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Adaline E. 'Ada' (Barton) Townsend |
Adaline E. "Ada" (Barton) Townsend was born on Jan. 5, 1828, the daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Kreider) Barton.
Jefferson Digital Commons
At the age of 22, Adaline was single and resided with her parents in 1850 in Bloom Township, Columbia County, PA.
On June 2, 1859, she was united in matrimony with widower Joseph Brevitt Townsend Sr. (Dec. 13, 1821-1896), originally from Baltimore, MD and the son of Joseph and Sarah (Hickman) Townsend.
Joseph's first wife Mary E. Price had died in 1856, and he brought two stepchildren into the union with Adaline -- James Price Townsend and Eleanor Holliday Townsend -- in addition to the memory of the eldest son Edward Shippen Burd Townsend (1849-1851) who had died in young childhood.
Adaline and Joseph went on to produce three more sons of their own -- Joseph Brevitt Townsend Jr., John "Barton" Townsend and Charles Cooper Townsend.
Joseph's story is remarkable. He went to school in boyhood Marshallton, Chester County, west of Philadelphia, followed by attendance at the noted Bolmar's School in West Chester. At the age of 16 or 20, he moved to Philadelphia to work as an office assistant for attorney Eli Kirk Price. Said the Pottsville (PA) Republican, "He never attended law school, but became the trusted assistant of Lawyer Price. The real estate department was Mr. Townsend's specialty, and previous to the organization of the title and trust companies he was known as one of the best real estate lawyers in Philadelphia."
He was especially active in philanthropic and social causes in the city, and was president of Jefferson Medical College (today's Sidney Kimmel Medical College), manager of the Western Savings Fund Society, director of the Pennsylvania Hospital and Guardians for the Poor and legal counsel to a number of title and trust firms. Among his clients were large coal land estates owned by the families of Williamson, Richardson and Jeans brothers.
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| Philadelphia institutions for which Joseph B. Townsend was a board director -- the Union League (left) and Jefferson Medical College - Library of Congress |
He was a founder in 1861 of the Union Club, and then in 1862 a charter member of its successor, the Union League, formed by "Old Philadelphians" as a society of patriots in support of the Union cause during the Civil War. Among his League co-founders were Benjamin Gerhard, Charles Gibbons, William H. Ashhurst, secretary George H. Boker, James L. Claghorn, Horace Binney Jr., Morton McMichael and J. I. Clark Hare. He served as a director there for five years until 1867 and in 1891 held the post of vice president.
During Joseph's directorship of the Union League, in 1864, a delegation of club officials visited the White House, bearing a petition requesting the president to appoint Salmon P. Chase as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, replacing the late Roger Taney. President Lincoln asked the group to leave behind their petition, saying "I want it in order that, if I appoint Mr. Chase, I may show the friends of the other persons for whom the office is solicited by how powerful an influence and by what strong personal recommendations the claims of Mr. Chase were supported." Lincoln then continued his request, citing an entirely opposite reason -- "And I want the paper also in order that, if I should appoint any other person, I may show his friends how powerful an influence and what strong personal recommendations I was obliged to disregard in appointing him." This is told in Carl Sandburg's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, where the author concluded by saying "So the Philadelphians walked out knowing no more than when they came." Lincoln in fact did name Chase to the position.
Also in 1862, Joseph is known to have signed a petition for the "Colored People of Philadelphia" to be allowed to ride in cars of public transportation. In the profession, he served in 1894-1896 as chancellor of the Law Association of Philadelphia (today's Philadelphia Bar Association) and in 1893 received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Their first address was 813 Arch Street. Then circa 1866, "on account of his health, which had been affected by over work," said the Philadelphia Inquirer, they moved to the suburb of Overbrook in northwest Philadelphia and constructed a mansion-house known as Greysbone. They stayed in Overbrook for the remaining 30 years of their lives together, the first of many generations to dwell there.
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| Stock certificate of the Provident Life and Trust Company |
He suffered the shock of the sudden death of his daughter Eleanor in February 1895. Said the Pottsville Republican, "Soon after this, Mr. Townsend had an attack of paralysis, which left him with locomotor-ataxia, although his mind remained unimpaired." The illness eventually forced him to be confined to his home.
Sadly, suffering from "oedema" (congestive heart failure), caused by an attack of the "grippe" (influenza) five years earlier, Joseph died at home on Oct. 11, 1896. An obituary in the Inquirer said he was "one of the oldest members of the bar in this city" and that "Among the legal profession he was the admitted leader in real estate matters. His practice was largely confined to this branch of law, and he was frequently consulted as an authority on such matters, particularly in regard to titles to real estate. He has been connected with a number of large estates." The Philadelphia Times added that he "has been so wedded to his profession that the proffer of political honors failed to draw him from it, and he has never sought nor held a purely political office... He was also identified with many other charitable and benevolent associations, and with true public spirit lent his influence to the promotion of every public and private enterprise commending itself to his judgment."
Funeral services were held in the Overbrook home, by the hand of Rev. James Haughton, rector of the Church of the Redeemer, with private burial at Woodland/Laurel Hill Cemetery. He was succeeded on the board of Jefferson by his sons James and Charles, both attorneys.
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| Site of Adaline's funeral, St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, Overbrook |
Adaline outlived her husband by eight years. She passed away on May 5, 1904. Funeral rites were conducted in the Memorial Church of St. Paul, Overbrook, with a short notice of her death appearing in the Inquirer. The terms of her last will were spelled out in the newspaper, including gifts to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Visiting Nurse Society, Children's Aid Society of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Exchange for Women's Work. In bequests of $5,000 each, to the Pennsylvania Hospital and Hospital of Jefferson Medical College, the funds were "to be used for a free bed in each institution in memory of her husband," the Inquirer reported.
Some of Joseph's papers are preserved today by the University of Delaware, comprising 5.8 linear feet of legal and personal correspondence, wills and estate files, legal proceedings, account and receipt books, and financial and judicial records.
~ Son Joseph Brevitt Townsend, Jr. ~
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Joseph B. Townsend Jr. The Directory of Directors, City of Philadelphia, 1912 - courtesy Susan PMcD |
He was an 1878 alumnus of William Penn Charter School, where he studied under headmaster Dr. Richard Mott Jones. He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in 1882 from the University of Pennsylvania, with commencement exercises held in the Academy of Music. He then went on to earn his law degree from Penn in 1884.
On Nov. 12, 1885, Joseph entered into marriage with Elizabeth Palmer Bispham (June 5, 1862-1947), daughter of James Lippincott and Mary (Palmer) Bispham of Philadelphia's 1825 Delancey Place. The ceremony was held in St. Andrew's Church, jointly officiated by Rev. Wilbur F. Paddock and Rev. Dr. C.C. Parker.
The news was announced in the Wilmington (DE) Gazette and State Journal and the West Chester Daily Village Record, which said that "Owing to the recent death of the bride's grandfather she did not have any bridesmaids. The church was handsomely decorated with flowers." Among the attendees was the groom's uncle Eusebius H. Townsend of West Chester in addition to J.T. Murtagh, George Achelis, Patterson DuBlois, W.T. Elliott, James C. Brook and Sallie T. Murtagh.
The couple produced seven children, of whom six are known -- Joseph Brevitt Townsend III, Mary Bispham Jaques, Katherine Adaline Munson, Palmer Townsend, William Henry Townsend and Charles Cooper Townsend.
He joined his father's law practice, and they worked together for a dozen years until the father's death in 1896.
Joseph Jr. served as legal counsel for the Western Saving Fund Society of Philadelphia and was a board director and legal counsel for both the Provident Trust Company and the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Philadelphia. He was a member of the Philadelphia Club and the Merion Cricket Club.
His brothers, brother-in-law and nephews later joined the family law firm, which was known in the early years as Townsend, Elliot & Townsend, located at 715 Walnut Street. The firm evolved into Townsend, Elliott & Munson in 1914. More than six decades later, the firm was merged in 1978 into the Pittsburgh giant Reed Smith Shaw & McClay to create its Philadelphia office.
In her own right, Elizabeth was active with the Penn Junior Ball in 1910, held at Weightman Hall. The family maintained a country home which they called "Raynham."
Sadly, at the age of 66, he died in Overbrook on April 18, 1928. Burial was in Bryn Mawr's Church of the Redeemer Cemetery.
This family is spelled out in the 1911 book History and Genealogy of the Ege Family in the United States, 1738-1911, authored by Rev. Dr. Thompson P. Ege.
