James Townsend (New Zealand settler)

James Townsend (c. 1790 – 12 August 1866) was an English wine merchant, who in later life was a pioneer settler in New Zealand's South Island.

[4] In the 1841 census, Townsend and much of his family were recorded as resident in the civil parish of St Pancras, London.

[2] A purchaser of land in the Canterbury settlement, Townsend was listed with the address 21 Evershall Street, Mornington Crescent.

[9] He also took part in the Zoological Committee of the settlement, raising funds in London for the importation of native British species.

[12] It was described as "a fine house, with parallel twin gables, seven rooms, tōtara exterior walls lined with Tasmanian timber"; and went to the family of William Reeves.

[25][26] One of the sons did not come to New Zealand;[1] Margaret Ward met this brother in Panama in 1867 where he was an officer on HMS Scout.