd in 1853. He married Sarah Jane Sikes on 4 March 1875.2 He married Lucinda Thompson on 26 December 1875 at Levy, Florida, United States.3 He married Mary F. Davis.4 He died on 2 January 1903 at Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 69.4 He was buried at Townsend Cemetery, Gilchrist, Florida, United States.5
Biography of John Hill Townsend:
William Thomas Townsend wrote about his first hand recollections of several of the male children (his Uncle’s) of John Hill Townsend in his addendum4 to Marie Butler’s “The Townsends of Marlboro”. Those recollections are reproduced below:
“John Hill was the only, son and oldest child of Jack by his last wife, Rachel Hill. When he was some fourteen years of age a boat capsized with him and his father while turkey hunting on the Suwannee River near the mouth of the Santa Fe River, and the father was drowned. This tragedy occurred in 1847. Two or three days afterward the body was recovered from where it had drifted against the limbs of an over-hanging willow tree. It was interred on the bank at the spot, being a high bluff on the eastern side, since known as Jacks Bluff. It is said that later a daughter and her child were buried beside the father. The family kept the gravesite fenced for many years but only the approximate location is known at present.”
“Upon young John Hill then fell the burden of support for the younger, sisters and mother, but he was well endowed for it, having great determination, a keen mind and a strong stalwart body. Although deprived of formal education except possibly a few months schooling, he became a man of distinction, and accumulated considerable means. He came to possess lands, live stock, a country store, cotton gin, river ferry, etc., at an important crossing on the Suwannee River some ten miles directly south of Branford, Fla. The river runs east to west at this point and his property was on the south side. This was in that day a strategically located north-south crossing site some six miles northwest of present day Bell, Fla.”
“Apparently as a result of a deep solitary religious experience in the summer of 1863, he was converted and went on to become a pioneer Baptist minister. Depicting this experience, he composed a poem entitled, "From Nature To Grace", the opening lines of which were:
'Twas in 1863
While sitting under a tree
That I was shown
How far I had come”
“With this poem he was wont to close his long sermons, but he could quote it only in the heat of a sermon and then at such a pace no one could ever copy and preserve it in its entirety. My uncle Willie remembered, however, as a child, it signaled him to perk up as church would soon be over. He was also remembered for his customary long prayers before meals in his home. This says something as to the source of his rich spiritual and cultural legacies to posterity. Mount Nebo Baptist Church, which he founded, Townsend school, ferry and cemetery, as well as an extra large successful family, bear ample testimony to that - twenty-three marriages by him and his children without divorce, most giving supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and none being driven to alcohol.”
“John Hill and many of his large family are buried in Townsend Cemetery, near the Suwannee River in the proximity of his former holdings, also Jacks Bluff, the burial place of his father. His expressive epitaph reads as follows: "Although he sleeps, his memory doth linger, and cheering comfort to his mourners give." Visionary, stern, disciplined, compassionate and faithful are words descriptive of his life”
“As a prelude to statistics pertaining to the family of John Hill it seems fitting to attempt to flesh out some of their lives which happen to standout in my memory. There were the three oldest sons beginning with William Washington. "Wash" as he was wont to call himself, though the oldest, was always the smallest when growing up and even in adulthood. This being so he fel1 heir to more than his share of the "raps" common to a large family in pioneer days. He, early in life, fell heir to the task of ferryman, propelling by hand the barge, which accommodated the traffic crossing the river at that point. This barge was also the conveyance for store merchandise off-loaded by rail transportation at Branford some fifteen miles upstream. He told me that he began his career as ferryman which involved propelling this barge across the river and "poling" it upstream to Branford at the age of twelve.”
“John Hill and family, which in those days meant, for the most part, these three older sons cleared by hand approximately 100 acres of literally swamp hammock land along the banks of the river for use in their farming, which has long since reverted to wilderness. This was by far their most fertile soil, but also the most contrary. In addition to all the other imponderables farming is generally beset with, this soil was also subject to the ever threatening spring floods from the overflowing river.”
