William
Towne
Born before in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
[uncertain]
Ancestors [uncertain]
Son of John Towne
and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Joanna (Blessing) Towne
— married
25 Apr 1620 in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Descendants 
Father of
Rebecca (Towne) Nurse,
John Towne,
Susannah Towne,
Edmund Towne,
Jacob Towne I,
Mary (Towne) Estey,
Sarah (Towne) Cloyes and
Joseph Towne
Died before
at about age 74
in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Profile managers:
Bobbie Hall 
[send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], John Putnam [send private message], Debra Cullen [send private message], and Elizabeth S [send private message]
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Profile last modified
| Created 28 Dec 2008 | Last significant change: 21 May 2023
05:07: Bobbie (Madison) Hall edited the Biography for William Towne (bef.1599-bef.1673). (parameter added; removed email address in notes) [Thank Bobbie for this]
This page has been accessed 11,799 times.
| William Towne migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 340) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Contents |
Biography
William Towne was probably the child who was baptised on 18 March 1598/9 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, the son of John & Elizabeth (Clark) Towne.[1] William and Joanna Blessing were married in St. Nicholas church on April 25, 1620.[2]
- " William Towne, the emigrant ancestor of the Towne family of Topsfield, was married and had six children baptized in the parish church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Towne's age was estimated in 1660 as 'three score years,' when he testified in a court proceeding, which would indicate the approximate date of his birth as 1600. There can be no reasonable doubt, therefore, that he was that William, son of John and Elizabeth Towne, who was baptized at St. Nicholas' on March 18, 1598/9."[3]
- Their first six children were also baptised in St. Nicholas Church.[4] William died, probably in Topsfield, before 24 June 1673, the date his widow was granted administration on his estate.[5]
Baptism
- Baptized: 18 Mar 1598/9, St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
- "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"[6]
Marriage
- 25 April 1620, Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk, England
- They were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, April 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptized."[7][8][9]
Children
- Baptized at St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England:[8]
- Rebecca: 21 Feb. 1620/1, married Francis Nurse[10]
- John: 16 Feb. 1622/3 (presumed died in infancy)[11]
- Susanna: 26 Oct. 1625 (presumed died in infancy)[12]
- Edmund: 22 June 1628, married Mary Browning[13]
- Jacob: 11 March 1631/2, married Catherine Symonds[14]
- Mary: 24 Aug. 1634, married Isaac Esty[15]
- Probably born Topsfield:
- Sarah: married 1st, 11 Jan. 1660, Edward Bridges, 2nd Peter Cloyes
- Joseph: born about 1639, married Phebe Perkins
Immigration
- Arrival: 1635 Salem, Massachusetts[16]
Death
- Died: before 24 JUN 1673, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, (date of admin. granted to widow: 24:4:1673)[17]
Probate
- "On 24 June 1673[18] (24:4:1673), administration was granted to Johana Towne on the estate of William Towne of Topsfield, her late husband."
- "On 17 Jan 1682, petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left the estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division be allowed: the land to be equally divided between his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally divided between the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Sarah."
- "Signed by Mary Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep Towne, Francis Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary Esty formerly Towne, Sarah Bridges. Allowed by the court at Ipswich 10 April 1683."
Parents [19][3]
- John Towne of Great Yarmouth, 1570 – 1627
- Elizabeth Clarke of Great Yarmouth, 1569 – 1630
- Proof published by Lois Payne Hoover,[20] The Towne Family, page 1, Endnotes page 5. See parish register of Blundeston/Flexton, Suffolk, England, marriage of John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke, 20 Sept. 1597.[20] John Towne and Elizabeth Clarke are accepted by the Towne Family Association as the parents of William Towne.[20]
Notes
- Married in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, England. Six of his children baptized there too.
- Sailed either from Great Yarmouth or Bristol for America. Came to Salem in 1632 and moved to Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1652
- First record in Salem, Massachusetts. Was granted "a little neck of land right over against his house on the other side of the river."
- AN INTERESTING FACT recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or colonial occupations their web site was: (Archive.org via the Wayback Machine)
Research notes
- Did not Die: 30 Apr 1685, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Source: Edmund West. This date refers to the William Towne of Cambridge, and death date has been conflated with the death of William Towne of Salem and Topsfield, who died about 1672. see Great Migrations and NEHGR 1867 The Towne Family, page 15
- Did not arrive 1637 Cambridge, Massachusetts.[16] This refers to a different William Towne, lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, see Great Migrations
- The following children are not included in the work by William B. Towne, Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne, NEHGR Vol. 21(1867):16:
- Joseph Towne 1621 –
- Martha Blessing Towne 1622 – 1703
- Gardner Towne 1625 –
- Joseph Towne 1630 –
- Elizabeth Towne 1637 –
- Uriah Towne 1641 – 1731
Sources
- ↑ England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997, database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich. "Wyllyam Towne son of John & Elizabeth"
- ↑ England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997, database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Davis, Walter Goodwin, The Ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne 1737-1793 of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine (Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1927), p.3.
- ↑ Parish registers for St. Nicholas' Church, Yarmouth, LDS Film #Film # 004033324 For specific images, see section entitled "Children"
- ↑ The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch , Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 58 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ Hubbard, Edwin. The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal. (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne pages 14-16
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 172 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 95 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 97 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 99 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 102 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 106 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ "England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1510-1997," database with images, FamilySearch, Yarmouth St Nicholas > Baptisms, Marriages, Burials > image 109 of 304; Record Office, Norwich.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
- ↑ The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358]
- ↑ The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts 1665-1674 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1916) Vol. 2:358
- ↑ Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins, profile for William Towne
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants, by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), page 1-5
- See also:
- The Towne Family, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem Massachusetts, 1635, Five Generations of Descendants, by Lois Payne Hoover, (2010, 3rd printing 2015), Towne Family Association by Otter Bay Books, Baltimore, Maryland, page 1, William Towne.