Son Joseph Brevitt Townsend III (1886-1974) was born on Sept. 17, 1886. He received his early education at the Haverford School and graduated in 1904 from Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, located at Juniper and Locust Streets. From there he earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1908, with exercises held at Horticultural Hall and the Adademy of Music. He held a membership in the Merion Cricket Club, for which he later was elected treasurer. On April 27, 1910, Joseph was united in holy matrimony with Natalie Richards ( ? - ? ), daughter of Samuel "Bartram" Richards of 2101 Pine Street, Philadelphia. In announcing their engagement, the Philadelphia Inquirer said she was "one of the season's debutantes" and "is popular in society." They exchanged their vows in St. Marks' Church on Locust Street above 16th Street, officiated by Rev. Alfred G. Mortimer. The Inquirer reported that the "bride's gown was of white satin, trimmed with old lace, and she carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley and gardenias... The bride made her debut about a year ago. She is tall and graceful and has passed much of her time abroad. Her father is a lineal descendant of John Bartram, the famous botanist and owner of what is now known as Bartram's Gardens. He is also the son of Samuel Richards, who built the Reading Railway to Atlantic City." At the time, the bride's father was serving as mayor of Ventnor City, NJ. They couple bore two sons together, Joseph B. Townsend and Benjamin Richards Townsend. Joseph was employed in young manhood as a bond salesman for Robert Glendinning and Company. He then joined American Gas Company as treasurer and held the post for 14 years. When American Gas was acquired by United Gas Improvement Company, later renamed UGI Corporation, he continued with the new firm assistant treasurer. He held the UGI post for 29 years until his retirement in 1956. His memberships included Penn's Mask and Wig Club, holding the post of vice president, and the Zeta Psi fraternity. The Townsends made a residence in Haverford, PA in 1967 at the address of 773 Millbrook Lane. Sadly, Natalie died at the age of 77 on Oct. 25, 1967. Joseph survived her by six-plus years. He passed away on Jan. 18, 1974. His obituary appeared in the Inquirer.
- Grandson Joseph Brevitt Townsend IV (1911-1985) was born in 1911. He exchanged marital vows with Annis Lee (1912-2009), daughter of Radclyffe and Caroline (Wood) Furness. She was the granddaughter of famed architect Frank and Fannie (Fassitt) Furness and Richard and Mary Hunn (Sharpless) Wood. They resided in Lower Merion Township and in Wawa, Delaware County. Three offspring of this couple were Judge Mary Richards Hamill, Annis Lee Townsend and Joseph Brevitt Townsend V. Said the Philadelphia Inquirer, Annis "was a member of the Acorn Club, The Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Merion Cricket Club, and the Four Counties Garden Club." The angel of death swept him away in 1985. Burial was in St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Glen Mills, Delaware County. Annis lived past her 97th birthday. She passed into eternity on Oct. 15, 2009. Her obsequies were held at St. John's Episcopal Church of Concordville.
Great-granddaughter Judge Mary Richards (1941-1996) was born on May 28, 1941 in Philadelphia. She was a 1959 graduate of the all-girls college preparatory school Westover, a 1963 graduate of Radcliffe College at Harvard, magna cum laude, and received a master's degree in romance languages in 1964 from the University of Pennsylvania. She was employed circa 1967 by the Institute of International Education in New York. In 1974, she earned her law degree, cum laude, from Temple University. She was joined in wedlock with Samuel M. Hamill Jr. ( ? - ? ), son of Margaret LaFarge Hamill of Lawrenceville, NJ. They made a homeplace in Princeton, NJ and bore two children, Samuel Hamill and Natalie Hamill. Mary became a lawyer and in March 1993 was appointed to the New Jersey Tax Court by Gov. Jim Florio. She was a vice chair of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Tax Court. She had a special affection for secondary education for women and served as a trustee of her alma mater Westover from 1980 to 1989 including a four-year presidency. Said the Trenton (NJ) Times, she "received national recognition for the success of [Westover's] science and math programs for young women. While a trustee, she helped establish an exchange program with young women in Jordan. In 1993, she was recipient of the Westover Award, the school's most distinguished." She also held a longtime seat as a trustee of the Princeton Day School, where she served as secretary-parliamentarian and taught French in the mid-1960s. In his own right, Samuel was an alumnus of Columbia University and received a master of regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Said the Ellsworth (ME) American, he "also was a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Hamill was the founding director of New Jersey Future, a nonprofit advocacy group that brings together environmental, business and other civic leaders to address issues of land use, environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth for New Jersey." He was elected as a trustee of the College of the Atlantic in Maine in 1995. Sadly, stricken with cancer, Mary died at the age of 55 on Dec. 4, 1996. Rites were held at Trinity Church, Princeton, and interment was in Lawrenceville Cemetery. Their son Samuel (1976-2005) was a graduate of Tabor Academy and for a year each attended the College of the Atlantic and the Audubon Expedition. He was a regional manager for the furniture manufacturer LoveSac Inc. in Minneapolis and was a partner in the Sullivan Granite Company and the Criterion Theater. Tragically, he became addicted to heroin and other drugs with friends on Mount Desert Island and could not shake their grip. At the age of 29, he died in Ellsworth, ME on Nov. 16, 2005.
Great-granddaughter Annis Lee Townsend settled in Rose Valley. She has had the honor of speaking at a historic marker dedication ceremony in her great-grandfather Furness' honor at his birthplace.
Great-grandson Joseph Brevitt Townsend V lived in Wawa, PA in 2009.
- Grandson Benjamin Richards Townsend (1914-1974) was born on Jan. 31, 1914. His arrival was announced on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was an alumnus of Episcopal Academy and Harvard College and was a 1940 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. He then joined the U.S. Army in 1940, on the eve of America's entry into World War II. He served for 18 months with the 88th Division, including an 18-month deployment to Italy, and attained the rank of captain. Discharged in 1946, he went into the practice of law with the family firm, Townsend, Elliot and Munson. In 1947, he entered into marriage with Ethel Husband (1916-1981) of New York, the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Husband. The pair did not reproduce. He held memberships in the First Troop of the Philadelphia City Cavalry, the Merion Cricket Club and the Philadelphia Club. Their home was located at 938 Brower Road in Radnor. Sadly, at the age of 60, he died in Bryn Mawr Hospital on Aug. 29, 1974. His obituary was published as a feature story in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Ethel lived for another seven years and remained in Radnor. She passed into the great hereafter at the age of 64 on March 2, 1981. In her Inquirer obituary, the family said that any memorial gifts could be made to the Bryn Mawr Hospital. Their remains sleep for the ages in the cemetery of the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr.
Daughter Mary Bispham Townsend (1888-1964) was born on Oct. 19, 1888. On Oct. 20, 1912, she exchanged marital vows with Herbert Jaques Jr. ( ? -1953) of Brookline, MA. Rev. William R. Turner, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Overbrook, presided. Mary's bridal portrait was printed in the Boston Globe. The newlyweds' first home was in Norwood/Beverly, MA. They remained there for the balance of their years together. Four children were born in this family -- Herbert Jaques Jr., Elizabeth Hall, Alice Roberts and Mary T. "Polly" Jaques. Herbert passed away in Boston on April 30, 1953. An obituary in the Globe said that funeral service were held at the Harvard Memorial Church on the college campus in Cambridge. Beverly outlived her groom by 11-plus years. Death swept her away in Beverly Hospital on Oct. 26, 1964. The Philadelphia Inquirer carried an obituary, saying she was survived by a dozen grandchildren.
- Grandson Herbert Jaques Jr. (1913-1988) was born on Sept. 22, 1913 in Northwood, MA and spent his early years in Boston's Back Bay. He studied at the Longwood Day School and Milton Academy, starring in track, and was an alumnus of Harvard College. In 1938, he joined hands in matrimony with Marjorie Motley (1918-1988), daughter of E. Preble Motley and stepdaughter of Frances (Howard) Motley. The couple bore a trio of offspring, including Nancy J. Lippincott, Herbert Jaques Jr. and William L. Jaques. The family resided in Wenham, MA and Boca Raton, FL. Herbert entered the financial services industry in young manhood with an investment banking firm in Boston, and then during World War II, joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, attaining the rank of major with deployment to the Far East Air Forces headquarters in Manila, the Philippines. He went on to be a longtime brokerage manager with the Pitcher Agency of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, serving the firm from 1953 to 1969. Said the Boston Globe, "An avid golfer, he had served as president and later as executive director of the Francis Ouimer Caddie Scholarship of Boston. Both his father and grandfather had been presidents of the United States Golf Association and he had served on several committees of the association and of the Massachusetts Golf Association over a 40-year period. Later he became a member of the United States Senior Golf Association and of the Bay State Seniors [and] was a member of the Myopia Hunt Club, Hamilton." He spent 34 years with the Wenham Volunteer Fire Department, was chair of the Wenham Planning Board and belonged to the Wenham Board of Health. Sadly, he died in Beverly Hospital at the age of 74 on Feb. 21, 1988. Marjorie only outlived him by seven months and was cleaved away by the angel of death on Sept. 15, 1988. As with her husband's, her memorial service was held at Christ Church on Asbury Street in Hamilton, with the Boston Globe printing an obituary. Her survivors included 10 grandchildren.
Great-granddaughter Nancy Jaques wed (?) Lippincott and moved to Colorado.
Great-grandson Herbert Jaques Jr. was in Skillman, NJ in 1988.
Great-grandson William L. Jaques lived in Dedham and Wenham, MA in the late 1980s.
- Granddaughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Jaques (1916-1994) was born on Oct. 19, 1916 in Norwood, MA. She married Boston native Brinley Morgan Hall Sr. (Jan. 4, 1912-1991), son of John Loomer and Dorothy Brinley (Morgan) Hall. Four children were born to the couple -- Brinley Morgan Hall Jr., Dorothy B. Howard, Denison M. Hall and Robert T. Hall. They made a homeplace in Beverly Farms, MA. Grief shrouded the family at Brinley's passing on May 19, 1991. Elizabeth succumbed to the spectre of death on Jan. 14, 1994. An obituary appeared in the Boston Globe. Memorial services were conducted in St. John's Episcopal Church, Beverly Farms. The family's preferred charity for memorial gifts was Alzheimer's disease research at Massachusetts General Hospital. The couple rests in eternal slumber in Rosedale Cemetery in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA.
Great-grandson Brinley Morgan Hall Jr. (1940-2023) was born on June 19, 1940 in Boston. His childhood was spent in Beverly Farms, MA. He was an alumnus of St. Mark's School in Massachusetts and attended the University of Pennsylvania. Brinley served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves during the Vietnam War. In 1963, he was united in matrimony with Ann "Rooney" Eichelberger ( ? - ? ). Their union endured over the remarkable span of 59 years together. They became the parents of three -- Morgan Hall, Tucker Hall and Wendy Speth. They resided in Hamilton, MA and later relocated to Southborough, MA. He earned a living as an administrator for a number of Bay State schools. He enjoyed Boston sports, coached youth athletics and especially relished the Red Sox World Series win in 2004, reversing the dreaded "Curse of the Bambino." Said an obituary, Brinley "enjoyed retirement in Blue Hill, Maine and Fort Myers Beach, Florida. He continued his love for cooking and gardening while volunteering his time and talents with various organizations such as Brantwood Camp in Peterborough, NH, The Deck House School in North Edgecomb, ME and Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, FL. He also was an active member of both St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill, ME and St. Raphael's Episcopal Church of Fort Myers Beach." He passed away at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol, MA at the age of 82 on Feb. 2, 2023. Services were held at St. Francis. Of their children, Morgan has lived in Petersham, MA and is the father of Brynna Hall, Kyler Hall and Boyd Hall -- Tucker moved to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands -- and Wendy tied the knot with Bryan Speth and migrated to Hailey, ID, where they resided with two children Colby Speth and Dawson Speth.
Great-granddaughter Dorothy Brinley Hall ( ? - ? ) attended Oldsfields School in Glencoe, MD and Garland Junior College and belonged to the Vincent Club. In 1965, she first married John O'Sullivan Jr. ( ? - ? ), son of John O'Sullivan Sr. of Hyde Park, near Boston. Their marriage ceremony was led by Rev. Walter Lennon in Sacred Heart Church in Manchester. The Boston Globe published her bridal portrait and reported that she "wore pure silk satin with scoop neckline, 3/4 sleeves, empire waistline and chapel length train. Her mantilla was of princess Belgian lace. She carried stephanotis and gardenias." The groom went to Boston Latin School and Holy Cross College. Their first homeplace together was in Brookline, MA. In time she wed Skip Howard ( ? - ? ). They settled in Middletown, RI.
Great-grandson Denison M. "Denny" Hall ( ? -living) is an alumnus of Yale University. He wed Lynn ( ? - ? ) and put down roots in Manchester, MA. He is believed to be a decades-long real estate investor and managing member of Hall Investment Holdings LLC. His biography on the Hall Keen website says that he began his career with the Rouse Company in Washington, DC in the early 1970s with a focus on mortgage banking services. He then joined Mitchell Mortgage and Development of Houston, TX as vice president from 1973 to 1975. He moved back to Boston in 1977 when tapped to be executive vice president of Greater Boston Development, Inc., where he purchased some 25,000 multi-family housing units. Then in 1989, he was a co-founded Hall Properties Inc., engaged in real estate development and investment. His specialties include office, research and development, retail, biotechnology, industrial and multi-family properties. Said the biography, "Mr. Hall has interests in a portfolio of 360,000 square feet of office and flexible industrial property. Past projects include the acquisition, renovation, and sale of a 400,000 SF suburban office campus in Concord, MA; the acquisition, renovation, and sale of a 500,000 SF suburban office campus in Marlborough, MA, and the acquisition, renovation and new construction of 300,000 SF biomedical facility in Cambridge, MA."
Great-grandson Robert T. "Bobby" Hall joined hands in marriage with Meg. They have made a homeplace in Manchester (1991) and Annisquam, MA (2023).
- Granddaughter Alice Jaques (1920-2009) was born on Feb. 4, 1920 in Boston. She grew up in Boston and attended Winsor School and Chatham Hall in Virginia and was formally debuted in society in 1939. Alice and her sister Betsy were pictured in a related story in the Boston Globe in March 1939, rehearsing for the Vincent Club's annual revue benefitting Vincent Memorial Hospital. On Aug. 24, 1940, she wed Edward Pierce "Ned" Roberts Sr. ( ? -2007) of Milton, MA, son of James A. Roberts. The wedding took place in St. John's Church of Beverly Farms in Manchester, MA and jointly was presided by Rev. Dr. Edmund J. Lee and Rev. Bradford Burnham. A story in the Quincy (MA) Patriot Ledger said that Alice "wore the gown of filmy white tulle which her sister, Mrs. Brinley M. Hall, wore at her wedding a year ago. Her short veil was of tulle to match her gown and she carried white gladioli." Edward studied at Milton Academy and was a 1939 graduate of Harvard College. He was initiated into the Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770. The Globe said that Edward's "business career spanned textiles, banking, and transportation. He was a founding trustee and treasurer of Pingree School in Hamilton, trustee of the Wenham Museum, past chairman of the Greater North Shore United Way, and past president of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. He was a longtime member of the AD Club, Myopia Hunt Club, India Wharf Rats, and the Tavern Club." Over the years, they lived in Hardwick (1946), Wenham (1957) and Peabody, MA. Their known brood of children were Edward P. Roberts Jr., William Worthington Roberts, Joseph Roberts, Alice Dietrich and Polly Swain. In her own right, said an obituary, Alice "was an accomplished water colorist, avid golfer, gardener, and musician. In golf she was ladies' club champion at Myopia Hunt Club, where she was a long-time participant in the WGAM inter-club golf matches, and played the game well into her 80's. At the age of 19 she won the Essex County Club ladies' championship... Alice exhibited in many shows and her art earned her membership in the Cape Ann Watercolor Painters." Sadly, at the age of 90, Edward passed away at Brooksby Village in Peabody on Nov. 2, 2007. Alice survived him continued on for another nearly two years, dying at Brooksby Village on Sept. 3, 2009.
Great-grandson Edward Pierce Roberts Jr. (1942-2023) was born on July 18, 1942 in Boston. News of his arrival appeared in the Boston Globe. He was three years of age when his father came home from military service during World War II. Edward grew up in rural Hardwick in central Massachusetts where he grew to love animals, the outdoors and hunting. Said an obituary, "Hunting would become a constant in his life, spending countless Fall weekends working upland game covers throughout New England and New Brunswick with his father, brother and a close-knit circle of friends and their dogs." He was an alumnus of Noble and Greenough School and Trinity College, competing in the sport of crew. He also loved to play golf and captured the 1982 Squirrels Tournament championship held at the Country Club of Brookline, MA. Edward went on to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve. Edward "worked in advertising, before his career as a commercial real estate broker," said the obituary. "Always focused on what he could do for others, he led boards of the Student Conservation Association and the North Shore YMCA. At Trinity Church in Boston, the Restoration Project Committee benefited from his service during a four-year-long period. He later joined St. Paul's Church in Dedham, MA., where he served on the Vestry and was a vigorous tower bell ringer." He also enjoyed symphony music, maps, photographing landscapes, driving back roads, singing, playing piano and telling stories. He was the father of Edward P. Roberts III. Then in 2001, he was joined in wedlock with Susie McIntosh ( ? - ? ). She brought three stepsons into the mix, Forgan McIntosh, Henry Schniewind and Nelson Schniewind. They dwelled in Dedham, MA in 2007. Edward died in Tampa at the age of 81 on Sept. 20, 2023. His memorial service was held at St. Paul's Church in Dedham.
Great-grandson William Worthington Roberts (1946- ? ) was born in 1946. The Quincy Patriot Ledger announced his birth. He made his residence circa 2007 in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Great-grandson Joseph Roberts (1948- ? ) was born in 1948 in Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, MA. His birth was made public on the pages of the Quincy Patriot Ledger. He was united in matrimony with Angela. They settled in Wenham, MA.
Great-granddaughter Alice Roberts (1951- ? ) was born in 1951 in Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, MA. She tied the knot with Curtiss Dietrich and planted themselves in Boston.
Great-granddaughter Polly Roberts (1954- ? ) was born in 1954. She entered into marriage with Rex Swain and relocated to Washington, CT.
- Granddaughter Mary T. "Polly" Jaques ( ? -2008) remained single over her lifetime. Her final home was in Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA. She died there on April 22, 2008. Her services were held in the chapel at Brooksby. Her obituary in the Boston Globe encouraged that any gifts in her memory be made to the Northeast Animal Shelter.