“It was a custom of the times in that era, after their crops were "laid by" and on into the early fall, for families to rig up their covered wagons and go, down to Horse Shoe on the gulf coast for a few days outing and also to get a load of salt water sea food such as oysters, scallops, and fat mullet heavy with roe. John Hill, Wash, Light and some of the younger sons and grand sons were down there on one of those excursions when the "big blow of 96" struck. Many tropical hurricanes have swept up the Suwannee valley over the years but none within the memory of the old timers of our generation ever left such lasting impressions on the minds of the people as this one. This disaster struck in the early A. M. of Tuesday, September 29, 1896. Aunt "Linnie" Thomas, grandpa's sister, near the end of her long life vividly recalled the utter destruction and desolation, which greeted her family upon returning to their home after the storm. An aged barber of mine in Jacksonville who was a child in the Lake City area at the time recounted how his family looked out from the breakfast table upon darkening skies to see a neighbor pass in a buggy behind a community famous black horse known as "Old Duster" stretched out at full speed and how they had only a few seconds to wait before being made fully aware of the reason for his flight.”
“John Hill and party by taking what cover they could on the highest ground and some climbing the sabel palm trees, etc., around, survived the first part of the storm's onslaught on Horse Shoe beach. Then during a lull they made it out a short distance to the home of a friend named Harris, father to Jake and Steve, where they weathered the remainder.”
“After its passage they faced the formidable task of chopping their way home by making their- own cross-country road through fences, fields, or wherever progress was possible so long as it pointed in a homeward direction. For the country side was laid waste and many virgin yellow pine forests were leveled to the ground. Towards the end of the week as they approached the Hatch Bend area on the west side of the river, near exhaustion, they decided to dispatch a messenger ahead on horseback to secure aid from neighboring families on the east side such as the "Dote" Weeks and the Alec Rehberg families. The irrepressible Walter was the first to volunteer to be the courier but was just as promptly turned down as being more valuable to the chopping crew. In those times of virtually no communications just imagine, if you can, the Townsend reunions which took place upon their safe arrival home. Of the many since, doubtless none have been more memorable.”
“Out of the crucible of his many youthful experiences "Wash" developed into a prudent manager who, despite his feistiness, had the knack of being able to get others to work with and for him to mutual advantage. He was blessed early in life to acquire a sizeable acreage of good farm and timber land which he managed profitably. He always seemed to have money which he with care kept in a little snap-shut pocket book.”
“In the prime of his life he took great delight in roaming the free range lands of the old friendly Suwannee River valley public domain, looking after his herds of live stock - cows and hogs - whose ways and habits he knew well though they were scattered up and down both sides of the river. In 1914 he sold 100 head of beef cattle and bought a Model T Ford, the first automobile in the community, which truly became a community car. The heads of two neighboring families were given free access to it and became much more familiar with its operation than he. One went on from his experience with it to become for years the most expert auto mechanic in the entire countryside.”
“"Wash" was in fact community minded in every sense of the word, and loved his fellow man. He loved his Lord supremely though and was zealous that He might have preeminence in his life. At age 65 he renewed his relationship with the Lord and in doing so forsook the church of his patriarchal father and most of his kin. Going over to the Church of God fellowship, he gave up his life-long tobacco chewing habit, and took his stand on divine healing. He was given grace to faithfully maintain both despite the ills common to the flesh in old age, which in his case included a broken hip.”
“His was a remarkable life and so was his death which he had premonition of, and welcomed just prior to his 87th birth date. His release came relatively easy, without appreciable pain, sickness, or suffering - only a slight elevation of temperature and loss of appetite. Shortly before the end, with mind and all faculties sharp and clear, including his hearing, which previously had been defective for more than 50 years, he rehearsed for his preacher grandson, Denton, some of the events of his early life, including his short courtship and marriage.”
