James Townsend (abt. 1788 - 1845)

Born about 1788 in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England

Husband of Frances (Crich) Townsend — married 20 Feb 1815 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England

Descendants

Died 23 May 1845 at about age 57 in Tuckersmith, Huron, Canada West

Biography

James Townsend was born in Nottinghamshire, England.

James Townsend was born in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England. His father was a tenant farmer on an estate known as Cocketts Farm. James met Frances Crich, whose parents Thomas Crich and Frances Door were also tenant farmer at Cocketts. They eventually married on Feb 20, 1815, in the parish church at Mansfield, Notts.^[1] James and Francis also became tenant farmers at Cocketts, their first seven children, were all baptized at Farnsfield.

James Townsend lived in Canada.

In 1828, James immigrated with his family to Canada, and spent 6 years living in Chinquacousy Township, Peel County, near Toronto, known then as Muddy York. He then decided to purchase land in Huron County, that was being opened up by the Canada Company, and bought three one hundred acre lots in Tuckersmith Township, Lots 26,27 and 28, concession 2. He bought the land from Henry Ransford who had already obtained a large quantity of land through the Canada Company, no doubt dabbling in land speculation, this caused problems for people, because the Canada Company did not like that people gained land through other sources, and because they owned all supply accesses they were sometimes given to refuse custom with farmers who came to trade in their stores.

In 1834 James moved his family, by ox cart along the Huron Tract to their new home, where they chose to live on lot 27 which they called Thorn Hill. The next year John Crich, brother of Frances, bought up neighbouring lots.

After James and Frances arrived in Canada they had four more children, two in the Muddy York area and two more after they moved to Tuckersmith. Their only source for supplies at that time was Goderich some 14 miles away.

On May 23, 1845, James Townsend died, and was buried on his property, on lot 27. A few years later after Turner's Church was established and the cemetery was laid out, James Townsend's body was moved and buried in the north-east section close to the east fence. It is marked by the original thin marble stone lying on the grave, and a large granite stone.

Research Notes

He may have been born to James Townsend and Sarah^[2] or John and Mary^[3] though there is so far no existence of a record or source for a birth or baptism in 1788, but he could've been born in 1788 and then baptised in 1792. He may have had a sister named Rebecca.^[4]

If he was bap. 1792, his mother is likely Sarah Heath. She married James (father) on July 15, 1786 in St Nicholas's, Nottinghamshire.^[5]

There is also no source for the biography - where did the information come from?

Baptism

The James Townsend baptised in 1788^[6] was baptised in Gloucestershire, and that is almost 140 miles away from Farnsfield. That is almost certainly a different Townsend family. This James was likely the son of James and Sarah and was baptised when he was a few years old.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database", database
   Nottinghamshire; Mansfield; St Peter and St Paul; Register of unspecified type; File line number: 124
   FreeReg Transcription (accessed 4 May 2023)
   James Towning marriage to Frances Critch on 20 Feb 1815 in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.
2. ↑ Baptism: "Nottinghamshire Baptisms", database
   Archive: Nottinghamshire Archives
   FindMyPast Transcription (subscription required, accessed 7 May 2023)
   James Townsend baptism on 21 Jan 1792, son of James Townsend & Sarah, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
3. ↑ Baptism: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database", database
   Nottinghamshire; Nottingham; St Mary; Phillimore's Transcript; File line number: 5411
   FreeReg Transcription (accessed 7 May 2023)
   James Townsend baptism on 7 Feb 1775, son of Job Townsend & Mary, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
4. ↑ Baptism: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database", database
   Nottinghamshire; Nottingham; St Nicholas; Register of unspecified type; File line number: 6108
   FreeReg Transcription (accessed 7 May 2023)
   Rebecca Townsend baptism on 3 Sep 1788, daughter of James Townsend & Sarah, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
5. ↑ Forgottonbooks.com. Nottinghamshire Parish Registers PDF. pg. 183. https://www.forgottenbooks.com/es/download/NottinghamParishRegisters_10889074.pdf
6. ↑ Baptism: "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813", database with images
   Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P86/1 in 1/3
   Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
   Ancestry uk Record 4732 #386605 (subscription required, accessed 13 January 2024)
   James Townsend baptism on 13 May 1788 (born 24 Mar 1788), child of William Townsend & Mary Townsend, in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.