Richard Townsend

     Richard was born circa 1625 probably at England. Richard married Deliverance Coles, daughter of Robert Coles and Mary (?), circa 1652 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island. Richard immigrated to this country and is first found on record in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island in 1645. At some point soon after the 1645 date, the three brothers moved to New Amsterdam. Because of their Quaker beliefs, difficulties arose and on the twenty third day of January, they were summoned to appear before the New Amsterdam council. By that time they had removed themselves and Richard was a confirmed resident of Warwick on that same date, 23 January 1648. Over the next several years, the records show all three brothers holding office in Warwick. In 1656, the three brothers along with other obtained a patent for Rusdorp, later to be called Jamaica. The brothers were again imbrolled in religious difficulties and made several appearances before various courts in the next few years. On the 18th of Febraury 1656, Richard & his brothers each received a home lot containing six acres in Jamaica and are definitely inhabitants there on 26th of November as they signed a public record of the town stating they were true owners of the land known as Jamaica. At the same time they each reserved ten acres of planting land & twenty acres of meadow. On the 27th of February 1658, Richard & his brothers were among those laying out more land in Jamaica. Eventually, the brothers tired of dealing with the Dutch rule & began associating with the original settlers of Oyster Bay with his brothers John & Henry having their names affixed to deeds in the early part of 1658. However in 1659, Richard was again residing in Warwick. There in 1661, he bought land of John Sweet and on the 10th of 6th month 1663, his brothers Henry & John, signed over their remaining holding in Warwick to him & his two daughters Dinah & Leah. Richard then sold his land in Rhode Island in 1666, and sometime after 10 October 1666, he was residing in Oyster Bay, Queens County, New York. By 24 December 1668, he resided at Matincock, Oyster Bay, and is on record as residing once again in Jericho on 7 September 1669.


Richard married Elizabeth Wicks or Weeks before 10 October 1666 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island. On this date, he sells land to his father-in-law, John Wickes of Warwick. Richard departed this life in Lusum, Queens County, Long Island, New York. On 23 September 1670, Letters of Administation were granted to his widow Elizabeth. On the 8th day of the 2nd month 1671, Richard's wife, Elizabeth, gives his wishes.

"These presents declareth unto all whom it may any wise concern, that I, Elizabeth Townsend, widow of the late deceased Richard Townsend, of Lusum, near Oyster Bay, in the North Riding, on Long Island, with the advice and consent of my husband's brother, Henry Townsend, and John Townsend his cousin, of the above-said place, do consent and agree to divide and part my estate as followeth, being made executors by the Governor's order, because no will was made by my husband. Therefore, it is ordered and agreed that I am to have my house I now possess and house lot, with all the land I now possess belonging to it, fenced and broken up and improved, and so munch more westward joining to the rear of it to the sum. of fifteen acres, with meadow at south and Plains, during my life ; but the rest of the woodland my husband bought of Robert Williams is to be my son John Townsend's, when he comes to age, except six acres I reserve for a daughter, if I see cause. But after my decease my son Richard Townsend, now twelve weeks old, is to have my house and house lot and one-half the house plot, with the orchard that now is, and so much land to the rear of it westward, to the sum of fifteen acres, being all of the first purchase of the land of Robert Williams ; and at my decease, then my son John Townsend above said is to have all the lands remaining of the first and` second purchases, except six acres I reserve for a daughter above said, and the other half of the house plot above excepted to build on, if he see cause ; but it is to be understood that the said six acres is on the north side of the last. purchase, and that all my husband's right of meadow and plains is to be divided between my sons John and Richard Townsend, for their own proper right and interest forever ; but if either of them die under age, his living brother is to possess and enjoy the deceased's lands as his own proper right; but, if I see cause, ten acres of plains is to be my on John's, when he comes to age, to possess and enjoy as the other woodland above said. And to my above said husband's two oldest daughters, Dinah and Leah, I do give, and by this deliver in present possession, for their part of their father's estate, two young horses, three years old, a piece, and two two-year-old heifers, two cushions, two feather pillows, two coverlets, a white wrought petticoat, and bedding blankets-all to be divided between them two; and the twenty acres of land the Town of Oyster Bay did give their father, I do also give and confirm unto the said Dinah and Leah, for their own proper right and interest ; but if they sell it, I desire that for my son or my brother John Weeks, or one of the above-mentioned persons, may have knowledge and refusal of it, giving so much as another will for it. And to my three youngest daughters, Hannah, Deliverance, and Mary, I give in present possession one three-year-old bay mare, that is, in consideration of a colt their grandfather Weeks gave them. But all the rest of bedding, goods, and household stuff, with the rest of horses and cattle, are to remain in my hands for my use and comfort, toward the bringing up of my children ; being but young and tender, do not know but it may be all spent in bringing them up, the estate being but small ; therefore to engage to give portions to them -I mean to my own three youngest daughters, Hannah, Mary, and Deliverance-it is hard for me to promise and engage, least that I have may be spent in bringing them up. Bat I do by this promise and firmly agree, that if I marry, or go out of this jurisdiction in way of removal, to give an invoice of all moyables, household stuff, goods, and chattels unto my husband's brother, Henry Townsend, and his cousin, John Townsend, who are chosen by me, being related to the children, and my brother John Weeks, if he comes to dwell here in this jurisdiction, for overseers ; but if he come not here, then the said Henry Townsend and John Townsend may act as overseers between the children and myself. But if one or both of them die, then all, or some of them (I mean of my children under age that then are), shall have liberty to choose one or more, as need shall require, provided they inhabit in this jurisdiction, for their over-seers. That then the said overseers that are then extants are to take the invoice, if they like it, or take another themselves, if they please ; that I may then have my thirds out of all the movable goods and chattels, and the other two-thirds is to be divided amongst my three daughters, Hannab, Mary, and Deliverance, or to them that are then alive; and the overseers shall by this have power to do it if I marry again, or remove out of this jurisdiction above said, or if I decease it shall be the same, only then my one-third s hall be theirs to whom I shall give it ; but if I remain here during this my widowhood, I have liberty to give to my own three daughters above said, on marriage or otherwise, for their portion as I shall see cause, according to my ability. And to every of the above-mentioned promises and engagements, I firmly engage to perform. As witness my hand and seal, this eighth day of the 2d month, 1671.
"ELIZABETH TOWNSEND.
" In presence of us,
" JOSEPH NICHOLSON,     " MARY WILLIS,
cc HENRY TOWNSEND,     " JOHN TOWNSEND.
" And we, the above-mentioned Henry and John Townsend, do own and consent to the above said, and do stand as witnesses also."³