Robert Ashley (abt. 1616 - 1682)

Born about 1616 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Ashley — married 1641 in Springfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 29 Nov 1682 at about age 66 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Parentage

Robert Ashley's parentage is unknown. Some family trees show that he was the son of a man named William Ashley and a woman named Elizabeth Mary Schuyler.^[1] However, no reliable evidence has been found that provides any basis for that parentage or otherwise suggests who his parents were.

Date and Place of Birth

Robert's date of birth is uncertain. Based on the fact that he was taxed as a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts in January 1638/9, he was probably 21 at the time, which suggests that Robert was born no later than 1618. Based on the fact that his first born child was born in 1642, he was probably born no earlier than 1612.

Some family trees show that Robert was born in Mowsley, Leicestershire, England.^[1] However, no reliable evidence has been found that he was born there or that otherwise establishes his place of birth. He was most likely born in somewhere England.

Immigration to New England

The first record of Robert that has been found is a record showing him on the tax list of Springfield in January 1638/9.^[2] It is therefore likely that he arrived in Springfield no later than 1638, and immigrated to New England in 1638 or somewhat earlier.

Marriage

Robert entered into a marriage contract with Mary Horton, widow of Thomas Horton, on August 7, 1641.^[2] Their actual date of marriage is unknown, but, based on the date of birth of their first child (June 1642), was no doubt slightly later that year.

Children

Robert and Mary had the following children, all born in Springfield:

1. David (twin), b. June 3, 1642,^[3][4] m. November 24, 1663 Hannah Glover in New Haven, Connecticut,^[4] d. December 8, 1718 in Westfield, Massachusetts^[4]
2. daughter (twin), b. June 3, 1642,^[5] d. soon after birth^[5]
3. Mary, b. April 6, 1644,^[6][5] m. October 18, 1664 John Root of Westfield^[5]
4. Jonathan, b. February 25, 1645/6,^[7][8] m. November 10, 1669 Sarah Wadsworth in Springfield,^[8] d. February 1704/5 in Hartford, Connecticut^[8]
5. Sarah, b. August 23, 1648,^[9][5] not mentioned in Robert's will, probably died young^[5]
6. Joseph, b. July 5, 1652,^[10][11] m. October 16, 1685 Mary Parsons in Springfield,^[11] d. May 18, 1698 in West Springfield, Massachusetts^[11]

Death

Robert died in Springfield on November 29, 1682.^[12][13]

^{[13] [2] [1] [11] [8] [5] [4] [12] [7] [3] [10] [9] [6]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Robert Ashley, of Mowsley & Springfield
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 3
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DC-SF9 : 9 February 2018), David Ashley, 03 Jun 1642; citing Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, v 1 p 40; FHL microfilm 14,766.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 21
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 18
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DH-YN1 : 9 February 2018), Mary Ashley, 06 Apr 1644; citing Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, v 1 p 40; FHL microfilm 14,766.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJX-BLR : 9 February 2018), Jonathan Ashley, 25 Feb 1645; citing , Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, Springfield City Hall; FHL microfilm 185,414.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 293
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DH-BFW : 9 February 2018), Sarah Ashley, 23 Aug 1648; citing Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, v 1 p 41; FHL microfilm 14,766.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4DC-96K : 9 February 2018), Joseph Ashley, 05 Jul 1652; citing Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, v 1 p 1; FHL microfilm 14,766.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 343
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJ4-D8H : 9 February 2018), Robert Ashley, 29 Nov 1682; citing v 1 p 51, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, Springfield City Hall; FHL microfilm 185,414.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, p 14

See also:

• http://josfamilyhistory.com/htm/nickel/griffin/sheldon/noble/dewey-ashley.htm
• Charles Henry Pope, "The Pioneers of Massachusetts," 1900, p 231
• Davis, E., Genealogy of Hon. Chester Ashley, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass.,1848) Vol. 2, Page 394-5.