Landed Estates
University of Galway

Townsend (Derry & Myross Wood)

The Townsend estates in west Cork derive from Colonel Richard Townsend, an officer in the Cromwellian army. Family records indicate that this branch is descended from his grandson, Phillip Townsend. Various members of the family, based at Derry and at Myross Wood, augmented their landholding through the eighteenth and into the nineteenth centuries. See Townsend Family Records at http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~townsend/tree/home.php. John H. Townsend of Myross Wood, county Cork, owned over 6000 acres in the county in the 1870s. He was among the principal lessors in the parishes of Myross, Caheragh and Drinagh, barony of West Carbery, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. Reverend Chambre C Townsend held townlands in the parishes of Ross and Kilmacabea, barony of East Carbery, at the same time. He was descended from Reverend Horatio Townsend of Derry. In November 1850 the rental of lands in the barony of West Carbery, the property of Jonas M. and John Henry Townsend, was offered for sale in the Encumbered Estates Court. Over 400 acres of lands in East Carbery, the property of John Townsend, were offered for sale in the court in June 1856. Later, in April 1858, 300 acres, the property of John Handcock Townsend and others, was advertised for sale in the court. The Freeman's Journal gives details of the purchasers.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Myross Wood Brade Myross Skibbereen Castlehaven North 317 West Carbery (East) Cork OSI Ref: W202359
OS Sheet: 142
Discovery map: 89 		Photo of Myross Wood
Derry House (Ross) Derry Ross Clonakilty Ross Carbery 57 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W273372
OS Sheet: 134
Discovery map: 89 		Photo of Derry House (Ross)
Roury House Derry Ross Clonailty Ross Carbery 57 East Carbery (West) Cork OSI Ref: W261363
OS Sheet: 134
Discovery map: 89

Archival sources

  • Ivan A. Howe, solicitor's collection, includes legal papers etc re Townshend of Myros Wood, Co Cork & Roehampton, Surrey, 1678-1881. Small Accs Index 1/643, Co 2552-2554a D.12632-12639, T.3922 ; National Archives of Ireland
  • Detailed abstract of will of John Townsend of Shipperton, Co. Cork, 1806. Genealogical Office: Ms. 143, p. 27 ; National Library of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates Court Rentals (O'Brien), Townsend, 26 November 1850, Vol 4, MRGS 39/002, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Townsend, 26 June 1856, Vol 41, MRGS 39/019, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Townsend et al, 22 April 1858, Vol 51, MRGS 39/025, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
  • Lawrence Family Papers, include deed between the Rev. Chambre Corker Townsend, Derry, Co. Cork (first part), Horatio Townsend, Trinity College, Dublin (second part), Thomas Poole, Mayfield, Co. Cork (third part), Richard Townsend ['Derry, Co. Cork ?], and the Rev. James Stewart, Lislee Glebe, Co. Cork (fourth part) for barring the entail and resettling estate of lands in [Ballinagovna ?], [Derrynanalane ?], Corran, Knockavoher, [Keelnacallee ?], and Knockmore, Co. Cork, 1 July 1846. D2871/6; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Rosscarbery; Cork County Library

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources