Solomon Townsend
Encyclopedia
Solomon Townsend was a merchant ship’s captain prior to the American Revolution, owned an ironworks in New York State, and was a representative to the New York State Legislature. Stranded in London following the outbreak of hostilities, Townsend's passage back to America was facilitated by Benjamin Franklin
. After the war he was a successful owner of an iron works plant, and a member of the New York State Legislature. One of his children followed him into the legislature and another was a founder of what became the New York Academy of Sciences
.
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which he owned. Solomon worked for his father for the next 10 years captaining ships.
At the outbreak of the American Revolution
Townsend was commanding the ship Glasgow, owned by Thomas Buchanan, which was berthed in London due to the cessation of trade between the two countries. The ship's owner was reluctant to put the vessel at risk by leaving the harbor, effectively stranding the crew in London. Townsend made his way to Paris where he befriended Benjamin Franklin
and was received at the French court.
and helped him secure passage back to America on the Frigate USS Providence (1775)
under the command of Commodore Abraham Whipple
. Franklin provided Townsend with the following letter of safe passage:
The Providence arrived in Boston in November 1778. With this voyage complete, Townsend ended his first career at sea. There is no evidence that he ever again sailed the ocean.
. Townsend, as a commissioned midshipman in the US Navy was unable to return to the town as a result. Townsend instead traveled to the home of his cousin, Peter Townsend in Newburgh NY, proprietor of the Stirling Iron Works
, creator of the Hudson River Chain
which kept the British Navy from sailing up the Hudson River
during the war.
Townsend married his cousin Anne, Peter Townsend’s eldest daughter. After the war they briefly returned to the family home Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay Long Island in New York, currently preserved as a museum, the Raynham Hall Museum
. Some time later he purchased land near his father-in-law in Orange County, New York
. Throughout the mid-18th century significant new reserves of iron were discovered in the area and Townsend established an extensive iron works known as the Augusta Forge in Tuxedo Park
, New York, associated with his father-in-law's Stirling Iron.
Townsend died on 27 March 1811.
Townsend left six children:
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. After the war he was a successful owner of an iron works plant, and a member of the New York State Legislature. One of his children followed him into the legislature and another was a founder of what became the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
.
Ancestry
Solomon Townsend was born in Oyster Bay (hamlet), New York in 1746, the eldest son of Samuel Townsend and Sarah (Stoddard) Townsend. He was descended from the Oyster Bay Townsends, a Quaker family who settled in the area in the mid-17th century, (see Henry Townsend (Oyster Bay)Henry Townsend (Oyster Bay)
Henry Townsend was the son of Henry Townsend, an early settler settler of the American Colonies, and a member of the Quaker religion.-Biography:...
.
Shipping career
Because of a good harbor, Oyster Bay saw a rise in the ship trade in the early 18th century and Townsend's father Samuel owned a number of merchant vessels. At age 20 his father put him in charge of a brigBrig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
which he owned. Solomon worked for his father for the next 10 years captaining ships.
At the outbreak of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
Townsend was commanding the ship Glasgow, owned by Thomas Buchanan, which was berthed in London due to the cessation of trade between the two countries. The ship's owner was reluctant to put the vessel at risk by leaving the harbor, effectively stranding the crew in London. Townsend made his way to Paris where he befriended Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
and was received at the French court.
Naval commission
Franklin commissioned Townsend into the Continental NavyContinental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively...
and helped him secure passage back to America on the Frigate USS Providence (1775)
USS Providence (1775)
Originally chartered by the Rhode Island General Assembly as Katy, USS Providence was a sloop in the Continental Navy.-Service as Katy:...
under the command of Commodore Abraham Whipple
Abraham Whipple
Abraham Whipple was an American revolutionary naval commander in the Continental Navy. Whipple was born near Providence, Rhode Island and chose to be a seafarer early in his life. He embarked upon a career in the lucrative West Indies trade, working for Moses and John Brown...
. Franklin provided Townsend with the following letter of safe passage:
- “Passey, near Paris, June 27, 1778.
