Thomas Jefferson Townsend (1780 - 1851) and Elizabeth Davidson Ewing Townsend (1788 – 1867)

Thomas Jefferson Townsend was the son of Thomas Townsend, a Scotsman and Anaphilida Watson Townsend. He married Elizabeth "Betsy"Davidson Ewing in 1805. They had seven children. Although both were born in Virginia, later in life they lived only a few hundred yards to the west of the Old Red River Church in Logan County, Kentucky. The major portion of their home was still standing in 2012, covered with clapboard. It appears that Thomas Jefferson Townsend’s mother, Anaphilida moved from Virginia with her son after the death of her husband and left her land to Thomas Jefferson Townsend in her will.

Anaphilda Townsend settled on land just west of the Old Red River Church and cemetery, the same land she later mention in her will made August 9, 1798, in which she wished to 'give and bequeath to my beloved son, Thomas Townsend, the land plantation whereon I now live, also my negro woman named Sall and three negro girls, towit, Eve, Rachel and Fanny and their increase, also one mare, nine head of cattle, also my household furniture with two featherbeds and all the plantation tools and moveables, etc etc."

According to the terms of the will Thomas Jefferson inherited everything his mother owned and his only obligation was to pay each of the other heirs, or their heirs, five schillings or approximately $1.25. They were Benjamin and Jabez Townsend, Delilah Smith's heirs, Didamia Webb, Betty Nowlin, Light Townsend and Lucy Nowlin.

There is also record of land acquired by Thomas Jefferson Townsend in Logan County, Kentucky was by order of the February, 1803 County Court which allowed him 200 acres of land.

The 1972 Riley Leon Townsend book states: "Twelve miles out of Russellville, Ky on the main highway to Nashville, stands an historical marker for the Red River Meeting House. One fourth a mile east of the marker the road crosses Little Whippoorwill Creek. Two miles from the turnoff, a white house with twin gables appears on the left. This is the old home of Thomas Jefferson Townsend and his mother Anaphilida, presently owned by Mrs. D. L. Robey. It is a beautiful, well-kept house and although it has been remodeled, the original rooms have been kept intact, even to the low seven foot ceilings and the narrow six foot high doors. The front entrance is on the west. The room to the left as a person enters is the one in which Anaphilida and Thomas Jefferson died. Their death bed was in the north east corner of the room."

On September 17, 1847, Thomas Jefferson deeded one acre of land to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for $1.00. It was acquired to increase the size of the burial ground of what is now Red River Church."

Several reference to Thomas Jefferson Townsend receiving a letter during the mid-1840s advising him he was an heir of an estate in England and that his wife refused to give her consent to his going abroad because the money was needed and he had a family to think of.

A copy of the will of Thomas Townsend is hard to read. Where a word cannot be deciphered, a ? is placed. The will reads:

