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Reverend Philip Townsend (613)

Notes for Reverend Philip Townsend JP

Philip was christened in Macroom, Co Cork on 3 October 1778.

Married 1st 30 November 1824. Helena Keily (1) was the daughter of Rev Arthur Keily of Ballyron, Youghal and his wife Dorothea Townsend [407]. Married 2nd 12 September 1846. Elizabeth Palmer was the daughter of Sandford Palmer (2 & 2a) of Ballynocken Castle, King's Co.

Alumni Trinity College Dublin from Co Cork and Kerry 1593-1860 in Dr Casey's Collection records that Philip was taught by the Rev James Reid before he entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 29 May 1798 aged 19 as a pensioner who paid a fixed sum annually for his studies. The Rev Reid also tutored Philip's brother, Horatio Townsend [607], before he entered the University in 1786.

Philip was ordained Deacon on 12 July 1807 and Priest on 21 September 1807, both at Cloyne. He was appointed Rector of Kilcorney on 12 September 1808 and Curate of Clonmeen and Roskeen on 17 April 1810, where his father, Reverend Edward Synge Townsend [601], was the Rector until he died in 1819. Page 135 of Aldwell's General Directory 1844-45 records him as the incumbent at Kilcorney and, on page 130, Curate at Clonmeen/Roskeen. Philip continued to hold these two appointments for some years, probably until his death in 1853; the Kilcorney benefice was suspended after his death. See page 253 of Brady's Parochial and Clerical Records Volume 2 for a summary of Philip's ministry.

Page 184 of Ambrose Leet's Directory of Cork 1814 shows Rev ___ Townsend living at Fermoyle, Kanturk, Is this Philip?

Page XII of Volume 1 of ‘A Scriptural Commentary on the Book of Genesis and the Gospel according to St Matthew’ published in 1832 shows “Townsend Rev P. Rec. Kilcorney, Cloyne.” as a subscriber. Five other members of the family are shown as subscribers Richard Townsend [221], Thomas Townsend [319], John Sealy Townsend [507], Horatio Townsend [6B01], Edward Townsend [6C00].

Page 200 of The Poll Book of the Select Committee on Cork County Election of July 1841 records Philip living at Gurtmore (value £50) since 1836. Page 136 of the County and City of Cork Post Office General Directory 1842-43 shows Philip still living at “Gurtmore, Kanturk”. Brady's Records and page 297 of Aldwell's Directory 1844 reflects this; Gurtmore is situated equidistant between his parishes. Page 151 of Colonel Grove White's Notes 1906-1915 Volume II records "The Rev. Philip Townsend lived for many years at Gurtmore Cottage...... A good thatched house, built in the cottage style, with some ornamental ground about it.....When Revd. P. Townsend left Gurtmore Cottage the interest in the place was bought by the family of the present occupier, Mr. Denis O'Callaghan. The cottage was burnt down on the 12th July 1911 and Mr. O'Cal!aghan went to reside at Ballymacquirk near Banteer village. The walls are still standing (1914) to which is annexed a temporary dwelling occupied by the present owner, Mr. Coakley."

The Cork County Election of 16 July 1841 returned Daniel O’Connell and Edmund Roche as MPs. This result was challenged by Nicholas Leader and Robert Longfield who claimed there were serious irregularities during the election. The Select Committee set up to investigate this published their report 27 May 1842 and found in favour of O’Connell and Roche. The Poll Books, recording how electors had voted, were included with this report and show that John Townsend [316] (entry 48 on page 182), Richard Boyle Townsend [332] (entry 62 on page 183]), Thomas Townsend [319] (entry 38 on page 182), Edward Henry Townsend [411] (entry 40 on page 182), Chambre Corker Townsend [5D01] (entry 70 on page 183), Philip Townsend [613] (entry 75 on page 200) and Robert St Lawrence (husband of Elizabeth Townshend [235] {entry 110 on page 183}) all voted for Nicholas Leader and Robert Longfield. The report shows that the value of Gurtmore, where Philip was living, was £50.

In his journal covering the first 25 years of his life, written in 1869, Edward Hume Townsend [626] wrote that his uncle, Rev Philip Townsend [613] used to dine with his parents before the death of his father in 1808, but as a ‘grave silent man who had no attraction for a child of between four and five years old.’ Later in his journal Edward wrote that after the start of the summer holidays in 1816, when he was a pupil at Clonakilty School, he went to join his mother in England...'I travelled to Cork by coach and was met there by the Rev Philip Townsend, my father's youngest brother. He took care of me for one or two days in Cork and on one evening took me to the theatre. When a fair breeze sprung up my uncle put me on board the ‘Marquis of Wellesley Packet of Bristol’, a small vessel. I took a basket of provisions with me as was the practice in those days provided by my uncle, who kindly saw me on board.'

