ASHBY-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Captain Thomas Ashby's Father Is?
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 22:16:39 EDT

Captain Thomas Ashby born ? and died in 1752
I have seen references for Thomas Ashby being born as early as 1660 and late
as 1697. The accepted norm seems to be about 1680 and no such proof has been
found to give his exact date of birth. We don't know where he was born, what
year he was married or if he had married more than once and also do not know
the birth dates of his children or whether he was the immigrant or not. All
the dates given in the Ashby Books by Mrs. Lee Fleming Reese for Thomas and
his wife Rose and their children are estimates or perhaps the more better
word here is guesstimates. Then the main question is who was his father?
Several people have taken the line that Thomas was the son of John Ashby of
South Carolina but there is no proof to substantiate this. Also that he
first married Elizabeth LeJeau of South Carolina and then moved to Virginia
and married a second time to Rose Berry. There were two Thomas Ashby's in
South Carolina at this time and they died in South Carolina in 1750 and 1754.
It has been proved that neither of these Thomas's could have been the Thomas
of Virginia. Therefore Thomas Ashby's father was not the John Ashby from
South Carolina. In Thomas Ashby's Will, proved on August 4, 1752 he mentions
his wife, Rose, her last name is not given. However people have seem to have
given her the last name of Berry simply because there were some Berry's
mentioned as cousins in Thomas Ashby's Will and also Berry's were living on
his land along the Shenandoah River as well as his land near the town of
Delaplane. I have never seen a Berry with the first name being Rose and I
doubt if anyone has any proof to substantiate this.
Here are my findings:
Lancaster County, Virginia a John Ashby is shown being in that county in 1654
and in 1669. In 1673 a John and Jane Ashby sell their land in Lancaster and
move to Stafford County, Virginia. From 1699 thru 1703 a John Ashby of
Stafford was mentioned in the accounts of judgements against Thomas Lund,
Francis Hunt and John Pike. In 1724 a Thomas and Robert Ashby appear in
Stafford County on the tobacco tenders list. Robert that same year purchases
by Deed 180 acres of land along Chappawamsic Creek. Thomas that same year
was tending tobacco on Thomas Drummonds account. Thomas Drummond is a
mystery, we have no other records of him and do not know where he lived in
Stafford County. I also found that many of the people that lived near the
Ashbys in Stafford had also come from Lancaster to Stafford County. Thomas
Lund in 1706 had come from Lancaster and purchased land in Stafford County
along Chotank Creek. This creek empties into the Potomac River and this land
once in Stafford now lies in King Georges County. Chotank Creek is shown on
the 1755 Fry and Jefferson Map and also on John Boyle's Map of 1820 and is
due east of Fredericksburg. So John and Jane Ashby must have lived near
Chotank Creek when they had first come to Stafford. In nearby Westmoreland
County in 1693 there was a case between Robert Brent vs. Jane Ashby,
executrix of John Ashby. A Hugh Brent in Lancaster County was mentioned as
being a good friend of Jane Ashby. Hugh Brent is another person from
Lancaster that came to Stafford. No Deed has been found for Thomas Ashby in
Stafford County, perhaps he had inherited his fathers land or maybe he was
living in that part of Stafford that broke off to become Prince William. On
November 29, 1733 Thomas Ashby purchases by Warrant 1,269 acres of land along
the Shenandoah River and this Warrant mentions that he was already living in
that County. Thomas on May 21, 1741 purchases by Warrant 320 acres of land
also in Prince William County and near the tiny hamlet of present day
Delaplane. On August 4, 1742 he receives a Deed for this land. Most of the
records for Stafford County before 1700 are missing therefore we will never
be able to prove 100% who Thomas and Robert Ashby's father was or when Thomas
was married and when the children were born. I have copies of all Warrants,
Deeds and Documents mentioned herein. At least I believe that I have come up
with the most evidence so far as to say who his father could have been.
Donald Lee Ashby -- October 28, 2000

This thread:

• Captain Thomas Ashby's Father Is? by <>