Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameGerardus Gamaliel Townsend - Direct Ancestor 
Birth1735, Chester, Orange County, New York BNA
Death1797, Newtown, Tioga County, New York, USA
OccupationServed in Revolutionary War
EducationWeek link to Henry Townsend of same county, a descendant of Gerardus had DNA testing that identified “likely a descendant of Henry”.
ReligionQuaker
FatherHenry Townsend - Direct Ancestor (1700-1761)
MotherElizabeth Titus - Direct Ancestor (1709-1750)
Spouses
Birth1740, Orange County, New York BNA
Death1796, Newtown, Tioga County, New York, USA
FatherCaptain Abraham Bennet - Direct Ancestor (1715-1790)
MotherSilence Hickox - Direct Ancestor (1713-1795)
Marriageabt 1761
Notes for Gerardus Gamaliel Townsend - Direct Ancestor
The first record of Gerardus Townsend is in Orange County, New York on 13 May 1756 when Joseph Harcutt left his lands to Gerardus Townsend if he would look after his widow Jean. Gerardus would have been 21 at the time.
He likely married around 1761 since his first child Mary was born in 1762.
Gerardus served in the early stages of the Revolution (1776-77) with Col. Albert Pawling's Regiment of NY militia. After mustering out, he moved to Lycoming County, in Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley. This is south of Elmira, New York. In 1779 the British and their Indian allies invaded, leading to what was called the "Wyoming Valley Massacre". Most of the surviving inhabitants were forced out of the valley.
The following letter, signed by "Garardis Townsend", among others, begged the governor of Pennsylvania to send more troops to the valley:
"Memorial of the Inhabitants of the West Branch, Muncy, June 10th 1778. To the Hon'ble Supream Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania: The Remonstrance of Sundry the Distress'd Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland Inhabiting the West Branch of the River Susquehanna above Muncy Hill, Humbly Sheweth: That the Repeated depradations and Horrid Murders lately committed upon the Innocent and Peaceable Inhabitants amongst us within a few weeks past is truly alarming. The Melencoly event of the 31st of May upon Loyalsock Creek oblig'd us to leave our homes and Livings and to Assemble together in large Bodys in order to Protect our wives and Infant children from becoming Victims of Savage fury, in full faith and Confidence that we should shortly meet with such suckor as would enable us to make a Vigorous Stand, that we have since frequently apply'd to the Lieutenant of the County for aid, who after using his best Endeavours has not been able to furnish us with more than seventy-three Troops of the Militia of this County to cover a Frontier of at least Forty miles in length. This supply we apprehend to be of very little use, especially as their times will be out in the midst of Harvest, and should anything more happen in the meanwhile, we are Convinced that it will be impossible to Call out the Militia of this County at any rate; that those considerations together with the very alarming event of the Murder and Captivity of thirteen of our near Neighbors and most Intimate Acquaintance this day has nearly Drove the Majority of us to Desperation, and to pray that you in your Wisdom will not only order to our Immediate relief such Standing forces as will be equal to our necissitys, but that you will order such Magizeans and Stores of Provisions to be Provided as will convince the good People of this Place that such Troops are to be stationed amongst them During the War. Nothing short of your Immediate assurance of this, we are Convinc'd, will induce the People to run the farther risk of being oblig'd to move away at a more Unfavorable Season. Therefore in consideration of the premises, we beg leave to submit ourselves and Familys to your Care and Protection, not Doubting you will order us such relief as to you in your Wisdom may seem meet."
After leaving the valley, Gerardus rejoined Pawling's Regiment (serving as a private in Faulkner and Westfall's companies), which had been "levied" to serve as part of the regular Continental army, and served on the western frontier for the rest of the war. His regiment was involved in Sullivan's Campaign, which finally moved the British and their allies out of the region. This was after the Battle of Minisink in 1779, where his brother-in-law Benjamin Bennett was killed. A report on the battle mentions that "Roger Townsend of Goshen" was wounded and briefly captured by the Indians. I could not find a listing for Roger Townsend in the muster rolls, and this could be Gerardus, but he was more likely with Sullivan's troops. Some of his muster roll records give his first name as "Garardus".
After the Revolution, Gerardus moved back to Lycoming County, where he (listed as "Gradius"), son Gamaliel, and father-in-law Abraham Bennett were on the first list of taxables in Washington Township.
Chemung, New York was established in 1788. Chemung lost territory when Tioga County was created in 1791. The town of Newtown (Elmira) was taken from Chemung in 1792. Chemung was incorporated into Montgomery County. It is 12.3 miles from Chemung to Elmira (Newtown). Tioga is just south east of Elmira, New York a distance of 26.7 miles. Chemung is 21.7 miles south west of Tioga.
"Gerdeus Townsend" is shown in the 1790 census of Montgomery County, NY, which then included Chemung. Two males over 16 (Gerardus and probably son Abraham), and one male under 16 (likely Claudius) are shown, along with 4 females. Gamaliel "Townsend" was next door, with one son and 4 females. In addition his wife’s’ uncle Gershom Bennet was next door to Gerardus Townsend. So father, son and brother-in-law were all neighbours.
In 1800 USA Federal Census Gerardus’s son Gamaliel Townsend is recorded in Newtown, Tioga County, New York. Gershom Bennet is again listed just below him in the census. In 1801 Gamaliel is included in a Newtown, New York Tax Assessment. In the 1810 USA Federal Census Gamaliel Townsend is shown in the Wayne Steuben County, New York census along with Elizabeth, Josiah and James Bennet and Jonathan Townsend.
