Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend (5D00)
| Date of Birth: | 5 Nov 1749 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | 26 Mar 1837 |
| Generation: | 4th |
| Residence: | Derry, (1) Rosscabery, Co Cork |
| Father: | Captain Philip Townsend [500] |
| Mother: | Hungerford, Elizabeth |
| Spouse: |
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| Issue: |
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| See Also: | Table VD ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Reverend Horatio (Horace) Townsend JP
Horatio's entry in the Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 57 can be viewed here.
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 (2a) of Ballintober, (2b) 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,(4a) 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 Alumni Trinity College Dublin from Co Cork and Kerry 1593-1860 in Dr Casey's Collection records that he was taught by Mr Collins before he entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 1 November 1765 aged 16 as a pensioner who paid a fixed sum annually for his studies. Mr Collins also tutored Horatio's cousins, Richard Townsend [310] and James Townsend [311], before they entered the University in 1774.
The TCD Graduation List shows that Horatio qualified BA in Spring 1770 and MA in Winter 1776. John Townsend [309] and Samuel Philip Townsend [6B00] were undergraduates at TCD at the same time.
About this time he accompanied his kinsman Richard Boyle Townsend [219] on the Grand Tour. No sooner had they sailed from Waterford bound for Milford Haven than they were chased by a French privateer, which they finally managed to evade under cover of darkness and returned to Waterford. Ten days later they were in Ostend and there met the crew of the privateer that had chased them!
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. West's Cork Directory 1809-1810 shows him as Curate and Catechist at St Finbarr's cathedral, Cork. See page 64 of Brady's Parochial and Clerical Records Volume 1 for a summary of Horatio's ministry.
Over and above his clerical duties, Horatio was tutor and later agent to Lord Shannon. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1787 and Sovereign of Clonakilty in 1799 – a position he held until 1828. He was the last Sovereign of Clonakilty having been preceded in this appointment by his great grandfather in 1686, his grandfather in 1692 and father in 1764. His kinsman, Commander John Townsend [316], was appointed Recorder of the Borough in about 1800 having been forced to retire from the Royal Navy on account of failing eyesight. Pages 21 to 23 of the Appendix to the First Report (conducted in 1833) of the Commissioners on Municipal Corporations in Ireland, published in 1835, cover the Borough of Clonakilty and record that eight of the eighteen Burgesses of the town were members of the Townsend family or connected with it. (7)
Catherine Fitzmaurice records in her list of 'Known Freemen of Bandon Bridge appointed in 1797' Rev Horace Townsend of Courtmacsherry, William Townsend Esq of Derry [504], Captain of Clonakilty Cavalry, and Richard Townsend of Palace Anne (probably Palllastown) ([6A00]). There is also a reference to Rev Horatio Townsend appointed in 1805 but identification has not been possible.
At a meeting in the King’s Arms Tavern in Cork on 15 November 1791 (8) the “Gentlemen of the city and county of Cork” resolved to “assist the Civil magistrates in the execution of the law” by forming a society, called the ‘Hanover Association’, to apprehend Whiteboys (9) who were attacking both property and people. Members of the Association paid a subscription for the “purpose of procuring information and carrying on prosecutions, where the means of the aggrieved parties are insufficient”. Members were also required to arm themselves to assist the magistrates. A further meeting of the Association was held at the King’s Arm’s on 7 December 1791 at which it was resolved to pay £50 to anyone who within 12 months provides information that leads to the discovery, apprehension and conviction of Whiteboys. The following members of the family are shown as attending the meeting: John Townsend [214], Richard Boyle Townsend [219], Richard Townsend [221], Samuel Townsend [405], Thomas Townsend [502], John Sealy Townsend [507], Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00], Rev Edward Synge Townsend [601], Richard Townsend [6A00] and Samuel Philip Townsend [6B00]. Additionally, Adam Newman, husband of Mary Townsend [605] and Thomas Warren, husband of Anna Townsend [408] are also shown on the list.
During the Rebellion of 1798, when his cousin Samuel Townsend [405] was busy restoring order in West Carbery, 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.
