This family is descended from the Townsends of Long Island. John Townsend, son of John of Oyster Bay, d. 1788-9, and had, 1. Daniel of Eastchester, who left John of Eastchester, Senator for the Second District in 1821, and Elijah. 2. Freelove, who mar. William Pinckney. From the Long Island family also descended Sylvanus Townsend, who removed to North Salem, and left issue William, Sylvanus, a?t. 91, still living, James, Samuel and Justus, all residing at North Salem-
544 APPENDIX.
Valentine of Yonkers. Benjamin Valentine, the ancestor of this family, was a dragoon in the French military service, Canada. He removed to New York circa 1680, and settled upon the farm (in Yonkers) now owned by
Frederick Rich. He mar. Odell, and had three sons, Matthias, first
proprietorof Valentine's Hill, Yonkers, b. 1698, d. 1781, buried at Eastchester, Nicholas, who removed South, and Joseph. The latter individual was so passionately fond of the violin, that he obtained the surname of "The Fiddler." Matthias, the eldest, mar., 1. Anna Rych. 2. Mary , and left, I. Abraham of Yonkers, b. 1719, d. 19th Oct. 1768, buried at Eastchester, mar. Deborah Barton, and had, 1. Gilbert, b. 1748, d. 1819, mar., 1. Mary Morgan, da. of Charles. 2. Martha Briggs ; by first wife he had Abraham, b. June 16, 1773, mar. May 27, 1798, Hannah Briggs ; she was b. May 2, 1776. Abraham and Hannah left, a, Abraham of New York, b. May 10, 1804, mar., 1826, Jane Bates, and has Abraham, Edward, John, William, George, Mary Jane, Emily, d. 1843, and Catharine, b, Edward Briggs, b. Jan. 25, 1809, d. Sept. 23, 1834, mar., 1833, Eliza E. Pinckney. c, Sam. Morgan of Poughkeepsie, b. Nov. 14, 1814, mar., 1843, Elizabeth Hempstead, and has Sam. Hempstead, d, James, b. June, 10, 1813, d.