Daughter Katherine Adaline Townsend (1891-1970) was born on Jan. 20, 1891. On June 17, 1911, she wed George Sharp Munson (1883-1965) of Williamsport, PA, son of Cyrus "Larue" and Josephine (White) Munson and stepson of Minnie (White) Tuller Munson. News of the impending wedding was printed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which said that she was "a niece of Mrs. James Caskie, of this city, and has visited relatives here on several occasions. She has been one of the most admired girls in Philadelphia since her debut, and her mother, formerly Miss Palmer, was one of the most attractive girls in Richmond before her marriage. A special train will carry guests from Philadelphia to Overbrook and coaches will carry them to the church..." The ceremony was conducted at Memorial Church of St. Paul in Overbrook, with a reception held at her parents' country home, "Raynham." The newly married pair honeymooned in Europe, sailing on the Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm. They made their first home on the Townsend estate in Overbrook. Together they produced a family including Townsend Munson, Josephine Munson, Natalie Brengle, Cyrus "LaRue" Munson and Katherine Munson. George was a 1904 graduate of Yale University, and his father had been a prominent lawyer, banker and businessman of Williamsport. George in young manhood joined the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry and in 1917 was deployed to the border with Mexico. He went on to a career as a longtime lawyer in his own right and was admitted into the partnership of his wife's family, Townsend, Elliott and Munson, with offices located in the Western Savings Fund Building. In this role he was a board director for the Provident Trust Company, Western Savings Fund Society, Insurance Company of North America and the Mutual Assurance Company of Philadelphia. His memberships included the Rittenhouse Club, Pot and Kettle Club of Bar Harbor and Yale's Scroll and Key Society. Katherine gave of her time in 1914 in the popular sewing for charity movement as a member of Mrs. C. Howard Clark's Lenten sewing class. The family is known to have vacationed in the West Indies during the winter of 1916. Then in April 1917, they took a holiday to the The Greenbrier resort at White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia, and they are known to have returned in April 1919. Shock spread through the family in 1922 when George's father died in Peking, China during an around-the-world trip. The Munsons' address in 1926 was along Latches Lane in Overbrook, and that year purchased a summer home in Maine known as Strawberry Hill. Their names frequently were published in the society columns of the Philadelphia newspapers for hosting frequent social events and philanthropy for Children's Hospital, and she once served as chair of the hospital's Women's Committee. Katherine enjoyed playing golf and in August 1936 was prominently pictured in the Inquirer during a tournament at Kebo Valley Club in Maine. They held memberships in St. Asaph's Church, Bala Wynwyd, and St. Xavier's Church in Bar Harbor, ME. The couple's final address together was 510 North Latches Lane, Merion. He passed away at their summer home in Bar Harbor on Sept. 10, 1965. The Inquirer said in an obituary that he was "a practicing Philadelphia attorney for more than a half-century." Funeral services were held at St. Asaph's. Katherine died at home on Nov. 7, 1970. The Inquirer ran an obituary.
- Grandson Townsend Munson (1912-1979) was born on March 29, 1912. He was named in a July 1928 article about his family's involvement with debutante dinners in Bar Harbor, ME. Townsend was a 1929 graduate of St. Paul's School and received a degree in 1933 from Yale University. On June 29, 1935, he entered into marriage with Katherine Rice Newhaus ( ? - ? ), daughter of Hugo Victor Newhaus of Houston, TX. Their wedding was held at the summer home of the bride's aunt in Franconia, NH, performed by Dr. Samuel Drury, headmaster at St. Paul's School. Writing in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Jane Wister said that "From all accounts the event was one of the smartest of its kind ever witnessed by the little summer parish of St. Matthews, beautifully situated on Sugar Hill. Quite a smart little coterie of intimates went from here to see the popular Tony and the Southern belle of his choice kneel before the altar of Hymen. [The bride] wore her mother's wedding gown of white satin, trimmed with lovely Point d'Angleterre lace which had embellished the wedding gown of her paternal grandmother." Katherine was a 1930 graduate of Westover School of Middlebury, CT, attended Smith College and belonged to the Junior League. One son they bore was George Rice Munson. During World War II, Townsend was in Brazil. He went on to the presidency of Western Savings Bank of Philadelphia. He was gathered away by the harvester of death on Nov. 1, 1979. Burial was in the Church of Saint Asaph Episcopal Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.
Great-grandson George Rice Munson ( ? - ? ) studied at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH and at Yale University. He then received his degree from the University of Hartford. Circa 1970, he was employed as manager of the Hartford campus book store. On Valentine's Day 1970, he was united in matrimony with Victoria Tucker Kilbourn ( ? - ? ), daughter of Samuel Van Dusen Kilbourn of Darien, CT, and granddaughter of Wilson Hatch Tucker and Horace Ogden Kilbourn. Rev. Kingsland Van Winkle presided at the service held at the Trinity Church of Hartford. The bride was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and went on to earn her master's degree from Wesleyan University.
- Granddaughter Josephine Munson (1914-2013) was born on May 22, 1914 in Merion Township. News stories of the era show that she spent many summers at Bar Harbor, ME. She is known to have attended the Foxcroft School in 1930 and a school in Paris in 1932. On Nov. 30, 1938, in St. Asaph's Church of Bala Cynwyd, she was joined in wedlock with Morris Clothier Maxwell ( ? - ? ), son of John Rogers Maxwell of "Selkirk," their home in Villanova, PA. The Philadelphia Inquirer announced the happy event and reported that Josephine "wore a white tulle gown, fashioned over taffeta, with short puffed sleeves. She carried a bouquet of bouvardia." They became the parents of Walter Clothier Maxwell and Natalie Maxwell. Morris joined the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and attained the rank of captain, with postings to Africa and Italy for two years. Upon his return home in January 1946, he went to work as assistant divisional merchandising manager of the family department store business, Strawbridge & Clothier. The marriage crumbled over the next few years, and Josephine secured a divorce in Reno, NV in August 1946, citing "mental cruelty." In reporting the story, the Inquirer called him "socially prominent grandson of the late Isaac H. Clothier, Philadelphia store founder." Josephine wed a second time to Harry McDonell Thayer ( ? - ? ) and moved to Kingston, NY, while her ex-husband made a home at Haverford. Josephine died at the age of 99 on June 2, 2013. She was pictured in her obituary in the Inquirer.
Great-grandson Walter Clothier Maxwell (1940- ? ) was born in 1940. He was an alumnus of Marist College of Poughkeepsie, NY and during the Vietnam War served with the U.S. Air Force. On Feb. 24, 1968, he tied the marital cord with M. Jean Fitzgerald ( ? - ? ), daughter of Edward H. Fitzgerald of Port Ewen, NY. They exchanged their solemn vows before Rev. James S. Murphy at the Presentation Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the bride's hometown. In announcing the happy event, the Philadelphia Inquirer said that Jean was dressed in "an A-line gown of white brocade designed with high neckline and short sleeves. A matching pillbox held her long veil of illusion and she carried a missal." The pair settled in Kingston.
Great-granddaughter Natalie Maxwell (1942- ? )
- Granddaughter Natalie Townsend Munson (1919-2009) was born in 1919 in Merion, PA. She attended the Agnes Irwin School and was a graduate of Chatham Hall School in Virginia. She gave of her time in young womanhood at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and, during World War II, as a nurse's aid at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. On June 15, 1946, she entered into marriage with Lt. Laurence J. "Jack" Brengle Jr. ( ? -1981), son of Laurence J. Brengle of Northeast Harbor, ME. The nuptials were held in the Munson home in Merion. The couple settled in Boston, MA and also lived in Wenham and Manchester. Two known sons were Laurence J. "Laurie" Brengle III and George Brengle. Said an obituary, "Natalie was committed to her many volunteer activities, including the Visiting Nurse Association of Hamilton and Wenham, Trustees of Reservations, The Cotting School, and Massachusetts General Hospital. During the 1960s and 1970s she co-owned and managed The Cheese Shop in Beverly Farms. Involved in many activities on the North Shore of Boston, Natalie enjoyed sailing, tennis, golf and bridge, but most especially her family and friends." Grief blanketed the family at Laurence's death in 1981. Natalie survived her husband by 28 years. She moved in 1988 to a new residence in Glyndon, MD and was a 20-year companion to U.S. Ambassador J. Fife Symington Jr. (1910-2007), the widower of Martha Howard Frick, who in turn was the granddaughter of coal and coke magnate Henry Clay Frick. Fife had served as ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago during the Nixon Administration. He was poised to accept a transfer to Spain or Portugal, in exchange for a $100,000 contribution to the Nixon re-election campaign, a deal that was derailed by the Watergate scandal. Natalie and Fife traveled the globe, including trips to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America. He passed away in Baltimore on Dec. 9, 2007. With her health in decline, Natalie was admitted to live at the Blakehurst in Towson, MD. Sadly, she died in her sleep on Feb. 1, 2009, at the age of 89. A memorial service was held at the local St. John Church.
Great-grandson Laurence J. "Laurie" Brengle III (1947- ? ) was born in 1947. He wed Kim and lived in Salem.
Great-grandson George Brengle ( ? - ? ) married Anne. They put down roots in New Bedford.