In 1843 he moved to Fern Hill (formerly Betsborough) (3), the home of Dr Richard Townsend [517] before he died. Page 290 of Colonel Grove White's Notes 1906-1915' Volume I records “The Rev. Philip Townsend, vicar of Kilcorney, resided here after he left Gurtmore Cottage and after Dr. Townsend's death. He was well-known in the neighbourhood of Mallow, and was a first cousin of the late Adam Newman, of Dromore, and of Dr. E. R. Townsend (4), a well- known physician of Morrison's Quay, Cork. He died in October 1853, aged 73, and was buried at Castlemagner.” Cornelius Townsend [128] lived at Betsborough from 1733 to 1750 and a full account of the history of the house is given in his 'Scrapbook'.(5)

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 1831 record for the Townland of Clonmeen in the Parish of Clonmeen show Philip owning 89 statute acres with a tithe value of £3-19s-2d.

The National Archives of Ireland contain seven letters written by Philip between 16 May 1846 and 26 March 1847 to the Famine Relief commission. In the first he applied for the “requisite books and papers for the Clonmeen and Kilcorny relief committees” The remaining six letters enclose subscriptions lists and request grants in aid.

'Griffiths Valuation of Ireland 1848-1864' shows Philip owning land in the townland of Dromahane in the parish of Kilshannig (Glantane) near Mallow.

Freemason records show that a 'Philip Townsend' and a 'Thomas Townsend' were masons in the Mallow Lodge (No 99) in 1808. Freemasonry runs quite strongly in the family and these entries probably refer to Philip and his kinsman Thomas Townsend [509]

Parliamentary Papers Volume 43 April 1836 lists Philip and his kinsman Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00] as 'Magistrates in Holy Orders'.

Both Philip and his first wife are buried at Castlemagner.

The 'Register of Landowners in County Cork 1876' records for Queenstown "Townsend, Rev. Philip. 182 acres. £100 10s". (2005 equivalent - £11,393). This is 23 years after Philip's death and must refer to another 'Philip Townsend'.

The death of Philip's second wife is recorded on page 500 of the Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland. It records that the will of "Elizabeth Townsend late of Mallow Co Cork widow deceased who died on 27 October 1868", was proved at Cork on 20 November 1868, by "the oaths of Edward Hume Townsend of Cuilnaconathra (Clonakilty) and Carlton Reeves Palmer of Mallow both in the County of Cork Esquires the Executors". Effects under £600.

(1) Helena dsp 7 March 1840 and is buried in Castlemagner. The inscription on her tombstone reads "IN MEMORY OF HELENA ANNE TOWNSEND WIFE OF THE REVD PHILIP TOWNSEND. SHE DIED MAR 7 1840."

(2) U.H. Hussey de Burgh's ‘Landowners of Ireland 1878' records "PALMER, SANDFORD ROBERT, Ballinlough, Roscrea. King's 1856 acres £1006. Tipperary 637 acres £351."

(2a) The entry for Palmer (Roscrea) in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "In the mid 19th century Sandford Palmer held the townland of Camlin, 637 acres in the parish of Corbally, barony of Ikerrin, county Tipperary from the Earl of Portarlington. 70 acres of Camlin held on a lease from Sandford Palmer to Patrick, John and Rody Keshan dated 1824 was advertised for sale in May 1868. It was described as the estate of Thomas and Joseph Stephen Ryan trustees of the will of Rody Keshan. In the 1870s Sandford Robert Palmer of Ballinlough, Roscrea, owned 637 acres in county Tipperary and 1,856 acres in King's County (Offaly). Henry Sandford, son of Sandford Palmer and Mary Catherine daughter of Edward Hoare Reeves succeeded to the property in 1877."

(3) The Journal of The Cork Historical & Archaeological Society. Volume XI. Second Series 1905 records on page 34 - "Dromahane...In it is a fine old residence named Betsborough, where from 1733 to 1750 dwelt the family of Cornelius Townsend, Esq. In O'Donovan's time, the name had been changed to Fernhill by some member of that family, which continued to reside there up to a recent date."

(4) Edward Richard Townsend [6C00]

(5) The entry for Fern Hill (Betsborough) in the University of Galway Landed Estates Database records "Smith records Cornelius Townshend as resident at Betsborough circa 1750. Hajba writes that it was a Townsend property from the early 18th century and birthplace of the United Irishman, Thomas Russell, executed in 1803. The house, on the outskirts of the village of Drommahane, was originally known as Bettesborough (or Besborough) and a Magner occupied a house of this name in 1837. The Reverend Philip Townsend (5) held the house valued at £21+ from William Magner in the early 1850s. In June 1881 the house and demesne of Fernhill were advertised for sale. Barclay Corrie was the owner, holding on a lease dated 1863 from Richard John Perry to Michael Joseph Magnier. The house was demolished in the early 20th century and a new house built on the site."