Doctor Norman Ian Townsend (6C18)

Date of Birth: 15 Feb 1869
Date of Death: 15 Mar 1936
Generation: 7th
Residence: Cork and Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Father: Doctor Edward Richard Townsend [6C04]
Mother: Humphries, Elizabeth
Spouse:
  1. Hely, Eileen Costello
Issue:
  1. Beryl Eileen [6C37]
See Also: Table VIC ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree

Notes for Doctor Norman Ian Townsend MD

Norman was born in Cork

Married 2 October 1901 at Castle Hyde Church, Fermoy, Co Cork (1 & 2). Eileen Costello Hely (3) was the elder daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hely of Woodstock,(4) Cappoquin and of Mrs Hely of Woodfort, Fermoy.

It is not known where Norman trained as a doctor but page 89 of Guy's City and County Cork Almanac and Directory for 1907 records that he registered in 1892 – “Townsend Norman Ian, 24 S t Patrick’s hill LRCPI, LRCSI, LM 1892”. Page 529 of the Directory shows that he lived at 24 Wellington Place whilst his distant cousin Thomas Henry Denny Townsend [5A10] lived at 14 Wellington Place and later practiced at 11 St Patrick’s Hill.

Pages 103 to 105 of the Directory record that Norman was 'Consulting Physician' at the South Charitable Infirmary, Blackrock Road and at the Lying In Hospital for the Relief of Poor Women, at Erinville. Western Road; was the ‘Visiting Physician and Surgeon’ at the Protestant Home for Incurables, Military Road, St Luke’s; was the ‘Physician’ at the Asylum for The Industrious Blind; was the Medical Officer Royal Naval Reserve and 'Medical Attendant' at St Stephen's Hospital, Blue Coat School for Boys, Stephen Street, a school "for the education, clothing, and maintenance, as free pupils, of poor boys of the Protestant religion who were resident in or near the city of Cork".

The April 1901 Irish Census records Norman and two of his brothers living at 24 St Patricks Hill, Cork with their mother and three domestic staff. The 1911 Irish Census shows Norman as a Doctor aged 42 still living at 24 St Patrick's Hill with his wife and two female domestic staff.

Guy's City and County Cork Almanac and Directory for 1913 shows that Norman’s various practices in Cork remained unchanged. This continued until 1921 when, as a result of the 'troubles', he moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset. Kelly's 1935 Trade Directory for Shaftesbury records that he was the town 'Medical Officer of Health' and ‘Medical Officer' at the Westminster Memorial Hospital. The Directory shows his residence as 'Cann Lodge'.

In 1903 Norman administered the estate of his great aunt Mary Townsend [6B61] who died intestate 30 years before he was born! Page 462 of The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Administration of the un-administered personal estate of "Mary Townsend late of South Mall Cork Spinster" who died on 12 November 1841, was granted at Cork on 27 July 1903 to " Norman Ian Townsend MD". Effects £1. Former Grant 4 January 1842.

Norman administered the will of his brother John Walter Elmsley Townsend [6C21]. The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1922 in the National Archives of Ireland records that Administration of the estate of "Townsend John Walter Elmslie (Retired Naval Lieutenant) 8 Belgrave Place Cork" who died on 19 November 1915 in France, was granted on 19 May 1920 was granted to "Norman Ian Townsend MD Brother of the Deceased)".

Norman died at the Westminster Memorial Hospital. Probate was granted in London on 25 March 1936 to his widow, Ada Bene Costello Warren (wife of Thomas Richard Pennefather Warren) and his daughter Beryl Eileen Townsend [6C37]. His estate was valued at £10,039, 15s. 1d. Both he and his daughter are buried in Cann Cemetery (5).

Seven members of the family practiced medicine in Cork and Queenstown during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. Richard Townsend [517] 1800-1843; Edward Richard Townsend [6C00] 1800-1878; Richard Newman Townsend [530] 1835-1877; Edward Richard Townsend [6C04] 1838-1897; Richard Hungerford Townsend [5A02] 1845-1922; Normnan Ian Townsend [6C18] 1869-1921 and Thomas Henry Denny Townsend [5A10] 1876-1952. In addition 'Townsends' from another family practiced at roughly the same time; notably Dr William C Townsend and Dr Horace R Townsend.

(1) Entry in the diary of Agnes Townsend [334] - 'Oct 2 1901 Dr Norman Townsend married Miss Hely'. Eileen was born in Ely, England in 1882.

(2) An entry in The Times of 5 October 1901 records that the marriage was conducted by the "Venerable Archdeacon of Cloyne (uncle of the bridegroom) assisted by Rev A. Humphrey-Townsend (brother [6C17]) and the Rev. Precentor T.C. Abbott (Rector)". Elizabeth Townshend [5D42] was also married in Castle Hyde Church - 14 January 1902.

(3) Eileen was born on 4 April 1881. Her father (b. 9 October 1844, d. 2 March 1898) was the third son of Charles Hely, squire of Foulkscourt, co. Kilkenny who died aged 51 on 25 February 1863 and his wife Selina Thompson (c.1816 - 1896). Eileen's mother was Ada Emma Gater (b. 27 October 1858) who married Charles Hely at Westend, Hampshire, on 3 July 1879.

(4) The entry for Hely in the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway Connacht and Munster Landed Estates Database records "Thomas Hely was among the principal lessors in the parish of Modelligo, barony of Decies-without-Drum at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In the 1870s, John George Hely, of Glenshillane, Cappoquin owned over 600 acres in county Waterford while William Hely of Woodstock, Cappoquin was the owner of over 300 acres. This was a branch of the Hely family of Foulkscourt, county Kilkenny."

(5) Scroll down to his entry.