Family tradition has always maintained that when Horatio's father, Philip, died in 1786 Derry passed to his eldest son, Dr Richard Townsend [501] and, according to 'An Officer of the Long Parliament', Richard then sold Derry to Horatio Townsend in about 1810. However Philip’s will, dated 3 June 1781 and recently transcribed (2010), shows that apart from legacies and bequests for his other children he actually bequeathed Derry to his sons Thomas Hungerford and Horatio as tenants in common -– “all the rest and residue of my real estate that I have in the lands of Derry and all my personal fortune I give leave and devise to my two sons Thomas Hungerford Townsend and the Rev Horatio Townsend and their heirs forever”.
When Thomas Hungerford died in early 1799 Horatio was left as sole possessor of Derry. In his will dated 1 June 1794 Thomas devised “to my brother Horatio Townsend (sole executor) all my estates real and personal and all my goods and chattels subject to the following bequests” - these bequests totalled £1,800 to his other siblings.
As described on the page ‘Background History’, events in Ireland in the last decade of the 18th century convinced the Prime Minister in Westminster, William Pitt, that the only way to solve unrest in the country was to get the Irish Parliament to pass an Act of Union. He thought that Irish Catholics would be better off as a minority in the United Kingdom, rather than a majority in Ireland. Horatio, and six of his kinsmen (10), supported this and they, along with several hundred fellow landowners in Co Cork, published a proclamation supporting union in The Belfast Newsletter dated Tuesday 30 July 1799. A copy of the proclamation is reproduced in Horatio’s ‘Scrapbook’.
Horatio built a fine new house at Derry, about a quarter of a mile from the original, in the late Georgian style consisting of four bay windows in the central block with wings set back on either side. Once he completed the house he set about improving the estate by planting trees and creating a lake in a hollow not far from the front of the house. The property was subsequently sold out of the family by Charlotte Payne-Townsend [5D27] in 1915, seriously damaged by fire in 1922 and is now owned by the by the Cullinane family - 1979.
In his journal covering the first 25 years of his life, written in 1869, Edward Hume Townsend [626] recorded that in 1812, having just started as a pupil at Clonakilty School, he was invited by Horatio and his wife Katherine to spend a week at Derry. He met all the children whilst there including Susan, who was to become his wife nineteen years later. Edward wrote that.....'The house is pleasantly situated about an English mile from the little village of Rosscarbery. Mr Townsend was a tall fine looking man, of very courteous manner and very well informed mind, as I afterwards learned. Mrs Townsend, as far as I remember, was a small and slight figure; she was kind and amicable and the family, large as it was, seemed exceedingly well managed..... I did not again visit Derry till 1829 after my first return from India.'
During the early years of the 19th century several close family members became involved in two trials involving the Rev Robert Morritt, who succeeded to the living of the parishes of Glanbarrahan & Curragrangemore (11) on 28 March 1807 from the Rev David Freeman, husband of Harriet Townsend [217].
The Rev Morritt is described in the pamphlet “Supplement to the Trials of the Rev Robert Morritt” as a “Clergyman who in a few years could render himself so obnoxious to his Parishioners as to be the subject of no less than eight civil actions and one criminal indictment”.
The first case against Morritt concerns the forcible eviction of a tenant of Mrs Somerville (Elizabeth Townsend [225] - Horatio's niece) and the second is an action for defamation brought by Mr Roche. In both cases Morritt’s counsel was Daniel O’Connell who managed to secure acquittals by claiming in both cases there was a Townsend family conspiracy against Morritt. Mrs Somerville is described on page 12 of the pamphlet as the “Queen of the Conspirators” and in the list of the 'Dramatis Personae' “one brother, four brothers-in-law, an uncle, two nephews, eight cousins” are shown as fellow ‘Conspirators’. They are listed at Note (12), which affords a classic example of the web of Townsend family relationships that existed then. Horatio is shown as a "witness in one trial viz Roche". Published in 1819, rather strangely, the pamphlet was written by an ‘Anti-Conspirator’ who had access to private correspondence addressed to Horatio's nephew, Richard Townsend [221], that same year!
