Townsley Links from England to Canada

The following notes and links are just a basic starting point for anyone researching Townsley families that have moved from England to Canada or the USA.

National Archives of Canada web site has the 1871 Census of Ontario on-line with 8 entries of Townsley families - 6 from England, 1 from Ireland and 1 born in Ontario but of Scottish parents (see below). They also have Immigration records for 1925 to 1935 online showing 23 Townsley entries for individuals arriving from Britain (see below). In addition you can search Soldiers of the First World War - Canadian Expeditionary Force with references to 19 Townsley servicemen (see below). And the Dominion Land Grants database contains 8 Townsley entries (see below) + 2 for George Townsley Nelson; who may have a family link.

1881 Canadian Census

Now that the 1881 census is online at www.familysearch.org you can look up the families without the need to repeat them here. Updated October 2002

Ontario

One family with English origins that has not yet been traced in England is -

Descendants of George Nelson Townsley Added Dec 2002

1 George Nelson Townsley b: Abt. 1849 England d: Aft. 1891 Ontario, Canada ?
. +Anna Maria Noble b: Abt. 1859 Ontario, Canada m: Abt. 1880 Ontario, Canada d: Aft. 1891 Ontario, Canada ? Father: x Noble Mother: x
... 2 George Nelson Townsley b: 23 March 1881 Boston Mills, Chinguacousy, Peel Co, Ontario, Canada d: 17 November 1959 Edmonton, Canada
....... +Charity Maude
... 2 Annie Marie Townsley b: 7 December 1884 Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada d: 25 February 1975 Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
....... +William Cranston Cripps b: 9 January 1881 Stisted, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada m: Abt. 1902 Regina, Sask, Canada d: 19 January 1963 Lacombe, Alberta, Canada Father: John Cripps Mother: Sarah Dodds
... 2 Jennie Townsley b: 11 September 1886 Lac Saint Jean, Québec, Canada d: 11 November 1936 New Westminster, BC, Canada
....... +Thomas Westover b: 8 May 1871 Stone, Kent m: Abt. 1904 d: 24 April 1951 Saanich, BC, Canada Father: Charles Westover Mother: Maria Trice
... 2 Amelia May Townsley b: 1 November 1888 Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada

George Townsley of Brotherton - a son of Charles and Elizabeth Townsley; inhabitants of Brotherton, then Knottingley in Yorkshire. He moved to Canada in the 1880s or 1890s and has present day descendants in Ontario; as well as Gettysburg and Massachusetts in the USA.

Canadian Archival Resources on the Internet - Ontario

Townsleys from England in 1871 Census of Ontario Updated July 2002

If correct then these are all from one Yorkshire family that emigrated in stages during the 1830s to 1860s. The idea seems to be supported in that some of the expected marriages of the daughters tie up with other entries in the same census. The ones found are -

These entries seem to relate to the following provisional family tree that also has links to Illinois and California -