- Grandson Cyrus Larue Munson (1920-1943) was born on Nov. 12, 1920 in Merion Hills, Montgomery County, PA and initially appears to have been named "Lawrence Townsend Munson" as shown in his birth on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is known to have attended St. Paul's School in 1937 in Concord, NH and then studied at Yale University. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army Cavalry, trained at Indiantown Gap and was assigned to Troop A of the First City Troop. He then was transferred to a post in Salem, OR. Sadness cascaded over the family when, at age 22, Cyrus was killed in an accident in Salem on Sept. 16, 1943. The news was printed in the Bangor (ME) Daily News , but the details were withheld. The body was transported back home for funeral services in St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd.
- Granddaughter Katherine Munson ( ? - ? ) - On Oct. 2, 1937, she married John Francis Ducey Jr. ( ? - ? ), son of John F. Ducey Sr. of Brookline/Boston, MA. The nuptials were conducted at St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd and announced in the Philadelphia Inquirer. She "wore a gown of ivory toned satin, fashioned with a fitted bodice and a full skirt which formed the train. Her tulle veil was fitted to the head with a coronet of lilies-of-the-valley and she carried a bouquet of the same flowers." John joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and carried the rank of lieutenant commander in 1943. As of 1960, the Duceys resided in New Canaan, CT. Their known daughters were Katharine Townsend Hardy, Ethel B. Ducey, Georgina Munson Ducey.
Great-granddaughter Katharine Townsend Ducey ( ? - ? ) resided in New Canaan, CT in young womanhood. She made her debut in society in 1958 at the Darien-New Canaan Cotillion and Boston's Debutante Cotillion. She was an alumna of St. Timothy's School of Stevenson, MD and studied at Vassar College. On Nov. 26, 1960, she married Rodney Danforth Hardy ( ? - ? ), the son of Rodney Clinton Hardy of Columbus, OH and Hollis, NJ, and the grandson of Frederick Llewellyn Hickok and Rodney T. Hardy. Their wedding ceremony was led by Rev. Grant Morrill at St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church of New Canaan. An announcement in the New York Times said that the bride "wore her mother's wedding gown of ivory satin embellished with shirring and fashioned with a buttoned bodice, three quarter - length sleeve and a bouffant skirt with a train. She wore also a veil of ivory tulle attached to a wreath of orange blossoms and carried white orchids and stephanotis." One of their ushers was David Rockefeller Jr., grandson of billionaire John D. Rockefeller. The groom was a graduate of Deerfield Academy, the University of Pennsylvania School of Design and Harvard College (1960), where he held memberships in the Hasty Pudding-Institute 1770 and D.U. Clubs.
Son Palmer Townsend (1897-1920) was born on July 31, 1897 and grew up in his parents' home on Union Avenue in Overbrook. During World War I, he joined the U.S. Army as a member of the 28th Division. He stood 5 feet, 9½ inches tall with a fair complexion, greenish eyes and brown hair. Upon his return home he graduated in 1920 from the University of Pennsylvania. Palmer was employed circa 1920 with the brokerage firm of Graham, Parsons & Company of Fifth and Chestnut Streets. On the tragic Saturday of Feb. 28, 1920, Palmer was killed when his automobile flipped and his skull crushed on East River Drive in Fairmount Park. The Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger reported that he had been driving behind Benjamin Rush of 2106 Pine Street. "Rush noticed that Townsend was not following and turned back to see what was the matter. He found Townsend's car overturned, the driver pinned under it. The injured man was taken to the University Hospital, where he died today" (March 3). The remains were lowered into eternal slumber in the Church of the Redeemer Cemetery in Bryn Mawr.
Son William Henry Palmer Townsend (1899-1968) was born on Aug. 16, 1899. He was a 1910 graduate of the Episcopal Academy and went on to study at the Pomfret Academy. William served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War I and was honorably discharged on March 28, 1919. At the age of 23, on Jan. 27, 1923, William wed Mona Margaret Elliott ( ? -1985), daughter of Robert H. Egerton Elliott of Flushing, NY. Their nuptials were held in St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church of Flushing, by the hand of Rev. William C. Grovenor, and announced in the Pittsburgh Press. Three children of this coupling were William Henry Palmer Townsend Jr., Elizabeth Hutchinson and Mona Kennedy McLean. They settled in Chestnut Hill. In the early 1940s, William made his homeplace at 109 Woodside Road in Lower Merion Township, and at the time he was a partner in the brokerage firm of E.W. Clark & Company of 1531 Locust Street in Center City. His firm eventually became known as Janney, Battles & E.W. Clark Inc., with the work also involving investment banking, and today is part of Janney Montgomery Scott. From 1938 to 1965, they summered at Wainscott, Long Island, where Mona enjoyed the beach, gardening and general quiet in the community. Mona volunteered her time with Emergency Aid during World War II. They were plunged into grief at the death of their son on Iwo Jima during the last months of the war. The Townsends spent their winters in Naples, FL. William Sr. died in Naples on March 3, 1968, with a death notice printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer. His remains were shipped home for services at St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd. The family asked that any gifts in his memory be made to Philadelphia Conservationists. Mona lived on for another 17 years. At the end, she was a patient in the Clara Burke Nursing Home of Plymouth Meeting, PA. She died at the age of 84 on April 3, 1985.
- Grandson William Henry Palmer Townsend Jr. (1924-1945) was born on March 14, 1924 in Philadelphia. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Marines and was placed in the 24th Marines, 4th Division. He was killed in action on Iwo Jima in Japan on March 13, 1945. The remains were returned home to be lowered under the sacred soil of the St. Asaph Episcopal Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.
- Granddaughter Elizabeth Palmer Townsend ( ? -2001) was an alumna of the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. On May 11, 1957, she married Sydney "Pemberton" Hutchinson III ( ? - ? ), son of S.P. Hutchinson Jr. of Merion and Elizabeth V. Hutchinson of Winchester, KY. The marriage was held in St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd. A photo portrait of the bride appeared in the Lexington (KY) Herald. The New York Times reported that the groom had served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, posted to Thule, Greenland, and was a graduate of the Westminster School of Simsbury, CT and the University of Virginia (1954). The three offspring they bore together were Elizabeth Elliott Adney, Sydney "Pemberton" Hutchinson IV and Charles H. Hutchinson. They lived in Richmond, VA circa 1958-1960 and later by 1968 at Wyndmoor near Philadelphia. Sadly, at the age of 67, Elizabeth passed into the realm of the heavenly host on June 1, 2001. An obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that funeral rites were held in St. Thomas Church, Whitemarsh, and suggested that any gifts in her memory be made to the Auxiliary of Chestnut Hill Healthcare.
Great-granddaughter Elizabeth Elliott Hutchinson (1958- ? ) was born in 1958 in Richmond, VA. News of her birth was announced in the Philadelphia Inquirer. She joined hands in marriage with (?) Adney ( ? - ? )
Great-grandson Sydney Pemberton Hutchinson IV (1960- ? ) was born in 1960 in Richmond, VA. The happy news appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer. His is believed to be a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Great-grandson Charles H. Hutchinson ( ? - ? )
- Granddaughter Mona Townsend (1927-2009) was born on the next-to-last-day of 1927. She appears to have been twice-wed. Her first spouse was Gibson Kennedy Sr. ( ? - ? ), son of Albert E. Kennedy and Mrs. Harold B. Collins. Their brood of offspring were William T. Kennedy, Gibson B. Kennedy, Laetitia Hoskins and Katherine Williams. The Kennedys divorced, with Gibson moving to London. Later, on Oct. 15, 1966, she entered into marriage with newspaper man Donald G. McLean ( ? -1998), son of Robert McLean of Fort Washington. An announcement in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the nuptials were held at St. Paul's Church, Chestnut Hill, and performed by Rev. Gibson Bell. The couple remained together for 33 years until the separation of death and resided in Ambler. Donald brought three stepchildren into the family mix -- Robert McLean, Elizabeth Woodruff and Clare Cross. Donald had grown up in the world of the old Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper, purchased by his grandfather William L. McLean in 1905. It was once the smallest of the city's 13 dailies but by the 1940s had swollen in circulation to more than 770,000, more than any other afternoon daily in the country. Donald was a 1951 graduate of Princeton University and was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. Once back home, he "joined the Bulletin in 1953 as a reporter and rose to editor of the editorial page by the time he retired in 1975," said the Inquirer. "He also was a director of the newspaper, whose chairman and publisher was his father Robert McLean. After leaving the Bulletin, Mr. McLean wrote and published a newsletter on environmental issues before retiring shortly before 1980 [and for] one year, 1985, he served as chairman of the Santa Barbara News Press in California." Sadly, at the age of 68, stricken with cancer, Donald died on May 7, 1998 in Chestnut Hill Hospital. An obituary was printed in the Inquirer. His memorial service was conducted at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Whitemarsh. Mona survived her husband by 11 years, kept company with Edwin Van Sciver of Gladwyne, and maintained residences in Lafayette Hill, PA and Northeast Harbor, ME. She died at the age of 81 on June 18, 2009. The St. Thomas Church of Whitemarsh hosted her memorial service. The family asked that any gifts in her memory be made to the Fort Chase Cancer Center.