“Having previously gotten all of his business affairs in order, including sufficient money in hand to care for his burial expenses, he gave the family explicit instructions concerning the funeral.- One of his requests was that the funeral procession to the family burial grounds - Townsend Cemetery located by the long familiar Suwannee River - take the same route by their old farm home as had been taken some three months before with the body of his life companion. Another was that his body be placed on the right of hers thus corresponding with their relative positions as they stood for their marriage vows more than sixty-two years before. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. II Psalm 116: 15.”
“John Light, the second son, bore names most popular among Townsends for generations, and this he did with honor and distinction throughout life. Large of stature with long arms and big hands, he early in life became known as the champion fodder puller of the community. Handsome in appearance and sociable in disposition, he moved with ease in all circles. Although he never held public office other than Supervisor of the local Townsend public school, his counsel and support was highly valued by those who did. Through the lives of his beautiful and highly intelligent family of eleven children he did exercise wide influence upon the life of the community at large because he touched it at so many vital points.”
“Devoted as he was to his unusually gifted family, he was even more devoted, if possible, to his church family. He was nothing less than the father of Wayfair Primitive Baptist Church, donating the land on which the building stands as well as the timber from which the lumber for the first building came. He hauled the lumber from the neighborhood sawmill of Bill Hodge to the building site, and, except for the assistance of Uncle Natty Fowler, the first to be buried there, he practically erected the building alone.”
“He also found time from his family, civic, and church responsibilities to attend the first fifty annual Wayfair Cemetery workings. It was the custom in those days for most country Baptist churches to hold preaching services only on one Saturday and Sunday each month. He took it upon himself to attend Mount Nebo Baptist Church, the church of his father and most of his kin, on the Sunday preaching service day preceding the cemetery working for the express purpose of announcing the approaching working. On that special day it was well understood by all members what he was there for and at the appropriate time he, with obvious pleasure, would rise and make the announcement in his inimitable manner.”
“He was jovial by nature and a great favorite with children and young people. Lavonia, the only daughter of his older brother, "Wash", said when growing up she felt she loved him more than her own father. One of his greatest delights though was the fellowship of his church members and in that respect nothing seemed to be more enjoyable to him than the a cappella singing of the old familiar church songs such as Amazing Grace, during which he would make the welkin ring as he mingled his deep masculine voice in the "Amen" corner.”
“At the Sunday noon closing services of his church, it was his custom to move leisurely through the congregation, exchanging greetings, and often holy hugs and kisses, as he wended his way to the door. There, standing on the top step, his imposing figure facing the church yard on the side where most parked their vehicles, he would callout in his loud resounding voice, “I want company.” This was the signal for the formation of a procession to his house of hospitality down the road within sight of the church. His, oldest son, Thomas Lee, recalled that during one of their annual association meetings, by pressing into service the corn crib and cotton house, they provided sleeping accommodations for fifty-six persons. Another family member remembered they had a stack of bed quilts which reached from the hand scrubbed floor to the ceiling.
”Gathered to his fathers in his seventy-sixth year, his works follow after him to bless countless lives through the institutions which he gave himself to so freely in life.”
“Henry Franklin, the third son, as a young man became known for his energetic aggressiveness, always driving the fastest horses available. He had an outgoing personality and was socially popular, usually leading the singing of any church group he might be in attendance upon, regardless of the denomination. Gifted above his fellows, he excelled particularly in wood work and carpentry. He built many of the better homes in the community, the finest of which had white chimneys made of sawn limestone rock so plentiful in the area. He is credited with having constructed the wooden enclosure presently standing around some graves near the center of the Townsend Cemetery which has withstood so well the ravages of time. He lived out of the community of his fathers the greater portion of his adult life, therefore information regarding his accomplishments during this time is limited.”
“Of all the beautiful daughters, all good cooks and good mothers, who wrought so nobly, my mind turns to Henrietta, "Aunt Het", I guess because she had the largest family - fourteen children reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord to adulthood who contracted fourteen marriages without a divorce. A son-in-law said of her that he supposed she was one of the best women that ever lived.”.
