Charles TOWNSEND is Buried at Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 26 June 1776. The Arch Street Cemetery was formerly a Quaker Cemetery at the site of the Arch Street Quaker Monthly Meeting in Philadelphia.
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary (SOUTHARD) EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania."
The EMBREEs were Quakers, as were the TOWNSENDSs.
He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer.
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
On 24 January 1743, the children of John TOWNSEND deceased, signed a release to James TOWNSEND to clear title to one of the lots on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The children were: Stephen TOWNSEND (eldest), James TOWNSEND, Joseph TOWNSEND, Charles TOWNSEND, Elizabeth TOWNSEND married Alexander FORMAN, Sarah married Owen THOMAS, Mary married John KENNARD, Jane married Thomas HUMPHREYS and Rachel married William ADAMS. - Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990), pg.2
---
Charles B. Ogden in his QUAKER OGDENS in AMERICA (1898), p.73 & 102, names the parents of Charles TOWNSEND as "John and Elizabeth (COLES) TOWNSEND", who were living in Kent County, Delaware in 1690. This appeared to be supported by evidence provided by The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990).
HOWEVER, newer evidence presented by Jason Townsend on the TOWNSEND FORUM names the mother of Charles as Elizabeth POCOCKE, dau. of Edward POCOCKE. See the following:
---
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Volume 42 – Number 2, Fall/Winter 2002
Townsend Ancestry of Richard of the Welcome, John of Philadelphia,
Joseph of Chester County, and Joan of Chester County
By David L. Greene, PHD, CG, FASG
John Townsend was born in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on 9 April 1656. He was buried in Philadelphia, on 17 June 1727. He married first Elizabeth --?--, who was buried on 8 12th month [February] 1690[/1].
He marreid secondly, at Oare, Berkshire, on 8 2nd month [April] 1694, Elizabeth Pococke of Hampstead Norris, daughter of Edward Pococke. She is apparently the Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (--?--) Pococke who was baptised at Hampstead Norris on 22 December 1678. The proposed marriage caused concern among the Quakers of the Newbury Monthly Meeting:
• 16 11th m [January] 1693[/4]: John Tounsend, of the Parish of Bucklebury, carpenter, and Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward Pococke, of the Parish of Hampstead Noris, appeared in our meeting and declared their intention of marriage; and it was of some concern to Friends, and Friends counsiel them to defer it till another monthly Meeting, and then to bring their Relations with them befor they proceed any further, because Friends was not well satisfied with their Proceedings.
• 20 1st m [March] 169[3/]4: John Tounsen and Elizabeth Pocoke aforsaid appeared in our meeting the 2nd time, and declared their intentions of Marriage with each other, and Friends hath made inquire concerning their clearness from all others in that concern and Friends finds nothing whereby to obstruct them. So Friends hath left them to accomplish their saide intention of Marridge when they see good.
The reason for concern is not stated, but the only Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward, baptized at Haptsead Norris at any time close to appropriate was the one baptized on 22 December 1678. It would seem, then, that John Townsend was about 38 at his second marriage, while Elizabeth was 15 – reason enough to be concerned.
The marriage certificate was signed first by the married couple, John “Townsen” and Elizabeth Townsen, followed by [his mother] Joan Townsen; in the same column are [his brother-in-law] Richard Higes and her [sister?] Mary Pococke.
---
Charles' father, John TOWNSEND, Carpenter, of Philadelphia, PA, died intestate, and his estate was entered into probate court on 14 December 1727. His widow, Elizabeth, James TOWNSEND taylor, and Charles TOWNSEND laborer, appeared in court. The widow, Elizabeth TOWNSEND, was the administratrix and was ordered to provide an inventory by 15 December 1728. On 14 October 1727 (sic), the inventory was presented by John CADWALADER and Edward ROBERTS. The inventory of John TOWNSEND consisted of: "wearing apparel, old feather bed, bolster, 2 sheets and blanket, rug, bedstead and old curtains, 2 small tables, 6 chairs and box, 2 pewter dishes, basin, tankard and glass, earthern and woodenware, 2 old axes, spade and potracks, tongs and bellows, 2 iron potts, gridiron and frying pan, 2 small tenements and 2 lotts on the north side of Walnut Street, a dough trough and some lumber. The estate was valued at 108 pounds, 8 shillings and 6 pence."
