Roger Townshend

Sir Roger Townshend (c. 1544 – 30 June 1590) was an English nobleman, politician, soldier, and knight. He was the son of Sir Richard Townshend (died 1551) and Katherine Browne. He spent much of his career in the service of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, and Norfolk's son and heir, Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel. He was knighted at sea on 26 July 1588 during the battle against the Spanish Armada.

Family Roger Townshend was the eldest son of Sir Richard Townshend (died 1551), esquire, of Brampton, Norfolk, and Katherine Browne, the daughter and coheir of Sir Humphrey Browne of Ridley Hall in Terling, Essex, Justice of the Common Pleas. He was the grandson of Sir John Townshend (d. 1543/4) by his wife, Eleanor Heydon, daughter of the courtier Sir John Heydon of Baconsthorpe Castle, Norfolk (a son of Henry Heydon and Anne Boleyn). He was the great-grandson and heir of Sir Roger Townshend (died 1551) and his wife, Amy Brewse (d. 1553).

Townshend is said to have had two sisters, Alice Townshend (fl. 31 July 1551), and Elizabeth Townshend, who married Thomas Godsalve (d. 2 August 1588) of Buckenham Ferry, Norfolk.

Career In 1551, when only six or seven years of age, Townshend was heir to his great-grandfather, Sir Roger Townshend. His inheritance comprised more than twenty manors near Raynham, Norfolk, and other property,

In 1553 Townshend entered Trinity College, Cambridge, but did not take a degree. In May 1565 he was granted livery of his lands, although still underage.

After the 4th Duke's execution in 1572, Townshend continued to serve his son and heir, Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, who was still a minor at the time of his father's death. In 1583 Arundel made a deed of gift to Townshend and William Dix of all his movable goods to assist with the payment of Arundel's debts. Townshend's conduct sometimes displeased Arundel.

Townshend added to his landed inheritance in Norfolk by purchasing other properties, including lands in Essex and an estate at Stoke Newington which he bought from Thomas Sutton (1532–1611).

Townshend married secondly, Jane Stanhope (c. 1547–1618), the daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope (died 1552) of Shelford, Nottinghamshire, by his wife, Anne Rawson (c. 1515 – 20 February 1588), the daughter of Nicholas Rawson, of Aveley, Essex, and Beatrix Cooke (d. 14 January 1554), daughter of Sir Philip Cooke (d. 7 December 1503) by Elizabeth Belknap (died c. 6 March 1504).

After Townshend's death, his widow, Jane, married, as his second wife, Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley. She died at her house in the Barbican on 3 January 1618, leaving a will dated 20 July 1617 which was proved by her grandson, Sir Roger Townshend, 1st Baronet, on 10 March 1618.

By his second wife Townshend had two sons:

Sir John Townshend (died 1603), who married Anne Bacon, the daughter of Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey, Norfolk, and died 2 August 1603, the day after being mortally wounded in a duel with Sir Matthew Browne of West Betchworth in Dorking, Surrey. Sir Robert Townshend.