Biography of John Hill Townsend:
William Thomas Townsend wrote about his first hand recollections of several of the male children (his Uncle’s) of John Hill Townsend in his addendum4 to Marie Butler’s “The Townsends of Marlboro”. Those recollections are reproduced below:
“John Hill was the only, son and oldest child of Jack by his last wife, Rachel Hill. When he was some fourteen years of age a boat capsized with him and his father while turkey hunting on the Suwannee River near the mouth of the Santa Fe River, and the father was drowned. This tragedy occurred in 1847. Two or three days afterward the body was recovered from where it had drifted against the limbs of an over-hanging willow tree. It was interred on the bank at the spot, being a high bluff on the eastern side, since known as Jacks Bluff. It is said that later a daughter and her child were buried beside the father. The family kept the gravesite fenced for many years but only the approximate location is known at present.”
“Upon young John Hill then fell the burden of support for the younger, sisters and mother, but he was well endowed for it, having great determination, a keen mind and a strong stalwart body. Although deprived of formal education except possibly a few months schooling, he became a man of distinction, and accumulated considerable means. He came to possess lands, live stock, a country store, cotton gin, river ferry, etc., at an important crossing on the Suwannee River some ten miles directly south of Branford, Fla. The river runs east to west at this point and his property was on the south side. This was in that day a strategically located north-south crossing site some six miles northwest of present day Bell, Fla.”
“Apparently as a result of a deep solitary religious experience in the summer of 1863, he was converted and went on to become a pioneer Baptist minister. Depicting this experience, he composed a poem entitled, "From Nature To Grace", the opening lines of which were:
'Twas in 1863
While sitting under a tree
That I was shown
How far I had come”
“With this poem he was wont to close his long sermons, but he could quote it only in the heat of a sermon and then at such a pace no one could ever copy and preserve it in its entirety. My uncle Willie remembered, however, as a child, it signaled him to perk up as church would soon be over. He was also remembered for his customary long prayers before meals in his home. This says something as to the source of his rich spiritual and cultural legacies to posterity. Mount Nebo Baptist Church, which he founded, Townsend school, ferry and cemetery, as well as an extra large successful family, bear ample testimony to that - twenty-three marriages by him and his children without divorce, most giving supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and none being driven to alcohol.”
“John Hill and many of his large family are buried in Townsend Cemetery, near the Suwannee River in the proximity of his former holdings, also Jacks Bluff, the burial place of his father. His expressive epitaph reads as follows: "Although he sleeps, his memory doth linger, and cheering comfort to his mourners give." Visionary, stern, disciplined, compassionate and faithful are words descriptive of his life”
“As a prelude to statistics pertaining to the family of John Hill it seems fitting to attempt to flesh out some of their lives which happen to standout in my memory. There were the three oldest sons beginning with William Washington. "Wash" as he was wont to call himself, though the oldest, was always the smallest when growing up and even in adulthood. This being so he fel1 heir to more than his share of the "raps" common to a large family in pioneer days. He, early in life, fell heir to the task of ferryman, propelling by hand the barge, which accommodated the traffic crossing the river at that point. This barge was also the conveyance for store merchandise off-loaded by rail transportation at Branford some fifteen miles upstream. He told me that he began his career as ferryman which involved propelling this barge across the river and "poling" it upstream to Branford at the age of twelve.”
“John Hill and family, which in those days meant, for the most part, these three older sons cleared by hand approximately 100 acres of literally swamp hammock land along the banks of the river for use in their farming, which has long since reverted to wilderness. This was by far their most fertile soil, but also the most contrary. In addition to all the other imponderables farming is generally beset with, this soil was also subject to the ever threatening spring floods from the overflowing river.”
