Thomas Townsend was born in 1753 in Augusta County, Virginia.

He volunteered as a Private in 1775 in the company of Captain John Wallace, commanded by Colonel Neel under General Richard Richardson. During this service of six weeks, the company engaged in skirmishes with the Tories on the Reedy River and marched upriver through Dutch Fork at Rutledge’s Big Survey on Duncan’s Creek, then to Raburn’s Creek, where the company was dismissed.

In the years 1776 and 1777, he served a fourteen-month tour in the company of Captain James Duff, where he was attached to the 2nd Regiment of Riflemen under Colonel Sumter. The company encountered the British at Bolton’s Landing, near Charleston, South Carolina. They were in a battle with Cherokee Nation warriors at Black Hole or Horse Shoe. They marched from the Camden District to Charleston, then on to Sullivan’s Island, Haddrell’s Point, and Bolton’s Landing. They marched back the same route through South Carolina and into the land of the Cherokee Nation. Then on to Tennessee into Georgia., the marching down the Chattahoochee River, back to Fort Seneca, the Ninety-Six District, and Ripley’s Fort on the frontier. 

When the company reached Savannah, Thomas became ill and was sent to Charleston. From there he was carried back to his home, where he recovered. He then rejoined his Regiment and served until he was discharged by Colonel Thomas Sumter on 7 June 1777. He returned home until 1778, when he again volunteered and served over two months in the regiment of Colonel Samuel Watson. They marched from Liberty Hill to Waynesboro, Georgia. They continued along to Rocky Ford on the Ogeechee River to Briar Creek before returning to Liberty Hill. They then marched to Rocky Comfort, Georgia, where they were in a skirmish with Creek Nation warriors. From there, they went to Augusta, where he was discharged.

He served a three-month tour as a Private in the company of Captain Samuel Carr, who was killed and succeeded him by Captain George Liddle. They were in the regiment of Colonel Elijah Clarke of the Georgia Militia and Lieutenant-Colonel James McCall. During this period, he was engaged in the battles of Fish Dam Ford on the Broad River in South Carolina; at Blockstock’s on the Tyger River, Rutledge’s Ford on Saluda River, and at Reedy Branch on the Long Cane. After this term was completed, he was drafted in 1781 and served two months as a Private in the company of Captain John Chalmers, commanded by Colonel William Bratton. The company was stationed at Orangeburg. After this discharge, he volunteered again in 1781 in the company of Captain Chambers, followed by Captain Daniel Anderson, commanded by Colonel Moffat. They were in a skirmish on 16 July 1781 at Biggin Church. 

After this service, he was engaged as a Minuteman until the end of the war under Captain Anderson, commanded by Colonels James Hawthorn and William Hill. They were called up for several short tours against the Tories.

After the war, he moved to Abbeville District, South Carolina, then on to Oglethorpe County, Georgia. This was followed by moves to Jackson County, then to Morgan County, Franklin County, and Habersham County, Georgia. It was in Habersham County where he made his military pension deposition on 1 July 1833.

He was married on 16 December 1778 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, to Mrs. Susannah Stephens, the widow of John Stephens. His Last Will and Testament names the following children:

• Edward was born on 9 August 1789 and married Anna Taylor.
• Andrew is thought to have married Nancy “Dilly” Pierce.
• Thomas was born on 27 August 1783 and married Eleanor Thomas.
• Susannah was born about 1785 and married Absolum Wofford.
• Eleanor was born about 1797.

He filed for a Military Pensions in the Inferior Court of Habersham County, Georgia, on 1 July 1833. The Court approved the pension, which was paid until his death on February 17, 1836. The records indicate he was a private in the War of the Revolution on the South Carolina Continental Line. His sworn statement detailed his military service. He was allowed a pension of $80 per annum on his application dated 6 November 1832. At that time, he was a resident of Habersham County, Georgia.

The Patriot died on 17 February 1836 while living in Habersham County, Georgia.

On 8 April 1844, his widow made a deposition in her application for a widow’s pension. At the time, she was living in Gilmore County, Georgia, and was about ninety-five years old. The deposition doesn’t give her maiden name, just the name of her first husband, nor does it list her children.