Career
He was the son of Jacob Townsend (1692–1742) and Phebe (Seaman) Townsend (1699–1774). Townsend was a deputy to the 3rd and 4th New York Provincial Congresses in 1776. Townsend was elected as a Federalist to the 2nd United States Congress in April 1790, but died a month later, before his term began.
