Major Edward Townsend (620)
| Date of Birth: | 21 Aug 1800 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | dsp 2 Jun 1851 |
| Generation: | 6th |
| Residence: | Unknown |
| Father: | Horatio (Horace) Townsend [607] |
| Mother: | Elizabeth Trelawney Townsend [410] |
| Spouse: |
|
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table VI ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Major Edward Townsend
Edward was born in Upper Wimpole Street, London and his birth is registered in Marylebone.
Married 29 December 1840. Isabella Townsend [5D08] (1) was the fifth daughter of Rev Horatio Townsend [5D00].
Edward purchased his commission in the 83rd Regt of Foot (Royal Irish Rifles). Ensign 23 May 1816. Lieutenant 28 October 1824. Captain 18 February 1826. Brevet Major 28 June 1838. Major 23 November 1841.
Following a tour of duty as Military Secretary to Major General Sir Patrick Ross (2) (Governor?) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1838-39. Edward returned to England in 1840. After a spell of service in Malta he embarked for India at short notice and was stationed at Poona for at least a year. On several occasions whilst there he met his cousin, Edward Hume Townsend, who worked for the Indian Civil Service.
Edward was a great writer of letters and many of these to his mother, describing life in Canada and India, survive (3). His letter from Kingston, Canada dated 1st January 1839 is of particular interest for in it he describes the trial and fate of those involved in the Patriot Rebellion of 1837-38.
Edward was stationed in Karachi when he died of cholera. In his will he left all the freehold properties in Ireland that he had inherited from his father to his brother Aubrey Townsend [621]. There is evidence in family correspondence (4) of the time that Edward's estate eventually passed to his nephew John Chambre Townsend [629], presumably on the death of Edward's wife Isabella.
It appears that Edward was a Freeman of the City of Cork. 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.
Edward's death was recorded by Agnes Townsend in her diary - 'June 2 1851 Major E Townsend died.'
(1) Isabella died in 1865.
(2) He was born in 1777. The Connaught Journal of 15 March 1824 reported that "Major-General Sir Patrick Ross is appointed to the Staff of the Ionian States." He subsequently was Governor Antigua & Bermuda 1826-32. Thence to Canada? His last appointment before his death in 1850 was Governor St Helena 1846-50.
(3) Llanvapley Papers.
'Pooles of Mayfield' p 237 refers.