Samuel Townsend's Portable Desk
A late 18th century mahogany writing desk.  Samuel Townsend carried this desk with him on his many business trips and until his untimely death in 1830. Many late 18th and early 19th century documents were preserved in this desk, and are now maintained in the Society's Archives.




 

Portraits
The Portraits, painted circa 1827, show Samuel and Rebecca (Purdy) Townsend, great-grandparents of the Townsend Society's benefactress, Helen Hart Townsend. About two years after these portraits were painted Samuel was lost at sea off Sandy Hook.  See the portraits behind the board photo.