The two lots in Philadelphia on Walnut St. were apparently divided between the two sons, James TOWNSEND and Charles TOWNSEND, who later sold them to trustees of the State House Committee of Philadelphia. This land is now the site of the famous Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania." He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer. They had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
Charles TOWNSEND was named as one of 30 men on the Philadelphia Fire Company organized in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. --
---
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND owned a farm at 6th & Walnut Sts., Philadelphia, which he inherited from his father, John TOWNSEND. This land later became the site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Joseph FOX, Samuel RHODES, Joseph GALLOWAY, John BAYTON, Edward PENNINGTON, Michael HILLGASS and Charles HUMPHREYS were appointed by an act of the General Assembly in 1762 to purchase land for the purpose of building a statehouse in Philadelphia. They subsequently acquired the land on 6th and Walnut St. that had been purchased by John TOWNSEND of Kent Co., Delaware in 1715, and had been inherited by James and Charles TOWNSEND.
---
Charles TOWNSEND, Philadelphia, carter, and his wife, Abigail, sold, on 6 Feb 1769, to Joseph FOX and six other trustees of the State House Committee, a lot of land 67 feet on the front of Walnut Street and running back 46 feet, bounded to the west by another part, now conveyed to James TOWNSEND. They sold it for 385 pounds. Charles TOWNSEND signed with the letters "C. T." (Deed Book 6, pg.207).
At about the same time, David ERWIN and wife Elizabeth, sold to the Statehouse Committee the land on Walnut St. that he had purchased from James TOWNSEND in October 1756. (Deed Book 6, pp.178,203.)
The above mentioned land transactions are of historical interest, due to the fact that these purchases were to acquire the site for a city hall (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
REFERENCES:
Ogden, Charles B., QUAKER OGDENS IN AMERICA (1898), p.73,102;
William Wade Hinshaw, ENCYCLOPEDIA of AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY (1938), V.II, p.428,595,669;
Futhey, J. Smith, and Cope, Gilbert, HISTORY of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA with GENEALOGICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia 1881), p.531-536;
The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Spring 1981), p.4, (Summer 1988), pg.4, (Fall 1990), pp.1-5;
HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA 1609-1884, p.1888
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary (SOUTHARD) EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania."
The EMBREEs were Quakers, as were the TOWNSENDSs.
He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer.
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
On 24 January 1743, the children of John TOWNSEND deceased, signed a release to James TOWNSEND to clear title to one of the lots on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The children were: Stephen TOWNSEND (eldest), James TOWNSEND, Joseph TOWNSEND, Charles TOWNSEND, Elizabeth TOWNSEND married Alexander FORMAN, Sarah married Owen THOMAS, Mary married John KENNARD, Jane married Thomas HUMPHREYS and Rachel married William ADAMS. - Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990), pg.2
---
Charles B. Ogden in his QUAKER OGDENS in AMERICA (1898), p.73 & 102, names the parents of Charles TOWNSEND as "John and Elizabeth (COLES) TOWNSEND", who were living in Kent County, Delaware in 1690. This appeared to be supported by evidence provided by The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990).
HOWEVER, newer evidence presented by Jason Townsend on the TOWNSEND FORUM names the mother of Charles as Elizabeth POCOCKE, dau. of Edward POCOCKE. See the following:
---
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Volume 42 – Number 2, Fall/Winter 2002
Townsend Ancestry of Richard of the Welcome, John of Philadelphia,
Joseph of Chester County, and Joan of Chester County
By David L. Greene, PHD, CG, FASG
John Townsend was born in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on 9 April 1656. He was buried in Philadelphia, on 17 June 1727. He married first Elizabeth --?--, who was buried on 8 12th month [February] 1690[/1].
He marreid secondly, at Oare, Berkshire, on 8 2nd month [April] 1694, Elizabeth Pococke of Hampstead Norris, daughter of Edward Pococke. She is apparently the Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (--?--) Pococke who was baptised at Hampstead Norris on 22 December 1678. The proposed marriage caused concern among the Quakers of the Newbury Monthly Meeting:
• 16 11th m [January] 1693[/4]: John Tounsend, of the Parish of Bucklebury, carpenter, and Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward Pococke, of the Parish of Hampstead Noris, appeared in our meeting and declared their intention of marriage; and it was of some concern to Friends, and Friends counsiel them to defer it till another monthly Meeting, and then to bring their Relations with them befor they proceed any further, because Friends was not well satisfied with their Proceedings.