“It was a custom of the times in that era, after their crops were "laid by" and on into the early fall, for families to rig up their covered wagons and go, down to Horse Shoe on the gulf coast for a few days outing and also to get a load of salt water sea food such as oysters, scallops, and fat mullet heavy with roe. John Hill, Wash, Light and some of the younger sons and grand sons were down there on one of those excursions when the "big blow of 96" struck. Many tropical hurricanes have swept up the Suwannee valley over the years but none within the memory of the old timers of our generation ever left such lasting impressions on the minds of the people as this one. This disaster struck in the early A. M. of Tuesday, September 29, 1896. Aunt "Linnie" Thomas, grandpa's sister, near the end of her long life vividly recalled the utter destruction and desolation, which greeted her family upon returning to their home after the storm. An aged barber of mine in Jacksonville who was a child in the Lake City area at the time recounted how his family looked out from the breakfast table upon darkening skies to see a neighbor pass in a buggy behind a community famous black horse known as "Old Duster" stretched out at full speed and how they had only a few seconds to wait before being made fully aware of the reason for his flight.”
“John Hill and party by taking what cover they could on the highest ground and some climbing the sabel palm trees, etc., around, survived the first part of the storm's onslaught on Horse Shoe beach. Then during a lull they made it out a short distance to the home of a friend named Harris, father to Jake and Steve, where they weathered the remainder.”
“After its passage they faced the formidable task of chopping their way home by making their- own cross-country road through fences, fields, or wherever progress was possible so long as it pointed in a homeward direction. For the country side was laid waste and many virgin yellow pine forests were leveled to the ground. Towards the end of the week as they approached the Hatch Bend area on the west side of the river, near exhaustion, they decided to dispatch a messenger ahead on horseback to secure aid from neighboring families on the east side such as the "Dote" Weeks and the Alec Rehberg families. The irrepressible Walter was the first to volunteer to be the courier but was just as promptly turned down as being more valuable to the chopping crew. In those times of virtually no communications just imagine, if you can, the Townsend reunions which took place upon their safe arrival home. Of the many since, doubtless none have been more memorable.”
“Out of the crucible of his many youthful experiences "Wash" developed into a prudent manager who, despite his feistiness, had the knack of being able to get others to work with and for him to mutual advantage. He was blessed early in life to acquire a sizeable acreage of good farm and timber land which he managed profitably. He always seemed to have money which he with care kept in a little snap-shut pocket book.”
“In the prime of his life he took great delight in roaming the free range lands of the old friendly Suwannee River valley public domain, looking after his herds of live stock - cows and hogs - whose ways and habits he knew well though they were scattered up and down both sides of the river. In 1914 he sold 100 head of beef cattle and bought a Model T Ford, the first automobile in the community, which truly became a community car. The heads of two neighboring families were given free access to it and became much more familiar with its operation than he. One went on from his experience with it to become for years the most expert auto mechanic in the entire countryside.”
“"Wash" was in fact community minded in every sense of the word, and loved his fellow man. He loved his Lord supremely though and was zealous that He might have preeminence in his life. At age 65 he renewed his relationship with the Lord and in doing so forsook the church of his patriarchal father and most of his kin. Going over to the Church of God fellowship, he gave up his life-long tobacco chewing habit, and took his stand on divine healing. He was given grace to faithfully maintain both despite the ills common to the flesh in old age, which in his case included a broken hip.”
“His was a remarkable life and so was his death which he had premonition of, and welcomed just prior to his 87th birth date. His release came relatively easy, without appreciable pain, sickness, or suffering - only a slight elevation of temperature and loss of appetite. Shortly before the end, with mind and all faculties sharp and clear, including his hearing, which previously had been defective for more than 50 years, he rehearsed for his preacher grandson, Denton, some of the events of his early life, including his short courtship and marriage.”
“Having previously gotten all of his business affairs in order, including sufficient money in hand to care for his burial expenses, he gave the family explicit instructions concerning the funeral.- One of his requests was that the funeral procession to the family burial grounds - Townsend Cemetery located by the long familiar Suwannee River - take the same route by their old farm home as had been taken some three months before with the body of his life companion. Another was that his body be placed on the right of hers thus corresponding with their relative positions as they stood for their marriage vows more than sixty-two years before. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. II Psalm 116: 15.”
