John Ashbrook (abt. 1664 - aft. 1727)

Born about 1664 in Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Elwell) Ashbrook — married 28 Jun 1687 in Charles, Maryland

Descendants

Died after 9 Oct 1727 after about age 63 in Gloucester County, Province of New Jersey

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John Ashbrook was a William Penn fleet passenger.

Biography

John Ashbrook was born about 1664 in Ireland and immigrated to the America about 1682 on the Penn Fleet Antelope of Belfast with James Atkinson as his servant and settled with him near Newton Creek, New Jersey, buying land there and in Deptford Township, Gloucester County. John became an active and involved citizen serving as constable of old Gloucester Co. in 1694. By 1697 he was a member of the general assembly of the Province of West New Jersey. This same year he was found guilty of "killing hogs in the woods contrary to law" in the court of Gloucestortown.

From 1705-1727 John served as "Ye High Sheriff" of old Gloucester Co. and as a county freeholder from 1718-1727. In his lifetime he would accumulate 443 acres, leaving one acre of land for a burial ground. ^[1]

He married Mary Howell (not Elwell) (his 2nd wife). Name of his first wife is not currently known. It is believed that children with first wife were Aaron and Elizabeth. Children with Mary Howell were John and James.

John Ashbrook died about 1729 (aged 64–65) in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Both John and Mary are buried in the Ashbrook Burial Grounds in Glendora, New Jersey. This Cemetery is said to be haunted, and there is much information on the internet about this cemetery.^[2]

John's will dated 9 October 1727 was proven in Gloucester Court, New Jersey on 12 October 1730 in Gloucester, New Jersey. In his will he names:
"His widdow"
Son, Aaron Ashbrook
Son, John
Son James
Son-in-law Daniel Hillman (husband of daughter Elizabeth

Will

In the name of God, Amen.I, John Ashbrook of the County of Gloucester, Province of New Jersey, yeoman being unwell but of sound and perfect memory praise be unto God therefore and being desirous to settle and put in order that outward Estate it hath pleased the Lord in mercy to bless me with all in manner and form as vis:

Imprimis, I do devise and bequeath unto my son Aaron Ashbrook all that my land and meadow in the Township of Deptford County above said to him his heirs and assigns forever, he yielding and paying after my decease to my widdow 20 shillings yearly during her natural life.

Item. I devise and bequeath unto my son John all my farm and plantation I now dwell upon being 100 acres and 56 acres more which I purchased of John Hugg. And also my right and proportion of that tract of land I purchased of Phillip Howell to him his heirs and assigns forever only reserving thereof one whole acre where the Burying Place now is for the use of this neighborhood.

Item. I order and devise that my 75 acres of land and meadow ground to my son-in-law Daniell Hillman he paying unto my Executrix hereafter to be named the full sum of 12 pounds lawful money of America in 12 months after this date, to him his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I devise and bequeath all the reversion of my real estate to my Executrix in trust for my son James and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. My will is that forasmuch as part of the land above devoted to my son John is mortgaged in the Loan Office I order my said son John to clear the said Loan Office and also that he shall pay unto my Mother, my widdow, the yearly sum of four pounds each year during her natural life. Also that she my widdow shall have the best room in the house together with one half of the orchard and one acre of ground near the dwelling house for a garden.

Item. As touching my personal Estate that I give and wholly bequeath unto my widdow towards her support and to enable her to pay my other debts and I do hereby nominate my present wife to be my Lawful Executrix of this my last Will and Testament

Item. I hereby do annul and make void all other and former will or wills whatever by me made and this only to be my last Will in manner above said.

As witness my hand and Seal this 9th day of October in the first year of the Reign of King George the 2d Annque Domi 1727./s/ John Ashbrook Seal Signed, Sealed and Published in the presence of us; Samuel Collins, Charity Chew hermark , Amos Ashead

Affirmed 12 day of October 1730 before me Samuel Bustill D Regl.Trenton Wills. Liber 3, folio 116.

I729-1730 February 13. Inventory of the personal estate, £96.9.6, made by William Sharp and John Thomson." ^[3]

Land Deeds

"1688 5th d. 10th m. (December) Do. Same to John Ashbrook of Gloucester River, planter, for 100 acres to be surveyed in W. J. as part of 1-25 of a share."^[4]

Deed: 23 March 1695:

"TO: John Ashbrook

FROM:

SURVEY. 100 acres. By the land where he dwells; Gloucester County.

