THOMAS TOWNSEND was born in Warwick, England and died at Lynn, Massachusetts 22 December 1677.
Son of Henry and Margaret Forthe Townsend Born (baptized) on Jan 8, 1594/5 in Bracon-Ash (County Norfolk) England
After the sale of the Norfolk estates, he resided in Gedding (County Suffolk) and then moved to the London area about 1615.
In 1636 Thomas Townsend, assisted by "Gov. John Winthrop" went from London, England to settle in Lynn, Essex, Mass. Bay Colony in North America. He came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony about 1637-1638.
He was granted sixty acres of land in 1638 by the town of Lynn, and later bought other lands near the Saugus Iron works and in Rumney Marsh. Several references have been made to 'Goodman Townsend's" farm adjoining Hutchinson's farm amongst the furnaces. Thomas's town house and lot of seven acres was on the south side of Mill Street near the Common.
He was made freeman at Lynn in 1639. He is thought to be the father of the three Townsend brothers, John, Richard and Henry, who were early settlers on Long Island (Savage).
That they were brothers is certain: Elizabeth, widow of John, says in her will that she is acting with the advice of her husbands two brothers Henry and Richard Townsend. but the Memorial makes no mention of Thomas.
Because of the large difference in ages between John and his younger siblings it seems logical to suppose Thomas had two wives.
Died Dec 22, 1677 in Lynn (buried in King's Chapel Burying Ground in Boston)
Early Massachusetts records of Thomas Townsend show only that he married Mary Newgate, and that his family consisted of Thomas, Samuel, John, Andrew and Elizabeth. His Will, however, had a statement that Mary was his "now" wife which indicates his having had a previous wife. The Will also said he and Mary, his now wife, were the natural father and mother of John and Andrew. It is now generally accepted that Thomas' family is the following:
from ancestry.com