This is my line as well, but I have been unable to find any connection between William's father, Thomas, Sr. and any other Townsend who may be his father.  There is a Bladen County, North Carolina record of an inquest held on May 19, 1762 on which a Thomas Townsend served.  I believe this to be our Thomas Townsend as Robert McConkey, his wife's brother also served on this inquest.  Also serving on the inquest was a Jesse Townsend.  I don't know who he was or what relation he had to Thomas, if any; although I do suspect there was a relationship.  I have tried to find Jesse's name in other records of the time and general location, but have not found anything yet.  Thomas also served on another inquest on May 12, 1766 in St. Martin's Parish in Bladen County, North Carolina.  Both of these records are abstracted in the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal Volume I, 1975.

Kent, from # 119 145. Apr. 3, 1778 Thomas Townsend jr enters 300 ac on both sides of Horse Swamp; between Thomas Townsend sr and Samuel Rowland. >From # 50 MAXFIELD, MARY (Gentl Woman) May 14, 1778. Daughter: Littice Townsend. Son & Executor: Robert Conkey. Witnesses: David White, Thomas Townsend, Ben'j. Humphrey. >From # 131 Townsend, Joshua, Dobbs County, 1769 Townsend, Thomas, Bladen County, 1763 Townsend, Thomas, Bladen County, 1781 Townsend, Wm, Bladen County, 1781 Townsend, Wm, Perquimans County, 1740 >From # 10 Townsend, Thomas, Bladen County, 1784 Townsend, Wm, Bladen County, 1784 >From # 149 page 1 (these two are next to each other) (the list of names offers no explanation of the numbers following each name) Wm. Townsend, 1315 Thomas Townsend, 121 on page 3 Thomas Townsend, 21 Dee For details on sources used, refer to this link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncbladen/lookups.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: <KentLT@aol.com> To: <NCBLADEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 10:44 PM Subject: [NCBLADEN-L] Re: William H. Townsend 1750-1830 This is my line as well, but I have been unable to find any connection between William's father, Thomas, Sr. and any other Townsend who may be his father. There is a Bladen County, North Carolina record of an inquest held on May 19, 1762 on which a Thomas Townsend served. I believe this to be our Thomas Townsend as Robert McConkey, his wife's brother also served on this inquest. Also serving on the inquest was a Jesse Townsend. I don't know who he was or what relation he had to Thomas, if any; although I do suspect there was a relationship. I have tried to find Jesse's name in other records of the time and general location, but have not found anything yet. Thomas also served on another inquest on May 12, 1766 in St. Martin's Parish in Bladen County, North Carolina. Both of these records are abstracted in the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal Volume I, 1975.