David Townsend

David Townsend was a physician whose duties brought him to Albany during the War for Independence. Traditional sources tell us that he was born in Boston in 1753, and was the son of Shippie and Ann Balch Townsend. The first Townsend is said to have emigrated to Massachusetts in 1637.

A number of same-named contemporaries are at-risk. This sketch strives to focus on Townsend in his Albany context. This individual does not appear to be related to the Oyster Bay-based family of future Albany physician Dr. Charles D. Townsend.

He is said to have graduated from Harvard in 1770 and to have studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Warren. Townsend is said to have served with Warren (who was killed) at Bunker Hill. He then was commissioned a surgeon in the "Sixth Regiment of Foot" early in 1776 and then named "Senior Surgeon to the General Hospital, Northern Department" in March 1777. He is said to have spent the winter with Washington at Valley Forge and may have come to Albany from there. We seek to document his activities in Albany more fully.

In October 1779, the holdings of "Dr. Townsend" were valued on the Albany assessment roll.

In October 1780, he engaged in a correspondence with a colleague where he wrote from Albany regarding regional military matters of note. The subsequent printing of that exchange editorialized that "The very high character of Dr. Townsend, lends great weight and authority to the letter."

In July 1781, Townsend was stationed at the Albany Hospital.

With the end of the war, Townsend returned to Boston and entered private practice. He served on a number of professional Boards and as a public health official. After his time in Albany, he appears to have authored a number of works on medical and other subjects.

In May 1785, he married one Elizabeth Davis. Perhaps she was his second wife. The union produced at least seven children included a noted Massachusetts surgeon. He may have married one Elizabeth Bayley in Boston in 1777. He is said to have been an ardent Universalist and a follower of Masonry. He appears to have signed in at the Union Lodge in 1777.

Dr. David Townsend died in Boston in April 1829.

Sources: The life of David Townsend has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Biographical sketches from CAMB and Celebrate Boston. See also World Cat.