He is called Sir Robert Townshend, knight, in his Father's will & is bequeathed his "Cheyne of Gold". Sir Robert was of the Society of Lincoln's Inn in the early part of the reign of King Henry VIII, becoming as eminent as his ancestor in the study of law, and with his father attended the Duke of Norfolk at the reception of Lady Anne, daughter of John, Duke of Cleves, who married King Henry VIII, Jan. l, l539. He was afterward made king's sergeant-at-law in l54l, and knighted by Henry VIII at Hampton court, on Trinity Sunday, l545, and the same year made lord chief justice of Chester, in which post he was continued by both King Edward VI and Queen Mary. He deceased on Feb. 8, l555/6, possessed of the manor and rectory of Gayst, an advowson of the vicarage of the church, the manor of Swanton, Foxley, and Southwell in Norfolk, and the priory and house of St. Augustine in Ludlow, Salop. Sir Robert was buried in the high chancel of Ludlow church in an altar tomb, which is a remarkable example of an early and very rich classic monument of the times.
He & his wife had 6 daughters & 6 sons. Thomas Townsend of Bracon Ash, Norfolk, was found to be his heir, who was at that time 22 years of age, and was seized of the manor of Suton, Swanton & Folsham, in Folsham, with Foxley manor in Twyford, which came to him by Alice his mother, daughter & heir of Robert Poppy, Esq. Sir Robert was knight, eminent in the study of law and Lord Chief Justice of Chester under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Queen Mary.
Sources:
TOWNSHEND HERITAGE
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, VOL. 29
THE TOWNSENDS
AMERICAN FAMILIES WITH BRITISH ANCESTRY
He was entered a student of Lincoln's Inn, and elected a governor and lent reader in l46l. In l468 was trustee in purchasing the Lordship at Winchingham, St. Mary's. In l472 was member of parliament for Calme, in Wiltshire; and in l476 he purchased the remainder of the Lordship of Havile, Raynham, so that the whole estate was then in this family. In l477 he was called to the
degree of sergeant-at-law; in l480, summoned to be an assistant to the house of lords in parliament; and in l485 was made king's sergeant-at-law, and the year following was appointed a justice of the common pleas. King Henry VII, renewed his patent, and knighted him in his chamber at Worcester, on Whitsunday before the coronation. In his will he specified to be buried in the chapel of St. Katherine's, in the church of St. Mary's, Raynham, if he fortunes to decease there; but if in London, in the church of White Friars in Fleet Street, before the crucifix. He preceded his wife in death. She ordered her body to be buried by the high altar in the chancel of the church of St. Mary's, Raynham, and a new tomb to be made for her husband, and his bones, upon which tomb to be graven a sepulchre for Easter-day, if a chapel be not made at her decease, and if a chapel be made then she would be buried with her husband there.Sources:
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. 29
LDS IGI
Has Lady Elizabeth Peryente as his wife. Born abt. l536, Suffolk, England; Married June 27, l558, Beekenham, Kent, England; Died June 30, l580.AMERICAN FAMILIES WITH BRITISH ANCESTRY, by Burke
He was the eldest son of Sir Robert. In l558 he was presented the advowson of the church of Twyford, and in l568 he passed this manor to Rowland Hayward. He was lord of the manors of Hethill, Pennes, Stanfield Hall, Carlton Curson, Carlton Peveral & held interest in other manors and the advowson of the church of Bracon-Ash. He acknowledged the receipt of the Herring Pyes of the sheriff of Norwich, Sept. 4, l576, and the year following Het-Hill-Green was divided between him and that city. On Aug. l6, l578, he entertained Queen Elizabeth at Bracon-Ash Hall, where she dined while on her progress through Norfolk to Norwich, and the Lady Elizabeth Style his wife was afterwards the recipient of a beautiful gilt bowl from her majesty on account of the great hospitality shown her while at Bracon-Ash. By this lady he had several children, but all died young except Henry. By his second wife he had several children, all died young except Alice & Mary. In l585 his father-in-law Henry D'Oyly levied a fine of Pond-Hall, Suffolk, and Shottisham, Norfolk, and all other of his estate to him in trust for the benefit of his D'Oyly children. He is often spoken of in connection with his own and the D'Oyly estates, and seems to have been quite a man of business, leading the life of a country esquire.
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, VOL. 29.
History shows that most of the Townshends were zealous Protestants, beginning with Sir Roger as well as loyalists from the dawn of the Reformation. (Queen Elizabeth reinstated the religious edicts of her father, Henry VIII, who had broken away from the Roman Catholic Church to declare himself head of the Church of England. This was the origin of Episcopalianism.) However, there is reason to believe that the grandfather of our number-one ancestor, Thomas, was a Catholic recusant, refusing to attend services of the Church of England. This was a statutory offense from l570 until l79l. The bishop in the diocese of Norwich in the year l57l chastised Mr. Thomas Townsend and his wife, Lady Styles. Thomas soon got back in line and attended the established church, but not so his wife. She remained obdurate in spite of the harsh measures taken against Roman Catholics under Queen Elizabeth. Their chastisement came several years before they entertained Queen Elizabeth in their home, so the family was not entirely in disfavor. But probably Lady Styles's Popish inclinations cost her husband knighthood, for many of his neighbors were kneeling before the Queen to arise as "Sir". The family estates became encumbered with debts because of the necessity to pay fines to the Crown for said recusancy, and the family became considerably reduced in fortune.
TOWNSHEND HERITAGE, by Doris B. Townshend.
She was the widow of Sir Humphry Styles, of Langly, sheriff of Kent l543, and one of the esquires of King Henry VIII.
Sources:
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, VOL. 29
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. 90, pg.l52,
Hosea Starr Ballou, "Dr. Thomas Starr, Surgeon in the Pequot War"She was the youngest daughter of Jonathon & Lucretia Brewster.
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. 90, pg. l52, Hosea Starr Ballou, "Dr. Thomas Starr, Surgeon in the Pequot War"
He followed in his Father's footsteps as Chirgeon (Surgeon) at Yarmouth, Mass.
He was the Chard butcher.