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A Minuteman killed at the Battle of Lexington, 19 Apr 1775, on the first day of the American Revolution, one of forty-nine Americans either killed or mortally wounded on that day. He was thirty-six years old at the time of his death. An account of his death from "Townsend--Townshend, 1066-1909: the history, genealogy and alliances of the English and American house of Townsend" is transcribed as follows: "Daniel (Townsend) killed at Lexington, April 19, 1775. He was born at Lynn (Mass.), December 26, 1738, and a Deacon of the Church at Lynfield when the War of the Revolution broke out, and on receipt of the news of a detachment of regulars marching on Concord to destroy army stores, he marched with a company of minute-men and arrived at the scene of action about daylight on the day of the battle. Lewis' History of Lynn, Mass., says: Timothy Monroe, of Lynn, one of the wounded, testified "that he was standing behind a house with Daniel Townsend firing on the British troops as they were coming down the road on their retreat toward Boston. Townsend had just fired and exclaimed 'There's another red-coat down,' when Monroe, looking around, saw to his astonishment that they were completely hemmed in by the flank guard of the British army, who were coming down through the field behind them. They immediately ran into the house and sought for the cellar, but no cellar was there. All this time, which was indeed but a moment, the balls were pouring in through the back window, making havoc of the glass. Townsend leaped through the end window, carrying the sash and all with him, and instantly fell dead. Monroe followed him and escaped. After the regulars had passed, Mr. Townsend's remains, which had seven bullets through the body, were carried by his townsmen to Lynfield, and lay the next night in the Bancroft House, where the blood stains remain on the old oaken floor to this day. He left a wife and five children. The Essex Gazette of May 2, 1775, in a brief obituary, speaks of him as having been "a constant and ready friend of the poor and afflicted, a good advisor in cases of difficulty, a mild, sincere, and able reprover. In short," it adds "he was a friend to his country, a blessing to society, an ornament to the church of which he was an officer." He was buried at Lynfield, April 20, 1775, where his monument now stands, with the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Mr Daniel Townsend who was slain at the battle Lexington on April 19th 1775 aged 36 Lie vallant Townsend, in the peaceful shades; we trust, Immortal honors mingle with thy dust.What though thy body struggled in its gore? So did thy Saviour's body, long before; And as he raised his own, by power divine, So the same power shall also quicken thine. And in eternal glory mayst thou shine." Burial: Old Burying Ground Lynnfield Essex County Massachusetts Find A Grave Memorial# 7519240 Two pages from "Townsend--Townshend, 1066-1909: the history, genealogy and alliances of the English and American house of Townsend" are attached, which recount the death of Daniel Townsend at Lexington, 19 Apr 1775, as transcribed above, are added as media in memory of this American hero.
William B.
