R. Townsend: Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest

Generation: 1

1. R. Townsend was born Abt 1875, Tennessee (son of John Townsend and M. E.).

Generation: 2

John Townsend was born Abt 1813, North Carolina (son of Elizabeth); died 8 Jan 1890; was buried Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Other Events:

Census: 1850, District 11, Cocke County, Tennessee
Census: 1860, District 8, Cocke County, Tennessee

Notes:

There is a Thomas and Francis Stapleton (Gaddy) Townsend who had the following children in North Carolina:
1794 William
1796 Daniel
1798 Alexender McConkey
abt 1800 James
abt 1802 John
abt 1804 Nancy
abt 1806 Elizabeth

There is a Thomas Townsend listed in the 1839 District 7, Cocke County, Tennessee tax list with 250 acres school land and 1 white polls.

1850 Cocke County, Tennessee Census
John 34 M NC Farmer Illiterate
Polly 34 NC Illiterate
Penelope 16 F TN School
James 14 M TN School
William 12 M TN School
Philip 10 M TN School
Nancy 4 F TN
Mary 9/12 TN (census taken 10/2/1850)
Baldridge, Nancy 70 F NC Illiterate

Also listed in the 1850 Cocke County, Tennessee census are the following Townsends:

Family 842 page 803:
Peter 30 M NC Laborer Illiterate
Jane 20 F TN Illiterate
Nebo 4 M TN
Larina? 2 F TN

Family 841 page 803:
William 28 M NC Laborer Illiterate
Nancy 28 F TN Illiterate
Sarah 7 F TN
Rachel 5 F TN
Elizabeth 2 F TN
Elizabeth 65 F NC Illiterate

1850 Buncombe, North Carolina Census (appears to be different Townsend family).
John 46 M
Mary 30 M
Appie 12 M
Oscar N. B. 9 M
Robter R. 7 M
Nancy P. 5 F
Mary M. 3 M

John Townsend is listed in the 1860 Cocke County, Tennessee census as a farmer unable to read or write. His real estate was valued at $2,000 and personal property at $746.

In the 1860 Cocke County, Tennessee Census is listed a James Townsend next to John Townsend with personal property of $325 born in Tennessee, age 24, farmer able to read and write. He is with Mary E. 18 years and William D. 1 year. This must be John Wesley's first son living on rented property which conflicts with Kathy Townsend's listing of James' ancestry.

In the late 1860's the family moved to Sevier County, Tennessee. John Townsend and his wife were charter members of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Sevier County, Tennessee on 24 March 1871. Wesley Townsend was the second pastor of the church serving 1872 through 1874.
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Reference:
"The Townsend Heritage," Kathy Townsend, 1984, p 7, 8, 26, 111, 112.
Hannibal's online 1850 Cocke County, Tennessee Census,
http://www.liberty.com/home/hannibal/censust.txt.

John — M. E.. M. was born Abt 1826, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

3.
M. E. was born Abt 1826, Tennessee.
Children:

1. R. Townsend was born Abt 1875, Tennessee.

I. Townsend was born Abt 1877, Tennessee.

Generation: 3

Elizabeth was born Abt 1785, North Carolina.

Other Events:

Census: 1850, District 11, Cocke County, Tennessee

Children:

2. John Townsend was born Abt 1813, North Carolina; died 8 Jan 1890; was buried Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
Peter Townsend was born Abt 1820, North Carolina.
William Townsend was born Abt 1822, North Carolina.