Robert Townshend (judge)

Sir Robert Townshend (died 8 February 1555/56) of Ludlow, Shropshire was a judge who held a number of positions, including Chief Justice of the Marches of Wales and Chester.^[1] He was the founder of the Cheshire and Shropshire branch of the Townshend family.

Sir Robert Townshend was the second son of Roger Townshend (d.1551) of Raynham, Norfolk^[2] and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1515.^[3] He became Justice of the Peace for Norfolk in 1526, Serjeant at Law in 1540 and King's Serjeant in 1543.^[4] He was appointed as Justice of Chester in 1545, and was knighted by Henry VIII on 21 May 1545 at Hampton Court Palace.

He married Alice Poppy, a daughter of Robert Poppy. Together they had six sons and six daughters.^[1][5] He died on 8 February 1555/6. He was buried in Ludlow church, where his memorial, erected in 1581, is a large table tomb with polychrome recumbent effigies of Sir Robert and Dame Alice, and with empanelled heraldry^[6] and images of his children as mourners.^[7]

One son, Sir Henry Townshend was also a judge.^[8]

Children

The children of Sir Robert Townshend and Alice née Poppy are shown^[9] as follows:

• Thomas (b. c.1534, d. 1591), Esquire, of Bracon Ash, Norfolk, married (1) (1558) Lady Elizabeth Styles (daughter of George Periente of Digswell, Hertfordshire), who died 1580, and (2) (1581-82) Ann D'Oyley (daughter of Henry D'Oyley of Shottisham, Norfolk, and of Pond-Hall, Hadleigh, Suffolk), who afterwards made two further marriages.^[10]
• Robert (b. c.1535, d. 1614),^[11] of Llanvary and Ludlow, Shropshire, married (1571) Ann Machell (daughter of John Machell, Sheriff of London 1555-56).^[12]
• (Sir) Henry (b. c. 1537, d. 1621),^[13] Judge, of Ludlow Castle and Cound, Shropshire, married (1) Susanna, daughter of Sir Rowland Hayward, and (2) Dorothy Heveningham, of Pipe Hall, Burntwood,^[14] Staffordshire.^[15]
• Isaac, living 1552 aged under 18.^[16]
• Roger.
• John.
• Elizabeth
• Alice or Annes, who died at Ludlow, Shropshire on 28 November 1607, married (1) at Ludlow on 6 October 1550 Humphrey Archer of Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire, who died at Tanworth-in-Arden on 24 October 1562 and (2) Edmond Colles of Leigh, Worcestershire, who died on 19 December 1606.^{[17][18][19][20]}
• Amey, married Raffe Dutton of Hatton, Cheshire.
• Eleanor, died without issue.
• Thomazin, married (1) William Curson of Beck Hall, in Billingford and Bylaugh, Norfolk (brother of Lady Ursula Hynde of Madingley), and (2) William Rugge, of Felmingham, Norfolk, Esquire.^[21]
• Grace, married (1) Ambrose Gilbert,^[22] and (2) Richard Smyth.
• Bridget, married (as his first wife) Henry Acton of Ribbesford, Worcestershire, third son of Sir Robert Acton of Ribbesford and Elmley Lovett.^[23] Charles Acton, brother of this Henry, was grandfather of Elizabeth Acton who by her marriage to a younger Henry Townshend reinforced the Townshend connection with Elmley Lovett.^[24]

References