“John Light, the second son, bore names most popular among Townsends for generations, and this he did with honor and distinction throughout life. Large of stature with long arms and big hands, he early in life became known as the champion fodder puller of the community. Handsome in appearance and sociable in disposition, he moved with ease in all circles. Although he never held public office other than Supervisor of the local Townsend public school, his counsel and support was highly valued by those who did. Through the lives of his beautiful and highly intelligent family of eleven children he did exercise wide influence upon the life of the community at large because he touched it at so many vital points.”
“Devoted as he was to his unusually gifted family, he was even more devoted, if possible, to his church family. He was nothing less than the father of Wayfair Primitive Baptist Church, donating the land on which the building stands as well as the timber from which the lumber for the first building came. He hauled the lumber from the neighborhood sawmill of Bill Hodge to the building site, and, except for the assistance of Uncle Natty Fowler, the first to be buried there, he practically erected the building alone.”
“He also found time from his family, civic, and church responsibilities to attend the first fifty annual Wayfair Cemetery workings. It was the custom in those days for most country Baptist churches to hold preaching services only on one Saturday and Sunday each month. He took it upon himself to attend Mount Nebo Baptist Church, the church of his father and most of his kin, on the Sunday preaching service day preceding the cemetery working for the express purpose of announcing the approaching working. On that special day it was well understood by all members what he was there for and at the appropriate time he, with obvious pleasure, would rise and make the announcement in his inimitable manner.”
“He was jovial by nature and a great favorite with children and young people. Lavonia, the only daughter of his older brother, "Wash", said when growing up she felt she loved him more than her own father. One of his greatest delights though was the fellowship of his church members and in that respect nothing seemed to be more enjoyable to him than the a cappella singing of the old familiar church songs such as Amazing Grace, during which he would make the welkin ring as he mingled his deep masculine voice in the "Amen" corner.”
“At the Sunday noon closing services of his church, it was his custom to move leisurely through the congregation, exchanging greetings, and often holy hugs and kisses, as he wended his way to the door. There, standing on the top step, his imposing figure facing the church yard on the side where most parked their vehicles, he would callout in his loud resounding voice, “I want company.” This was the signal for the formation of a procession to his house of hospitality down the road within sight of the church. His, oldest son, Thomas Lee, recalled that during one of their annual association meetings, by pressing into service the corn crib and cotton house, they provided sleeping accommodations for fifty-six persons. Another family member remembered they had a stack of bed quilts which reached from the hand scrubbed floor to the ceiling.
”Gathered to his fathers in his seventy-sixth year, his works follow after him to bless countless lives through the institutions which he gave himself to so freely in life.”
“Henry Franklin, the third son, as a young man became known for his energetic aggressiveness, always driving the fastest horses available. He had an outgoing personality and was socially popular, usually leading the singing of any church group he might be in attendance upon, regardless of the denomination. Gifted above his fellows, he excelled particularly in wood work and carpentry. He built many of the better homes in the community, the finest of which had white chimneys made of sawn limestone rock so plentiful in the area. He is credited with having constructed the wooden enclosure presently standing around some graves near the center of the Townsend Cemetery which has withstood so well the ravages of time. He lived out of the community of his fathers the greater portion of his adult life, therefore information regarding his accomplishments during this time is limited.”
“Of all the beautiful daughters, all good cooks and good mothers, who wrought so nobly, my mind turns to Henrietta, "Aunt Het", I guess because she had the largest family - fourteen children reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord to adulthood who contracted fourteen marriages without a divorce. A son-in-law said of her that he supposed she was one of the best women that ever lived.”.