- This Towne book was commissioned by the Towne Family Association. Towne Family won the 2011 Grand Prize from the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and in the same year received the 2011 Award of Excellence for a Genealogy and Family History from the National Genealogical Society.
- The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Vol. 21, page 12-22, Notes and Memoranda Relating to Persons of the Name of Towne, by William B. Towne.
- The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) Vol. 33, page 199-206. The Four Blessing Sisters, by Walter Goodwin Davis, B.A., LL.B., Portland, Maine. (Identifies William as Joanna's spouse, short bio on children.)
- Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins database online, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, follows Douglas Richardson's Magna Carta Ancestry. It includes Magna Carta Surety Barons and many of their descendants. William Towne
- Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009)
- Salem, Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 67.
- William Towne Arrival Date: 1635 Arrival Place: Salem, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Joanna Blessing, lived in Salem, and died Topsfield, Massachusetts about 1672.
- Cambridge, Massachusetts; Year: 1637; Page Number: 290.
- William Towne Arrival Date: 1637 Arrival Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts: refers to William Towne who married Martha, died in Cambridge, Massachusetts at age 80 in 1685, see Great Migrations
- Vital Records of Topsfield, MA, to the End of the Year 1849, Compiler: Topsfield Historical Society Publication: (Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1903)
- The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport, Maine [database on-line]. Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Davis, Walter Goodwin,. The ancestry of Lieut. Amos Towne, 1737-1793, of Arundel (Kennebunkport), Maine. Portland, Me.: Southworth Press, 1927. Page 3. NOTE: Author Goodwin takes Williams baptism date (see image) and his court statement about his age, and find evidence that William Towne of Salem is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clarke) Towne.
- Hubbard, Edwin. The Towne Family Memorial: Compiled from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Towne Manuscripts, Public and Family Records; for A.N. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal. (Chicago, Illinois. Fergus Printing Company. 1880) (includes copes of wills of Richard and Ann Towne of LIncolnshire, thought to be parents of William Towne; see pages 9 - 14)
- Stearns, Ezra S. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire (Lewis Publishing Company, 1908) Vol. 2, Page 588 (gives no names or data on William Towne's parents)
- Towne, Edwin Eugene, The descendants of William Towne : who came to America on or about 1630 and settled in Salem, Mass (Newtonville, MA: E. E. Towne, 1901), p. 11. (Identifies William of Salem, MA, as the "supposed son of Richard Towne, of Braceby, England.)
- Edmund West, comp. Family Data Collection - Deaths (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001) Death date: 30 April 1685 Death place: Topsfield, Essex, MA, USA. COMMENT: The death date of 1685 relates to William Towne of Cambridge. This entry demonstrates the issues with a derivative datase: William Towne of Topsfield died 24 June 1673. This source has conflated the two men, whose only similarity is their name.
- Public Member Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,Inc., 2006. Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Trees - William Towne of Topsfield (These trees currently [viewed 11 Mar 2017] all show parents as Richard & Ann of Braceby)
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- Who were the parents of William Towne of Topsfield, Mass. Mar 11, 2017.
Rejected matches › William Towne (abt.1605-1685) › William Towne › Peter Towne (abt.1572-) › Albert William Towne (abt.1864-) › William Towne
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Categories: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk | Topsfield, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration
I now only include the term "County" when adding locations to the narrative, as opposed to the data field. In the data field, whenever possible, I will accept the suggested standardized location names.
Hope this helps.--Gene
edited by GeneJ X
As for the standardized locations, which are provided by FamilySearch, they are far from ideal, as many people have noted many times in many G2G threads and elsewhere. As another example, they add "United States" (or its equivalents) to locations when they are clearly inappropriate, which generates suggestions that DDs and others take their time to correct.
edited by Traci Thiessen
It appears to me that we have the wrong parents, as the marriage & baptisms of the children are all very clear in the St. Nicholas registers. The parents of Richard & Ann, 100 miles away, seems incongruous. I would like to suggest you take a look at the records (click the source links for the FamilySearch sources) as they are truly a work of caligrafic art! I propose that we change the parents to those shown in the section "Alternate parents".
Does anyone have access to Gary Boyd Robert's Notable Kin (Vol. 1:213, 2:83-84, 186)? There may be more info there.
I agree with you that since the only 'evidence' for Gardner has been investigated now, and shows no mention of his existence, it is best to disconnect him from this family. Also good to leave his profile in the database with a note that such a person is not proved to have existed. Other such 'phantom' profiles have been added back until it was realized the solution is to keep phantoms in the DB, with a note to inform members of the lack of evidence.
This should not be an issue, since Gardner has no listed wife or descendants!
It would be nice if the other PMs would comment, but understand if they don't have time. Please proceed with disconnecting Gardner.
Thank you Bobbie!
Checked the manuscript "Descendants of William and Joanna (Blessing) Towne..." It is simply a handwritten descendant report, which contains NO sources. It does NOT include the following children: Susanna & Gardner. I would suggest disconnecting Gardner, as there is no evidence that he existed or was a child of William & Joanna.
Also none of them are children of the other William Towne, who lived in Cambridge and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1680 at age 80, (source: Great Migration).
I agree with your proposed actions on them.