Charles D. Townsend

Charles De Kay Townsend was born in 1778 at Goshen, in Orange County. He was the son of Absalom and Helena De Kay Townsend who fled Oyster Bay, Long Island with the British occupation of lower New York. He does not appear to have been closely related to Dr. David Townsend, a Yankee surgeon at the Albany hospital during the War.

Arriving in Albany by 1798, he was identified on community-based surveys as a "Merchant."

After arriving in Albany, he entered the field of medical practice. In 1802, he is said to have attended "Medical Lectures" at Columbia College. Perhaps, beginning in 1803, he was trained by Albany physicians Drs. Mancius and Woodruff - pillars of the postwar Albany medical community.

In December 1807, he married Albany native Maria Fonda at the Albany Presbyterian church. At least four of their seven children became prominent residents.

In 1810 and afterwards, his household was configured on the Albany census. Through those years, his holdings on Market Street were valued substantially.

Beginning with the first edition in 1813, "Charles D. Townsend" was listed as physician living probably in the same building at varying addresses on North Market Street.

During the early 19th century, Townsend was recognized as a leader of the Albany medical establishment. He treated the poor and was known for service in the emerging field of "public health." He served on various Boards and also supported a number of Albany-based organizations.

His character was considered by a number of contemporaries. One of them noted that:

"For forty-five years, until near the period of his death, he was extensively engaged in practice, rendering alike service to the poor and the rich. He was a physician of the olden school, positive and unequivocal in his attachment to the theory and practice of medicine as taught at the beginning of the present century, unfaltering in his devotion to his profession, and heroic in its defense.

        Previous to his death Dr. Townsend was afflicted with cataract [sic], which so impaired his vision as to oblige him to relinquish the duties of his profession, and assume the position of patient. He submitted to an operation for the removal of the disease which proved only partly successful. As a patient he displayed great fortitude and cheerfulness, and rigidly adhered to the directions of his medical attendants."

Another contemporary testified:

The following estimate of Dr. Townsend is from one, whose intimate relations with him afforded every opportunity to judge correctly of his character and virtues. "Industry, firmness, truthfulness, moral courage and Christian charity were blended in his character. Though possessing quickness of temper and fearlessness in the expression of his sentiments, he still possessed that nobleness of nature that when convinced of error manfully acknowledges it, and makes all reparation in its power. In the duties of his profession he would encourage and cheer his patients until all hope for them was gone, and so great was his spirit of hopefulness that it became almost proverbial, that when Dr. Townsend gave up there was indeed no hope. Then did he remember his duty as a Christian, make his suffering patients the subject of his private petition, and by prayer with them and Christian counsel point them to the Great Physician of Souls." And it was with unshaken faith and confidence in his Saviour that he himself at length entered fearlessly the dark valley, and with Unfaltering trust approached his grave."

Charles D. Townsend died in December 1847 at the age of sixty-nine. He was identified as "a practicioner of medicine". His will passed probate in Albany County in January 1848. His nephew followed in his namesake's footsteps but to a much different fate in Ohio. In February 1860, the Albany newspaper reported the death of "Elizabeth Butler" age 99 - "formerly a slave in the family of Ch. D. Townsend."

Sources: The life of Charles D. Townsend is CAP biography number 461. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. See also the sketch at NYGenWeb.

Extensive/excessive quoted material: These passages are presented here (although it is not our custom to do so) first because they are so insightful and then to ensure their availability. Both profiles appear online but were compiled from ANNALS of the Medical Society of the County of Albany, 1806-1851, by Sylvester D. Willard, M. D.