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My maiden name is TOWNEND and my great-great-grandfather was Benjamin TOWNEND who was born in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, in 1823. He married Elizabeth (nee Sutcliffe) of Todmorden and they went on to have 7 children:

William Greenwood TOWNEND, born 1849 in Todmorden
Ellen, born 1850 in Todmorden
Anna E, born 1851 in Todmorden
Emily A, born 1854 in Morley, West Yorkshire

William Fredrick (my great-gradfather) born 1859 in Marshfield, Gloucs

Lucy J, born 1862, in Sowerby Bridge (again back near Todmorden)

Edwin Herbert Lawson TOWNEND, born 1865 in Pucklechurch, Gloucs

As you can see, the majority of the children are born in the West Yorshire area, as Benjamin himself was, but two of the children (William Fredrick TOWNEND (my great-grandfather) and the youngest son, Edwin HL TOWNEND were born in MARSHFIELD and PUCKLECHURCH which I believe are very close to each other yet Lucy J (born between the two of these boys) is born in Sowerby Bridge, a few miles from Todmorden where most of the others are born.

I have all the above information from copies of certificates and census records etc but to date I have not been able to discover a reason for two of the sons having been born in the Marshfield/Pucklechurch area and wonder if there are members of the TOWNEND family living in the area? Another possibility is that Benjamin (their father) may have been working in the area (he was a schoolmaster) or that he was connected with the chapel there as I do know that he was also a Congregationalist lay preacher.

Anyone researching/have TOWNENDs in that area of the UK?

I have searched online for any clues and have requested info from the Pucklechurch News but thought I might try the GR board in the hope that someone might be looking in who may be from that area and able to help.

Any help you might be able to offer or any pointers as to where to look further would be greatly welcomed.

Many thanks for your time

I will be out for an hour or two this evening but will look in on my return so please do not think I have posted and then abandoned the thread

Did they really have two sons with first name William?

Should the younger of the two not be Walter F?

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915

Name: Walter Frederick Townend
Registration Year: 1858
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration district: Chipping Sodbury
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 144

He also seems to be recorded as Walter F on the 1871 census.

Also, the 1871 census states Benjamin is a "Home City Missionary" - perhaps they travelled.

Is this them in Oldham on 1871 census?

Only one William showing>

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Lark Hill, Tonge, Oldham, Lancashire, England
Print household transcription
Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital condition Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Benjamin Townend Head - Male 48 1823 - Yorkshire
Elizabeth Townend Wife - Female 47 1824 - Yorkshire
William G Townend Son - Male 21 1850 - Lancashire
Anna E Townend Daughter - Female 20 1851 - Lancashire
Emily A Townend Daughter - Female 17 1854 - Yorkshire
Walter F Townend Son - Male 12 1859 - Gloucestershire
Lucy J Townend Daughter - Female 9 1862 - Yorkshire
Edwin H L Townend Son - Male 6 1865 - Gloucestershire
Print individual transcription View image
Individual transcription
First name(s) Lucy J
Last name Townend
Relationship Daughter
Marital condition -
Gender Female
Age 9
Birth year 1862
Birth town -
Birth county Yorkshire
House number -
House name -
Street Lark Hill
Parish Tonge
City or borough -
Town -
Village -
County Lancashire
Country England
Municipal ward -
Parliamentary borough -
Ecclesiastical District -
Registration district Oldham
Enumeration district 18
Series RG10
Piece number 4106
Folio number 72
Page 6
Record set 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Category Census, land & surveys
Record collection Census
Collections from Great Britain

Dea x

I was just going to say about him being a 'Home City Missionary' MC - As you say, that would probably explain him travelling to diffenent places.

Dea x

Ooops sorry. Yes it should be Walter. Sorry my mistake rushing to typd it. Yes the above references are they. Benjamin was a city missionasy once he came back to the north west. He had been a schoolmaster before. I will see whether my Pucklechurch enquiry turns up anything further.
Thanks once again