- I certify to whom it may concern, that Captain Solomon Townsend, of New York, mariner, hath this day appeared voluntarily before me and taken the oath of allegiance to the United Status of America, according to the resolution of congress, thereby acknowledging himself a subject of the United States.
- B. FRANKLIN"
The Providence arrived in Boston in November 1778. With this voyage complete, Townsend ended his first career at sea. There is no evidence that he ever again sailed the ocean.
Ironworks
When Townsend returned from England and France, the American colonies were fully engaged in revolution against the British. The family's home in Oyster Bay was at the time occupied by the British Army, (see Raynham Hall MuseumRaynham Hall Museum
Raynham Hall is in Oyster Bay, New York. Home of the Townsend family, one of the founding families of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York, and a member of George Washington's Culper Ring of spies, the house was renamed Raynham Hall after the Townsend seat in Norfolk, England, in 1850 by a...
. Townsend, as a commissioned midshipman in the US Navy was unable to return to the town as a result. Townsend instead traveled to the home of his cousin, Peter Townsend in Newburgh NY, proprietor of the Stirling Iron Works
Stirling Iron Works
The Sterling Iron Works owned by Peter Townsend was one of the first steel and iron manufacturer in the American colonies and the first steel producer in the colony of New York...
, creator of the Hudson River Chain
Hudson River Chain
The Hudson River Chain may refer to any of several chains used as a blockade across the Hudson River intended to prevent British naval vessels from proceeding up the river during the American Revolutionary War.-The Great Chain :...
which kept the British Navy from sailing up the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
during the war.
Townsend married his cousin Anne, Peter Townsend’s eldest daughter. After the war they briefly returned to the family home Raynham Hall in Oyster Bay Long Island in New York, currently preserved as a museum, the Raynham Hall Museum
Raynham Hall Museum
Raynham Hall is in Oyster Bay, New York. Home of the Townsend family, one of the founding families of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York, and a member of George Washington's Culper Ring of spies, the house was renamed Raynham Hall after the Townsend seat in Norfolk, England, in 1850 by a...
. Some time later he purchased land near his father-in-law in Orange County, New York
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
. Throughout the mid-18th century significant new reserves of iron were discovered in the area and Townsend established an extensive iron works known as the Augusta Forge in Tuxedo Park
Tuxedo Park
Tuxedo Park may refer to:*Tuxedo Park, Missouri, a community now merged with Webster Groves, Missouri*Tuxedo Park, New York, U.S.**Tuxedo Park , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange County, New York...
, New York, associated with his father-in-law's Stirling Iron.
Political career, death, and legacy
Townsend spent his later years residing in the City of New York where he oversaw his extensive business interests. In addition to Augusta Forge, he owned a producer of bar iron on the Peconic River near the town of Riverhead. In 1801 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1801 which was called to clarify some issues that had arisen regarding the State Constitution of 1777. Later he occasionally represented the City of New York in the New York State Legislature, serving in 1804, 1805, and again in 1808, representing the county of New York.Townsend died on 27 March 1811.
Townsend left six children:
- Hannah, who married her cousin Isaiah Townsend, a wealthy merchant in Albany NY, (who in term had a son Robert Townsend (Captain)Robert Townsend (Captain)Captain Robert Townsend was a Civil War era ship Captain in the United States Navy. He served twice, once before the war then again during the war. He saw active combat while serving aboard three ships, most notably as commander of the USS Essex from 1863–1864, an ironclad gunship on the...
a ship captain for the US Navy in the Civil War) - Anne, who married Effingham LawrenceEffingham LawrenceEffingham Lawrence was a Democratic Party member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served one day, the last day of the session of the 43rd United States Congress , the shortest term of any member of the U.S...
, a Queens county judge, - Mary, married to Edward H. Nicoll, a New York City merchant,
- Phoebe, married to James Thorne, an Albany merchant,
- Solomon Townsend Jr. a state legislator, and
- Peter S. Townsend MD, a founder of the Lyceum of Natural History, now called the New York Academy of SciencesNew York Academy of SciencesThe New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
.