OTHERS NAMED: Thomas Gardiner (Surveyor); John Hugg (Owner of adjoining land); William Hunt (Owner of adjoining land)

LOCATIONS: West Jersey; Gloucester" ^[5]

"1697 November 2. Do. Hugh Durborow, sawyer, Daniel Radley, a sawyer, and John Parsons, a carpenter, all of Philadelphia, to John Ashbrook of Glocester River, Glocester Co., yeoman, for 100 acres on said river and on Allomannessing alias Steel's Branch, adjoining John and Samuel Dennis, part of 355 acres bought of Thomas Gardiner, as administrator of Thomas Matthews, December 31, 1693."^[6]

Research Notes

John Ashbrook, servant migrated America from Ireland with James Atkinson on the Penn Fleet ship Antelope of Bellfast. When they arrived in Philadephia in 1682 they produced a certificate dated the 8 Mo. 23, 1681 from the Friends at Drogheda, Ireland to the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.(Pennsylvania. Magazine, VIII., Page 329). ^[7]

John is recognized as a first settler of Runnemede and Glendora, selecting land in 1688 on the Gloucester River where the abandoned site of the old Indian village of Armewamex once stood. In England 1674, the Society of Friends (Quakers) purchased West New Jersey (today southern New Jersey) for colonization.

(NOTE: Today's Camden County was part of old Gloucester County until 1844.)

Son, Aaron Ashbrook

His son Aaron Ashbrook left Gloucester County when several Scotch-Irish families removed to Virginia Colony 1740-1743. He settled in Frederick County, Virginia Colony, which is now the eastern part of Hampshire County, West Virginia. Aaron held a deed for 640 acres.

Children of Aaron Ashbrook:

1. Hannah born about 1728 married Jeremiah Chew
2. Mary born about 1730 married John Jones
3. John born about 1732
4. Aaron born about 1735 died about 1810 Bourbon Co., Kentucky
5. Levi born 1738 died 1808 Hampshire Co., Virginia
6. Moses born about 1740 Gloucester Co., New Jersey died possibly in Tennessee
7. Catherine born about 1742 died 1792 married Peter Jones
8. Thomas born about 1745 died about 1781

Moses Ashbrook

Aaron's son, Moses Ashbrook spent most of his life between Virginia and North Carolina, many of his children being born in Hampshire Co., Virginia (today West Virginia). Documentation shows that in his later years he was in Tennessee. A recent discovery to me was finding him listed among "Petitioners for Reduction of Constitutional Limits of Jackson Co., Tennessee in July 1806" along with sons James and Moses. It is uncertain where and when Moses died. Documentation for places of residence for Moses may be viewed here.

Children of Moses and Sarah

1. George b 1763 Hampshire Co., Virginia died 1839 Missouri
2. Hannah Mary born 1766 Hampshire Co., Virginia died 1845 Bedford Co., Tennessee married Nicholas Woodfine
3. Elizabeth born 1769 Rutherford Co., North Carolina died 1855 Maury Co., Tennessee married Wm. Lewis Mackey
4. Daughter born 1771 Rutherford Co., North Carolina
5. William born 1773 Rutherford Co., North Carolina
6. Sarah born at 1775 Rutherford Co., North Carolina died 1848 married Smith Williams
7. Aaron born 1777 Hampshire Co., Virginia
8. Daughter born 1779 Hampshire Co., Virginia
9. Daughter born 1781 Hampshire Co., Virginia
10. Daughter born 1783
11. Son b 1784 Washington Co., Virginia
12. James L. born about 1786 North Carolina died before 1854 Russell Co., Kentucky
13. Moses born 1788 Rutherford Co., North Carolina died after 18

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. The descendants of Jöran Kyn of New Sweden [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Keen, Gregory B.. The descendants of Jöran Kyn of New Sweden. Philadelphia: Swedish Colonial Society, 1913. p. 263; image 264.
2. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15754343/john-ashbrook
3. ↑ William Nelson (editor), Archives of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXIII, "Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol.1, 1670-1730." The Press Printing and Publishing Company, Paterson, New Jersey (1901), page 17.
4. ↑ William Nelson (editor). Archives of the State of New Jersey, Vol XXI, "Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State 1664-1703", The Press Printing and Publishing Co., Paterson, New Jersey(1899), page 652.
5. ↑ West Jersey Surveys, Book A: Folio 27.
6. ↑ William Nelson (editor). Archives of the State of New Jersey, Vol XXI, "Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State 1664-1703", The Press Printing and Publishing Co., Paterson, New Jersey (1899), page 671.
7. ↑ Myers, Albert Cook. Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania 1682-1750: With Their Early History in Ireland. Pennsylvania: Swarthmore, 1902. pg. 278