Horatio is described on pages 24 & 25 of the pamphlet as a man “who has long acted a part on the stage of life and generally supported his character pretty well….The only circumstance which makes me doubt his being a conspirator is that he is fond of ease and retirement and that nothing offensive on the part of the said Domestic Chaplain (Morritt) could excite in his mind any worse emotion than contempt”. Daniel O’Connel cross examined Horatio at length who responded with great caution. Horatio admitted that he had attended “a meeting of Magistrates in Skibbereen for the purpose of putting a stop to Mr Morritt’s extravagant and injurious exercise of judicial authority” and “had written verses on a postletter with a dirty enclosure said to have been received by Mr Morritt from Long Dick” (Rev Richard Townsend [310].
The pamphlet also describes how, when the Rev Morritt became a magistrate “Summons flew in all directions and to all distances, and when it was known that a lazy serving boy, or an idle apprentice, might punish his master by making him travel twenty or thirty miles to appear before Judge Morritt on a sixpenny complaint, the shop of justice could never lack customers.” He is reported as having neighbouring magistrates hear 600 summonses against his parishioners in respect of outstanding tithes. Morritt even wrote to the Honourable Board of Commissioners (for Excise) accusing Horatio’s nephew, Richard T (the Collector), of “neglect of duty and connivance at peculation” and asking that he be dismissed. This was at a time when “the dangerous illness of a near relative had obliged him (Richard) to go to England and this appeared a favourable opportunity to bring forward complaints which could not be so conveniently managed had the Collector been at home.” After a full hearing, at which Richard was present, the Board of Commissioners wrote to him on 2 March 1819 and dismissed the complaint as “unfounded "; a copy of the letter is given in Horatio's ‘Scrapbook’. Small wonder that Morritt was a thorn in the flesh!
Horatio must have been a wealthy man, for not only did he build a new house, he purchased the lands of Knockavoher, Corran and Kilnacally from Abraham Morris for £1600 in January 1814 (13) and further land at Ballinagorna from Thomas Hungerford for £840 in August 1827 (14). He was also a benefactor - 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 published, among other things, Observations on Dr. Coppinger’s Letter to the Royal Dublin Society and Observations on Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction in County Cork. He wrote poetry, numerous books and also articles for Blackwood's Magazine under the pseudonym 'Senex''. His most notable work, however, is the 'Statistical Survey of County Cork' (15) which was published as two volumes in 1810 and again in 1815. The book demonstrates Horatio's shrewd sense and his quickness to see how scientific ideas might be applied in practice to the improvement of the country. 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 digitized copy of the book can be bought on line from Archive CD Books Ireland.
The Report of the Committee for the Relief of the Distressed Districts in Ireland contains on page 70 a report by Horatio dated 15 May 1822 on the state of agriculture around Clonakilty. He reports that the depressed state of agriculture, which is even afflicting the gentry, “who can barely support themselves”, is caused by the failure of the potato crop and this is having a devastating effect on the poor who rely so heavily upon it for sustenance.
As explained in the ‘Background History’ page, the Act of Union in 1801 and successive reforming measures in the early years of the century drove the Anglo-Irish Protestant community into a position of permanent political minority. Fearing that their ascendancy was being eroded, meetings were held during the early decades of the century seeking to affirm and uphold the integrity of the ‘Protestant Constitution and State’. Reports of these meetings in County Cork between December 1828 and October 1834 can be seen in the record for John Sealy Townsend [333] and those members of the family who attended them are shown at Footnote 14a. In addition to these, the Southern Reporter & Cork Commercial Courier of 20 March 1827 reports that the Bishop and seventy seven members of the clergy including Richard Boyle Townsend [332], Chambre Corker Townsend [5D01] and Robert St Lawrence (husband of Elizabeth Townsend [235]) signed a “Petition of the Protestant Clergy of the United Dioceses of Cork & Ross against Catholic Emancipation” which was submitted to the House of Commons on 2 March 1827. The list of signatories also includes a ‘Thomas Townsend, Prebendary of Island’; this is wrong as page 487 of Volume 2 Brady’s Clerical and Parochial Records shows Horatio as the incumbent!
