General Nathan And Sophia (Bingham) Towson

From A Sketch Of The Life Of General Towson...

The early life and prospects of Lieut. Colonel Towson, were such as to afford but a very faint indication of the splendor of his subsequent career; a splendor which, considering the sphere of action, has seldom been equaled, and perhaps never eclipsed. The parents of Col. Towson were both natives of Baltimore county in the State of Maryland, where they lived and died, respected and esteemed by their neighbors. The subject of this memoir was the youngest of twelve children ; and was born on the 22d of January, 1784, at a little village called Towsonton, about seven miles from the city of Baltimore. 

In 1801, he was sent to Kentucky, for the purpose of residing upon and cultivating a farm, to which his father had a claim; but finding the property disputed, he soon left that State and went to Natchez; where he remained for three years: here it was that his military spirit began to develop itself. Louisiana had just then been purchased by our government, of France; and suspicions were entertained, that some opposition would be made to our taking possession of the territory. This led to the formation of volunteer companies; and young Towson enrolled himself in a company of artillery, who volunteered to accompany Governor Claiborne to New Orleans, with the militia of the Mississippi territory.

Towson's Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel By Brevet On August 15, 1814, in the War of 1812 [Fold3]:

 

 

After the War of 1812:

"...General Towson...in 1816, married the daughter of Caleb Bingham, Esq. [and Hannah Kemble] if that place [Boston]." 

Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910
Groom's Name:     Nathan Towson
Bride's Name:     Sophia Bingham
Marriage Date:     09 Apr 1816
Marriage Place:     Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

United States Census, 1850
Residence:    Washington, ward 1, Washington , DC
    Mathew Towson M 65y [Nathan] [General U.S. Army]
      Sophia Towson     F     60y
    Elector Bingham     F     50y
    Ann G White     F     50y
    Barbara Cole     F     35y
    Suand Witherson     F     25y
    William Pier     M     26y

Sophia (Bingham) Towson died in 1852 and General Nathan Towson died in 1854.  They are both buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, in Washington, DC.  


Sophia, through her ancestors Thomas and Hannah (Backus) Bingham, was a descendant of William Backus, as am I [two of my lines go to William Backus, though neither are through the Binghams].