Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend (5D00)
| Date of Birth: | 5 Nov 1749 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 26 Mar 1837 |
| Generation: | 4th |
| Residence: | Derry (1) & Carrigaline |
| Father: | Captain Philip Townsend [500] |
| Mother: | Hungerford, Elizabeth |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table VD ; Scrapbook ; Lineage |
Notes for Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend JP
Horatio's godparents were Richard Townsend [201], Thomas Becher, Penelope French [119] and Mrs Robinson.
Married 1st, May 1785. Helena Meade (2) was the fourth daughter of Rev Robert Meade of Ballintober, Co Cork, Rector of Dunderrow and granddaughter of Helena Townsend [209] (3). Married 2nd, October 1787. Katherine Corker (4) was the daughter of Ven Chambre Corker of Lota, Glanmire Co Cork, Archdeacon of Ardagh.
In a letter (5) from America in 1756 Horatio's father complained "I always suspect my Horace of tending a little to idleness, but I know fair means and a little coaxing will make him do anything". If Horatio was idle aged seven he certainly made amends for he entered Trinity College Dublin on 1 November 1765 aged 16 and qualified BA in 1770. Whilst there he took an 'ad eudem' to accompany his cousin Richard Boyle Townsend [219] to Magdalene College, Oxford. He also accompanied Richard Boyle on the Grand Tour ca 1768/9.
On returning home Horatio took holy orders and was ordained Deacon on 21 September 1770 and Priest on 29 September 1770, both by the Bishop of Cork. He was, from 1770 to 1780 Curate of Abbeystrewry (6), Ross; from 1780 to 1803 Priest of St Michael's, Cork and Curate Carrigaline; in 1785-86 he was Rector Dungourney, Diocese Cloyne; from 1786 to 1829 he was Priest The Island and Vicar Kilgariff & Desert, Ross; from 1786 to 1837 he was Vicar Kilkerranmore and Castleventry and from 1803 to 1837 he was Rector of Carrigaline.
Horatio was awarded his MA in 1776. He was tutor and later agent to Lord Shannon: Sovereign of Clonakilty 1799 - 1828 and was appointed a JP in 1787.
During the Rebellion of 1798, when his cousin Samuel Townsend [405] was busy restoring order in West Carberry, Horatio, according to the account in 'An Officer of the Long Parliament', kept the peace in the Clonakilty neighbourhood by telling the insurgents that he was their friend and that they had no chance of success and that any of them caught in possession of arms would face severe punishment. He asked the insurgents to pile their arms in a certain field, which they did and these were subsequently thrown into the sea in Courtmacsherry Bay. The account of this rebellion on the Clonakilty website is different. As Sovereign of Clonakilty, Horatio addressed the Roman Catholic congregation at their Chapel in Old Chapel Lane the Sunday after the rebellion as follows: "Deluded, but still, dear countrymen I wish to refer to the events of last Tuesday - the day on which so many of you rushed down upon the Westmeath Militia with the vain hope of finding support in their disaffection. Surely you are not foolish enough to think that society could exist without Landlords and Magistrates. Be persuaded that it is quite out of the sphere of country farmers and tradesmen to set up as politicians, reformers and lawmakers. Reflect with remorse on the sanguinary designs for which you forged so many abominable pikes. Yield up to justice your leaders and the scandal you have brought on your country will in time be wiped away."
Horatio wrote many books and also articles for Blackwood's Magazine under the pseudonym 'Senex'' but his most notable work is the 'Statistical Survey of County Cork' (7) which was published in 1810 and again in 1815. Sponsored by the Royal Dublin Society it covers historical sketches, agricultural and trade statistics, notices on education, fisheries, antiquities, manufactures, etc. A large appendix and section of addenda includes a variety of interesting documents, on matters social, scientific, political, religious and other matters. The book criticised the Roman Catholic clergy, particularly its role in education and this generated considerable controversy. A digitised copy of the book can be bought on line from Archive CD Books Ireland.
Horatio bought the Derry estate from his brother Richard Townsend [501] in about 1810 and built a fine new house there about quarter of a mile from the original house (it was subsequently sold out of the family by Charlotte Townsend [5D27] in 1915, seriously damaged by fire in 1922 and is now owned by the by the Cullinane family - 1979). He must have been a wealthy man for the entry for the parish of Clonakilty in 'Lewis' Topographical Dictionary 1837' records that "The parish church of Kilgariff is situated in the town, on an eminence to the north of the main street: it is a plain edifice, with a square tower at the west end, and was rebuilt in 1818, at an expense of £1300, of which £500 was a loan from the late Board of First Fruits, and the remainder was contributed by the Earl of Shannon and the Rev. H. Townsend". A further entry records that "the parochial school-house for the girls was built in 1810 by subscription, and that for the boys, a good slated building, was erected at an expense of £150, of which £50 was given by the Association for Discountenancing Vice, £50 by the Earl of Shannon, and £50 by the Rev. Horatio Townsend".
Horatio is buried in St Fachtna's Cathedral,Ross where there is a fine Thomas Kirk memorial to him on the wall. His will is dated 1 December 1828 with several codicils dated between 23 December 1828 and 25 April 1831. Executors were Right Rev John George (Archbishop of Armagh) Thomas Poole Esq and Rev Chambre Townsend [5D01]. Probate was granted 26 March 1837 (No 1434 Court of Probate).
Horatio was admitted a Freemen of the City of Cork on 9 September 1788. 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.
'Pigot's Provincial Directory 1824' records for the parish of Clonakilty "Townsend Horace, Magistrate, Derry near Rosscabery."
The list of subscribers to 'Lewis' Topographical Directory 1837' shows "Townsend, Rev. Horace, MA. JP. Derry, Rosscarbery, co. Cork".
'Rosscaberry Tithe Applotment 1830' records "Townsend H Rev" owning townland at Barley Hill East and Meel.
'The Post Chaise Companion or Traveller's Directory through Ireland 3rd Edition 1804' page 352 records "Within two miles of Kinsale, on the R. is Ballintober, the fine seat of the Rev Mr Meade.".
(1) Ordnance survey of Ireland. Discovery Series. 1:50,000. Map sheet 89, grid reference W274372
(2) Helena was born on 4 May 1760 and died in May 1786.
(3) Joanna Townsend [5D04] was the only child from this marriage.
(4) Katherine died in September 1811.
(5) Letters in ‘An Officer of the Long Parliament’.
(6) When he was appointed to the Curacy of Abbeystrewry his stipend was £20 per annum.
(7) A first edition copy of the book is in the possession of Colonel John Townsend [5A26].
For other connections with Abbeystrewry see Richard Townsend [310], Mary Townsend [314], Richard Boyle Townsend [332], Horatio Thomas Townsend [334], Dorothea Townsend [404], Charlotte Frances Townsend [422], Horace Webb Townsend [634].
'An Officer of the Long Parliament' Ch XI p. 258-63 and 'Pooles of Mayfield' p 242 refer.
See Dictionary of National Biography 2004 edn.