Horatio’s will (16) is dated 12 December 1828 with codicils dated 11 September 1830 and 25 April 1831. The executors were Thomas Poole Esq and Horatio's son Rev Chambre Townsend [5D01] and probate was granted on 26 May 1837 (No 1434 Court of Probate). The major part of his estate was settled on Chambre along with “having lately purchased from Thomas Hungerford of The Island the fee and inheritance of the lands of Ballinagorna” (which was settled on him at his marriage to Elisa Oliver). Horatio’s “houses in Castletownshend, now under Major John Townsend (17), and in Rosscarbery held under Mrs Donovan” he left to his son, Horatio. He left some land to his son Richard along with an annuity of £40 per year. “And as to the sum of £4,000 secured on my life, the sum of £1,000 secured by Mr Creagh’s bond shall be divided equally amongst my daughters Katherine, Isabella, Susannah, Harriet and Caroline.” Isabella’s share of this money was revoked in the codicil of 11 September 1830 as she was given £1,000 on her marriage to Edward T [620].
The Tithe Applotment Books in the National Archives of Ireland were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland. The 1824 record for the Townland of Brownstown in the Parish of Ardfield shows ‘Commander Townsend’ against the name of the Townland and rent of £87-4s-9d due to ‘Rev H Townsend’. In 1833 Stephen Barry, the Commissioner for the collection of tithes in the parish of Castleventry records that of the sum of £260 collected in tithes "one half part is due and payable to Rev Horace Townsend Vicar of said parish". The 1833 entry for the Parish of Kilkerranmore show the sum of £262 and two pence payable to Horatio. The 1834 entry for the Parish of Ross shows Horatio owning 144 acres with a rateable value of £16-16s-6d
Horatio is buried in St Fachtna's Cathedral,Ross where there is a fine Thomas Kirk memorial to him on the wall. There is a small tribute to him on page 141 of J. Windele's book 'Historical and descriptive notices of the city of Cork and its vicinity' first published in 1839: - "The Rev. HORATIO TOWNSEND, rector of Carrigaline in the neighbourhood of Cork, died at an advanced age in March 1837. He was the author of a "Statistical survey of the County of Cork", published in 1815, which is admittedly the best of all the County surveys published under the auspices of the Dublin society."
Horatio was admitted a Freeman 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.
The seventh edition of “The History of the General Rebellion in Ireland: Raised upon the Three (sic) and Twenty day of October 1641” published by Phineas and George Bagnell, Castle Street Cork in 1766 shows “Rev Horatio Townsend A.M.” as a subscriber. Ten other members of the family are shown in the list of subscribers; Francis Townsend [125], Cornelius Townsend [139], John Townsend [214] or [303], Richard Townsend [213] or [219] or [6A00], Rev Richard Townsend [301], Philip Townsend [500], Dr Richard Townsend [501], Thomas Hungerford Townsend [502], Rev Horatio Townsend [600], Rev Edward Synge Townsend [601].
The list of Freemen and Freeholders who voted in the election of 13 August 1783 for two members to sit in Parliament for the City of Cork shows that Edward Mansel Townsend [401] and Cornelius Townsend [139] voted for Augustus Warren and John Bagwell; Richard Boyle Townsend [219], Richard Townsend [213] (or possibly [6A00]) and Horatio all voted for John Hely Hutchinson and John Bagwell. John Hely Hutchinson and Richard Longfield were duly elected.
'Pigot's Provincial Directory 1824' records for the parish of Clonakilty "Townsend Horace, Magistrate, Derry near Rosscabery."
The list of subscribers to 'Samuel 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." Whilst on page 333 it records "A little beyond Ross on the R. is Derry, the seat of Mr Townsend; and near it, Castle Sally (Salem), the seat of Mr Morres". And further on page 333 - "Within three miles of Castle-townsend on the R. is Braad (Brade), the seat of Mr Jervis" (18).
Memorial 327398 dated 28 November 1796 in the Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland shows 'Rev Horatio Townsend of Courtmacsherry' and his brother Thomas Humgerford Townsend of Derry as Trustees for an annuity payable to Elizabeth Campbell of 'Keel', near Macroom.
