Fonds consists of correspondence of General Townshend, the correspondence of Mrs. Sidney Lee, a relation by marriage, and the estate papers of the Townshend family, 1654-1920 (volumes 1-6). The correspondence of Henry Dive Townshend (pp. 1-732) relates to his military commands in Canada, 1836-1840, and his commands in Great Britain and Ireland, 1840-1877. Included are many references to military actions in the area north of Montreal during the critical months of 1837 and 1838 and also in the area of Amherstburg during and after the Navy Island incident. The correspondence of Mrs. Sidney Lee (pp. 733-830) consists of letters concerning the settlement of an unidentified estate in 1785, and also the correspondence, dating from 1782 to 1786, regarding the will of her brother, Major-General Charles Lee, a general of the United States forces in the Revolutionary War. The remainder of the Townshend papers (pp. 81-996) consists of undated letters, indentures, wills, and marriage settlements of the Townshend family, 1654-1831.
Townshend, Henry Dive, 1795-1882 : General Henry Dive Townshend served with the 41st Regiment in North America as an ensign in the War of 1812-1814. During the rebellions in Canada in 1837 and 1838, he was entrusted with the command of the 24th Regiment and the local militia stationed at Carillon, L.C. and, later, at Amherstburg, U.C. Townshend returned to Great Britain in 1839 and commanded the depot battalion of the 25th Foot based at Templemore, Ireland. On his retirement he held the rank of general.
