John Townsend (Oyster Bay)

John Townsend (c. 1608–1668) was an early settler of the American Colonies who emigrated from England before 1642 when his son, Thomas, was baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam.

Townsend was a signatory to the Flushing Remonstrance, a precursor to the United States Constitution's provision on freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.

Because of their persecution by the Dutch authorities of New Amsterdam, he and his brother Henry supported the Quakers, and later generations of this Townsend family joined the movement.

The talented and famous furniture makers of Newport, Rhode Island Job, Christopher, John and Edmund descend from him.

Henry Townsend's support for the Quakers created political difficulties with the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant.

In 1661 Henry received the "Mill Grant" in Oyster Bay and John bought a house in December of the same year.

A somewhat inaccurate marker placed long after he died reads: "This stone marks the grave of John Townsend who came from England about 1630, and settled in Oyster Bay in 1661.