John Townsend (129)
| Date of Birth: | 1698 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | dunm |
| Generation: | 4th |
| Residence: | Unknown |
| Father: | John FitzCornelius Townsend [122] |
| Mother: | Bowdler, Margaret |
| Spouse: | Unmarried |
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table I ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for John Townsend
In 1896 Dorothea Townshend, the wife of Richard Baxter Townshend [5D15], wrote six articles entitled ‘Notes on the Council Book of Clonakilty’ for inclusion in the ‘Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society’ that year. (1) Several members of the family were involved in council business between 1692, when Colobel Bryan Townsend [200] was elected Sovereign (Portreeve) and 1802 when the Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00] was elected the last Sovereign and Commander John Townsend [316] served as his Recorder. The Council met on average about four times each year with St James’ Day on 25 July and St Luke’s Day on 28 October as regular fixtures. There is a gap in the records between February 1730 and 1801 though it is recorded that Philip Townsend [500] was Sovereign in 1764 and 1765.
Since 1896, when Dorothea Townsend tried to identify the many entries for “John Townsend” in the Council Book, fresh evidence has come to light that makes identification of him more plausible. She interpreted the first reference to him, when he was elected a Freeman of the borough on 17 October 1715, as John Townsend [300] of Skirtagh. This is most probably wrong as this ‘John Townsend’ was studying law at the time and did not qualify until 1720 according to the Middle Temple Register 1661-1781 Vol I. This leaves just two further possibilities – John Townsend, the subject of this record, or his father John FitzCornelius Townsend [122]; on balance the latter is considered the most plausible.
(1) They can be read in the Journal at pages 79-84, 129-135, 172-177, 22-224, 270-273 and 320-322.