Very Reverend William Chambers Townsend (6B11)

Date of Birth: 1822
Date of Death: 7 Nov 1909
Generation: 6th
Residence: Tuam, Co Galway & St Leonards on Sea, Sussex
Father: Reverend Doctor William Robinson Townsend [6B02]
Mother: Young, Isabella
Spouse:
  1. Fitzgerald, Emma
  2. Fetherstonaugh, Emma
Issue:
See Also: Table VIB ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree

Notes for Very Reverend William Chambers Townsend

Married 1st 9 September 1847 at Turlogh Church (1). Emma Mary Fitzgerald (1a) was the second daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Edward Thomas Fitzgerald (2), Knight of The Hanoverian Order, of Turlough Park (3 & 3a), Mayo and Furzeyhurst, Cowes, Isle of Wight. See Burke's Irish Landed Gentry 1912 - Fitzgerald Co Mayo. Married 2nd 3 August 1879. Emma Mary (4) was the only daughter of Hardinge Fetherstonhaugh (4a), of Lissaugh Hall, Westmeath. See Burke's Irish Landed Gentry 1912 – Fetherstonhaugh of Bracklyn Castle.

Alumni Trinity College Dublin from Co Cork and Kerry 1593-1860 in Dr Casey's Collection records that William was educated at Edgeworthstown School before he entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 16 October 1840 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 1845. Richard William Townsend [5D03], Horace Townsend [5D12] and Horatio Hamilton Townsend [6B05] were undergraduates at Trinity at the same time, whilst Rev Richard Townsend [337] was teaching at the university.

The TCD Graduation List Volume II records that he qualified MA in Winter 1872. Horace Thomas Townsend [346] and John Hume Townsend [635] were undergraduates at Trinity then, whilst Rev Richard Townsend [337] was now Professor of Natural Philosophy. William qualified DD in Winter 1879.

William was granted Letters of Administration on his father's will in 1866 at which time he was living at Ard Cotton Glebe (Ballisodare) County Sligo. See page 332 of the Calender of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Letters of Administration on the personal estate of "The Reverend William Robinson Townsend of Aghada Co Cork", who died on 22 June 1866, were granted at the Principal Registry on 13 July 1866 to "Reverend William Chambers Townsend of Ard Cotton Glebe (Ballisodare) County Sligo the Universal Legatee in trust". Effects under £200.

'Pettigrew & Oultons Dublin Almanac 1842 - Dublin Directory' records "Townsend William Chambers esq. TCD. 54 Aungier Street". He was appointed Rector of Furlough, Co Mayo in 1877 and Dean of Tuam, Co Galway in 1879, where he remained until 1898.

William was a member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland as were his nephew George Townsend [6B36] and distant cousins Thomas Courtnay Townshend [5B02] and Charlotte Payne-Townshend [5D27]

When he died, William was living at 40, Church-road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. His will was proved in the District Probate Registry, Lewes, on 28 February 1910 and probate whereof was resealed in the Principal Probate Registry, Dublin, on 12 May 1910 (5). Page 626 of The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Probate of the will of "the Very Reverend William Chambers Townsend late of 40 Church Road St Leonard’s on Sea Sussex”, who died on 7 November 1909, was granted at Lewes on 28 February 1910 to "Emma M Townsend the Widow and Desmond G Fitzgerald." Resealed at Dublin 12 May 1910. Effects in Ireland £3,184 9s 9d.

‘Slater’s Royal National Directory of Ireland, 1894’ records under the heading ‘Church of Ireland. Protestant Diocese of Tuam’ - “Dean, Very Rev. William C. Townsend DD. The Deanery” and under the heading ‘Consistorial & Metropolitan Court, Bishop Street, Tuam’ - “Surrogate Vicar-General, Very Rev. William Townsend DD.” The Directory also records that William maintained the ‘Bible Depository at the Deanery.’

(1) The Spectator of 18 September 1847, page 11.

(1a) Emma Mary Fitzgerald died at Spencer Park, Co Mayo on 15 February 1878.

(2) Edward Thomas, was born on 22 December 1784, married on 20 November 1811, Emma, youngest daughter of Edmond Green, of Medham, Isle of Wight, and died in 1845. He served as Assistant Quarter-Master-General with the Guards at Waterloo and other battles. The entry for Fitzgerald (Turlough) in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "This family from Gorteens in county Kilkenny was transplanted to county Mayo under the Cromwellian settlement. Under the Acts of Settlement they were confirmed in their possession of some of the estates of Walter Bourke of Turlough, barony of Carra. By patent dated 30 May 1677 John Fitzgerald received 2,494 acres in the barony of Carra. The first generation settled at Moyhenna in the parish of Kildacommoge but by the second decade of the 18th century they were resident at Rockfield in the parish of Turlough. The FitzGerald estate was mainly situated within the boundaries of these 2 parishes. The FitzGeralds lived in England in the pre Famine years of the 19th century and Alexander Clendining acted as their agent. In 1876 Charles Lionel FitzGerald owned 8,359 acres in county Mayo. On 31 Mar 1915 the estate was sold to the Congested Districts' Board. The family repurchased 375 acres, most of which was sold in the 1950s."

(3)‘Slater’s Royal National Directory of Ireland, 1894’ records "Turlough, co. Mayo, is situated on a small river, the land being generally good, limestone abounding suitable for building and other purposes. Between Castlebar and Ballina and through part of this parish is a wild and romantic district, Benrevagh mountain being 1,298 feet above the sea. The chief river from Lough Cullin is the Moy. The road at this part winding round the lake presents a succession of highly picturesque and romantic scenery. Turlough Park, the residence of Charles Lionel Fitzgerald esq. D.L. is situated in a fine demesne."

(3a) The entry for Turlough Park in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Built in 1865 to the design of Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, this Victorian Gothic house was sold to Mayo County Council in 1991 and is now part of the Museum of Country Life."

(4) Page 609 of The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Probate of the will of "Emma Mary Townsend late of 40 Church Road St Leonard’s on Sea Sussex Widow ”, who died on 2 April 1911, was granted at Lewes on 9 June 1911 to "the Reverend C.E. Soughton Clerk." Resealed at Dublin 12 August 1911. Effects in Ireland £2,563 7s 3d.

(4a) U.H. Hussey de Burgh's ‘Landowners of Ireland 1878' records seven members of the Fetherstonaugh family owning a total of 25,042 acres in Westmeath valued at £12,745 (2005 equivalent is £13.5m).

(5) London Gazette 28500 page 4229 dated 2 June 1911.