Gerardus’s son Abraham relocated to the Pickering, Ontario area with his sister Deborah Townsend, wife of Joseph Wixson. Also his daughter Elizabeth Townsend and her huband Anthony Hendtrick accompanied them ot Ontario. In 1820 his son Gamaliel is recorded in the USA Federal Census in Oxford, Huron County, Ohio with 6 males and 2 females, he had moved there in 1815. He then to Sandusky County before moving to Michigan in 1827.
He likely married around 1761 since his first child Mary was born in 1762.
Gerardus served in the early stages of the Revolution (1776-77) with Col. Albert Pawling's Regiment of NY militia. After mustering out, he moved to Lycoming County, in Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley. This is south of Elmira, New York. In 1779 the British and their Indian allies invaded, leading to what was called the "Wyoming Valley Massacre". Most of the surviving inhabitants were forced out of the valley.
The following letter, signed by "Garardis Townsend", among others, begged the governor of Pennsylvania to send more troops to the valley:
"Memorial of the Inhabitants of the West Branch, Muncy, June 10th 1778. To the Hon'ble Supream Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania: The Remonstrance of Sundry the Distress'd Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland Inhabiting the West Branch of the River Susquehanna above Muncy Hill, Humbly Sheweth: That the Repeated depradations and Horrid Murders lately committed upon the Innocent and Peaceable Inhabitants amongst us within a few weeks past is truly alarming. The Melencoly event of the 31st of May upon Loyalsock Creek oblig'd us to leave our homes and Livings and to Assemble together in large Bodys in order to Protect our wives and Infant children from becoming Victims of Savage fury, in full faith and Confidence that we should shortly meet with such suckor as would enable us to make a Vigorous Stand, that we have since frequently apply'd to the Lieutenant of the County for aid, who after using his best Endeavours has not been able to furnish us with more than seventy-three Troops of the Militia of this County to cover a Frontier of at least Forty miles in length. This supply we apprehend to be of very little use, especially as their times will be out in the midst of Harvest, and should anything more happen in the meanwhile, we are Convinced that it will be impossible to Call out the Militia of this County at any rate; that those considerations together with the very alarming event of the Murder and Captivity of thirteen of our near Neighbors and most Intimate Acquaintance this day has nearly Drove the Majority of us to Desperation, and to pray that you in your Wisdom will not only order to our Immediate relief such Standing forces as will be equal to our necissitys, but that you will order such Magizeans and Stores of Provisions to be Provided as will convince the good People of this Place that such Troops are to be stationed amongst them During the War. Nothing short of your Immediate assurance of this, we are Convinc'd, will induce the People to run the farther risk of being oblig'd to move away at a more Unfavorable Season. Therefore in consideration of the premises, we beg leave to submit ourselves and Familys to your Care and Protection, not Doubting you will order us such relief as to you in your Wisdom may seem meet."
After leaving the valley, Gerardus rejoined Pawling's Regiment (serving as a private in Faulkner and Westfall's companies), which had been "levied" to serve as part of the regular Continental army, and served on the western frontier for the rest of the war. His regiment was involved in Sullivan's Campaign, which finally moved the British and their allies out of the region. This was after the Battle of Minisink in 1779, where his brother-in-law Benjamin Bennett was killed. A report on the battle mentions that "Roger Townsend of Goshen" was wounded and briefly captured by the Indians. I could not find a listing for Roger Townsend in the muster rolls, and this could be Gerardus, but he was more likely with Sullivan's troops. Some of his muster roll records give his first name as "Garardus".
After the Revolution, Gerardus moved back to Lycoming County, where he (listed as "Gradius"), son Gamaliel, and father-in-law Abraham Bennett were on the first list of taxables in Washington Township.
Chemung, New York was established in 1788. Chemung lost territory when Tioga County was created in 1791. The town of Newtown (Elmira) was taken from Chemung in 1792. Chemung was incorporated into Montgomery County. It is 12.3 miles from Chemung to Elmira (Newtown). Tioga is just south east of Elmira, New York a distance of 26.7 miles. Chemung is 21.7 miles south west of Tioga.
"Gerdeus Townsend" is shown in the 1790 census of Montgomery County, NY, which then included Chemung. Two males over 16 (Gerardus and probably son Abraham), and one male under 16 (likely Claudius) are shown, along with 4 females. Gamaliel "Townsend" was next door, with one son and 4 females. In addition his wife’s’ uncle Gershom Bennet was next door to Gerardus Townsend. So father, son and brother-in-law were all neighbours.
In 1800 USA Federal Census Gerardus’s son Gamaliel Townsend is recorded in Newtown, Tioga County, New York. Gershom Bennet is again listed just below him in the census. In 1801 Gamaliel is included in a Newtown, New York Tax Assessment. In the 1810 USA Federal Census Gamaliel Townsend is shown in the Wayne Steuben County, New York census along with Elizabeth, Josiah and James Bennet and Jonathan Townsend.
Gerardus’s son Abraham relocated to the Pickering, Ontario area with his sister Deborah Townsend, wife of Joseph Wixson. Also his daughter Elizabeth Townsend and her huband Anthony Hendtrick accompanied them ot Ontario. In 1820 his son Gamaliel is recorded in the USA Federal Census in Oxford, Huron County, Ohio with 6 males and 2 females, he had moved there in 1815. He then to Sandusky County before moving to Michigan in 1827.