(1) The entry for Derry in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "Family records indicate the original house at Derry was bought by Bryan Townsend, son of Richard, the Cromwellian officer, in the 1680s. This house was a short distance from the current house which was built by Reverend Horatio Townsend in the early years of the nineteenth century and was held in fee by Reverend Chambre Townsend in 1851 when it was valued at £44. Earlier, in 1786, Wilson referred to Derry as a Townsend seat. It was substantially damaged when it was burnt in April 1921 during the War of Independence. . At the time it was the residence of Alexander Sullivan, a well-known barrister. In 1944 the Irish Tourist Association Survey noted that it was still derelict following the 1921 burning. The centre portion of the house and a substantial farm still exist at the site."
(2) Helena was born on 4 May 1760 and died in May 1786.
(2a) The entry for Meade of Cork in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "This family was related to the Meades, Earls of Clanwilliam. In 1787 the Reverend John Meade, Rector of Ballymartle, near Kinsale, county Cork, bought the estates of Ballymartle and Ballintober from his cousin John 1st Earl of Clanwilliam. His nephew the Reverend Richard Meade succeeded to the Ballymartle estate and another nephew John succeeded to the Ballintober estate. Rev. John Meade held townlands in the parish of Templemichael, barony of Kinalea at the time of Griffith's Valuation. William R. Meade was among the principal lessors in the parish of Ballymartle at the same time. He was the proprietor of over 1100 acres in the 1870s while John Meade of Ballintober owned 982 acres."
(2b) The entry for Ballintober House in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "Sir John Meade, Knight, was located at Ballintober at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1777 it was the seat of the Rev. Mr. Meade. Ballintober House was held in fee by Rev. John Meade at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £30. Lewis refers to it as the seat of J. Meade in 1837. In the 1870s it was the property of Rev. Mr. Meade. There is still a house at this site though some modernisation may have taken place."
(3) Joanna Townsend [5D04] was the only child from this marriage.
(4) Katherine died in September 1811. An entry in the Church of Ireland Parish Records Ross Cathedral 1690–1823 records on page 66 under the heading ‘Deaths’ - "1813 May 2nd Mrs Townsend Derry." Whilst the dates don't quite match this probably refers to Katherine; though it might refer to Elizabeth, third wife of Dr Richard Townsend [501].
(4a) The entry for Corker in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "Family history sources suggest the Corkers were originally a Lancashire family. Thomas Corker purchased or leased property in the Inishannon area from the Earl of Cork (later the Duke of Devonshire)'s estate in the early eighteenth century. In 1850 the rental of lands in the barony of East Carbery, the property of Chambre Corker, was offered for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court. James Corker was one of the principal lessors in the parish of Inishannon, barony of East Carbery, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In the 1870s, Mrs. Corker of Inishannon owned over 160 acres, while the representatives of John Corker were proprietors of 300 acres in county Cork."
(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. Horatio was succeeded in the living at Abbeystrewry by Rev William Robinson in 1780 who married Mary Townsend [314]. He in turn was succeeded in the living in 1819 by Rev Richard Boyle Townsend [332] who was succeeded in 1850 by his brother Rev Horace Thomas Townsend [334] who remained there until 1867 - in all 96 years of Townsend or Townsend connections with the parish. See page 454 et seq of Brady's Parochial and Clerical Records Volume 2. Rev Horace Webb Townsend [634] was vicar of Abbeystrewry 1896-1915 and extended the Glebe House.
(7) See also ‘Notes on the Council Book of Clonakilty’ in the 'Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society' at pages 79-84, 129-135, 172-177, 22-224, 270-273 and 320-322. The following were freemen, burgesses and sovereigns of the council - Colonel Richard Townsend [100], Colonel Bryan Townsend [200], John FitzCornelius Townsend [122], Francis Townsend [125], Butler Townsend [126], Cornelius Townsend [128], Horatio Townsend [130] , Bryan Townsend [200], Richard Townsend [201], John Townsend [300], Samuel Townsend [400] and Philip Townsend [500].
(8) Reported in the Dublin Evening Post 31 January 1792.
