Benjamin Franklin Watson Townsend was born 30 Aug 1759 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and died 1825 in Greenville County, South Carolina. He was the son of Thomas T Townsend, Sr (1732-1796) and Anaphilda "Ana" Watson (1730-1818) whose land in Pittsylvania County lay on Cherrystone Creek.
Benjamin married Martha "Patsy" Spraggins who was born 1752 in Pittsville, Pittsylvania County, VA and died 1840 in Greenville, SC. She was the daughter of William Spraggins (1699-1755) and Martha Abney (1705-1759)
In researching this family I found many marriages between Townsend, Abney, Spraggins and Hill families in several generation in Virginia and South Carolina.
1790 Census - Laurens, SC Benjamin Townsend
1 slave:
1800 Census - Greenville, SC Benjamin Townsend
5 slaves:
1820 Census Greenville SC
14 slaves:
4 M under 14
1 M 26-44
1 M 45+
2 F under 14
3 F 14-25
3 F 26-44
1830 Census widow Martha Townsend - Greenville SC
8 slaves
1 M 10-23
2 M 24-35
3 F under 10
1 F 10-23
1 F 24-35
Benjamin F W Townsend's will - Greenville, SC Index and Will bk Vol1-2, Books A-C, 1787-1853. SC Will Transcripts 1782-1868, WPA SC
Inferred death year 1724
Will date 20 Aug 1824; same probate date
... Greenville District, SC...
1st all debts paid
2nd ... to wife Patsey Townsend, during her natural life, the land and plantation whereon I now live situated in Greenville Dist, SC on the Golden Grove Creek. Also 5 negroes, all my stock of every kind, and utensils.
Further order... if my son Benjamin should marry a wife, during the life of my wife Patsey... and should choose to settle on a part of the above land... and at her death the above described land to be and belong to my said son Benjamin at $650....being the value which I have fixed upon it as also the following property at its estimated value. viz: 1 bed and furniture at $25, 2 cows and calves at $20, one horse and blacksmiths tools at $80 and in addition thereto my farming tools, and at my death, 1 negro girl named Charlotte at $250 and a tract of land situated on Horse Creek known by the name of Webbs place in Greenville Dist SC. Also one mare estimated at $100, 1 bed and furniture at $25, to land on the E side of the Golden Grove Creek at $400, 2 mules at $150, $32 in wagon irons, 2 cows and calves at $20, 1 negro woman and child at $834.
To my son Thomas: 1 horse $70, land lying on the Reedy Fork Creek, Greenville Dis $450, 1 bed and furniture $25, 1 cow and calf $10.
To son Nathaniel: 1 horse $90, 1 bed and furniture $25, 2 cows and calves $20, 4 negroes $1,075. ...
To son Sanders - 1 horse $80, 1 negro boy $500, 1 bed and furniture $25.
To my daughter Tabitha: 2 negro girls $500, 1 mare and colt $80, 1 bed and furniture $25
To my daughter Elisabeth: 2 negroes $917, 1 horse $80, 1 bed and furniture $25, 1 cow and calf $10.
To my daughter Nancy: 2 negroes $860, 1 horse $90, 1 bed and furniture $20, 1 cow and calf $10.
To my son Light: 1 negro boy $500, 1 horse $90, 1 bed and furniture $25 and $100 cash
To my daughter Frances: 3 negroes $731, 1 mare $100, bed and furn $25, 2 cows and calves $20.
To daughter Martha Anne: 3 negroes $740, mare $100, bed and furn $25, 2 c and c $20
... at the decease of my wife Patsey, I order that the property which may be in her possession at that time, and which has not been otherwise disposed of or bequeathed to my children in this instrument, to be equally divided among them, so that each shall have an equal portion to the list in which each stands charged by me. Except my sons John and Nathaniel who have each received as great proportion of my estate as it is my pleasure they shall do.
...
Executors and trustees: wife Patsey, sons Thomas and Benjamin.
Witnesses: Adam Jones, James Cramer, George Hiatt.
Probated 9 Nov 1825 by S Goodlett O.G.D.
Recorded in Will Book B page 83. File #479
Some of Benjamin and Martha's children were also enslavers.
Sanders/Saunders Townsend was born 3 Sep 1787 in Pittsylvania County, VA and died 28 Dec 1876 in Cooper County, MO. He married Susannah "Suky" Nowlin on 6 July 1814 in Logan County, KY.
1830 Census Cooper Co, MO
15 slaves
3 M under 10
4 M 10-23
1 M 24-35
3 F under 10
3 F 10-23
1 F 24-35
1840 Census Lamine, Cooper, MO
28 slaves
5 M under 10
4 M 10-23
1 M 24-35
3 M 36-54
8 F under 10
3 F 10-23
4 F 24-35
1850 Slave Schedule, Dist 23, Cooper Co MO
35 slaves:
49 M B
36 F B
21 M B
20 M B
15 F B
8 M B
4 M B
1 F B
40 M M
24 F M
8 M M
5 M M
3 F M
6/12 M M
40 M B
11 F B
8 M B
5 M B
30 M B
23 F B
6 F B
4 M B
2/12 M B
30 M B
32 F B
12 M B
6 M B
4 M B
31 M B
28 F B
6 F B
6/12 M B
40 M B
38 F B
16 F B
Missouri Wills and Probate Records 1766-1988
Sanders A W Townsend pg 431 Will Book B.2. 27 Aug 1878
Thomas Townsend was the eldest son of Benjamin and Martha. He was born 1782 in Pittsylvania County, VA and died June 1847 in Cass County GA. Thomas married 1.Martha Mary Dobbins 2.Eleanor Thomas
1830 Census Greenville SC - Thomas Townsend
2 slaves
Nathaniel Cornelius Townsend was born 2 February 1784 and died April 1863 in Albemarle County VA. He married Sarah Austin Jopling/Jossling. They lived in Nelson and Albemarle Co, VA
1850 Census Nelson County, VA
0 slaves
1840 Census Nelson County, VA
0 slaves
1860 Slave Schedule Nelson Co, VA
No image available, so ?
John J Townsend was born1790 in Greenville, SC and died 28 Nov 1857 in Greenville, SC. He married Elizabeth Bolling in 1816.
1810 Census Greenville, SC - John J Townsend
0 slaves
1820 Census Pendleton Dist, SC
0 slaves
1830 Census Greenville, SC
0 slaves
1840 Census Greenville SC
3 slaves
1 M under 10
1 F 10-23
1 F 36-54
Light Townsend was born 1 May1795 in Greenville, SC and died 1871 in Logan County, KY. He married his cousin Nancy J Townsend 18 April 1819 in Logan County, KY. She was the daughter of Light Townsend Sr (1769-1846 and a son of Thomas T Townsend and Anaphilda Watson) and Mary Arnold (1774-1835)
1820 Census Russellville, Logan, KY
4 slaves
1 M 14-25
2 F 14-25
1 F 26-44
1830 Census Russellville, Logan Co, KY
5 slaves:
1 M under 10
1 F under 10
3 F 10-23
1840 Census Logan County, KY
28 slaves:
6 M under 10
7 M 10-23
5 M 24-35
1 M 55-99
10 F under 10
2 F 10-23
3 F 24-35
3 F 36-54
1 F 55-99
Benjamin F Townsend was born 29 October 1799 and died 14 April 1870 in Greenville County, SC. He married Mary Waddell in 1828.
1840 Census Greenville, SC
4 slaves:
1 F under 10
3 F 10-23
Martha Ann Townsend was born 1807 in Greenville, SC and died 1884 in Hopewell, Anderson County, SC. She married Charles G Irby 1789-1883 [of Halifax County, VA Irby's] in 1827.
1830 Census Laurens, SC - Charles G Irby
8 slaves:
2 M under 10
3 M 10-23
1 M 36-54
2 F 10-23
1840 Census Anderson SC - Charles G Irby
12 slaves:
2 M under 10
5 M 10-23
1 M 24-35
2 F 10-23
2 F 24-35
Tabitha Townsend was born 12 May 1789 and died 1868 in Saluda County, SC. She married Zachariah Abney (1782-1838) on 17 September 1809 in Edgefield District, SC. Zachariah was the son of Samuel Abney and Martha Harriet Hamilton.