Great-grandson William Townsend Kennedy ( ? - ? ) grew up in Chestnut Hill near Philadelphia. He was a graduate of St. Paul's School in New Hampshire and Harvard College, where he was a member of the Owl Club and Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770. On Jan. 3, 1970, he was joined in holy wedlock with Priscilla Townsend Taylor ( ? - ? ), daughter of Lane Taylor of Miquon and granddaughter of Howard W. Taylor Jr. and John W. Townsend. They exchanged their vows before Rev. Richard H. Hawkins and Rev. Dr. Gibson Bell at St. Thomas' Church in Whitemarsh. In announcing the happy event, the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the bride "wore an iviroy satin gown with Empire bodice of Alencon lace and a matching lace veil. She carried a bouquet of gardenias." Priscilla was an alumna of the Springside School and Vassar College and had been presented to Philadelphia society in 1965 at the Sunnybrook Golf Club. William resided in Marion, MA in 2009.
Great-grandson Gibson B. Kennedy Jr. moved to Bethesda, MD.
Great-granddaughter Laetitia Elizabeth Kennedy wed (?) Hoskins and relocated to Nashville, TN.
Great-granddaughter Katherine Kennedy tied the knot with (?) Williams and (?) Hines. Her place of residence circa 2009 was in Beaufort, SC.
Step-great-grandson Robert McLean settled in Fort Washington, PA.
Step-great-granddaughter Elizabeth McLean was joined in wedlock with (?) Woodruff and has resided in Duxbury, MA.
Step-great-granddaughter Clare McLean tied the marital cord with (?) Cross. She has lived in Fort Washington, PA.
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Charles Townsend Sr. Courtesy Edward Bauer |
- Grandson Charles Cooper Townsend Jr. (1927-2010) was born in 1927 in Bryn Mawr, PA. He studied at the Episcopal Academy and the Pomfret School. Charles went on to received his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, summa cum laude, from Princeton University and was admitted to its Ivy Club. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and was placed within the 82nd Airborne Division, with deployment to Italy. Discharge from the Army in 1948, he went on to study at Harvard College as a Baker Scholar in its business school, graduating in 1956. Said the Main Line Media News, "He was employed at The Atlantic Refining Company in Philadelphia and Seatrain Lines, New York. In 1978, he retired from partnership at Morgan Stanley & Co. to farm and raise polled Hereford cattle at Raynham Farms in Hopewell, N.J. He served on the boards of The Bunbury Company, W.P. Carey & Co., Collier Enterprises, The Evergreens, Stockton State College, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, Trinity Counseling Service, University Medical Center at Princeton, and The Windham Foundation. A lover of the out-of-doors, he was an avid fly-fisherman. He was also a member of The Bedens Brook Club, Harvard Club of New York, Nassau Club, and Pohoqualine Fishing Association, and he was a former member of the Tobique Salmon Club." Charles was thrice-wed. His first wife was Ann T. Frothingham ( ? - ? ). Their two offspring were Charles Cooper Townsend III and Elinor Mahony. His second bride was Mary Elizabeth Carr ( ? - ? ). His third marriage was with Daphne A. ( ? - ? ). His final residence was in Princeton. After a lengthy illness, he died at home on Aug. 27, 2010. A memorial service was conducted in Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton.
Great-grandson Charles Cooper Townsend III ( ? - ? ) was the father of Charles Cooper Townsend IV.
Great-granddaughter Elinor Townsend ( ? - ? ) was an alumna of the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart and studied at Skidmore College. Circa 1986, she was employed in Princeton by Thomas Cook Travellers Cheques. In the summer of 1986, she tied the marital cord with Daniel John Mahony ( ? - ? ), son of Phillip Mahony of Astoria, NY. Their wedding was conducted by the Rev. John Crocker and Rev. Benedetti at Trinity Church in Princeton. The happy couple was pictured in the Trenton Times. Daniel was a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and attended Manhattan College and at the time of marriage served on the New York City Police Department. They made their first home in Westchester, NY.
- Granddaughter Barbara Townsend ( ? -2016) spent her early years in her parents' residence at Ryanham in Media, PA and made her debut in Philadelphia society in 1948. She was an alumna of Chatham Hall in Virginia and Bryn Mawr College. On May 9, 1953, she married Alan Crawford Jr. ( ? -2014), son of Alan Crawford Sr. of Little Brook Farm in Devon and the grandson of George L. Crawford and Charles Russell Hurd. The wedding was held at the Church of St. Asaph's, Bala Cynwyd, by the hand of Rev. Richard T. Lyford. Jane Wister's society column in the Inquirer said that "The avalanche of smart spring nuptials, along with the Radnor Races and all the festivities that have come to be part and parcel of this annual spring meeting, without forgetting the many alfresco benefits of one or another, had social leaders decidedly on the move yesterday. One of the most important of the social events was the 4 o'clock wedding of Barbara Townsend... to Alan Crawford Jr." The Inquirer added that the bride "wore an heirloom wedding gown, which had been worn by her maternal grandmother. Fashioned of ivory tone satin, the gown had a fitted bodice, featuring a top of rose point lace, cut square at the neck, with tiny lace sleeves, and a wide bell-shaped skirt, with panels of the satin showing a ruffled underskirt of accordion pleated georgette, ending in a short train." The couple made a home at "The Cottage" in Devon, PA. Their union held firm over the ebbs and flows of an extraordinary 61 years together. Barbara and Alan together bore a family of four, Alan Crawford III, Elizabeth Townsend Hucker, Barbara "Bebe" Feimster and Susan Stevens. Alan in young manhood attended the Episcopal Academy and was a 1944 graduate of St. Mark's School of Southborough, MA. He attended Princeton University and, during World War II, joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He rejoined the Air Force during the Korean War over the span of 1950-1951. Alan was employed by the investment firm Stroud & Company in Philadelphia. He moved to the private bank Brown Brothers Harriman & Company in 1957 and was elected partner in 1974 and served as managing partner and investment advisor with the Philadelphia office. He was a member of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and served on the boards of directors of SKF Industries Inc., Western Savings Bank, the American Red Cross/Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Zoological Society of Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences, United Way of Philadelphia and the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. With a deep interest in conservation, he gave of his time with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, RARE Center for Tropical Conservation, Wilson Ornithological Society, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Cornell Lab of Ortnithology. Alan also served on the vestry of St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne, and held memberships in the Philadelphia Club, Raquet Club of Philadelphia, Fourth Street Club, Union League, Mill Dam Club and Philadelphia Anglers Club. The Inquirer said that as a "skilled fly-fisherman and ornithologist, he traveled all over the world fishing and bird watching. He actively supported land and wildlife conservation, locally, regionally, and nationally." He retired in 1986. Sadly, at the age of 88, Alan died of respiratory failure on Aug. 23, 2014 at his residence in Little Brook Farm. Barbara only outlived her spouse by about 17 months. She surrendered to the angel of death on Jan. 17, 2016. Her survivors included seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. Her memorial service was conducted at St. David's Episcopal Church-Chapel. The family's preferred charities for memorial contributions were Shipley School at Bryn Mawr and Chatham Hall in Virginia.
Great-grandson Alan Crawford III (1954- ? ) was born in 1954. News of his birth was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Great-granddaughter Elizabeth Townsend Crawford (1956- ? ) was born in 1956. Her birth was announced on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Great-granddaughter Barbara Crawford (1959- ? ) was born in 1959. The news of her birth appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Great-granddaughter Susan Crawford ( ? - ? ) tied the marital cord with (?) Stevens.
~ Son John "Barton" Townsend ~
Son John "Barton" Townsend (1864-1928) was born on June 11, 1864.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1884 from the University of Pennsylvania and joined his father's law practice. He spent a year there and in 1885 became a clerk for the Provident Life and Trust Company.
On Oct. 10, 1889, Barton married Elizabeth E. Williams (Oct. 9, 1867-1912), daughter of Charles Penrose and Anne Cartner (Sharples) Williams of Natrona, Allegheny County, PA. Rev. Dr. N. Dewees Roberts, of Boston, presided. The happy news was announced on the pages of the West Chester Daily Village Record, which said that the newlyweds would reside in Overbrook.
Three known children were was Caspar Wistar Barton Townsend, Marjorie Townsend and Anne B. Townsend.
Their home was in Lower Merion Township on City Line and Merion Avenue. Barton stayed with Provident for the rest of his career. In 1891 he was promoted to assistant trust officer and in 1911 to vice president.
During World War I, he served as president of the Philadelphia-Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross. At that time, the Red Cross was becoming a major humanitarian organization providing vital medical personnel and supplies to U.S. troops in Europe.
At the formation of Provident Trust Company of Philadelphia in 1922, he was tapped as vice president and then on April 19, 1923 elevated to the presidency. He also held a seat on Provident's board of directors. In the last year of his life, Barton helped oversee Provident's acquisition of Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company. He also was head of the Commonwealth Title Insurance Company. Many years later, in 1983, with assets of $4 billion, Provident combined with Pittsburgh National Corporation and Marine Bank to become subsidiaries of PNC Financial Corporation.
