Thomas Townsend (1732 – before 1796)

A letter dated 1898 to Hugh Townsend from T J Townsend indicates that Thomas was the first Townsend in our line to come to America. The letter says he came from Scotland at age 19. There is a record of Thomas purchasing 151 acres of land in Pittsylvania CO on July 14, 1767. This land is in what is now North Carolina. The land was bought from John Loving and was located "on both sides of cherrystone Creek, being the land said Townend lives on". It is recorded in Deed Book 1, 1767-1770.

Thomas is somewhat notable because he fought on the British side of the Revolutionary War and spent some time as a prisoner of War. Among the items in the Louisville Kentucky Filson Library Butt Cheek papers, the following was found:

The item below was taken from a handwoven wallet carried by Thomas Townsend, the Scotsman.

"To All Whom It May concern

This may certify that Mr. Thomas Townsend was my neighbor many years in Rutherford County In the State of North Carolina and all the time bore the character of an honeft Well Disposed Man worthy of efteem for his honesty a vallueable Member of his .?. and although it appears by his Own Confession and Other Reports that he was in the enemy camp, yet upon trial so much appeared in his favor by favoring Our prisoners there and services done before and after his being with the enemy that he was cleared with honour and respect by every honest Man.

Certified by me the 19th Day of Aug. 1783

Tim Riggs"

On the back was written:

"Pittsylvania Va.

The within was sworn to be by the within subscriber before us

Crispin Shelton

Wm. Short

Reubin Pane"

The description of the Battle of Kings Mountain will explain why it might be necessary for Thomas to carry such an item. He would have been a traitor in the eyes of some. That might also explain why his family moved to Kentucky a few years after his death.

Thomas is found among a list of Tories from Rutherford County, NC who joined the force commanded by Major Patrick Ferguson during the King's Mountain campaign. Major Ferguson was the only Englishman in the battle, his command was made up completely of men loyal to the King but living in North Carolina. Ferguson died at King's Mountain and his defeat was a turning point in the Revolutionary war. Thomas Townsend was among those who survived the battle and were taken prisoner. One account says that he received three balls in battle and was paroled to his home which was a mile from the Island Ford of Broad River. A diary entry of Loyalist Lieutenant Anthony Allaire dated November 15, 1780 says "marched sixteen miles to Camp's Ford of Second Broad river; forded it, and continued on three and a half miles farther to Island Ford of Main Broad river; forded it, and marched one mile to Capt. Townsend's plantation. This man received three balls in the action on King's Mountain, and was at home on parole. He was very happy to see us, and gave us the best his house afforded". While others were taken prisoner, it appears that Thomas was not. Those taken prisoner were taken to a Moravian settlement at Bethabra and held in a stockade. About thirty of the prisoners were tried in route to their prison and were hanged. Upon release, most of the prisoners moved to neighboring states and were eventually forgiven by their neighbors.

The Battle of Kings Mountain took place on October 7, 1780. Thomas was listed among about one hundred men who were charged on the second Monday of July 1782 and found guilty of "Wickedly & treacherously entending and Designing as for as in them lay to Overturn the present free Government of this State & reduce the Inhabitants thereof Under the Power of the Army of Great Britain then & now at Open War with this State and the United States of America did then & there with force and Arms feloniously & treacherously Knowingly & Willfully did aid & assist the said King by Joining his Army Commanded by Major [Patrick] Ferguson and by bearing Arms in the Service of the said King Against the Good Government Peace and Dignity of this State; and the Jurors aforesaid on their Oath aforesaid do further Present & say that by their felony and treason by them respective in Manner & form aforesaid Committed have Severally forfeited their Goods & Chattels lands & tenements to the State according to a form of An Act of As-sembly in Such Case made & provided." These men were among the men captured at the Battle of King's Mountain serving under Ferguson.

Thomas was married to Anaphilida Watson (1730 – 1818). They had ten children with Thomas Jefferson Townsend being my ancestor.

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