• 20 1st m [March] 169[3/]4: John Tounsen and Elizabeth Pocoke aforsaid appeared in our meeting the 2nd time, and declared their intentions of Marriage with each other, and Friends hath made inquire concerning their clearness from all others in that concern and Friends finds nothing whereby to obstruct them. So Friends hath left them to accomplish their saide intention of Marridge when they see good.
The reason for concern is not stated, but the only Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward, baptized at Haptsead Norris at any time close to appropriate was the one baptized on 22 December 1678. It would seem, then, that John Townsend was about 38 at his second marriage, while Elizabeth was 15 – reason enough to be concerned.
The marriage certificate was signed first by the married couple, John “Townsen” and Elizabeth Townsen, followed by [his mother] Joan Townsen; in the same column are [his brother-in-law] Richard Higes and her [sister?] Mary Pococke.
---
Charles' father, John TOWNSEND, Carpenter, of Philadelphia, PA, died intestate, and his estate was entered into probate court on 14 December 1727. His widow, Elizabeth, James TOWNSEND taylor, and Charles TOWNSEND laborer, appeared in court. The widow, Elizabeth TOWNSEND, was the administratrix and was ordered to provide an inventory by 15 December 1728. On 14 October 1727 (sic), the inventory was presented by John CADWALADER and Edward ROBERTS. The inventory of John TOWNSEND consisted of: "wearing apparel, old feather bed, bolster, 2 sheets and blanket, rug, bedstead and old curtains, 2 small tables, 6 chairs and box, 2 pewter dishes, basin, tankard and glass, earthern and woodenware, 2 old axes, spade and potracks, tongs and bellows, 2 iron potts, gridiron and frying pan, 2 small tenements and 2 lotts on the north side of Walnut Street, a dough trough and some lumber. The estate was valued at 108 pounds, 8 shillings and 6 pence."
The two lots in Philadelphia on Walnut St. were apparently divided between the two sons, James TOWNSEND and Charles TOWNSEND, who later sold them to trustees of the State House Committee of Philadelphia. This land is now the site of the famous Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania." He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer. They had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
Charles TOWNSEND was named as one of 30 men on the Philadelphia Fire Company organized in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. --
---
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND owned a farm at 6th & Walnut Sts., Philadelphia, which he inherited from his father, John TOWNSEND. This land later became the site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Joseph FOX, Samuel RHODES, Joseph GALLOWAY, John BAYTON, Edward PENNINGTON, Michael HILLGASS and Charles HUMPHREYS were appointed by an act of the General Assembly in 1762 to purchase land for the purpose of building a statehouse in Philadelphia. They subsequently acquired the land on 6th and Walnut St. that had been purchased by John TOWNSEND of Kent Co., Delaware in 1715, and had been inherited by James and Charles TOWNSEND.
---
Charles TOWNSEND, Philadelphia, carter, and his wife, Abigail, sold, on 6 Feb 1769, to Joseph FOX and six other trustees of the State House Committee, a lot of land 67 feet on the front of Walnut Street and running back 46 feet, bounded to the west by another part, now conveyed to James TOWNSEND. They sold it for 385 pounds. Charles TOWNSEND signed with the letters "C. T." (Deed Book 6, pg.207).
At about the same time, David ERWIN and wife Elizabeth, sold to the Statehouse Committee the land on Walnut St. that he had purchased from James TOWNSEND in October 1756. (Deed Book 6, pp.178,203.)
The above mentioned land transactions are of historical interest, due to the fact that these purchases were to acquire the site for a city hall (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
REFERENCES:
Ogden, Charles B., QUAKER OGDENS IN AMERICA (1898), p.73,102;
William Wade Hinshaw, ENCYCLOPEDIA of AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY (1938), V.II, p.428,595,669;
Futhey, J. Smith, and Cope, Gilbert, HISTORY of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA with GENEALOGICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia 1881), p.531-536;
The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Spring 1981), p.4, (Summer 1988), pg.4, (Fall 1990), pp.1-5;
HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA 1609-1884, p.1888
Charles TOWNSEND is Buried at Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 26 June 1776. The Arch Street Cemetery was formerly a Quaker Cemetery at the site of the Arch Street Quaker Monthly Meeting in Philadelphia.
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary (SOUTHARD) EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania."
The EMBREEs were Quakers, as were the TOWNSENDSs.
He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer.