1810 Census Edgefield, SC - Zachariah Abney
3 slaves
1820 Census Edgefield, SC
10 slaves:
2 M under 14
1 M 14-25
1 M 26-44
1 M 45+
2 F under 14
1 F 14=25
2 F 26-44
1840 Census Edgefield SC - Tabitha Abney, widow
14 slaves:
6 M under 10
1 M 10-23
1 M 36-54
1 M 55-99
2 F under 10
2 F 24-35
1 F 36-54
Tabitha Townsend Abney widow of Zachariah
1850 Slave Schedule, The District, Edgefield, SC 4 Dec 1850
22 slaves
1 57 M B
1 57 M B
1 45 F B
1 35 F B
1 35 F B
1 16 F B
1 21 M B
1 20 M B
1 20 M B
1 14 M B
1 13 M B
1 12 M M
1 12 M B
1 10 F B
1 9 M B
1 7 F B
1 7 M B
1 5 M B
1 4 M B
1 1 M B
1 4 M B
1 1 F B
NEXT ON LIST: MARTHA ABNEY
1 12 M B
1 8 M B
1 3 M B
NEXT ON LIST: WILSON ABNEY
1 45 M B
1 18 M B
1 22 F B
1 26 F B
1 3 F B
1 6/12 F B
3/12 F B
1860 Slave Schedule - Saluda Regiment, Edgefield, SC - Tabitha Abney 11 Aug 1860
31 slaves
1 74 F B
1 45 F B
1 41 F B
1 40 M M
1 28 M M
1 25 M B
1 25 M B
1 22 M B
1 21 M B
1 20 M B
1 22 F B
1 22 F M
1 19 F B
1 17 M B
1 17 F B
1 16 F B
1 14 M B
1 13 M B
1 12 M B
1 10 M B
1 10 M B
1 12 F B
1 6 M M
1 5 F M
1 4 M B
1 7 F M
1 3 F M
1 2 M B
1 2 F M
1 8/12 M M
1 10 M B
Zachariah Abney *died with no Will 26 Feb 1838
Edgefield SC Probate Records 1827-1839
Inventory:
Negro man Peter $300
Negro man George $450
Negro man Phil $850
Mulatto boy Henry $850
Negro boy Washington $825
Negro boy Richmond $675
Negro boy Frank $650
Negro boy Tom $450
Negro boy Simon $300
Negro boy Bluford $325
Negro boy Charles $300
Negro woman Fanny $300
Negro Woman Gracy $400
Negro woman Chils (?) and 2 children $700
Negro woman Cynthia and 3 children $1100
Negro girl Mary Ann $675
Negro woman Ally and child $800
Negro girl Caroline $500
Negro girl Louisa $325
Negro girl Margaret $325
Mulatto girl Mary $350
Appraisers: Beu(/) Perry, Aza. Abney, Richard Coleman, James Maynard
Sale Bill due 25 Dec 1838 - At the sale of her husband's estate, widow Tabitha Townsend Abney bought 16 of their slaves:
Negro man Henry $1018
Negro boy Frank $705
Negro girl Mary $376
Negro woman Gracey $526
Negro boy Simon $301
Negro man Peter $449
Negro man George $522
Negro woman Fanny $440
Negro boy Tom P $510
Negro woman Ally and 2 children $1652
Negro boy Bluford $351
Negro Cynthia and 3 children $1300
Z S Brooks bought:
Negro woman Chep(?) and 2 children $1000
Ina Chapman bought:
Negro man Phil $1215
Lausp(/) Coppock bought:
Negro girl Caroline $700
Berryman Corley bought:
Negro boy Richard $701
Negro girl Louisa $501
Negro girl Margaret $530
Daniel Maugrew bought:
Negro girl Mary $810
John Mulgrew bought:
Negro boy Washington $851
Thomas Pope, Administrator
