Richard Horatio Townsend (6A10)

Date of Birth: 30 Jul 1838
Date of Death: 1 Sep 1879
Generation: 6th
Residence: Garrycloyne, Blarney
Father: Samuel Philip Townsend [6A03]
Mother: Newman, Frances Helena
Spouse:
  1. Maunsell, Frances Maria
Issue:
  1. Samuel Philip [6A20]
  2. Mary Helena Maunsell [6A21]
  3. Hildegardis Maud Leigh [6A22]
  4. Katherine Granville Eyre [6A23]
  5. Emily Mabel [6A24]
See Also: Table VIA ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree

Notes for Richard Horatio Townsend JP

Richard was born in Kilshannig, Mallow, Co Cork.

Married 1868. Frances Maria Maunsell (d 1882) (1) was the elder daughter of Commander William Hare Maunsell RN (b 1845 d 1907) (2). See 1958 Edn Burke's Irish Family Records - Maunsell.(3). Frances' brother, William Hare Maunsell, married Richard's sister, Alice Maud Townsend [6A19], in 1884 and Frances' sister, Katherine Hare Maunsell, married Dr Richard Townsend [530] in 1863.

Alumni Trinity College Dublin from Co Cork and Kerry 1593-1860 in Dr Casey's Collection records that Richard was taught by Dr Penny before he entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 2 July 1856 aged 18 as a pensioner who paid a fixed sum annually for his studies. The TCD Graduation List records that he qualified BA in Spring 1860. His brother, Samuel Philip Townsend [6A11], Henry FitzJohn Townsend [260] and Horace Webb Townsend [634] were undergraduates at Trinity at the same time, whilst Rev Richard Townsend [337] was teaching at the university.

In her autobiography, ‘Anything Once’ Richard’s niece, Dorothy Petrie Townsend (Carew) [6A29], wrote “My eldest Aunt always amused me with her account of how when my eldest uncle Richard went up to Trinity College, Cambridge,(4) his mother, accompanied by several of his sisters….took a house and remained there throughout my Uncle’s University years”.

Richard purchased his commission as an Ensign in the 31st Regt of Foot (East Surrey Regt) on 20 April 1860 (5). Still an Ensign, he was appointed an 'Instructor of Musketry' on 12 February 1864 (6) but,inexplicably relinquished it on 11 May that same year. He resigned his commission on 23 June 1865 (7) - no doubt on account of the death of his father in September 1864 when he inherited Garrycloyne (8).

At some time prior to 1869 it would appear that Samuel and his family were living in England for his eldest son Samuel was born in Malvern that year. Samuel's education at Clifton College, Bristol and the death of Richard's wife in Clifton in 1882 would appear to support this. However, the record of Frances' death in the Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 shows that her executor, William Henry Beamish of Cork was guardian of her minor children, indicating a continued connection with Ireland.

Francis Guy’s County & City of Cork Directory 1875-76 records Richard as a Justice of the Peace living at Garrycloyne. The entry for the parish of Garrycloyne in the 'Register of Landowners in County Cork 1876' records "Townsend, Richard 3,932 acres. £1,255 5s." (2005 equivalent - £90,736). This figure is reflected in 'Landowners of Ireland 1878' compiled by U.H. Hussey de Burgh.

Page 716 of the Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that the will of "Richard Horatio Townsend late of Garrycloyne", who died on 1 September 1879, was proved at Cork on 13 November 1879 by the oath of "George Stawell Ware of Wilton (Mallow) County Cork Esquire the sole Executor". Effects under £4,000.

Judge John FitzHenry Townsend [250] shows Frances Maria's death as 1 January 1883. Page 854 of The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Letters of Administration of the personal estate of "Frances Maria Townsend late of Lanesfield Clifton near Bristol Widow", who died on 26 December 1882, were granted at the Principal Registry on 5 June 1883 to "William Henry Beamish of South Mall Cork Esquire Curator of the minor Children of said deceased". Effects under £595 5s.

(1) Her brother, Lieutenant William Hare Maunsell RN, married Alice Maud Townsend [6A19] and her sister, Katherine Hare Maunsell, married Horatio's distant cousin, Dr Richard Newman Townsend [530].

(2) William Hare Maunsell is buried in the St Mary and John Churchyard, Parish of Cowley St John, Oxford.

(3) The entry for Maunsell (Limerick) in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "The Maunsell family were originally from Buckinghamshire. They settled at Mocollop, county Waterford, in the early 16th century and received lands in counties Galway and Limerick in the 17th century. Richard Maunsell settled in Limerick in the 18th century and represented the city in Parliament from 1741 to 1761. From his second son descend the Maunsells of Ballywilliam. His eldest son Thomas married Dorothea Waller of Castle Waller and had four sons, Richard died in America, Thomas of Plassey, Robert of Bank Place, Limerick and the Reverend George Dean of Leighlin who married Helena Hedges Eyre of Macroom Castle and Mount Hedges, county Cork. Robert Maunsell had a distinguished career in India and was a founder of Maunsells' Bank with his brother Thomas and Sir Matthew Blakiston on his return to Ireland in 1789. The descendants of Robert's fourth (Henry of Fantstown, Kilmallock) and sixth (General Frederick of Gortbwee, Clonan and Glenwood) sons were living in county Limerick in the late 19th century. At the time of Griffith's Valuation Major Robert Maunsell, [eldest son of Henry Maunsell of Fantstown] held land in the parishes of Fedamore, barony of Smallquin and in the parishes of Monagay, Newcastle and Killeedy, barony of Glenquin."

(4) She has got this wrong - should read 'Dublin'.

(5) London Gazette 22378 page 1514 dated 20 April 1860.

(6) London Gazette 22826 page 1256 dated 1 March 1864.

(7) London Gazette 22983 page 3153 dated 23 June 1865.

(8) Ordnance survey of Ireland. Discovery Series. 1:50,000. Map sheet 80, grid reference W593803.