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
On 24 January 1743, the children of John TOWNSEND deceased, signed a release to James TOWNSEND to clear title to one of the lots on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The children were: Stephen TOWNSEND (eldest), James TOWNSEND, Joseph TOWNSEND, Charles TOWNSEND, Elizabeth TOWNSEND married Alexander FORMAN, Sarah married Owen THOMAS, Mary married John KENNARD, Jane married Thomas HUMPHREYS and Rachel married William ADAMS. - Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990), pg.2
---
Charles B. Ogden in his QUAKER OGDENS in AMERICA (1898), p.73 & 102, names the parents of Charles TOWNSEND as "John and Elizabeth (COLES) TOWNSEND", who were living in Kent County, Delaware in 1690. This appeared to be supported by evidence provided by The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990).
HOWEVER, newer evidence presented by Jason Townsend on the TOWNSEND FORUM names the mother of Charles as Elizabeth POCOCKE, dau. of Edward POCOCKE. See the following:
---
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Volume 42 – Number 2, Fall/Winter 2002
Townsend Ancestry of Richard of the Welcome, John of Philadelphia,
Joseph of Chester County, and Joan of Chester County
By David L. Greene, PHD, CG, FASG
John Townsend was born in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on 9 April 1656. He was buried in Philadelphia, on 17 June 1727. He married first Elizabeth --?--, who was buried on 8 12th month [February] 1690[/1].
He marreid secondly, at Oare, Berkshire, on 8 2nd month [April] 1694, Elizabeth Pococke of Hampstead Norris, daughter of Edward Pococke. She is apparently the Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (--?--) Pococke who was baptised at Hampstead Norris on 22 December 1678. The proposed marriage caused concern among the Quakers of the Newbury Monthly Meeting:
• 16 11th m [January] 1693[/4]: John Tounsend, of the Parish of Bucklebury, carpenter, and Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward Pococke, of the Parish of Hampstead Noris, appeared in our meeting and declared their intention of marriage; and it was of some concern to Friends, and Friends counsiel them to defer it till another monthly Meeting, and then to bring their Relations with them befor they proceed any further, because Friends was not well satisfied with their Proceedings.
• 20 1st m [March] 169[3/]4: John Tounsen and Elizabeth Pocoke aforsaid appeared in our meeting the 2nd time, and declared their intentions of Marriage with each other, and Friends hath made inquire concerning their clearness from all others in that concern and Friends finds nothing whereby to obstruct them. So Friends hath left them to accomplish their saide intention of Marridge when they see good.
The reason for concern is not stated, but the only Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward, baptized at Haptsead Norris at any time close to appropriate was the one baptized on 22 December 1678. It would seem, then, that John Townsend was about 38 at his second marriage, while Elizabeth was 15 – reason enough to be concerned.
The marriage certificate was signed first by the married couple, John “Townsen” and Elizabeth Townsen, followed by [his mother] Joan Townsen; in the same column are [his brother-in-law] Richard Higes and her [sister?] Mary Pococke.
---
Charles' father, John TOWNSEND, Carpenter, of Philadelphia, PA, died intestate, and his estate was entered into probate court on 14 December 1727. His widow, Elizabeth, James TOWNSEND taylor, and Charles TOWNSEND laborer, appeared in court. The widow, Elizabeth TOWNSEND, was the administratrix and was ordered to provide an inventory by 15 December 1728. On 14 October 1727 (sic), the inventory was presented by John CADWALADER and Edward ROBERTS. The inventory of John TOWNSEND consisted of: "wearing apparel, old feather bed, bolster, 2 sheets and blanket, rug, bedstead and old curtains, 2 small tables, 6 chairs and box, 2 pewter dishes, basin, tankard and glass, earthern and woodenware, 2 old axes, spade and potracks, tongs and bellows, 2 iron potts, gridiron and frying pan, 2 small tenements and 2 lotts on the north side of Walnut Street, a dough trough and some lumber. The estate was valued at 108 pounds, 8 shillings and 6 pence."
The two lots in Philadelphia on Walnut St. were apparently divided between the two sons, James TOWNSEND and Charles TOWNSEND, who later sold them to trustees of the State House Committee of Philadelphia. This land is now the site of the famous Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania." He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer. They had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
Charles TOWNSEND was named as one of 30 men on the Philadelphia Fire Company organized in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. --
---
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND owned a farm at 6th & Walnut Sts., Philadelphia, which he inherited from his father, John TOWNSEND. This land later became the site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
---
Joseph FOX, Samuel RHODES, Joseph GALLOWAY, John BAYTON, Edward PENNINGTON, Michael HILLGASS and Charles HUMPHREYS were appointed by an act of the General Assembly in 1762 to purchase land for the purpose of building a statehouse in Philadelphia. They subsequently acquired the land on 6th and Walnut St. that had been purchased by John TOWNSEND of Kent Co., Delaware in 1715, and had been inherited by James and Charles TOWNSEND.
