BIO: Hon. Charles Townsend (Judge); Buffalo, Erie co., NY. Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.org *********************************************************************** MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY NEW YORK VOLUME I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL, ILLUSTRATED, PUB. 1906-8 HON. CHARLES TOWNSEND, son ot Nathaniel Townsend, was born in Norwich, Conu., January 22, 1786, and came to Buffalo in 1811. In 1814, with his partner, George Coit, he engaged in ship-building and lake transportation, the firm of Townsend & Coit being until 1821 the only Buffalo house following these lines of business. In 1813 Mr. Townsend was appointed Judge of Niagara County, an office which he held till 1826. As a jurist he showed an impartiality and good sense which went far to supply the place of a technical training in the law, and were amply sufficient for the needs of the community. Judge Townsend took a leading part in securing a harbor for Buffalo. In 1821 he with his partner, Mr. Coit, and other citizens mortgaged their private property to the State and obtained a loan of $12,000 for the purpose of building the harbor. The work was accomplished, and on its success the project was taken up by the State and later by the Federal Government, the outcome being the rebuilding of the harbor in its present form. In the courageous and disinterested act of Judge Townsend and his coadjutors in pledging their own property for the benefit of the public, was the germ of the greatness of the port of Buffalo. The Townsend name is also identified with the origin of that standard financial institution, the Buffalo Savings Bank. The bank was organized May 9, 1846, Judge Townsend being elected its first President, an office which he continued to hold until his death. Judge Townsend married Jane Corning at Albany, N. Y., June 5, 1819. Their children were Anna. M. (Stone), born April 23, 1820; George C., born September 25, 1821, died January 30, 1852; Jane C. (Wilson), born November 30, 1823; Mary W. (Rich), born Deceniber 5, 1826, died February 11, 1896; Charles, born April 12, 1831; Frauces 11. (Rosseel), born July 25, 1835. The death of Judge Townsend occurred in Buffalo, September 14, 1847. He survived his wife by six years.