Thomas Townsend (1753 - 1836)

Born 1753 in Augusta, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Hamilton) Townsend — married 16 Dec 1778 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Feb 1836 at about age 83 in Lumpkin, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1750 and passed away about 1836

On December 16, 1778, Thomas married widow Susannah Hamilton Stephens in Abbeville County, South Carolina. They had the following children:

Thomas Townsend 1783–1839​​

Amy Townsend 1783–1860​​

Susannah Townsend Wofford 29 March 1785 – 12 November 1812

Andrew Townsend 1787–Before 1850​​

Edward Ezekiel Townsend August 9,1789–January 29, 1860​​

Eleanor J Townsend (1793–1860)

Susannah had five children with her first husband, John Henry Stephens, who had been killed by Indians in 1778.

Thomas Townsend lived in various places in South Carolina and Georgia, eventually settling in Habersham County, Georgia. Habersham County was formed in 1818 from part of Franklin County and Cherokee Lands. Part of Habersham County became Lumpkin County.

Thomas enlisted during 1775 under Captain John Wallace and Colonel Neel and was in the skirmish at Big Cane Brake on the Reedy River. From March, 1776, to June 7, 1777, he served under Captain James Duff and Colonel Sumter and was in the skirmish at Bolton's Landing, near Charleston. He was in the battle at Black Hole or Horse shoe against the Cherokee Indians.

Next, he was under Colonel Watson and was in a skirmish with the Creek Indians at Rocky Comfort, Georgia. In 1780, he was under Captains Samuel Carr [Kerr] and George Lidell and was in the battles at Fish Dam Ford and Blackstock's Plantation. He was also in the skirmish at Rutledge Ford and the battle at Reeds Branch. In 1781, he was under Colonels Bratton and Moffatt and Captains Chambers and Anderson. He was in the battle at Biggin Church and Hughes Bridge. Until the end of the war, he served under Captain Anderson and Colonels Hawthorn and Hill.

The first U. S. Census taken in 1790, lists Thomas Townsend as head of family in the 96th Abbeville District, South Carolina. The same census lists Repentance Townsend there also.

In the 1810 U.S. Census for Christ Church, Charleston, South Carolina, there were one male and one female between the ages of 26 and 45.

In the 1820 U.S. Census for Habersham, Georgia, the Townsend family were farmers. There was one male over the age of 45, one female over the age of 45, and one female between the ages of 25 and 45.

In the 1830 U.S. Census for Habersham, the Townsend family consisted of one male and one female between the ages of 70 and 80. There was one female between the ages of 30 and 40, and one girl between the ages of 5 and 10.

In a Certificate issued August 27 , 1833, to begin March 4, 1831, shows Thomas Townsend of Habersham County in the state of Georgia had been a Private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Sumpter in the South Carolina line for 2 years. Thomas was allowed a pension of $80 per annum on his application executed November 6, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Habersham County, Georgia.

Thomas Townsend's, Pension Claim Number W3889, made July 1, 1833 in Habersham County, Georgia, states that he was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1753, served in the South Carolina Continental Line at various times between 1775 and 1781. He stated that when he enlisted he lived in Camden District, South Carolina. He was in the Abbeville District Southeastern line. In 1778, he moved to Ninety-Sixth District, where he remained about two and one-half years and then moved back to Camden District where he remained until the close of the Revolution. He then moved to Abbeville District, South Carolina, then to Oglethorpe, Jackson, Morgan, Franklin and Habersham County, Georgia.

Thomas stated that he had no proof of his age because the family record had been carried to Tennessee many years previously, (The Declaration of John Townsend states that he left Abbeville District, South Carolina and moved to Knox County, Tennessee.)

Thomas' widow stated in her declaration, made April 8, 1844, in Gilmer County, Georgia, that her first husband John Henry Stephens was killed by Indians. She then married Thomas Townsend on December 16, 1778 in Abbeville District, South Carolina. She also stated that Thomas died February 19, 1836 in Lumpkin County, Georgia.

Sources

• Daughters of the American Revolution: https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A115748
• Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters: http://revwarapps.org/
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2S-FKL : accessed 3 January 2021), Thos Townsend, Charleston, South Carolina, United States; citing p. 415, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 60; FHL microfilm 181,419.
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLX-VWL : accessed 3 January 2021), Thomas Townsend, Habersham, Georgia, United States; citing p. 113, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 6; FHL microfilm 175,765.
• United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-8BD : 19 November 2020), Thomas Townsend, Habersham, Georgia, United States; citing 8, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 18; FHL microfilm 7,038.
• "United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-LB8Z : accessed 3 January 2021), Thomas Townsend, 04 Mar 1831; citing Georgia, United States, NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962), roll 8; FHL microfilm 1,319,388.
• Some Townsends of North Georgia by E. E. Townsend and online documents of pension applications and Revolutionary service.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69333246/thomas-townsend: accessed February 14, 2024), memorial page for Thomas Townsend (1750–17 Feb 1836), Find a Grave Memorial ID 69333246; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Stacia King (contributor 47604993).

Acknowledgement

Townsend-3093 was created by Steve Barrow through the import of Barrow,Dubose,Townsend,Head.ged on Sep 19, 2014.