Roger Townshend

Who is Roger Townshend?

Sir Roger Townshend MP was an English politician.

He was the son of Roger Townshend and Eleanor Lumford of Raynham, Norfolk, and studied at Lincoln's Inn.

Instead of following in his father's footsteps as a judge, he devoted himself to his lands and to local affairs. He was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk for 1511 and 1518 and elected Knight of the Shire for Norfolk in 1529 and 1542. He was knighted in 1518.

He died on 25 November 1551 at Raynham. He had married Anne Brewes, daughter and coheiress of William de Brewse, of Wenham Hall, Suffolk, and Stinton Hall in Norfolk, by whom he had six sons and two daughters:

John Townshend of Raynham, who married Eleanor Heydon, the daughter of the courtier Sir John Heydon of Baconsthorpe Castle, Norfolk by his wife, Catherine Willoughby, the daughter of Sir Christopher Willoughby. John Townshend precedeased his father, leaving five sons and two daughters, including an eldest son, Richard Townshend, who married Katherine Browne, the daughter of Sir Humphrey Browne.

Sir Robert Townshend, who was Justice of Chester, and married Alice Poppey, daughter and sole heir of Robert Poppey, esquire, of Brampton, Suffolk.