CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, M. D. The Townsend family, of which Dr. Townsend is a well-known member, is of English descent. Many years ago three brothers, Elijah, John and Isaiah Townsend (cousins of Glen Townsend, of Quebec), left the shores of England for America, where they settled in Egg Harbor City, N. J., and here Elijah reared a family of children, among whom were Daniel, Isaiah, Japhet and Elijah. Isaiah owned a line of boats to Cape May. Daniel Townsend was born August 14, 1747, in Egg Harbor City, N. J., where he grew to manhood and engaged in the lumber business. In 1776 he entered the Revolutionary war, serving about two years. He took part in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Monmouth, and in 1779 came to Washington county, Penn., where he bought 400 acres of land of Joshua Wright, settling permanently on that tract. He married Lydia Sawens, of Massachusetts, and of this union the following children were born: Catherine (Mrs. John Baird, of Beaver county), Naomi (Mrs. Uriah Burton), Julia (wife of Peter Sharp), Margaret (wife of William Chisler, of Ohio), Rebecca (Mrs. John Hazen, of Mercer county, Penn.), Ruth (Mrs. Stephen Higby, in Ohio), Lydia (wife of Arthur Devore, also in Ohio), Elijah (a lieutenant in the war of 1812, died in 1871), and Joseph, all of whom were married, and are now deceased. The father of this family was a Democrat in politics. He died September 1, 1833. Joseph Townsend, son of Daniel and Lydia (Sawens) Townsend, was born March 1, 1796, on the old place in Washington county, Penn. He lived at home until fifteen years of age, when he entered the war of 1812 as a fifer, but was brought home by his father. A few years later the juvenile warrior had so far modified his views as to prefer rural life, and became an excellent farmer, devoting much attention to sheep raising. In early life he was united in marriage with Nancy, daughter of Col. William Blackmore, and granddaughter of Samuel Blackmore, who owned 400 acres on the site of the city of Washington, D. C. The property was leased for ninety-nine years, which expired in about 1876, the heirs having never claimed it. William Blackmore, son of Samuel, came with the father from Washington, D. C., to Washington county, Penn., and there reared six children, viz.: Thomas, Charles, Nancy (Mrs. Townsend), Eliza, Ellen, and Arabella, all of whom are deceased, except Arabella. To Joseph and Nancy (Blackmore) Townsend were born three children, namely: Charles W., Daniel B., and William (deceased in youth). The mother died December 5, 1833, and in 1834 Joseph Townsend married Nancy, daughter of Robert Flack, whose father was born in Ireland, came to America about 1800, and settled on Chartiers creek, in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. To Joseph and Nancy (Flack) Townsend were born three children, viz.: Robert (deceased), Elijah T., and Margaret J. (Mrs. J. W. Boyer, of Finleyville). The father voted with the Domocratic party, and in religion was a member of the Baptist Church. He died on his seventy-fifth birthday, March 1, 1871, and was followed by his wife in August, 1874, in her seventy-fifth year. Dr. Charles W. Townsend was born April 27, 1822, on the old farm in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. He received an excellent education, was for some time a surveyor in Washington county, doing much work, and then read medicine for four years with Dr. W. B. Lank, finally graduating from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1849. In that year he began to practice his profession in Peters township, and in 1854 he married Margaret A., daughter of Rev. Joseph Wright, of Peters township, this county. To this union have been born the following children: Joseph (a civil engineer), Catherine (wife of Dr. Boyd Emery), William, Jennie L. (Mrs. Obediah Higbee), Chatham, Charles, Nellie and Nancy, of whom Charles and Nancy died in youth. The Doctor has resided on a beautifully improved farm, on which are six large orchards of fruit trees, situated near the old homestead. In his chosen profession as a skilled physician he has obtained a most remarkable record of success. In one epidemic of typhoid fever approaching one hundred and fifty cases, every patient recovered, and in two other extensive epidemics of the same fever success was equally fortunate; during a general and extended practice of over forty years, he has not lost a lady in obstetrical practice, a fortunate achievement. Such history surely rests on the foundation of solid elementary principles, and careful thought, and now engaged in raising stock as a specialty, he still adheres to and loves his profession. In politics he is faithful to pure Democratic and Jeffersonian Republican principles, and on one occasion, in 1883, to give him a rest, his friends elected him to the Legislature without a single effort on his own part. With firm belief in the orthodoxy of the Trinity, he faithfully accepts the substantial philosophy of future entitative existence. The following is a copy of an old deed given by Hugh Sharp to Elijah Townsend, of Great Egg Harbor, county of Gloucester, province of New Jersey, the date thereof being June 26, 1739. It is written in old English on sheepskin two and a half feet long. This Elijah Townsend was the father of Daniel Townsend, Elijah Townsend, Isaiah Townsend and Japhet Townsend of Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey: This Indenture, made 26th day of June, 1739, in the thirteenth reign of our Sovereign George the 2nd of Great Britain, King, etc., between Hugh Sharp of the township of Worthingborough, in the county of Burlington, province of New Jersey, yeoman, of the first part, and Elijah Townsend, of Great Egg Harbor in the county of Gloucester, aforesaid, province of New Jersey, yeomen, of the other part. Now this indenture forever witnesseth that the said Hugh Sharp for and in consideration of the sum of four pounds current money of province of New Jersey to him in hand paid by the said Elijah Townsend at or before the ensealing and delivery of said property, the receipt whereof to the said Hugh Sharp doth hereby acknowledge paid in full for every part and parcel thereof, doth hereby acquit, release, exonerate and discharge the said Elijah Townsend, his heirs, executors and administrators and every of them forever by these presents, hath granted, bargained and sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released, conveyed and confirmed, and doth by these presents fully clearly and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff, release, convey and confirm unto the said Elijah Townsend and his heirs and assigns foreverall that tract of land situated near Great Egg Harbor River on a branch of the South River in the County of Gloucester, in the Province of New Jersey, being in two tracts, the first bounded as follows: Beginning at a maple tree on the west side of said river, being corner of a former survey of said Hugh Sharp, then by the said river N. W. twenty deg. six chains, then N. E. six deg. fourteen chains W. O. by the said river, thence S. 58 deg. W. thirty-four and half chains to a post, thence S. 32 deg. E. seventeen chains to post, N. 58 deg. E. 24 chains to Maple post named containing forty-five acres with allowance for highways. The other tract begins at a W. O. on the other side of the said South River, some distance from the first tract, thence south 63 deg. E. five chains to post S. 20 deg. E. sixteen chains S. 62 W. six chains and half to South River by which it is bounded northwest to the beginning containing 15 acres and allowance; both tracts contain sixty acres, recorded in the Surveyor General's office in Burlington, in B. M. folio 97. Reference being thereunto had will more at large appear together with all the minerals, mines, woods, fishings, fowlings, hawkings, huntings, and all other royalties, propts, commodities, hereditaments, appurtenances to the said sixty acres of land and provisions belonging, or in any wise pertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, property, claim and demand whatsoever of the said Hugh Sharp in law and equity of into or to the said granted and bargained sixty acres of land and premises, and every part and parcel thereof with their heirs, executors and the revisions and remanders thereof part and parcel, to have and to hold the said two tracts of land containing sixty acres and allowance and every part and parcel thereof and appurtenances unto the said Elijah Townsend, to the only proper use and behoof of him, the said Elijah Townsend, heirs and assigns forevermore. And the said Hugh Sharp and his heirs doth covenant, grant and agree to and with the said Elijah Townsend, his heirs and assigns fovever by these presents in manner and form following: that is the said Hugh Sharp at the time of the entailing and delivery of these presents is lawfully and rightfully with absolute authority to grant, bargain and sell, alien, enfeoff, release, convey and confirm the land confirmed, granted and bargained the sixty acres of land and premises and every part and parcel thereof and appurtenances unto the said Elijah Townsend, his heirs and assigns forever, according to the tenure purport and intent and meaning of these presents, and that the land is free and clear and clearly acquired and discharged from all former gifts, grants, bargains, sales, mortgages, wills, entails, dowries, judgments, or any other plea that may in any wise hurt the land. And that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Elijah Townsend his heirs and assigns from time to time and at all times forever hereafter by value of these presents to have, hold, occupy to vest and enjoy all singular the said two tracts of land containing sixty acres and premises by these presents mentioned with the appurtenances without erection, ejectment or any other intrusions of the said Hugh Sharp his heirs and executors or any other person whatsoever claiming or pretending to claim the same or any part or parcel thereof. In law whatsoever for the better and better and more perfect assurance making, conveying and confirming the said granted and bargained two tracts of land containing sixty acres and allowance with every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances unto the said Elijah Townsend, his heirs and assigns forever, according the tenure purpose to the intent and true meaning of these presents. In witness whereof the said Hugh Sharp, party first above named in this present indenture have unto these presents set his hand and seal the day and year above written 1739. The above tract of land was conveyed by Thomas More and Johanna, his wife, to the above named Hugh Sharp bearing date 9th day of April, 1715, which record will more fully and more at large appear upon the public records in the province of New Jersey. This twenty-sixth day of ye sixth month of June, 1739, [Some words illegible.] I Hugh Sharp being one of ye judges of ye common pleas for ye county of Burlington do acknowledge that I signed, sealed and delivered ye above said instrument as my only act and as is above described as witness my hand. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of (Signed) HUGH SHARP [SS.]     MARY M. OSGOOD,     H. H. COX,     CHARLES SCOTT [SS.]

Text taken from page 320 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1998 by Kathy Lininger of Celina, OH as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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