Captain Philip Townsend (500)
| Date of Birth: | 3 Aug 1700 (1) |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 1786 |
| Generation: | 3rd |
| Residence: | Derry (2) |
| Father: | Colonel Bryan Townsend [200] |
| Mother: | Synge, Mary |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table V ; Scrapbook ; Lineage |
Notes for Captain Philip Townsend
Married 25 November 1733 (3) at Braad Church near Myross, Co Cork. Philip's younger brother, Horatio Townsend [600], took the service. Elizabeth (Bess) Hungerford was the elder daughter of Thomas Hungerford of The Island (Inchydoney), Clonakilty, Co Cork and sister of Mary Hungerford, who married Philip's brother. See 1976 Edn Burke's Irish Family Records - Hungerford. See also ‘A Guide to Irish Houses’ by M. Bence-Jones, London, 1988 – “CLONAKILTY cor Inchydoney House. Hungerford 1810? Owned by Col Richard Hungerford, 1690. Owned 1855 by Thomas Hungerford. Rebuilt ca. 1810.”
Philip's eldest brother, Richard Townsend [201], stipulated in his will that if he died before his son Richard [213] had come of age, his wife Elizabeth was to act as the sole legatee and guardian of the children. If she were to die before young Richard came of age then Philip and his brothers Samuel Townsend [400] and Horatio Townsend [600] were appointed guardians. Richard died in 1742 and Elizabeth died the following year when her son Richard was about 12 years old. Thus Philip and his brothers had responsibility for the children for the next 9 years when nephew Richard came of age in about 1752.
Only 17 years old, Philip was made a Freeman of Clonakilty in 1717 and in 1726 he inherited Derry from his father, who had purchased the property in 1686.
‘An Officer of the Long Parliament’ records that Philip was a Captain in General O'Farrel's Regiment 22nd of Foot (The Cheshire Regiment) during the struggle between England and France for supremacy in America (Seven Years War 1756-63) (4). Having previously been stationed in Minorca for 18 years the 22nd Regiment arrived in County Cork in 1749 for garrison duties. According to the Regimental History there were detachments in Cork, Youghal, Macroom, Clonakilty and Kilmeedy. Exactly when Philip joined the regiment is not known and it is strange that, in his middle years and married for many years, he should do so. The 22nd embarked for America at Cork in November 1756 and Philip took with him his son Thomas, then aged 19, as a volunteer leaving the rest of his family in the care of his brother Horatio Townsend [600] whilst he was away. Philip was a prolific writer of letters, many of which are reproduced in 'An Officer of the Long Parliament' and they are fascinating reading. The first of these letters dated 'New York Feb 11 1757' and addressed to 'My Dearest Dear Life' tells of their passage 'of almost fourteen weeks and a great deal of bad weather'.
Just over a year later, in another letter to his wife dated 'Halifax May 2 1758' Philip wrote of a persistent cough that he had contracted the previous winter as well as failing eyesight "I am in good health except a cough I got last winter in that excessive cold. I find no other disorder other than my eyes being so weak that I am forced to use spectacles..." Four months later he wrote from Louisburg to his brother about his illness (5) and the cause of it. Later in the same letter he wrote "I intend applying to General Abercrombie (6) for leave to sell (his commission). I have my Colonel's leave to do so.....Commissions here, when allowed to be sold, sell for about twelve hundred pounds, but the expenses of going home might perhaps reduce it to eleven. This will near clear my debts and if a good farm is to be had I might be able then to live, but as I have them two boys (7) to educate, I don't know but a town life would be best...". (8) The remainder of the letter is a detailed account of the Siege of Louisburg on 8 June 1758. Philip last wrote from America in June 1759 and he sold his commission sometime shortly after on account of poor health, brought about by what he had suffered at Louisburg.
Philip was elected a Freeman of Youghal in July 1760 along with his kinsmen Richard Townsend [213], John Townsend [214], Richard Townsend [301] and Edward Townsend [401]. He was appointed Sovereign of Clonakilty in 1764.
On his death Derry passed to his eldest son Richard Townsend [501]. Philip's will was proved in Cork in 1788 (9). Bess died September 1759 or 1769.
(1) Philip'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.
(2) Ordnance survey of Ireland. Discovery Series. 1:50,000. Map sheet 89, grid reference W274372
(3) Given as 28 April 1733 in 'An Officer of the Long Parliament'; 'Burke's Irish Family Records' shows it as 28 November 1733.
(4) Philip's nephew Samuel Townsend [403] also saw active service during the Seven Years War at the Siege of Belle Isle on 7th June 1761, when he was ADC to Major General Kingsley.
(5) Later in the letter he wrote "my disorder was so lingering that until within this fortnight or three weeks I had such a tremor that I could scarce write..."
(6) He must have got this wrong because General Amherst was the commander at the Siege of Louisberg.
(7) Horatio Townsend [5D00] aged 9 and William Townsend [504] aged 7.
(8) Why Philip should wish to buy a farm when he had the property at Derry is enigmatic; as is his taking a commission so late in life. Possibly his debts were the reason for him joining the 22nd Regiment in the hope of some sort of bounty.
(9) 'Cork and Ross Wills 1548-1800'.
For other Hungerford connections see Barbara Townsend [210], Richard Townsend [315], Richard Boyle Townsend [332], Horatio Townsend [600].
'An Officer of the Long Parliament' Ch XI p. 240-54 refers