Jabez Ashley (1686 - 1780)

Born 16 Apr 1686 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Bidwell) Ashley — married 15 Dec 1720 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1780 at age 93 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Jabez Miller, later known as Joseph Ashley, was an illegimate son of Joseph Ashley (1652-1698 and Deborah Miller (1662-1750), born in Springfield, Massachusetts 16 Apr 1686.^[1] Francis Bacon Trowbridge describes the situation as follows:^[2]

"It was in the spring of 1686, however, that Joseph Ashley found himself involved in a serious difficulty, which gained him much unpleasant notoriety and nearly caused a separation between him and his wife. A few months previous to his marriage Joseph Ashley had formed an intimacy with Deborah Miller, a young woman in Springfield, which resulted in their being summoned before the court. In consequence of this affair, his wife in connection with her brother and mother made application for a divorce in February, 1687, but through the exertions of mutual friends they became reconciled and lived together until his death."

Jabez' father was recently married to Mary Parsons (1661-1711). Joseph and Mary managed to reconcile, and raised Jabez as their own. When Jabez came of age he changed his name to his birth father's name Joseph Ashley.

Joseph settled in Springfield on the east side of the Connecticut River and lived there all of his life. He was a carpenter and joiner, and farmer. He held minor town offices and served as Constable in 1729. On 15 Dec 1720 in Springfield^[3], Joseph married Mary Bidwell (1694-1733). They had the following children, recorded in Springfield:

1. Joseph b. 15 Nov 1721^[4]; d. 7 Jan 1785 age 63^{[5] [6]}; m. Phebe Markham and Hannah Sikes.
2. John b. 18 Dec 1723^[7]; d. 1745 age 22 in Louisburgh, Mass.^[8]; unmarried.
3. Mary b. 11 Jan 1726^[9]; d. 1726, an infant.
4. Mary b. 1 Jan 1727^[10]; fate unknown.
5. Ruth b. 13 Apr 1729^[11]; d. 20 Nov 1745 age 16^[12]; unmarried.
6. David b. 8 May 1731^[13]; d. 15 Jul 1800 age 69^[14]; m. Vashti Brooks.
7. Stephen b. 12 Jul 1733^[15]; fate unknown, possibly stillborn.

Mary passed away two days after giving birth to Stephen, 14 Jul 1733 age 38 in Springfield. Joseph passed away 2 Apr 1780 age 93 in Springfield.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJF-XY5 : 3 May 2022), Jabez Miller, 1686.
2. ↑ Trowbridge, Francis Bacon. The Ashley Genealogy: A History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts". New Haven: self-published, 1896. Page 345. Available at https://archive.org/details/ashleygenealogyh00trow/page/344/mode/2up.
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC3Q-GBZ : 28 July 2021), Joseph Ashley, 1720.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJX-L77 : 3 May 2022), Joseph Ashley, 1721.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPN6-N8K : 3 May 2022), Joseph Ashley, 1785.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75391560/joseph-ashley: accessed 03 May 2023), memorial page for Joseph Ashley (16 Apr 1686–2 Apr 1780), Find a Grave Memorial ID 75391560; Burial Details Unknown, Unknown; Maintained by Ed Poulin (contributor 47263733).
7. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJX-GH3 : 3 May 2022), John Ashley, 1723.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts Town Deaths Index, ca. 1640-1961", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D8PF-6XT2 : 10 November 2020), John Ashley, 1745.
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJN-27P : 3 May 2022), Mary Ashley, 1726.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJX-RSZ : 3 May 2022), Mary Ashley, 1727.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJN-PQP : 3 May 2022), Ruth Ashley, 1729.
12. ↑ "Massachusetts Town Deaths Index, ca. 1640-1961", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D8PR-BYW2 : 10 November 2020), Ruth Ashley, 1745.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJN-5R2 : 3 May 2022), David Ashley, 1731.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPN6-VYK : 3 May 2022), David Ashley, 1800.
15. ↑ "Massachusetts, Springfield Vital Records, 1638-1887", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPJN-YJM : 2 May 2022), Stephen Ashley, 1733.
16. ↑ "Massachusetts Town Deaths Index, ca. 1640-1961", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D85F-483Z : 10 November 2020), Joseph Ashley, 1780.