Descendants of Thomas Townesley Updated July 2005

1 Thomas Townesley b: Abt. 1760 Eastrington, Yorkshire ? d: Bef. 1841
.. +Mary Beaves b: Abt. 1761 Thorner, Yorkshire m: 3 March 1784 Eastrington, Yorkshire d: 25 April 1864 Riccall, Yorkshire
... 2 Benjamin Townsley b: Abt. April 1795 Eastrington, Yorkshire d: 7 March 1871 Riccall, Yorkshire
....... +Mary Cobb b: Abt. 1785 Pocklington, Yorkshire ? m: 25 January 1814 North Newbald, Yorkshire d: Abt. 1858
........ 3 Thomas Townsley b: 4 May 1814 near River Bridge, Eastrington, Yorkshire d: Abt. 1880
............ +Mary Ann Abbay b: Abt. December 1809 Selby, Yorkshire m: 10 October 1838 Selby, Yorkshire d: 11 October 1887 Selby, Yorkshire Father: Marmaduke Abbay Mother: x
........ 3 William Townsley b: 1 August 1817 New Village, Eastrington, Yorkshire d: 13 October 1903 Foggathorpe, Yorkshire
............ +Jane Smith b: Abt. 1817 m: Abt. February 1840 Selby, Yorkshire d: Bef. 1850
........ *2nd Wife of William Townsley:
............ +Mary Ann Strawson b: 10 November 1826 Spilsby, Lincolnshire m: 18 December 1850 Tadcaster, Yorkshire d: 1 January 1929 Father: William Strawson Mother: Susanna Thew
... *2nd Wife of Benjamin Townsley:
....... +Bessie Buckle b: Abt. 1818 Kelfield, Yorkshire m: 23 February 1865 Stillingfleet d: Aft. 1881
... 2 William Townsley b: Abt. 1798 Eastrington, Yorkshire ? d: Abt. 1853 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada ?
....... +Harriot Nightingale b: Abt. April 1795 Nafferton, Driffield, Yorkshire m: 17 June 1821 North Frodingham, Yorkshire d: Aft. 1871 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada ? Father: John Nightingale Mother: Mary x
........ 3 Mary Townsley b: Abt. September 1821 Nafferton, Driffield, Yorkshire d: Aft. 1881 Ontario, Canada ?
............ +James Freek b: Abt. May 1818 Selby, Yorkshire m: Abt. 1842 d: Aft. 1881 Ontario, Canada ? Father: William Freek Mother: Ann Abba
........ 3 Miriam Townsley b: Abt. May 1823 Foston on the Wolds, Yorkshire
........ 3 William Townsley b: Abt. July 1826 Eastrington, Yorkshire d: 22 November 1876 Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Ann Forbes b: Abt. 1832 England ? m: Abt. 1854 d: 18 December 1910 Ontario, Canada ?
........ 3 Ann Townsley b: Abt. March 1828 Eastrington, Yorkshire
........ 3 Eliza Townsley b: Abt. 1830 Yorkshire ? d: Abt. 1866 Toronto, Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Edward M Morphy b: Abt. 1820 Monaghan, Ireland d: Abt. 1905 Father: Edward M Morphy Mother: Eliza Walker
........ 3 Harriot Townsley b: Abt. 1830 Yorkshire ?
............ +x McClellan
........ 3 James Townsley b: Abt. 1830 Yorkshire ? d: Abt. 1856 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada ?
........ 3 Sarah Townsley b: Abt. 1832 Yorkshire ? d: 14 November 1856 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Harry Neil b: Abt. 1830 m: Bef. 1856
... 2 James Townsley b: Abt. June 1802 Blacktoft, Nr Howden, Yorkshire d: 29 July 1838 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada ?
....... +Mary Newcombe b: Abt. 1807 m: 30 November 1832 Selby, Yorkshire d: 13 February 1882
........ 3 x Townsley b: Abt. 1833 England ?
............ +Thomas Nightengale b: Abt. 1829 England
... 2 John Townsley b: Abt. January 1805 Blacktoft, Nr Howden, Yorkshire d: 25 December 1859 Yorkville, Ontario, Canada
....... +Hannah Stockdale b: Abt. 1809 Bubwith, Yorkshire ? m: 24 March 1829 Bubwith, Yorkshire d: 11 July 1886 Ontario, Canada
........ 3 George Stogdale Townsley b: Abt. January 1830 Selby, Yorkshire d: Aft. 1881 Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Isobell Lusty b: Abt. 1830 m: Abt. 1855 d: Abt. 1861
........ *2nd Wife of George Stogdale Townsley:
............ +Martha Strange b: Abt. 1838 Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire m: Abt. 1862 d: Aft. 1881 Ontario, Canada ? Father: Robert Strange Mother: Charlotte Clarke
........ 3 Sarah Ann Townsley b: Abt. November 1831 Selby, Yorkshire d: 6 July 1914 Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Leonard Pears b: 12 October 1826 England m: Abt. 1852 d: 28 January 1912 Ontario, Canada
........ 3 Maria Townsley b: Abt. 1833 England ? d: 25 August 1856
............ +Charles Scarborough b: Abt. January 1831 Welton with Melton, Yorkshire m: Abt. 1852 d: Aft. 1881 Ontario, Canada ? Father: Charles Scarbrough Mother: Elizabeth King
........ 3 Thomas Townsley b: Abt. January 1836 Wistow, Selby, Yorkshire d: Abt. February 1838 Selby, Yorkshire
........ 3 Emma Townsley b: Abt. August 1837 Wistow, Selby, Yorkshire d: Ontario, Canada ?
............ +Ralph Stainsby b: Abt. 1837 England ? d: Ontario, Canada ?
........ 3 Thomas Townsley b: Abt. May 1839 Wistow, Selby, Yorkshire
............ +Sarah J Smith b: Abt. 1845 Illinois, USA m: Abt. 1878
........ 3 James Townsley b: Abt. May 1841 Selby, Yorkshire
........ 3 Louisa Townsley b: Abt. February 1843 Tadcaster, Yorkshire d: 26 January 1863
........ 3 Benjamin Townsley b: 20 January 1846 Tadcaster, Yorkshire
............ +Hattie Canum b: 28 February 1861 m: 25 December 1888
........ 3 John Townsley b: Abt. February 1849 Tadcaster, Yorkshire d: Aft. 1880 California, USA ?
............ +Kate Karry b: Abt. 1860 New York, USA m: Abt. 1878 d: Aft. 1880 California, USA ?

The Ontario Genealogical Society have sources that may be able to assist. Check their site for the latest details.

