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A Field Guide to American Ornithology in the Delaware Valley 1699-1900
John Kirk Townsend (1809 – 1851)

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An American naturalist, ornithologist and collector.

Townsend was born in Philadelphia and trained as a physician and pharmacist. He developed an interest in natural history in general and bird collecting in particular. In 1833 he was invited by the botanist Thomas Nuttall to join him on Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth's second expedition across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Townsend collected a number of animals new to science. These included birds such as the Mountain Plover, Vaux's Swift, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler and Sage Thrasher, and a number of mammals such as the Douglas Squirrel; several of these were described by Bachman (1839)[1] from samples collected by Townsend. (from Wikipedia)

Both Townsend's Solitaire and Townsend's Warber are named in honor of this man.

John Kirk Townsend in the Delaware Valley
- This "Liberty Bell" signifies an event that took place in the Delaware Valley.

1800s

August 10, 1809 - John Kirk Townsend is born in Philadelphia, PA. Father - Charles Townsend (Jan 15, 1777-1857 (He was a jeweler at 10th & Chestnut Streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Mother - Priscilla Kirk -1785-1862. Fourth of 10 children - Elisha Kirk Townsend, Edward Townsend, Charles Townsend, John K. Townsend, Hannah Townsend, Mary Townsend, Joseph Townsend, William Townsend, Elizabeth Townsend, Priscilla Townsend.
The family was residing at 105 Chestnut Street at the time and John Krk was probably born at that location.

1810's

1819 - John Kirk Townsend attended Westtown Boarding School, near West Chester PA. This school is still in operation.

Click this thumbnail image for more information about the Westtown School

1820's

1823 - Family moved to 138 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA

1830's

About 1834 - Marriage to Charlotte "Lottie" Holmes

1840's

1843 Frances H. Townsend (son) born in Washington DC

1850's

February 16, 1851 - John Kirk Townsend dies in Washington, DC

Click this thumbnail image to see the grave site (Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC) of John Kirk Townsend

 

 

 

1857 Charles Townsend (father) dies in Philadelphia (or in Chester PA, or in Chester County). Buried in the Fair Hill Burial Ground, Philadelphia PA.

1860s

1862, March 3 Priscilla Kirk Townsend (mother) dies in Somerset, PA. Buried in the Fair Hill Burial Ground, Philadelphia PA.

1870s

1876 Charlotte Holmes Townsend (wife) dies

Click this thumbnail image to see the grave site (First Baptist Church, Cape May Court House, NJ) of Charlotte Holmes Townsend (wife)

 

 

 

 

 

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Published References


On-line References