---
Charles TOWNSEND, Philadelphia, carter, and his wife, Abigail, sold, on 6 Feb 1769, to Joseph FOX and six other trustees of the State House Committee, a lot of land 67 feet on the front of Walnut Street and running back 46 feet, bounded to the west by another part, now conveyed to James TOWNSEND. They sold it for 385 pounds. Charles TOWNSEND signed with the letters "C. T." (Deed Book 6, pg.207).
At about the same time, David ERWIN and wife Elizabeth, sold to the Statehouse Committee the land on Walnut St. that he had purchased from James TOWNSEND in October 1756. (Deed Book 6, pp.178,203.)
The above mentioned land transactions are of historical interest, due to the fact that these purchases were to acquire the site for a city hall (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
REFERENCES:
Ogden, Charles B., QUAKER OGDENS IN AMERICA (1898), p.73,102;
William Wade Hinshaw, ENCYCLOPEDIA of AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY (1938), V.II, p.428,595,669;
Futhey, J. Smith, and Cope, Gilbert, HISTORY of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA with GENEALOGICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia 1881), p.531-536;
The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Spring 1981), p.4, (Summer 1988), pg.4, (Fall 1990), pp.1-5;
HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA 1609-1884, p.1888
Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary (SOUTHARD) EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania."
The EMBREEs were Quakers, as were the TOWNSENDSs.
He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer.
Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
---
On 24 January 1743, the children of John TOWNSEND deceased, signed a release to James TOWNSEND to clear title to one of the lots on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The children were: Stephen TOWNSEND (eldest), James TOWNSEND, Joseph TOWNSEND, Charles TOWNSEND, Elizabeth TOWNSEND married Alexander FORMAN, Sarah married Owen THOMAS, Mary married John KENNARD, Jane married Thomas HUMPHREYS and Rachel married William ADAMS. - Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990), pg.2
---
Charles B. Ogden in his QUAKER OGDENS in AMERICA (1898), p.73 & 102, names the parents of Charles TOWNSEND as "John and Elizabeth (COLES) TOWNSEND", who were living in Kent County, Delaware in 1690. This appeared to be supported by evidence provided by The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Fall 1990).
HOWEVER, newer evidence presented by Jason Townsend on the TOWNSEND FORUM names the mother of Charles as Elizabeth POCOCKE, dau. of Edward POCOCKE. See the following:
---
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Volume 42 – Number 2, Fall/Winter 2002
Townsend Ancestry of Richard of the Welcome, John of Philadelphia,
Joseph of Chester County, and Joan of Chester County
By David L. Greene, PHD, CG, FASG
John Townsend was born in Bucklebury, Berkshire, on 9 April 1656. He was buried in Philadelphia, on 17 June 1727. He married first Elizabeth --?--, who was buried on 8 12th month [February] 1690[/1].
He marreid secondly, at Oare, Berkshire, on 8 2nd month [April] 1694, Elizabeth Pococke of Hampstead Norris, daughter of Edward Pococke. She is apparently the Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (--?--) Pococke who was baptised at Hampstead Norris on 22 December 1678. The proposed marriage caused concern among the Quakers of the Newbury Monthly Meeting:
• 16 11th m [January] 1693[/4]: John Tounsend, of the Parish of Bucklebury, carpenter, and Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward Pococke, of the Parish of Hampstead Noris, appeared in our meeting and declared their intention of marriage; and it was of some concern to Friends, and Friends counsiel them to defer it till another monthly Meeting, and then to bring their Relations with them befor they proceed any further, because Friends was not well satisfied with their Proceedings.
• 20 1st m [March] 169[3/]4: John Tounsen and Elizabeth Pocoke aforsaid appeared in our meeting the 2nd time, and declared their intentions of Marriage with each other, and Friends hath made inquire concerning their clearness from all others in that concern and Friends finds nothing whereby to obstruct them. So Friends hath left them to accomplish their saide intention of Marridge when they see good.
The reason for concern is not stated, but the only Elizabeth Pococke, daughter of Edward, baptized at Haptsead Norris at any time close to appropriate was the one baptized on 22 December 1678. It would seem, then, that John Townsend was about 38 at his second marriage, while Elizabeth was 15 – reason enough to be concerned.