A passage in the book The Sharples-Sharpless Family: Volume 1 said that he held memberships in the Philadelphia Club, Union League, Merion Cricket Club and other golf clubs and gave of his time with the Protestant Episcopal Church, University Museum and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Burdened with chronic heart disease and hardening of the arteries at the age of 64, he was whisked away by the angel of death on Sept. 13, 1928. Interment was in the burying ground of the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. A statement by Provident, published in the Inquirer, said he "had quickness of apprehension and sound judgment, and his personal charm, sense of humor and tolerance greatly endeared him to his associates and to all who were privileged to know him." Son Caspar of Overbrook signed the official Pennsylvania certificate of death.
Daughter Marjorie Townsend ( ? - ? ) exchanged marital vows with Curtis G. Williams ( ? - ? ).
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Catalog of Caspar's library Parke-Bernet Galleries |
- Granddaughter Maris Wistar Townsend (1918-1965) was born on July 24, 1918 in Bryn Mawr. She married William Leland Thompson Jr. ( ? -1991), son of William "Leland" and Martha (Groome) Thompson of Troy, NY. Two known daughters were Susan Crosby Lynd and Maris Wistar Thompson. He earned a living at the wholesale drug firm John L. Thompsons Sons and Co., a business his great-grandfather had founded. He was a member of the board of directors of the Albany Institute of History and Art, the board of governors of the Childs Hospital in Albany, was a trustee and secretary of the Home and City Savings Bank, the advisory board of the Bishop's Fund of the Albany Episcopal Diocese and a trustee of the Troy Public Library. In time their marriage fell apart in divorce, and after that William dwelled at "Windward" in Rensselaer, NY and New Smyrna Beach, FL. As a single woman, Maris earned a living as a bookstore employee. They made their residence at 922 Montgomery Avenue in Bryn Mawr. Stricken with lung cancer, Maris died on July 17, 1965 in Bryn Mawr Hospital. Her funeral was conducted in St. Asaph's Episcopal Church of Bala Cynwyd.
Great-granddaughter Susan Crosby Thompson ( ? -2009) grew up in Rensselaer, NY and attended the Agnes Irwin School. She formally debuted in Philadelphia society in 1961. Susan was an alumna of Chatham Hall in Virginia and Colby Junior College and studied for several years at the University of Florence in Italy. On May 14, 1966, she exchanged marital vows with Richard Boucher Lynd ( ? - ? ), son of Albert Johnson Lynd of Belmont, MA. Their engagement and marriage were announced on the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The setting was St. John's Episcopal Church of Troy, NY, and the New York Times noted that the bride "wore ivory peau de soie and a mantilla of family heirloom lace. Her bouquet was of roses, gardenias and stephanotis." The groom was a graduate of the Middlesex School, Huntington School and Harvard College, attaining membership in the Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770. At the time of marriage he was employed as a securities analyst with Hayden Stone Inc., in New York. The pair did not reproduce. The newlyweds' first home together was in Brooklyn, NY, where they remained over 43 years before a relocation in 2003 to Rensselaer. Said the Inquirer, "Susan worked for thirty-three years for Time Inc., the first seven years as News Desk assistant at Life Magazine, and then after Life closed, twenty-six years as a News Desk Editor at the Time Magazine News Service, specializing in foreign news. She loved her house and its grounds,... her friends from the news business and Brooklyn Heights, and new friends from upstate, and cooking, gardening, wimming in her pool, the Yankees, and most of all her Westies... She also greatly enjoyed her summers in Maine, first at Winter Harbor as a child, then Kennebunkport for the past 55 years." At the age of 66, she died in Scarborough, ME on Aug. 16, 2009. Her remains were lowered under the sod at a graveside service at the Church of the Redeemer.
Great-granddaughter Maris Wistar "Wissie" Thompson ( ? - ? ) appears to have remained single. As of 1991, she was a teacher at Widener University in Chester, PA.
- Granddaughter, Emilie P. Kennedy Townsend (1919-1998) was born in 1919. She was an alumna of the Agnes Irwin School and the Chatham (VA) Hall School. She was a graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art and furthered her studies at the Chicago Institute of Art and for one year at the Harvard College Graduate School of Design. Emilie entered into marriage with W. Phelps Riley ( ? - ? ), a U.S. Navy ship repair officer. Together the couple bore two sons -- Phelps T. Riley and J. Barton Riley. Phelps went on to become employed as director of Atlantic Refining Company's industrial engineering section and as administrator of the Philadelphia law firm giant Morgan Lewis & Bockius. Emilie gained early architectural experience as a draftsman in the Philadelphia firm Stonorov & Kahn in the 1940s. Said an obituary, "She maintained a lifelong interest in the work of her mentor, Louis I. Kahn, the architect of many award-winning buildings in the United States and abroad." The Rileys dwelled in Gladwyne for half a century, at 938 Black Rock Road, in a home designed for them by her employer Oscar Stonorov. During the 1950s and early 1960s, she was a draftsman for the architect David Krumbhaar in Bryn Mawr. Their memberships included St. Christopher's Church, where she volunteered her time on the Altar Guild and Vestries and assisted with the Azalea Day fundraising event. She belonged to St. Christopher's By-the-Sea Church of Winter Harbor and was named as a delegate to the General Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. She also was a member of the Grindstone Association, Winter Harbor Yacht Club, Gulph Mills Golf Club and Merion Cricket Club. They also were supporters of the Eleanor Widener Dixon Clinic of the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. The couple often spent their summer months at Grindstone Neck in Winter Harbor, a community which her step-grandfather George Dallas Dixon had co-founded in the 1880s. Anxiety struck when Emilie was diagnosed with cancer in about 1990. She fought the disease over the last eight years of her life. Death finally swept her away at the age of 79 on Sept. 19, 1998 at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne. An obituary in the Ellsworth (ME) American called her "an ardent student of architecture and industrial design." After a memorial service in the family church, burial took place in the Church of the Redeemer Cemetery in Bryn Mawr. Today the W. Phelps Riley 1933 Scholarship Fund exists at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Great-grandson Phelps T. Riley moved to Reading, PA.
Great-grandson J. Barton Riley settled in Haverford, PA.
- Grandson Caspar Wistar Barton "Cappy" Townsend Jr. (1921-1973) was born in about 1921. He was an alumnus of St. Mark's School and a 1942 graduate of Yale University. He went on to earn a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Caspar served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. In a hastily arranged ceremony at Fort George Meade in Maryland, on Feb. 18, 1944, he joined hands in marriage with 19-year-old beauty Anne Moen Bullitt ( ? - ? ), only daughter of the Hon. William C. Bullitt, onetime U.S. Ambassador to France and Russia. The nuptials were performed in the Presbyterian rite. She at age 15 had been her father's official hostess in postings to Paris and Moscow. Said the Washington (DC) Times Herald,
Her father's friends and hers knew that she had had a pretty tough time -- considering her lavish upbringing -- living on the meager allotment she received as the wife of an overseas serviceman. But rather than ask her father to help her out, she took a job as a schoolteacher at exclusive Foxcroft, where she had once been a pupil, and also worked on Harper's Bazaar magazine... As a child, her clothes had been exquisitely handmade, her education and social graces supervised carefully. Not only did her father's money give her everything, but his position as ambassador made her a celebrity before she was out of pinafores. Her Washington debut, given by Mrs. Frederick Sterling, wife of the former U.S. Minister to Sweden, was outshone only by the lavish ball Bullitt threw for her at his estate near Philadelphia, attended by more than 1,000 guests from New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
During their brief union, while Caspar was away, his bride helped her father host a reception in the French Embassady for Gen. Charles de Gaulle, president of the French provisional government after the end of the war. The Townsends' marriage dissolved in a separation in February 1946 and a divorce in Florida in the summer of 1946, heavily influenced by the bride's father, who had not approved of the match in the first place. She in turn wed again to socialite Nicholas Duke Biddle, son of U.S. Ambassador-at-large Brig. Gen. Anthony Drexel Biddle -- and after a divorce married a third time in 1955 to Roderic More-O'Farrell, owner of Ireland's largest racing stable. By 1949 the West Palm Beach Post was reporting that Caspar and Marie Hill ( ? - ? ) were "affianced and their folks are very happy about it." She was the daughter of Crawford and Ann (Kaufman) Hill of Via Del Lago in Palm Beach and stepdaughter of Philadelphia Mayor Richardson Dilworth and a 1944 graduate of Finch Junior College in Newport. The wedding was held in Philadelphia in June 1949. Two known children in the family were Wendy Townsend and Timothy Townsend. Caspar became a partner in the family law firm Townsend, Elliott & Munson, specializing in municipal bond financing services. He was a trustee of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and held memberships in the Philadelphia Club, Rabbit Club (a cooking club), Gulph Mills Golf Club and Merion Cricket Club. They shared homes in Haverford (111 Buck Lane) and Naples, FL. He is known to have helped arrange for construction of a new free public library and youth center in Naples, sponsored by the Naples Woman's Club. He also was a County Zoning Commissioner in Naples in 1954. Marie circa 1961 volunteered her time for the Athenaeum Ball. Sadly, while on en route home from the office on April 23, 1973, he suffered a massive heart attack, collapsed and died. An obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the law firm had been "founded by his grandfather." A memorial service was conducted at the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. The family requested that any memorial contributions be made to St. Christopher's.