(9) Whiteboys were a secret 18th century Irish agrarian organization which used violent tactics against landlords and tithe collectors to defend tenant farmer land rights. They wore white smocks on their nightly raids and sought to address rack-rents, tithe collection, excessive priests' dues, evictions and other oppressive acts.
(10) John Townsend [214] shown as ‘John Townfend MP Shepperton’, Rev Richard Townsend [310] shown as ‘Richd Townfend clk Skull’, William Townsend [504] shown as ‘William Townfend Derry’, Thomas Townsend [509] shown as ‘Thos Townfend Mallow’, Richard Townsend [6A00] shown as ‘Richard Townfend Palacetown’, Samuel Philip Townsend [6B00] shown as ‘Samuel T(?) Townfend Firmount’ .
(11) See pages 474 & 480 of Brady'sClerical and Parochial Records. Morritt resigned the living on 4 January 1824 and some time later moved to Paris where, in 1828, he brought an action for defamation against three Anglican Clergymen.
(12) The ‘Dramatis Personae’ shown on page 12 of the pamphlet and in the 'Scrapbook' are:-
Richard Townsend [221] “Magistrate who issued the arrest warrant” - Brother of Elizabeth Townsend [225] (Mrs Somerville).
Thomas Hungerford “Attorney who drew up the depositions” - Brother-in-law of Elizabeth Townsend [225] and son-in-law of Mary Townsend [506], who was sister to Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00].
Philip Somerville “A witness in both trials” – Brother-in-law of Elizabeth Townsend [225] and husband, first of Maria Townsend [5D07], and second Henrietta Townsend [242] the daughter of Richard Townsend [221].
Mr T Somerville “Attorney at both trials” - Nephew? Or son of Elizabeth Townsend [225]?
Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00] “Witness (in one trial viz Roche)” – Uncle of Elizabeth Townsend [225].
Mr John French “Witness (in one trial viz Roche)” – Grandson of Susannah Townsend [505] and sister of Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00].
Rev Richard Townsend [310] – Referred to on page 25 as “Long Dick”; a cousin of Elizabeth Townsend [225].
Rev Philip French – Curate of Glanbarrahan whose wife was sister of Katherine Corker who married Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00].
Mr Thomas Robinson - Father of Dorothea Robinson who married Rev Richard Townsend [310].
Samuel Townsend [405] - A cousin of Elizabeth Townsend [225].
John Townsend - Could be John T [214], [222] or [303]; all close relatives.
Mr Becher Fleming - Husband of Judith Somerville, who was sister of Philip Somerville, and daughter of Mary Townsend [506].
Mr Richard Somerville – Brother-in-law of Elizabeth Townsend [225].
Richard Boyle Townsend [219] - Referred to on page 25. First cousin of Elizabeth Townsend [225].
(13) Derry Papers DD/44 dated January 1814.
(14) Derry Papers DD/10 dated 17 August 1827.
(14a) John Sealy Townsend [333] and Samuel Townsend [412] can be positively identified. The other contenders are Samuel Townsend [405] or Samuel Townsend [6A03], Thomas Townsend [319] or Thomas Townsend [509], Thomas Somerville (probably the husband of Henrietta Augusta Townsend [234]) and George Digby Daunt (husband of Helena Herbert Townsend [619]). Not all members of the family shared such views and press cuttings from the Southern Reporter & Cork Commercial Courier and Dublin Evening Packet & Correspondent in 1828 and 1829 respectively show that Horatio Townsend [6B01] and Edward Richard Townsend [6C00] were among the many Protestant Liberals who took a much more conciliatory approach to Roman Catholic emancipation.
(15) A first edition copy of the book is in the possession of Colonel John Townsend [5A26].
(16) Derry Papers 5D00/14.
(17) Major John Townsend [230].
(18) The entry for Brade House in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "John Swanton was leasing this property from Rev. Maurice Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £15 10s. Lewis had noted it as the seat of Rev. E.P. Thompson in 1837. It was the residence of Samuel Jervois in 1814. Taylor and Skinner's 1783 map also indicate it as a Jervois residence. In 1906 it was owned by Katherine Townsend and valued at £44 5s. There is still an extant house at the site. (Maurice Townsend [231] & Katherine Townsend [523])
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.