The Office of the Registrar General holds Ontario records for births that happened during the past 95 years, marriages that happened during the past 80 years, and deaths that happened during the past 70 years. To obtain records prior to that time, contact The Archives of Ontario, Vital Statistics Reference Archvist, 77 Grenville St, Toronto, ON M7A 2R9 - or visit their web site at www.archives.gov.on.ca

Townsley names at the Ontario Cemetery Finding Aid web site

Since these records do not give dates, more information is needed to put them in the right timeframe. However some names can be traced -

• Thomas & Mary (nee Winter) are probably the parents of a Jane Boyd Townsley born 1933
• Robert & Marian (nee Ogilvie) probably refers to a Robert born in 1912

If these are typical then the cemetery records probably to refer to deaths in the later half of the 20th century and are too recent to link with the Townsleys in the 1871 Census.

There are further records at this site but they need to be downloaded via a zip file before they can be read. The Townsley entries in the "T" zip file are -

Clearly these refer to earlier burials and some cover the same period as the 1871 Census.

Townsleys in Ontario Surrogate Court Records Added July 2002

All the entries relate to York county and are possibly members of one family from Yorkshire, England.

• James, 1838 - possibly husband of Mary (nee Newcombe) in 1871 Census and brother of William and John below, died 29 Jul 1838
• William, 1853 - possible link to Harriet (nee Nightingale) in 1871 Census
• James, 1856 - possibly son of William & Harriet, born about 1830
• Sarah, 1856 - possibly daughter of William & Harriet, born about 1832, wife of Harry Neil, died 14 Nov 1856
• John, 1859 - possible link to Hannah (nee Stockdale / Stogdale) in 1871 Census, died 25 Dec 1859
• Martin, 1860 - born in Canada ?

More Information received via e-mail Added July 2002

"I am related to MARTHA STRANGE in Yorkville Village/Toronto who married GEORGE TOWNSLEY b. 1829, s/o JOHN and HANNAH STOGDALE TOWNSLEY. And you might be interested in information from the York Co. Biographical Record for George Townsley. His family history, marriage, business history, children etc. is detailed and might give you a few more dates, spouses etc."

Irish Links

There are also Townsley families related to immigrants from Ballycastle, Antrim, Ireland who arrived in the 1920's. As well as Ontario, this family line has members in Quebec, in New Zealand and in Ardrossan, Scotland. Some family members are recorded in the 1925-1935 Immigrants table below.

Connection?

Q. What is the Townsley link with the Toronto transit system; as there were Townsleys from England who settled in Yorkville, Toronto? A. "Townsley Loop is a streetcar loop near Townsley Avenue in the St. Clair/Old Weston Road area of Toronto. This is some miles away from Yorkville, but could be a reference to a Townsley from the area." from James Bow at http://www.sitehouse.net/jamesanderin/

British Columbia

Townsleys in Cemetery Index - possibly ex-England

From the BRITISH COLUMBIA CEMETERY FINDING AID By Ron Demaray (web file - bccfa1mz.zip)

Quebec

There is a extensive Townsley family based around Montreal / Lachine. They are almost all recorded as being descendents of Peter (b 1802) and Jane Townsley (nee Elliott) of Antrim, Ireland who must have arrived in the 1840's. Details are available on the web and via the www.familysearch.org site.

There is at least one other Townsley family in the same area who immigrated to Canada from Antrim in the 1920's but are not thought to be linked to that of Peter & Jane. Other members of this family are in Ontario.

Other Canadian Townsley Links

Townsley Immigrants 1925-1935

Note: some of these names will be Townsleys by marriage rather than birth

Royal Canadian Air Force - TOWNSLEY, Corporal Arthur George (R78312) - Mention in Despatches - No.6409 Servicing Echelon - Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 425/45 dated 9 March 1945. Home in Toronto; enlisted there 18 October 1940. No citation in AFRO or biographical file. DHist file 181.009 D.5529 (RG.24 Vol.20667) has letter dated 23 December 1943 from RAF Station Acklington to Commanding Officer, RAF Station Colby Grange, recommending Sergeant R.T. Irwin [sic], Corporal G. Reansbury and Corporal A.G. Townsley for Mention in Despatches. Irwin and Reansburg are Fitters IIE at No.3063 Echelon; Townsley is a Photographer with No.3063 Echelon.

Townsley Soldiers of the World War I - Canadian Expeditionary Force Updated June 2005

Archives Reference: RG 150, Acc. 1992-93/166, Box 9754-35 to Box 9755-1

Townsley Canadian War Deaths - World War II

More details of the above on the Townsleys who died in World War I and II page

Townsley Dominion Land Grants

Government Records - Federal Departments & Agencies

Frank Townsley, Canadian Artist, Web Page

Request for Help found on the Web

TOWNSLEY: Can anyone help me in finding family in that emigrated to Canada from Edinburgh (I think Ontario area) maybe in the late thirties or later. My father was Michael Denis Townsley who died after a motorbike accident in 1965. My mother is Carol Anderson they married in September 1961 and lived in Arnieston, Dalkeith. I don't have a lot of information but I have a photograph of Tina holding a cup after winning a dance competition. My brother is Michael Paxton Townsley. My grandparents family lived in Hull.

Caroline Erskine polgarath@aol.com Edinburgh, UK - Wednesday, August 02, 2000

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