The marriage certificate was signed first by the married couple, John “Townsen” and Elizabeth Townsen, followed by [his mother] Joan Townsen; in the same column are [his brother-in-law] Richard Higes and her [sister?] Mary Pococke.
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Charles' father, John TOWNSEND, Carpenter, of Philadelphia, PA, died intestate, and his estate was entered into probate court on 14 December 1727. His widow, Elizabeth, James TOWNSEND taylor, and Charles TOWNSEND laborer, appeared in court. The widow, Elizabeth TOWNSEND, was the administratrix and was ordered to provide an inventory by 15 December 1728. On 14 October 1727 (sic), the inventory was presented by John CADWALADER and Edward ROBERTS. The inventory of John TOWNSEND consisted of: "wearing apparel, old feather bed, bolster, 2 sheets and blanket, rug, bedstead and old curtains, 2 small tables, 6 chairs and box, 2 pewter dishes, basin, tankard and glass, earthern and woodenware, 2 old axes, spade and potracks, tongs and bellows, 2 iron potts, gridiron and frying pan, 2 small tenements and 2 lotts on the north side of Walnut Street, a dough trough and some lumber. The estate was valued at 108 pounds, 8 shillings and 6 pence."
The two lots in Philadelphia on Walnut St. were apparently divided between the two sons, James TOWNSEND and Charles TOWNSEND, who later sold them to trustees of the State House Committee of Philadelphia. This land is now the site of the famous Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
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Charles TOWNSEND (1707-1776), son of John and Elizabeth TOWNSEND, married 18 July 1730 (NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS gives date as 18 May 1730), at Burlington, Burlington Co., New Jersey, to Abigail EMBREE (1711-1794), born. 18 December 1711, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, dau. of Moses and Mary EMBREE. The bride was listed as "from Pennsylvania." He built a house on Spruce Street below third, where three generations of the family lived. He was a carter and laborer. They had children: Sarah TOWNSEND m. Jacob CARVER; Isaac TOWNSEND; Susanna TOWNSEND married, 8 May 1760, John MEARS; Hannah TOWNSEND m. 18 Dec 1760, Samuel RICHARDS; Lydia TOWNSEND m. 1763 Richard ROWLAND; John TOWNSEND m. Hannah COX; Mary TOWNSEND (twin of John), m. Joseph PRICE; and Charles TOWNSEND (d.y).
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Charles TOWNSEND was named as one of 30 men on the Philadelphia Fire Company organized in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. --
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Charles and Abigail (EMBREE) TOWNSEND owned a farm at 6th & Walnut Sts., Philadelphia, which he inherited from his father, John TOWNSEND. This land later became the site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
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Joseph FOX, Samuel RHODES, Joseph GALLOWAY, John BAYTON, Edward PENNINGTON, Michael HILLGASS and Charles HUMPHREYS were appointed by an act of the General Assembly in 1762 to purchase land for the purpose of building a statehouse in Philadelphia. They subsequently acquired the land on 6th and Walnut St. that had been purchased by John TOWNSEND of Kent Co., Delaware in 1715, and had been inherited by James and Charles TOWNSEND.
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Charles TOWNSEND, Philadelphia, carter, and his wife, Abigail, sold, on 6 Feb 1769, to Joseph FOX and six other trustees of the State House Committee, a lot of land 67 feet on the front of Walnut Street and running back 46 feet, bounded to the west by another part, now conveyed to James TOWNSEND. They sold it for 385 pounds. Charles TOWNSEND signed with the letters "C. T." (Deed Book 6, pg.207).
At about the same time, David ERWIN and wife Elizabeth, sold to the Statehouse Committee the land on Walnut St. that he had purchased from James TOWNSEND in October 1756. (Deed Book 6, pp.178,203.)
The above mentioned land transactions are of historical interest, due to the fact that these purchases were to acquire the site for a city hall (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
REFERENCES:
Ogden, Charles B., QUAKER OGDENS IN AMERICA (1898), p.73,102;
William Wade Hinshaw, ENCYCLOPEDIA of AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY (1938), V.II, p.428,595,669;
Futhey, J. Smith, and Cope, Gilbert, HISTORY of CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA with GENEALOGICAL and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia 1881), p.531-536;
The Townsend Society of America, THE TOWNSEND NEWSLETTER (Spring 1981), p.4, (Summer 1988), pg.4, (Fall 1990), pp.1-5;
HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA 1609-1884, p.1888
