-Henry Townsend was born about 1626 and he and his brothers John and Richard left Norwich, Norfolk, England before 1640. Henry witnessed the baptism of Thomas, son of his brother John, in New Amsterdam on 14 December 1642. He married Ann Cole, daughter of Robert and Mary Cole, in 1652 at Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in Warwick in 1653. In 1656 he and his brothers were among the first purchasers of Jamiaca, Long Island.  He was accused, indicted and fined for harbouring Quakers in 1661. Later that year he moved to Oyster Bay and there owned a grist mill. He became a Quaker. Henry died in 1691.
 
Their son Henry married Deborah Underhill. In the next generation their son Henry married Eliphal Wright.