Complex sentence: Townshend was the son of Sir Roger Townshend and Jane Stanhope, and inherited considerable estates in Norfolk from him, coming to be recognised as one of the leading members of the county gentry.
Split into simpler sentences: Townshend was the son of Sir Roger Townshend and Jane Stanhope. He inherited considerable estates in Norfolk from his father, coming to be recognised as one of the leading members of the county gentry.