A young Quaker named Joseph Townsend was an observer of Howe's attack on Washington's right flank on September 11, 1777, and also of a number of subsequent events. He wrote up his observations late in life and they were published after his death. Much of our fact and lore about the battle comes from Townsend's accounts.
Townsend, aged 21, lived near Turk's Head, now West Chester, and was attending 5th day Quaker meeting in Sconnelltown when the British arrived in that area. He and his brother William, aged 29, talked with the British and followed them into battle near Birmingham Meeting. From him we learn: Cornwallis was tall and erect, with rich scarlet clothes and gold lace; Howe was portly, large, with coarse features and a mouth that was fallen in; and Hessians wore beards on their upper lips. We also get a picture of the progression of the battle and a first-hand view of the crude medical practices at Birmingham Meeting after the battle. Townsend and his brother had an adventurous trip home, encountering local militia, and days later helped bury the dead.
After the war was over, Townsend and his wife, discouraged by the destruction of the battle, moved to Baltimore. Townsend, known as a strong humanitarian, helped the young city grow. War came to his doorstep again in 1814 when the British attacked Baltimore. As a pacifist Quaker, he did not participate in the battle, but when it was over, he tended to the dead and dying, a reprise of the Battle at Brandywine 37 years earlier. Joseph Townsend died in 1841 at the age of 85, leaving us an important legacy of the battle. For those interested in reading Townsend's story, refer to Futhey and Cope's History of Chester County (1881) which is in the library at the Battlefield.
Bob Goddu
<http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/special/art02.htm>


Pennsylvania Gazette Archives"The PennsylvaniaGenealogical Catalogue:
Chester County 1809-1870 "February 12, 1861 VILLAGE RECORDAbstract:
ITEM #16082

Biography JOSEPH TOWNSEND, son of John Townsend and JoannaEngland,
was born in the township of East Bradford, Chestercounty, on the 26th
of February, 1756. His grandfather,Joseph, emigrated from Berkshire,
England, to Pennsylvania, in or about the year 1712, bringing with
him his wife, Martha,who was the daughter of Julian & Esther
Wooderson. He resided at different places in Chester and Philadelphia
counties,until 1727, - when he purchased near 900 acres of land on
thewest side of the Welsh line, opposite the present Borough ofWest
Chester. Upon this tract he settled, and there remained until the
close of his life in 1766. He was a weaver by trade,and carried it on
in connection with Agriculture. A portion of the land - a first rate
farm - is still owned and cultivated by his great grandson, Eusebius
Townsend. Joanna, the mother of Joseph Townsend, the subject of this
article, was born at Burton upon Trent, and came to this country with
her parents, Joseph and Margaret England. They settled at Nottingham,
and thought they were in Pennsylvania, but found afterward to their
great chagrin, that they were left on the South side of Mason &
Dixonline, in the Province of Maryland. (One of the daughters of this
family (the ENGLANDS of Nottingham,) was married to the celebrated
ROBERT KIRKWOOD, of New Castle County. - the Leader of the gallant
DELAWARES, throughout the Revolutionary contest, and, at all times,
the BEAU IDEAL of a Hero and a Patriot. - A grandson of the Hero - a
genuine 'Blue Hen Chicken'- is now an accomplished office in the
U.S.Army.) Joanna Townsend was an intelligent, old fashioned English
woman, with much energy of character and a very determined will of
her own. Her son, Joseph, inherited a full share of his mother's
tenacity of purpose, - with a tinge of quaint eccentricity, derived
from his father's side of the house; but, withal, he was a most
actively useful, philanthropic and exemplary man. His family were all
disciples of GEORGE FOX, and Joseph himself, was ever one of the
straitest of the Sect: He was, however, endowed with a notableportion
of human curiosity; in times and places of commotion,or great
excitement, he was sure to be or thereabouts,'- a close observer of
what was going on, and ready to lend ahand, in case good offices were
required. - When Gen. Howe,with the main body of the British army,
crossed the eastbranch of the Brandywine, at Jefferis' Ford, Joseph
Townsend -who resided near the Ford - was attracted by the formidable
novelty of the occasion, and followed the column by way of
Strodemill, and over Osborn Heights, toward Birmingham Meeting House.
He accompanied the troops until the crossed Radley Run, at the foot
of Osborn Hill, and were ascending the road toward Birmingham. The
column there began to deploy into the fields, in order of battle, and
promptly advanced to attack. Joseph curiosity disposed him to proceed
further,with them; but officers checked him, - and when the American
bullets began to whistle about their ears, he wisely concluded it was
about time for him, as a noncombatant, to retrograde. He then retired
to the eminence known as Osborn Heights -where he had a fine view of
the battlefield, and got a sight of Gen. Howe and his Staff, who were
there superintending the conflict. When the clatter of the engagement
subsided, Joseph Townsend repaired the awful scene and aided in
conveying the wounded into the old Birmingham Meeting House. This was
a service perfectly in union with his active humanity. The
devastation perpetrated, during the passage of Howe army through
Chester county, induced Joseph Townsend to migrate to some more
fortunate region; and at the close of the war, he removed to the
Falls of Gunpowder River, in Maryland, where he taught school for a
year. In the fall of 1783, he removed to Baltimore, - and the then
being small but growing, he soon engaged actively in promoting its
advancement; was a member ofthe Board of Health, for several years,
during the fatal visitations of yellow fever; was active in procuring
the Potters Field, and founding the Maryland Hospital, - both of
which were required by the aforesaid fearful epidemic. In 1793, he
was one of the founders of the 'Baltimore Equitable Society for
insuring Houses from loss by Fire, 'an institutionin which he was an
efficient officer for the long period of 47 years. Various other
positions of trust and responsibility, were also held by him, under
both the City and the State Governments. In the autumn of 1814, after
the sack of Washington City, the British forces undertook to treat
Baltimore in the same manner, - but their marauding career was
bravely intercepted, at North Point. Joseph Townsend -occupying a
seat in the Gallery of FRIENDS' MEETING - ofcourse, could not be
expected to bear arms, on the occasion (though two of his sons were
then on military duty in Pennsylvania) - yet, as soon as the conflict
was ended, the worthy old Quaker - then nearly three score years of
age - was one of the foremost, and most efficient, in performing the
offices of humanity, among the dead and dying, on the ensanguined
battlefield. After a long life - illustrated bythe signal public
spirit, and practical benevolence - he died at his adopted home, on
the 30th of September, 1841, in the 86th year of his age. His remains
repose in a GRANITE SARCOPHAGUS prepared in his lifetime, under his
own direction.Few men were so extensively known by his
contemporaries, as JOSEPH TOWNSEND of BALTIMORE, and long will his
memory behonored as one of the Fathers and Benefactors of
theMonumental city. [NOTAE CESTRIENSES]

<https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/th/read/TOWNSEND/2008-04/1209315732>