Great-granddaughter Wendy Elizabeth Townsend (1951- ? ) was born in about 1951. At the age of about 5, in 1956, during the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, she and her step-grandfather, Mayor Richardson Dilworth, together presented Santa Claus with a key to the city. She grew up in Haverford and circa 1966 attended the Garrison Forrest School. She made her debut in Philadelphia society in 1970.
Great-grandson Timothy Townsend ( ? - ? )
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| Anne (striking ball) in action for the U.S. team in October 1936 in a 5-4 loss to the English squad during the International Women's Field Hockey Tournament at the Philadelphia Cricket Club - courtesy ACME |
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Anne in action - courtesy ACME |
~ Son Charles Cooper Townsend ~
Son Charles Cooper Townsend (1867-1914) was born on April 20, 1867.
Charles studied at the University of Pennsylvania and held a membership in the Zeta Psi Fraternity. In company with several fraternity brothers, he undertook a long walking vacation from Philadelphia to York, PA and Luray, VA in June 1886. Among these fellow travelers was George Wharton Pepper, a "Quaker-turned-Episcopalian," who went on to an exceptional career as a Penn law professor, U.S. Senator (1922), unofficial dean of the Philadelphia legal profession (1940) and founder of the prestigious Center City law firm, Pepper Hamilton & Scheetz (1890). Others along on the trip were Rev. Dr. James Alan Montgomery and Edward Sanford Dunn.
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Friend George W. Pepper Courtesy Wikipedia |
In June 1887, Charles received a bachelor of arts degree from Penn in a ceremony held at the Academy of Music. Evidence suggests that he, Pepper and fraternity brothers George Harrison Frazier and Charles Harrison Frazier promptly traveled overseas and registered at Morley's Hotel on the east side of Trafalgar Square in London, giving the humorous name "Sheol" as a forwarding address.
A year after graduation, in April 1888, Charles and Pepper served as ushers at the wedding of their friends J. Somers Smith Jr. and Mary Nixon. Charles was elected as a fellow of the Penn school of law in 1891. His service to Penn continued for many years, and in 1899 he received "a stag horn handle loving cup," reported the Philadelphia Inquirer, "a gift of the members of the three classes now studying at the Law School." He held a membership in the Zeta Psi Fraternity and gave addresses at its annual banquets.
In his legal practice, Charles joined his brothers in the firm Townsend, Elliott & Townsend, with offices located at 715 Walnut Street. Among his responsibilities was as sergeant-at-arms of the First District Court of Englewood, NJ. He was sued in July 1914 by John Farnkopp and Max Moskowitz, said the Hackensack Record, "in an action to recover for the 'unlawful taking and carrying away' of certain property of the plaintiff. It is understood the property was taken away on an execution of the Court." The case was heard in the Third District Court in Hackensack.
He held memberships in the University Club, Philadelphia Club, Radnor Hunt Club and Merion Cricket Club.
Charles amassed a sizeable library of books, a collection itemized in a catalogue published after his death in 1916 under the name Illustrated Catalogue of the Books & Drawings Forming the Library of the Late Charles Cooper Townsend. A summary in the Boston Evening Transcript said that his holdings included:
...a large number of standard works in fine bindings, first editions and sporting books. There are six original watercolor drawings by Henry Alken, several of which have titles in Alken's autograph. Of the Alken colored plates there is a volume bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe which contains ten colored "Scenes in the Life of Master George," with an original watercolor drawing of the first plate. "Bringing up to the bar," of which no copy seems to have been offered at auction in this country. "The National Sports of Great Britain" contains three original drawings by Alken of three of the fifty plates in the work. These are all signed. There is an unusually choice copy of "The Life of a Sportsman. By Nimrod," which is of the first issue of the first edition with the original dark blue cloth covered preserved. The Pierce Egan items include the first edition of "Boxiana" and other desirable issues. A copy of "Foreign Field Sports" has more than 100 brilliantly colored plates. Surtees' Sporting novels are in eleven volumes. There are Rowlandson colored plates in a complete set of Ackermann's "Poetical Magazine," London, 1809-10, and the twenty-three Heath colored plates of "Fashion and Folly," an extra series to Egan's "Life in London," London, 1832.
The work of the Cruikshanks is represented by an exceptional series. Woodward's "Eccentric Excursions," London, 1796, has over 100 colored plates by Isaac Cruikshank. Robert Cruikshank is represented by the first edition of "Lessons of Thrift" and Westmacott's "English Spy" with some of the rarest plates made for that eminent blackmailer's work. There is an exceptionally choice lot of original sketches and colored plates by George Cruikshank, including the first complete set to be sold at auction of "The Satirist" in fourteen volumes. "The Scourge," twelve volumes, with the full number of colored plates, including the suppressed plate; Ainsworth's "Jack Sheppard," with four signed original drawings; Thackeray's "Essay on the Genuis of George Cruikshank," unique copy with nearly a thousand extra illustrations, together with other rare first editions and the original of the famous "Bank Restriction Note" signed "J. Ketch."
Other authors whose works were in Charles' library, said the Brooklyn Eagle, were Mark Twain, James Fenimore Cooper, Charles Dickens, Eugene Field, Washington Irving and Walter Scott, as well as books, manuscripts and prints by M.C.D. Borden and John Stewart Kennedy.
Charles was an avid sportsman and loved to hunt railbirds. He was elected president of the Sora Gun Club and in October 1906 is known to have visited the club's house along the Cohansey River in Cumberland County, NJ.
He maintained his residence at "Greystone" in Overbrook, a tony suburb of Philadelphia. He made news in 1911 when hosting a house party honoring the Peppers' daughter Adeline.
On the fateful day of Oct. 4, 1914, at the age of 47, Charles suffered a fatal heart attack at the Sora clubhouse in New Jersey. The Bridgeton (NJ) Evening News said that "For two weeks Mr. Townsend has been at the clubhouse with his private secretary. Yesterday afternoon there was no one else about the property but the secretary and caretaker. Mr. Townsend had seemed in his usual health, but he was suddenly attacked with heart affection and expired before medical aid could reach him."
His remains were transported by hearse back to Philadelphia to sleep for the ages in the family plot at Woodlands Cemetery.
The American Art Association held an auction of his personal library in Philadelphia on Jan. 6, 1916. Proceeds of the sale totaled $16,339, said the New York Times, and the "prices averaged high." The most expensive sale was the Annals of Sporting and Fancy Gazette, London, 1822-1828, for $720. Many of the volumes were purchased by George D. Smith and a lesser number by Gabriel Weis and Charles Sessler.
~ Stepson James Price Townsend ~
Stepson James Price Townsend (1851-1900) was born on Aug. 3, 1851.
He was an 1871 graduate of the law class of the University of Pennsylvania Department of Arts, with the commencement held at the Academy of Music.
James was a lifelong bachelor.
As a lawyer, he was a partner with the family firm Townsend, Elliott & Townsend of Philadelphia. The Wilmington (DE) News Journal said that he "was a native of Philadelphia, but was well known in this city and State." His specialty was "chamber practice," an outdated term for private legal counsel. He focused on financial institution clients, among them Provident Life and Trust Company, the American Fire Company and large estates.
He succeeded his father on the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital and Western Saving Fund and in 1897 was elected as a trustee of Jefferson Medical College, and that same year served as a secretary of the Philadelphia bar. He also was active with the Orpheus Singing Society and held several terms as president. He belonged to the University Club and the Merion Cricket Club.
Sadly, having suffered from kidney problems for four months at the age of 48, he died in his stepmother's residence on Feb. 12, 1900. Funeral obsequies were conducted in his home in Overbrook. An obituary in the West Chester Daily Local News said that carriages would meet the 10:15 a.m. train from Broad Street Station to proceed to the cemetery. Interment of the remains was in the family plot in Woodlands Cemetery. The Daily Local News added that he was "a relative of many West Chester people."
~ Stepdaughter Eleanor Holliday Townsend ~
Stepdaughter Eleanor Holliday Townsend (1853-1895) was born in 1853.
She never married.
Eleanor resided in Overbrook near Philadelphia and was socially prominent. In June 1885, she is known to have attended a picnic at Graff's Meadow along the Brandywine, hosted by Pennsylvania Railroad President L.K. Lodge and his wife. The gossip columns of the Philadelphia newspapers often carried notices of her comings and goings.
Suffering from heart disease, the 41-year-old Eleanor passed away on March 15, 1895. "She had not been in poor health," said the West Chester Daily Local News, "and on this account her death was very unexpected. She was a niece of the late Eusebius Townsend, of West Chester, and a first cousin of Mrs. George Achelis, West Chestnut street, and to Joseph T. Murtagh."
The funeral was held at Overbrook, with burial taking place in the family lot at Woodlands Cemetery.
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Copyright © 2023-2024, 2026 Mark A. Miner |
Research for this page conducted by Della Shafer and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan |