Josiah Townsend

1770 - 1860

• Name	Josiah Townsend
  Born	12 Mar 1770	Canaan, Columbia Co, New York   [1, 2]
  	Date of birth calculated from age at death.
  Gender	Male
  Will	17 Jan 1842  [3]
  	Under item 5 of Josiah's will of 1842 is found this interesting bequeath: "I give and bequeath one half an acre of land lying in the orchard on the south side of the road being the easterly part of the farm said piece of land is to be used as a family burying ground and kept for that purpose and those heirs who shares nearest to the same keep it in repair and have the fruit and feed belonging to the same and if said farm or any part of it shall be sold by the heirs that belongs or joins said burying ground it shall be reserved and kept for the purpose aboved mentioned, etc." In 1996, the orchard was discovered but no gravestones were to be found. The apple trees found on the farm were about 150 years old. The farm is no longer in production and has been left to grow back to brush and trees.
  Census	Jun 1855	Champion, Jefferson Co, New York
  	p. 28 Frame house, value $300, family #256 Townsend, Josiah, 85, m, Columbia, md., resident 54y, Farmer Dolly, 84, F, wife, b. Conn John D., 59, m, child, b. Saratoga, resident 54y, Methodist Clergy Amanda, 51, F, child, b. Herkimer Co Josiah, 26, m, G child, b. Jefferson co, resident 4y, Carpenter Uronus, 22, m, G child, b. Jefferson Co Alfred A., 16, m, G child, b. Jefferson Co Wm V. 13, m, G child, b. St Lawrence co Woodruff, Henry, 67, m, boarder, b. Connecticut, resident 46y, Cabinet Parker, Chloe J., 19, F, G child, b. Jefferson Co Townsend, Mary, 22, F, G child, b. Dutchess Co
  Buried	Mar 1860	Champion Huddle Cemetery, Champion, Jefferson Co, New York   [2, 3]
  	Townsend, Josiah, h/ Dolly, d. 03-19-1860, ae 90y7d Champion Huddle Cemetery is now Evergreen Cemetery and is near Applegate Road.
  Died	19 Mar 1860	Savannah, Wayne Co, New York   [2, 3]
  Notes	Josiah probably settled in Jefferson County about 1801. In the History of Jefferson County, 1793-1854 it states (p.135) that in Champion, the "Methodists first organized a legal society, December 30, 1825, with M. Andrews, Wilson Pennock, and Josiah Townsend as trustees. A second society was formed, April 11, 1827, with Samuel Loomis, William Davis, and Wilson Pennock, trustees. A church was built in 1826 or 7, in this town (Champion), two mile from the Great Bend, at a cost of $700." The First Methodist Church of Champion, located at Great Bend village, was organized in 1826 by Nathaniel Salisbury and Gardner Baker. Their first house, a wooden structure, was built in 1826, about two miles from the present site. This whole territory was then called the "Black River Circuit." Nathaniel Salisbury and Gardner Baker were colleagues upon the circuit when the first church was built, which would seat about 300 persons. The house stood upon one of the four corners known as "Francis and Babcock Corners," was built of wood, plain, without steeple or belfry---no daub of paint was ever upon it inside or out, and no cushions were ever upon its seats, except one individual one. Jesse Penfield, Isaac Puffer, F. H. Stanton, and many others were among its pastors. As churches were built at Feltâs Mills and Champion village, the congregation here grew smaller, members died, and when it was decided to abandon the "old church" but few members remained. The church was dedicated at a watch-meeting held December 31, 1826, and the last benediction was pronounced January 1, 1887, when the new year was but just dawning. The present house of worship, also a wooden structure, was built in 1887, at a cost of $2,300, about its present value. It will seat about 200 persons, and was dedicated about four months after the old church was abandoned. Wilson Pennock, a local preacher, Jason Francis, Josiah Townsend, and Elijah Francis were the first trustees of the church. About two years after the organization of the church Nathan Francis was appointed class-leader, and has since served in that capacity without intermission. The present trustees are Emerson Peck, E. J. Pennock, and J. D. Pennock. The present church building is modern in style, with a tower 50 feet high, is nicely furnished and carpeted, and is heated by a furnace. It was dedicated free from debt, is in a flourishing condition, with a present membership of 54, and Henry Ernest is the present pastor. The Sunday-school has about 80 members, with Edwin Sweet, superintendent. !Childs Gazatteer of Jefferson County, NY pp 337-350
  Person ID	I24079	Bryant
  Last Modified	27 May 2004

  
  

  Father	Timothy Townsend,   b. Abt 1738, probably, Hancock, Berkshire Co, Massachusetts ,   d. 11 Mar 1832, Canaan, Columbia Co, New York
  Mother	Elizabeth (Betsy),   b. Abt 1742,   d. 27 May 1809, Canaan, Columbia Co, New York
  Married	Abt 1757	probably, Canaan, Columbia Co, New York
  	Timothy was probably not married in Hebron as there is no record in the church records and they are quite complete after 1752. In Martin Townsend of Old and New England the author says they married at Canaan but no source is given.
  Family ID	F1880	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Dolly Parker,   b. 11 Aug 1769, Connecticut ,   d. 28 Nov 1856, Jefferson Co, New York
  Married	12 Mar 1792	New York
  	Date from: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/l/o/n/Laura-L-Long/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0133.html
  Children	1. Josiah Townsend, Jr.,   b. 14 Sep 1793, Rensselaer Co, New York ,   d. 07 Jan 1876, Jefferson Co, New York   2. John Dean Townsend,   b. 21 Aug 1795, Galway, Saratoga Co, New York ,   d. 24 Apr 1890, Barker, Niagara Co, New York   3. Daniel Townsend,   b. 02 Jun 1797, Galway, Saratoga Co, New York ,   d. 01 Sep 1848, Wilna, Jefferson Co, New York   4. Warren Townsend,   b. 12 Feb 1800, New York ,   d. 05 May 1882, Bloomer Twp, Montcalm Co, Michigan   5. Leonora Townsend,   b. Abt 1802   6. Almon Townsend,   b. 07 Jan 1804, Champion, Jefferson Co, New York ,   d. 18 Mar 1886, Gratiot Co, Michigan   7. Hiram Townsend,   b. 23 Sep 1806, Jefferson Co, New York ,   d. May 1896, Otsego, Allegan Co, Michigan   8. Elan Durkee Townsend,   b. Abt 1807, Jefferson Co, New York ,   d. 1874, Hubbardston, Ionia Co, Michigan
  Family ID	F344	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 12 Mar 1770 - Canaan, Columbia Co, New York Married - 12 Mar 1792 - New York Census - Jun 1855 - Champion, Jefferson Co, New York Buried - Mar 1860 - Champion Huddle Cemetery, Champion, Jefferson Co, New York Died - 19 Mar 1860 - Savannah, Wayne Co, New York  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S53] Ewers, Fran, Townsend/Helms, Ewers, Fran (Townsend), (not published), 4:FGS24. [S326] Townsend Newsletter, unknown, (Fall 1981), p. 4. [S53] Ewers, Fran, Townsend/Helms, Ewers, Fran (Townsend), (not published).