Richard Townsend (201)
| Date of Birth: | 18 Jul 1684 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | Nov 1742 |
| Generation: | 3rd |
| Residence: | Castletownshend |
| Father: | Colonel Bryan Townsend [200] |
| Mother: | Synge, Mary |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table II ; Scrapbook ; Lineage |
Notes for Richard Townsend JP
Richard's date of birth is taken from an entry - in contemporary writing - on the fly leaf of a copy of ‘The Christian Pattern or Imitation of Jesus Christ' - London 1707.
Married 1st 1706. Mary Synge was the daughter of the Rt Rev Samuel Synge, Dean of Kildare and a cousin of Richard. Married 2nd. Elizabeth Becher (1) was the only daughter of Henry Becher (1) of Aughadown, Skibbereen, Co Cork. See 1976 Edn Burke's Irish Family Records - Becher and Synge.
Richard was a JP in 1715 and High Sheriff of Co Cork in 1726. He inherited Castletownshend in 1727 on the death of his father.
His will was proved on 11 November 1742 and, as he died before his son Richard Townsend [213] had come of age, he left his wife Elizabeth as the sole legatee and guardian of the children. If she were to die before young Richard came of age then his brothers Samuel Townsend [400], Philip Townsend [500] and Horatio Townsend [600] were appointed guardians. Elizabeth died the following year and under the terms of her will her son Richard inherited the entire Castletownshend estate, John inherited the lands of North and South Aghills (Shepperton), Drishane and Farrendagh, East and West Myross and Glannafoyne (near Loch Ine) and Henry inherited the lands of Dunbeacon, Ardra and Ballintona.
Richard was a Freemen of the City of Cork. Between 1710 and 1841, when the power of admitting Freemen only by birth or right ceased, a total of thirty three members of the Townsend family were admitted as Freemen.
Richard was godfather to Horatio Townsend [5D00].
(1) Elizabeth's will is dated 11 September 1743 and she died some time later that same year.
'An Officer of the Long Parliament' Ch VII p. 150-51 and 'Pooles of Mayfield' p. 237 refer.
For other Becher connections see Horatio Townsend [104], Mary Townsend [121], Barbara Townsend [306], Edward Mansel Townsend [401], Samuel Townsend [412] and Anne Townsend [417].
Much of the information on the Becher Family has been provided by Jenny Stiles from Australia who is a descendant of John Becher (b. 6 Apr 1700 d. 1738) of Creagh and Mary Townsend [121] through their son Michael (b. ca 1735 d. Aug 1778).