I Thomas Townsend Senr. of the County of Logan and State of Kentucky do construe?? and publish this as my last will and testament. First I commend my soul to God + request that my body shall be decently buried by my estate. Secondly I ask that all my just debts be first paid after which I desire that all the estate that I may own or possess? at my death both personal or mixed be divided as for my wife Betsy D Townsend is to have one sixth thereof during her life and one sixth there of fee simple but with the power only of disposing of same as she may think proper among any of her children or grandchildren. The residue of all my estate that I may own or possess ? at my death including the remainder in the one sixth left to my wife for life which shall not be consumed by her life time shall be equally divided among all my children that may be living at death giving to the children of my children the portion of their deceased parent if any of my children shall die leaving a child or children before my death. It is further my ? that my wife shall have the privilege if she desires to have her portions in my ? estate given as afore alloted so as to embrace the dwelling house, outhouses, and farm upon which I now live or upon which I may live at my death and as much timber as may be necessary to keep it up. And if the portion allotted to her shall not be deemed sufficient be distributed? when chosen by her and my eldest son for comfortable and independent support as well as the support of my child or children or child or children that she may desire to live with her an additional quantity that may be sufficient shall be allotted to her during her life without deduction for the portion bequeathed to her in my personal estate or slaves. It is also my wish that my wife shall have the choice of such slaves in her portion as she may desire to ? and the division of my estate in other respects it is my desire shall be made by ? when chosen by my wife and oldest son Robert. It is to be clearly understood the advancement which I have made or may make to any of my children in my lifetime, value of the same estimated at the time when made is to be deducted from the portion intended for the child so advanced and when I have not fixed the value myself ? some memorandum in writing the value is to be by the ? when chosen as it is my desire to produce entire equality among my children in the division of my estate. It is further my will that the one sixth part allotted to my wife during her life at her death is to be divided as before directed among all my children and the children of those that may be dead. I further bequeath to my granddaughter Victoria E Beauchamp and her heirs forever a certain Negro girl named E? her future increase also one bed bedstead and furniture and one horse, saddle & bridle is not to be brought into the division of my estate as before directed. It is further my will and desire that my son Presley E Townsend shall take the care and control of my unfortunate son Albert B Townsend and maintain him during his life also the care management and control of his estate for which services he is to have a reasonable compensation out of his estate to be selected by wife & oldest son as ?. But it is my will and desire and is hereby expressly understood that all advancement heretofore made or which may be made to my daughters all of which have been and will be made upon loan as well as the portion which shall fall to each of them in the division of my estate also the portion given to my granddaughter Victoria shall be vested in my son Robert J Townsend and Presley E Townsend & my wife & the survivors of them as trustees to have and to hold each of said portions in trust for the sole and separate use of my said daughters and granddaughters free from the control or disposition of their now husbands or any husbands which any of them hereafter marry but subject to be disposed of by either of my said daughters or granddaughter by will or otherwise if married by the written assent of said trustees or a majority of them or a majority of the successors and not otherwise but if married & of full age without such assent. It is further to be understood that the loans of property made or to be made to any of my daughters is to be made to any of my daughters is to be valued and treated as advancements in the division of my estate that is the same is to be valued and set apart to each at its value when loaned. It is further my will that my wife & her sons Robert J & Presley E Townsend or such as them as may be living at my death and may choose to qualify & shall be and act as my ? & executors and it is my wish and desire that they shall counsel and advise with E M Ewing both as ? & trustees as aforesaid in all things be directed by his advice and instruction. And if any difficulty should arise in the construction of this will or the distribution of the estate under it, it is my request that my children shall not go to law about but that the said matter shall be submitted to the award and final determination of said E. M. Ewing, and such other attorney or judge of law as may be chosen by my executors. It is further my will that my wife shall have for her life in addition to the portion before bequeathed to her such of the house hold & kitchen furniture & utensils including beds bedsteads and furniture & table furniture and all other furniture necessary for comfortable house keeping such as she may desire to retain including the poultry of all kinds and dead victuals or ? sufficient for the support of the family for one year also leather for anything else which she and my two sons Robt J & P E Townsend may select and set apart to my ? wife she is also to have for life such of my wagons carts ? horses oxen farming utensils cows sheeps hogs or other articles upon the farm necessary to carry on the same & for her comfortable support and living to be selected and set apart for her use by herself and my afd sons or the majority of them. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 7th day August 184? the witnesses attesting the same in my presence

Thomas Townsend."

The witnesses were listed as: G P Ewing, Geo W Ewing, E M Ewing, James B Spencer

A PS followed "Whereas my wife has out of her own means loaned to Conrad and Judkins upwards of five hundred dollars it is my will that she collect and apply the same to her own absolute use as belongs to her in ? whereof ? did the same to my ? will the date above." Three signatures follow - GP Ewing, E M Ewing, Geo W Ewing

Elizabeth Davidson Ewing Townsend

The Portrait of Thomas Jefferson Townsend above was once the property of Martha Rudd and became the property of Max and William Gabler, sons of Sarah Ruth Saulmon Gabler in 2011.