Elizabeth Trelawney Townsend (410)
| Date of Birth: | ca 1770 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 2 Feb 1855 |
| Generation: | 5th |
| Residence: | London & Bath |
| Father: | Lieutenant General Samuel Townsend [403] |
| Mother: | Aikenhead, Elizabeth |
| Spouse: |
|
| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table IV ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Elizabeth Trelawney Townsend
Elizabeth was a spinster when her father died in 1794 and in his will he appointed Sir Walter Farquhar (1) as her guardian until such time as she married.
Married Thursday 5 December 1799 at St Marylebone Church, London. Horatio Townsend [607] (2), was a Barrister and the eldest son of Rev Edward Synge Townsend [601].
According to Elizabeth's grandson, Edward Mansel Townshend [630] (3) "She was an exquisitely pretty girl in her early days, if only to judge by Smart’s lovely miniature of her, and accompanied her distinguished father, the General, to the grand Court of George III, when hardly 17. There she found the world itself at her feet, and it speaks volumes for her, that she left it as honest and innocent as she entered it. She was not only beautiful, but an accomplished performer on the piano of that day. She played Haydn’s Sonatas to the Court in the presence of the composer, and won his plaudits. George IV, who was, then, but a young man, shortly to become Regent, fell over head and ears in love with her, and wanted to marry her."
In his journal covering the first 25 years of his life, written in 1869, Edward Hume Townsend [626] recorded that …..My grandfather’s eldest son, Horace Townsend, was a barrister at the English bar and lived in London. In about 1814 or 1815 his wife (who I henceforth knew as Aunt Townsend) arrived in Kinsale with five children viz, Horace, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Aubrey and John. Of these the two eldest are about my age. Aubrey was a delicate little boy and John just a baby. Edward the eldest son remained a little after the rest of the family in England; he shortly afterwards took a commission in the army. My uncle whose health was impaired remained in England. My aunt (aunt T) was a very infirm person in every respect and I soon acquired a profound respect and admiration of her and over the years a sincere affection. For some years she lived in Kinsale; afterwards in Dublin and then in Clifton and Bath.'
George Digby Daunt, the husband of Helena Herbert Townsend [619] presented Elizabeth with an oak table made from wood reclaimed from Kinsale Parish Church.
Horatio died intestate in Cork and Elizabeth spent the next eight years sorting out his estate and paying off his debts. The estate totalled some £16,000, of which £10,000 appears to have been Elizabeth's marriage settlement, the interest on which was deemed hers for life with the principal passing to her son Edward [620] on her death. Edward also inherited all the freehold properties in Ireland. Elizabeth returned to England sometime after Horatio's death and from 1845 until she died in 1855 was living at 1 SW Buildings, Weston Lane, Bath.
Elizabeth died in Bath and this was reported in The Cork Examiner on 12 February 1855.
According to Edward Mansel Townsend (3) she brought up her brother's son (Samuel Thomas Towwnshend [443]) from infancy, paying for a private tutor, his education at Harrow and training as a lawyer.
(1) Walter Farquhar was the surgeon of the 19th of Foot when Elizabeth's father served in that Regiment. They became very close friends and when General Samuel was at Horse Guards on his recruiting duties he introduced his friend to the Regent as being a skilful physician, who took him on his personal staff. As a token of gratitude the Doctor, who later became a baronet, gave the name 'Townsend' to all his children.
(2) Horatio was born on 11 December 1760 and died on 17 January 1824.
(3) 'A Protestant Auto-Biography by the Rev E Mansel Townshend'.