Norman Lionel Townsend (5A03)
| Date of Birth: | 6 Sep 1846 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 7 Jun 1922 |
| Generation: | 7th |
| Residence: | Armagh, Northen Ireland |
| Father: | Reverend Thomas Uniacke Townsend [5A00] |
| Mother: | Carr, Elizabeth |
| Spouse: |
|
| Issue: | |
| See Also: | Table VA ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Norman Lionel Townsend
Norman was born in Co Kilkenny.
Married 1874. Annabella Barry (1) was the youngest daughter of Major General Philip Barry (2) Royal Engineers. See 1976 Edn Burke's Irish Family Records - Barry.
Following service in the Royal Marines, Norman joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (3) as a Cadet on 17 May 1867 and was appointed a Sub Inspector 3rd Class on 10 July 1867. He was appointed Sub Inspector 2nd Class in 1872 and Sub Inspector1st Class in 1881 and saw service in Co Sligo, Co Westmeath, Co Kildare and in Belfast. Recognized for meritorious service in 1870, 1872, 1875 and 1886 Norman was appointed temporary Resident Magistrate on 7 October 1886, Resident Magistrate (RM) 3rd Class on 1 January 1888, 2nd Class on 27 February 1892 and 1st Class on 1 August 1903. He retired on 6 September 1911. (See p.73, RM Record of Service Book, National Archives, Dublin). A copy of his Service Record is given in his 'Scrapbook'.
The ‘Belfast Street Directory 1880’ records “Townsend, N. L., S.I., R.I.C., 26 Landscape Terrace”.
‘Slater’s Royal National Directory of Ireland, 1894’ records under the heading ‘County Magistrates for the Province of Ulster - Co Armagh’ - “Townsend Norman L” and under the heading ‘Armagh - Resident Magistrates.’ - “N. L. Townsend, Cathedral close.”
The Caledon (4) entry in the Belfast and Ulster Towns Directory for 1910 records "N. L. Townsend, Esq., R.M." as a magistrate.
The April 1901 Irish Census and the April 1911 Irish Census both record Norman as a Resident Magistrate, living at 14 Cathedral Close, Armagh, with his wife, some of their children and two domestic staff. The house consisted of 19 rooms with a coach house and stable
Norman was a very close friend of the father of Ashley Powell who married Dorothy Uniacke Townsend [5C14].
Probate on Norman's estate was granted on 15 September 1922. The abstract in the PRONI Calendar of Wills records "Administration of the Estate of Norman Lionel Townsend late of Cathedral Close Armagh County Armagh Retired Magistrate who died 7 June 1922 granted at Belfast to Thomas Philip Barry Townsend Retired District Inspector R.I.C. Effects £2639 18s. 5d." Norman's eldest son Thomas Philip Barry Townsend [5A17].
(1) Annabella was born in Limerick City in 1841 and died in Armagh on 11 October 1938. The abstract in the PRONI Calendar of wills records "Townsend Annabella Harriett of Cathedral Close Armagh county Armagh widow died 11 October 1938 Administration Belfast 6 December to Helen Marriane Barry Scott widow. Effects £1154 16s. 6d." The daughter Helen Marianne Barry Townsend [5A21] who married the Rev Archibald Douglas Scott.
(2) Major General Barry built the docks at Sheerness, Kent.
(3) Details of Norman's service in the RIC are extracted from the book "Royal Irish Constabulary Officers – A Biographical Dictionary & Genealogical Guide, 1816-1922" by Jim Herlihy. ISBN 1-85182-826-5. Published in 2005 by Four Courts Press, 7 Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
(4) Caledon, Co Tyrone is a market town 42 miles from Belfast.