Sir Robert Townshend (died 8 February 1555/56) of Ludlow, Shropshire was a judge who held a number of positions, including Chief Justice of the Marches of Wales and Chester. [1] He was the founder of the Cheshire and Shropshire branch of the Townshend family.
Sir Robert Townshend was the second son of Sir Roger Townshend (d.1551) of Raynham, Norfolk [2] and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1515. [3] He became Justice of the Peace for Norfolk in 1526, Serjeant at Law in 1540 and King's Serjeant in 1543. [4] He was appointed as Justice of Chester in 1545, and was knighted by Henry VIII on 21 May 1545 at Hampton Court Palace.
He married Alice Poppy, a daughter of Robert Poppy. Together they had six sons and six daughters. [1] [5] He died on 8 February 1555/6. He was buried in Ludlow church, where his memorial, erected in 1581, is a large table tomb with polychrome recumbent effigies of Sir Robert and Dame Alice, and with empanelled heraldry [6] and images of his children as mourners. [7]
One son, Sir Henry Townshend was also a judge. [8]
The children of Sir Robert Townshend and Alice née Poppy are shown [9] as follows:
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