Biography of Robert Townshend -1556

Robert Townshend was born to Roger Townshend.

In 1515 Robert Townshend admitted at Lincoln's Inn.

In 1526 Robert Townshend was appointed Justice of the Peace Norfolk.

Before 1534 Robert Townshend and Alice Poppy were married.

Around 1534 [his son] Thomas Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy.

Around 1535 [his son] Robert Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy.

In 1537 [his son] Henry Townshend was born to Robert Townshend and [his wife] Alice Poppy.

In 1540 Robert Townshend was appointed Serjeant at Law.

In 1543 Robert Townshend was appointed King's Sarjeant.

In 1545 Robert Townshend was appointed Chief Justice of the Marches of Wales and Chester.

Before 21 May 1545 Robert Townshend was appointed Justice Chester.

On 21 May 1545 Robert Townshend was knighted by Henry VIII (age 53) at Hampton Court Palace, Richmond [Map].

On 06 Oct 1550 [his son-in-law] Humphrey Archer of Umberslade (age 22) and [his daughter] Alice Townshend were married.

On 25 Nov 1551 [his father] Roger Townshend (age 73) died at Raynham, Norfolk [Map].

On 08 Feb 1556 Robert Townshend died.

Around 1575 [his former wife] Alice Poppy died.

1581. Monument to Robert Townshend and his wife [his former wife] Alice Poppy at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow [Map]. She wearing a Bongrace. He, unusually, with his head on a book. The inscription panel behind the tomb, cutting into older tracery, bears the date 1581; it seems likely that the tomb in its present state dates from that time, and was erected by his children, after the death of their mother in the 1570s. The figures of their twelve children, six sons in pairs on the front, six daughters in two groups of three at each end, all named, are set within a classical framework of round-headed arched divided by fluted Ionic columns. The tomb has been much repaired and repainted. The recess in which the tomb stands was originally the setting for the pre-Reformation Easter Sepulchre, a sacred location which became popular for personal tombs in the later middle ages. The decorative arch around the recess has hanging corbels, the eastern one carved with a pomegranate, emblem of Katharine of Aragon, suggesting the arch was part of a refurbishment of the church in the early 16th century, when Katharine, as the wife of Prince Arthur, was living in Ludlow.