Josias Ashe (abt. 1575)

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Josias Ashe appears to have obtained from his brother, Sir Thomas, a gift of various lands in the then county of Coleraine in the environs of Londonderry, which had been deserted by the Flight of the Earls in 1607 and confiscated to the Crown, and afterwards distributed to various civil and military officers amongst which was Sir Thomas Ashe, who received ample grants of land. Although not much is known of Josias, his son, John, figures prominently in "The Ash MSS". This manuscript implies that Josias is the son of Sir Thomas Ashe, but sources indicate that Sir Thomas Ashe died without male issue. This, taken with available dates, would indicate that Josias was a brother of Sir Thomas, both being sons of Thomas Ashe, known as the first (Ashe) settler in Ireland. ^[1]

Extract from "The Ash MSS, written in the year 1735, by Lieut. Colonel Thomas Ash", published by Henry Tyler (1890). Sir Thomas Ash was an active military commander. It was mainly in the campaign against the O'Neill's of Tyrone, and for their subjugation to the Crown, that he took a prominent part. At that period the small County of Coleraine, called O'Cahan's Country, constituted a province of Tyrone's vast dominions, and was tributary to its powerful chief. In this campaign, extending over a lengthened period, Sir Thomas would necessarily become acquainted with the favourable conditions of the whole region around, and, doubtless, this had much to do with the permanent settlement of his family, in the person of his son, Josias Ash, constantly referred to in the subsequent records, the father of John Ash, the ancestor of a long succession of descendants, in the fertile and beautiful vale of the Faughan Water, where his lineage and name still reside. Turning to the O'Neil wars, Sir Thomas was personally engaged in military command. For these services he was amply rewarded. He obtained grants of land in the then County of Coleraine, in the environs of Londonderry, which had been deserted by the Flight of the Earls in 1607, and confiscated to the Crown, and afterwards distributed to officials, civil and military, and undertakers of varied classes. These lands passed into the hands of Josias, a younger son of Sir Thomas, and, through him, to John and his descendants, who still retain them, the beautiful residential seat of the family in County Derry being long known as Ashbrook. ^[2]

Josias Ashe married Mary Hogan ^[3]

Issue:

• John Ashe of Cornerrin, later Ashbrook
• Francis Ashe
• Thomas Ashe
• Anne Ashe
• Susanna Ashe

Sources

1. ↑ Ashe Family
2. ↑ "The Ash MSS, written in the year 1735, by Lieut. Colonel Thomas Ash", published by Henry Tyler (1890)
3. ↑ Ashe Family