John Townsend (3B02)
| Date of Birth: | 22 August 1832 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | dsp 19 June 1872 |
| Generation: | 8th |
| Residence: | Woodstock, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | Richard Townsend [335] |
| Mother: | Wilkinson, Maria Susannah |
| Spouse: |
|
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table IIIB ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for John Townsend
John was born at Castletownshend, Skibbereen, Co Cork.
Following the death of his parents in 1847 shortly after their arrival in Canada from Ireland, when John would have been aged 15, John's younger siblings were placed in care with guardians appointed by the authorities in Ontario. However, it is not known whether he was similarly placed.
In her research on the family deriving from Richard Townsend [335], Gracie Townsend [3B27] (1) found among the papers left by Henry Townsend (2), John's brother, a letter from Ireland postmarked 1849 and addressed to John Townsend in the care of the "Rev. Thomas Hickie [sic]." The Rev. Thomas Hickey was the resident pastor of St James Church, St Mary's, Ontario 1843-1851 and services were held at the Shakespeare Inn (hotel) until Mrs Sargent, wife of the innkeeper, raised the money to build the first church in 1849 (4). Gracie speculated that the Rev. Hickey may be the man who originally fostered Henry and Mr and Mrs Sargent housed him in the Shakespeare Inn. Whether John was fostered by the Rev Hickey or lodged at the Shakespeare Inn remains a matter of speculation.
Married Amelia ? ca 1855.
There is no mention of John in the 1852 Canadian Census.
According to John's niece Emma Buchanan (3) "Uncle John settled in Woodstock -- he had no family, he and his wife died when we were little children. Mother told us he died of spinal menengitis and his wife died the same week of tuberculosis. He had a liquor store, I believe, and was a very stiff Anglican." (4)
John is buried in the Mount Elgin Cemetery, Oxford Co, Ontario.
(1) Between 1992 and 1997, Gracie extensively researched members of the family descended from Richard Townsend [335]. This work has been invaluable in compiling the records of those concerned.
(2) Henry Townsend [3B05]
(3) Emma Buchanan was the daughter of Eliza Townsend [3B08] and ? Buchanan.
(4) Information abstracted from an essay written by Emma Buchanan in about 1935-40 from Petrolia, Ontario and transcribed by Gracie Townsend in 1993.