Children of John Hill Townsend and Malinda Ellen Shepherd
- William Washington Townsend+ b. 3 Jun 1854, d. 24 Apr 1941
- John Light Townsend+ b. 9 Sep 1856, d. 13 Dec 1932
- Mary Ann Levonia Townsend+ b. 24 Mar 1859, d. 28 Feb 1923
- Henry Franklin Townsend+ b. 15 Feb 1861, d. 3 May 1930
- Augustine Florida "Teen" Townsend+ b. 18 Nov 1863, d. 4 Jan 1931
- Rachel J. Townsend+ b. 24 Feb 1865, d. 23 Feb 1897
- Henrietta Lemontine Georgia Ann Townsend+ b. 15 Dec 1869, d. 16 Oct 1935
- Malinda E. Townsend+ b. 3 Sep 1871, d. 18 Sep 1958
- Twin infants Townsend b. 9 Sep 1874, d. 9 Sep 1874
Children of John Hill Townsend and Lucinda Thompson
- Cinderella Townsend+ b. 26 Mar 1876, d. 14 Jan 1909
- Noah Townsend b. c 1878, d. 24 Oct 1891
- Nancy Townsend b. 28 Apr 1880, d. 9 Mar 1935
- Walter Street Townsend+ b. 17 Sep 1881, d. 15 Oct 1933
- Minnie Townsend+ b. 12 Apr 1883, d. 18 Jan 1931
- Thomas Olin Townsend+ b. Apr 1888, d. 7 Feb 1947
- Lewis Rennels Townsend+ b. May 1891, d. 19 Dec 1953
Children of John Hill Townsend and Mary F. Davis
- Isaac Cleveland Townsend+ b. 25 Jan 1900, d. 16 Apr 1964
- Jesse Aarom Townsend b. 11 Feb 1905, d. 23 Apr 1992
Citations
- [S666] 1850 Census Alachua FL, p. 17, Dw. 235, Fm. 235, Household of Rachel J. Townsend, 14th Division, 19 Nov 1850.
- [S673] "Alachua FL Marriage Records". Book A-683.
- [S69] IGI 1988 Florida USA,.
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
- [S667] Jim Powell Jr., Alachua/Gilchrist FL Cemeteries,.
John Hill Moses Townsend
M, b. 21 February 1891, d. 2 January 1929
- Relationship
- 4th great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
John Hill Moses Townsend was born on 21 February 1891 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Light Townsend and Nancy Florence Sikes. He married Abigail Jones on 15 January 1913.1 He died on 2 January 1929 at age 37.
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
John Light Townsend
M, b. 9 September 1856, d. 13 December 1932
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
John Light Townsend was born on 9 September 1856 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Malinda Ellen Shepherd. He married Nancy Florence Sikes on 16 March 1876 at Alachua, Florida, United States.2 He married Emma Shirley (--?--) after 1928.2 He died on 13 December 1932 at Gilchrist, Florida, United States, at age 76.
Children of John Light Townsend and Nancy Florence Sikes
- Margaret Lenora Townsend b. 31 Jan 1878, d. 31 Jul 1910
- Lillie Melinda Townsend b. 19 Dec 1879, d. 31 Jul 1967
- Arthur Townsend b. 16 Aug 1882, d. 21 Sep 1889
- Thomas Lee Townsend b. 6 Aug 1885, d. 14 Jul 1978
- Roberta J. Townsend b. 21 Aug 1887, d. 25 Apr 1946
- Luvina Eugene Townsend b. 14 Jul 1889, d. 26 Jun 1964
- John Hill Moses Townsend b. 21 Feb 1891, d. 2 Jan 1929
- Zaccheus Townsend b. 21 Nov 1893, d. Aug 1898
- Nancy Evelena Townsend b. 31 Oct 1895, d. 6 Sep 1975
- Simeon Lyte Townsend b. 12 Mar 1898, d. 2 May 1968
- Harmon Franklyn Townsend b. 26 Dec 1901, d. 27 Nov 1961
Josephine L. Townsend
F, b. 7 April 1858, d. 27 April 1928
- Relationship
- 3rd great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Josephine L. Townsend was born on 7 April 1858 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 She was the daughter of Noah Townsend and Sarah "Sallie" Gillette. She married Reece Ormond on 9 January 1877 at Alachua, Florida, United States.2 She died on 27 April 1928 at Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 70.2 She was buried at Townsend Cemetery, Hawthorne, Alachua, Florida, United States.3
Julia Elizabeth "Lizzie" Townsend
F, b. 1843
- Relationship
- 2nd great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Julia Elizabeth "Lizzie" Townsend was born in 1843 at Madison, Florida, United States.1,2 She was the daughter of John "Jack" Townsend and Rachel Jane Hill. She married John Polk circa 1861 at Florida, United States.3
Children of Julia Elizabeth "Lizzie" Townsend and John Polk
- Eleanor Polk b. c 1862
- Daniel Washington Polk+ b. c 1864, d. 5 May 1938
- John B."Bee" Polk+ b. 5 Aug 1868, d. 27 May 1942
- Florida V. Polk+ b. 16 Aug 1870, d. 21 Oct 1892
- William Polk b. c 1875
Lane Townsend
M, b. 1835
- Relationship
- 2nd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Lane Townsend was born in 1835 at Lowndes, Georgia, United States.1 He was the son of John "Jack" Townsend and Rachel Jane Hill.
