Townsend family papers, 1793-1912.

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Townsend family papers, 1793-1912.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58780134

Correspondence and papers, 1793-1912, of the Townsend family of Albany (N.Y.). Most of the papers relate to Dr. Howard Townsend, his wife, Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend, and their son Howard Townsend. There are also smaller groups of letters to and from other Townsends, including Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Harriet, Samuel, Solomon, and two Isaiah Townsends, father and brother of Dr. Howard Townsend. Most of the letters deal with family matters, but there are significant groups dealing with Dr. Howard Townsend's time as a schoolboy at Union College, 1839-1844, his travels in Europe in 1847-1848 and 1852, and with the younger Howard Townsend's travels in the West Indies, Egypt and Europe in the 1890s, as well as a group of letter he wrote to his mother while attending school in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1870-1871. A group of civil war letters from Dr. Howard Townsend describe the battle of Big Bethel and visits to his brother, General Frederick Townsend; there is also a pass allowing him within the lines at Washington. Letters of introduction to acquaintances in Paris, written for him by his brother Isaiah, include a letter to Alexis de Tocqueville commenting on U.S. politics. Letters to Dr. Howard Townsend from Thomas Dockerty, a steward on the steamer Wachusett, describe sailing to the West Indies and Rio de Janeiro, en route to China in 1865. There are also two diaries, one dated 1816 and one 1818, by unidentified members of the Townsend family, apparently both young men. The 1816 diary describes travel in upstate New York and a vist to Pittsfield (Mass.) and social life there; there is also some description of Shaker communities at Niskayuna (i.e. Watervliet, N.Y.), Hancock (Mass.) and New Lebanon (N.Y.). The 1818 diary describes business and social life in Albany, travel between Albany and New York City, and a visit to the Niskayuna Shaker community. There are a few other miscellaneous ephemera, such as visiting cards.

0.8 linear feet (2 boxes)

New-York Historical Society

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7771179

Related Entities

There are 22 Entities related to this resource.

Van Rensselaer (Family)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cd1skw (family)

The Van Rensselaers were a land-owning family in eastern New York State during the 17th century. Of Dutch descent, they were prominent during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries; members of this family played a critical role in the formation of the United States and served as leaders in business, politics and society. The family originally migrated from the Netherlands to a large area along the Hudson River in the present-day area of Albany, New York. The Van Rensselaers and other patroons named ...

Townsend family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sv75nt (family)

Family mostly resident in Albany (N.Y.). From the description of Townsend family papers, 1793-1912. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58780134 ...

United Society (Watervliet, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rk348w (corporateBody)

Townsend, Isaiah, 1777-1838

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64172mz (person)

Isaiah and his brother John Townsend were merchants, iron manufacturers and politicians in the Albany, N.Y. area. John served as mayor of the City of Albany from 1829 to 1832. They played an important role in the early industrial development of Albany. From the description of Papers, 1795-1882. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122458705 ...

Townsend, Solomon, 1805-1880.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pp1p4c (person)

Merchant and resident of New York City. From the description of Ledger, 1821-1823. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58773689 Family based in New York City and Long Island. From the description of Townsend family history and documents, 1827-1874. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58773607 ...

Dockerty, Thomas.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dz90rg (person)

Townsend, Harriet

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s26t0v (person)

Townsend, Samuel, active 1782

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kp80sb (person)

Resident of Smithville, Chenango County, N.Y. From the description of Samuel Townsend letter, Apr. 16, 1844. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778767 Samuel Townsend operated a general store and forge at River Head, Long Island, N.Y. From the description of Ledger, 1804-1811. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122555816 ...

Townsend, Mary Elizabeth

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dv3tww (person)

Mary Elizabeth Townsend was born December 30, 1919 in Lawrence, Kansas to Charles Jetz and Florence Murray Fishback. After graduating from Liberty Memorial High School in 1939, she married Ross Townsend on February 10, 1943. She then attended the University of Kansas where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1963 and a master’s degree in 1965, both in social work. In 1965, Townsend joined the University of Kansas faculty as an instructor; she earned tenure in 1971. From 1968-1974, Tow...

Townsend, Frederick, 1825-1897

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62254jv (person)

Wachusett (Steamer)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j72kg8 (corporateBody)

Townsend, Hannah, 1812-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62c125p (person)

Union college Schenectady, N.Y.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cp102d (corporateBody)

Townsend, Isaiah, 1777-1838

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64172mz (person)

Isaiah and his brother John Townsend were merchants, iron manufacturers and politicians in the Albany, N.Y. area. John served as mayor of the City of Albany from 1829 to 1832. They played an important role in the early industrial development of Albany. From the description of Papers, 1795-1882. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122458705 ...

Townsend, Sally, 1760?-1842

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60h35qm (person)

Sarah Townsend was thought to be an informant for George Washington's Culper Ring, a spy ring founded in the summer of 1778. Townsend lived in Oyster Bay and passed information to her brother, Robert Townsend, a main member of the ring. She died in December 1842 and is buried at the Townsend Cemetery....

Townsend, Justine Van Rensselaer, -1912

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64g0fxc (person)

Townsend, Howard, 1823-1867

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z645hw (person)

Howard Townsend (1823-1867) was a lecturer at the Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. From the description of Howard Townsend medical lectures, ca. 1860-1865. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122465978 From the guide to the Howard Townsend medical lectures, ca. 1860-1865, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.) ...

Tocqueville, Alexis ˜deœ 1805-1859

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67h1rw9 (person)

French author. From the description of Autograph letter unsigned : Louisville, to [Ernest de Chabrol-Chaméane], 1831 Dec. 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572695 Tocqueville, political scientist, historian, and politician, who wrote Democracy in America (1835-40). From the description of Yale Tocqueville manuscripts, ca. 1802-1840. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79763433 From the description of Yale Tocqueville manuscripts, ca. 1802-1840. (Unknown)....

Townsend, Phebe, b. 1759.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cs5dx4 (person)

Shakers

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qv7d68 (corporateBody)

The South Union, Kentucky, Shaker Society was located in Logan County, Kentucky, southwest of Bowling Green. From the description of South Union, Kentucky, Shaker Society records, 1769-1922 (1804-1916) [microform]. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 45232375 The United Society of Believers, also known as the Shakers, of South Union, Logan County, Ky., was established by missionaries from Ohio and Upper Kentucky who arrived in the Gaspar River area in 1807. T...

Townsend, Anne Bradford

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z6m83 (person)

Townsend, Howard, 1858-1935.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j773fx (person)