Person Page - 147

     William Townsend was the son of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--).
     Biography of William Townsend:

William Townsend is first found in a deed dated 4 September 1786 wherein "George Trayweak, planter of Marlborough, sells to William Townsend, son of John Townsend for the sum of 5 pounds sterling that parcel of “land containing One hundred & fifty acres more or less situate lying and being whereon Cortney Townsend now lives and hath such marks courses and scope as is agreed by the said parties … being part of a tract of land containing six hundred & forty acres granted to the said Geo Trayweak on the fifth day of June in the year 1786 by William Moutrie Governor & Commander in Chief in and over the State of South Carolina.” Signed. George Traweak, Witnesses: Wm Whitfield, John Hilson, Jessie John. ¹ This deed clearly shows that William is the son of John Townsend probably to distinguish him from his Uncle William Townsend, who must still be living in the area.

This 1786 deed suggests that William is one of the oldest male children of the family. His mother, Cortney Townsend, being female, had no right to buy land in her name thus leaving the buying and ownership of the land “whereon Cortney Townsend now lives” to an older son. As concluded in the biography of John Townsend (1760-1843), John already likely inherited his father's land probably by “right of primogeniture” as that right of inheritor ship was not eliminated until 1790. William also would have had to be at least 21 years of age in order to enter into such a contract, thus indicating his being born before 1765. His brother, John Townsend (1760-1843)’s tombstone reads born "About 1760" so we have assigned William’s year of birth as being circa 1762. As the family was probably living in Orange County, North Carolina in 1762 we show that as his probable place of birth.

Other than the above deed there are no further deeds found in Marlboro County involving William Townsend.

William Townsend is next found in the 1800 Census of Marlboro County, South Carolina² with a household containing 4 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, one male 26-45 (William), 2 females under 10, one female 16-26, and one female 26-45 (likely his unknown wife).

There is no William Townsend family enumerated in the 1810 Census of Marlboro County, South Carolina. There is a William Townsend family enumerated in the 1810 Census of nearby Marion County, South Carolina that has a large family that could possibly be this William Townsend, son of John. A search for further records on William Townsend in Marion County was unsuccessful as few records of that time period are extant.

     Mary Townsend was the daughter of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--). She married William Stapleton.
     Biography of Mary Townsend:

We have included Mary Townsend in this genealogy and show her as daughter of John Townsend (1740-1786). Tula Townsend Wyatt in her book The Seven Townsend Brothers of Texas 1826-1838. ² state that "Mary and her husband, William Stapleton, moved to Alabama. One of her sons, William went to Texas by 1838". We have not been able to verify this statement but felt that Mrs. Wyatt likely had some evidence to include Mary as a Marlboro Townsend, so have included her in this genealogy. However, more research should be done to verify that statement.

     He married Mary Townsend, daughter of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--).

     She married Light Townsend, son of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--), circa 1792 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.¹ She died on 2 February 1848 at Newnansville, Alachua, Florida, United States.

     She married Thomas Townsend, son of John Townsend and Cortney (--?--), circa 1795 at Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.¹

     He married Ann Thalley.¹

     She married William G. Stokely.¹

     He married Julia Ann Hadden, daughter of Hugh Hadden and Lucy Sapp, circa 1882 at Florida, United States.¹

     Mary Julia Wimbley was the daughter of Edward J. Wimbley and Julia Ann Hadden. She married Eugene Porter.¹ Mary died in May 1964 at age 81.

     Wilhemonia Wimbley was the daughter of Edward J. Wimbley and Julia Ann Hadden. She married Alex Wright Shackleford.¹

     He married Mary Julia Wimbley, daughter of Edward J. Wimbley and Julia Ann Hadden.¹

     He married Wilhemonia Wimbley, daughter of Edward J. Wimbley and Julia Ann Hadden.¹

     Cora Lee Smith was the daughter of Stephen Bird Smith and Ann Edge. She married William Alexander Stokely, son of Evy Stokely and Julia Ann Hadden, on 6 October 1889 at Lamont, Jefferson, Florida, United States.¹ Cora died on 16 June 1925 at Monticello, Jefferson, Florida, United States, at age 53. Her body was buried in June 1925 at Ebenezer Church Cemetery, Monticello, Jefferson, Florida, United States.

     He married Ann Edge.¹

     She married Stephen Bird Smith.¹

     Claude L. Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Ruby Jane Bryant, daughter of Thomas J. Bryant and Alice Madeliene Neves, on 19 February 1916 at Miami, Dade, Florida, United States.¹ He married Lula May Cox, daughter of Thomas Jasper Cox and Mattie Ellenor (--?--), on 15 June 1940.¹ Claude died on 27 February 1959 at Lake City, Columbia, Florida, United States, at age 68. His body was buried at Memorial Cemetery, Lake City, Columbia, Florida, United States.

     Annie Lee Stokely was the daughter of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. She married John Butler Gordon Smith, son of Jefferson Davis Smith and Etta Washington Hinton, on 19 September 1909.¹ Annie died on 11 October 1977 at Florida, United States, at age 85. Her body was buried on 13 October 1977 at Roseland Cemetery, Monticello, Jefferson, Florida, United States.

     John Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. John died circa 1894 at Florida, United States.²

     Ernest Alexander Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. Ernest died in March 1905 at Florida, United States, at age 6.
     Biography of Ernest Alexander Stokely:

Ernest burned to death.

     Bailey Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Jossye Hadley Taylor, daughter of Samuel Hadley Taylor and Lona Eugenia Linton, on 29 November 1918 at Thomasville, Thomas, Georgia, United States.¹ Bailey died on 9 February 1965 at age 63.

     Preston Eureka Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Ophelia Anglin, daughter of Jim Anglin and Della Liphand, on 23 December 1928 at Pelham, Mitchell, Georgia, United States.¹ Preston died on 4 February 1981 at Ocala, Marion, Florida, United States, at age 75. His body was buried in February 1981 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Ocala, Marion, Florida, United States.

     Cora Lee Stokely was the daughter of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. She married Buzbee Rivers Jones, son of Charles Jones and Margaret Buzbee, on 24 December 1927 at Monticello, Jefferson, Florida, United States.¹

     Coloneal Millard Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Minnie May Sheffield, daughter of Linton Archie Sheffield and Shellia A. Andrews, on 10 December 1933 at Perry, Taylor, Florida, United States.¹ He married Thelma (--?--). Coloneal died on 1 April 1959 at Drifton, Jefferson, Florida, United States, at age 50. His body was buried in April 1959 at Ebenezer Church Cemetery, Monticello, Jefferson, Florida, United States.

     Fredrick Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Dorthy Louise Yates, daughter of Bernice Millard Yates and Clara Patterson, on 23 April 1933 at Drifton, Jefferson, Florida, United States.¹ Fredrick died on 4 November 1977 at age 65.

     Basil Thruman Stokely was the son of William Alexander Stokely and Cora Lee Smith. He married Edna Maples, daughter of John Maples and Nora Merchant, in 1937 at Madison, Madison, Florida, United States.¹ He married Annie Elizabeth Rudd, daughter of William Westly Rudd Sr. and Adele Berry, on 24 November 1943. Basil died on 20 August 1979 at age 63.