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
Lela Malinda Townsend
F, b. 31 July 1897, d. 22 January 1974
- Relationship
- 4th great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Lela Malinda Townsend was born on 31 July 1897.1 She was the daughter of Henry Franklin Townsend and Maria E. May. She married Isom Thompson.1 She married Lewis D. Berry.1 She died on 22 January 1974 at age 76.1
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
Lewis Rennels Townsend
M, b. May 1891, d. 19 December 1953
- Relationship
- 3rd great-grandson of Benedictus Townsend
Lewis Rennels Townsend was born in May 1891 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 He was the son of John Hill Townsend and Lucinda Thompson. He married Georgia Euginia Simmons on 1 January 1908.2 He died on 19 December 1953 at Live Oak, Suwannee, Florida, United States, at age 62.2
Children of Lewis Rennels Townsend and Georgia Euginia Simmons
- Gordon E. Townsend b. 4 Dec 1910
- Edith Radna Townsend b. 1 Apr 1914
- Alvis Rennels Townsend b. 6 Jul 1916, d. 10 Apr 1950
- Nina Hortez Townsend b. 12 Aug 1920
Lillie Melinda Townsend
F, b. 19 December 1879, d. 31 July 1967
- Relationship
- 4th great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Lillie Melinda Townsend was born on 19 December 1879 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 She was the daughter of John Light Townsend and Nancy Florence Sikes. She married William D. Kelly on 12 January 1898.1 She died on 31 July 1967 at age 87.1
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
Luvina Eugene Townsend
F, b. 14 July 1889, d. 26 June 1964
- Relationship
- 4th great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Luvina Eugene Townsend was born on 14 July 1889 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 She was the daughter of John Light Townsend and Nancy Florence Sikes. She married Alexandra Truman Thomas on 6 April 1904.1 She died on 26 June 1964 at age 74.
Citations
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
Malinda E. Townsend
F, b. 3 September 1871, d. 18 September 1958
- Relationship
- 3rd great-granddaughter of Benedictus Townsend
Malinda E. Townsend was born on 3 September 1871 at Alachua, Florida, United States.1 She was the daughter of John Hill Townsend and Malinda Ellen Shepherd. She married Archie B Thomas on 16 December 1888 at Alachua, Florida, United States.2,3 She died on 18 September 1958 at Alachua, Florida, United States, at age 87.4 She was buried at Townsend Cemetery, Gilchrist, Florida, United States.4
Children of Malinda E. Townsend and Archie B Thomas
- William Archie Thomas b. 7 Aug 1891, d. 24 May 1982
- Lula Thomas b. 18 Jan 1898, d. 30 Apr 1974
- Marvin Matthew Thomas b. 4 Nov 1903, d. 18 Jan 1987
- Leoma Thomas b. 30 Oct 1905, d. 16 Jun 1996
Citations
- [S669] 1880 Census Alachua FL, ED 3, p. 75A, Dw. 492, Fm. 492, Household of John Townsend, Twp. 9 19 June 1880.
- [S580] William Thomas Townsend, Townsend, Addendum to The Townsends of Marlboro,.
- [S673] "Alachua FL Marriage Records". Book C-168.
- [S667] Jim Powell Jr., Alachua/Gilchrist FL Cemeteries,.