Introduction

This genealogy is about John Townsend (1640-1709) and his wife, Faith (c1675-c1715)  of Accomack County Virginia  and their descendants who lived in Virginia, Delaware South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.

John Townsend  arrived in Virginia in 1672 with his son, Thomas.   John and Thomas are the immigrant ancestor of thousands of Townsend decendants that migrated primarily to the west and south of what is now the United States of America.   His Virginia record gives us a glimpse of a man, who came to Virginia from Engand with nothing but his 7 year old son. In his first four years he was able to acquire a wife and 100 acres of forest land that he made into a plantation. After another 12 years and several children he sold his plantation and had apprenticed four of his children to neighbors as it appears he was not able to provide for them.  It took another 12 years until he was able to acquire a 200-acre plantation where he lived until his death at age 70 with 9 known children.  His son, Thomas faired better as he was trained as a weaver, bought a 400 acre plantation at age 35, had 2 wives and died at age 63 on his plantation leaving 10 known children. 

Family Trees

A family tree starting with the earliest known ancestor of this family is shown below. By clicking on any family members name in that tree that individual's personal page will appear showing what we know about them.

List of Family Members

A List showing all members of this family is shown below. Just click on that list and then on any person's name and their personal page will appear showing what we know about that individual

Notable People

You may also begin reading about selected members of the family by clicking on the names of Notable Persons in this family that are listed below.

Benedictus Townsend Book

Townsend Bibles

Townsend Papers

  • Townsend Papers Abstracts of some 50 old documents that were removed by Rogers Townsend (1917-1979) from the Townsend Plantation Office near Blenheim, Marlboro County, South Carolina in the mid 1970’s. These are original deeds and other documents of the Townsend Family going back to 1787.