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Thomas Ashley (abt. 1613 - aft. 1687)

Thomas Ashley aka Ashly
Born about in Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1647 in New Englandmap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 31 Jan 1662 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Husband of — married before Nov 1675 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap [uncertain]
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , and
Died after after about age 74 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap [uncertain]
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The Puritan Great Migration.
Thomas Ashley migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).
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Contents

Biography

Thomas Ashley of Charlestown, Cape Ann, Kennebec and Boston

Early New England records show Thomas Ashleys at Charlestown and Cape Ann (1639-1642), present-day Maine (1647-1686) and Boston (1658-1662). Savage did not mention Thomas of Charlestown and Cape Ann and treated Thomas of Maine and Thomas of Boston as the same person.[1] Pope did not mention Thomas of Maine and treated Thomas of Charlestown and Cape Ann and Thomas of Boston as the same person.[2] The Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire suggests they might all be different people.[3] A careful review of all of the evidence, however, indicates that it is highly probable that Thomas of Maine and Thomas of Boston were same person and more likely than not the same person as Thomas of Charlestown and Cape Ann.

(Some sources also state that a Thomas Ashley was drowned with a Thomas Johnson in New Haven harbor in 1640.[4] However, that Thomas may not have been an Ashley at all, as the most primary source available on-line says that the man who drowned was Thomas Ashby not Thomas Ashley[5] and at least one Ashby genealogy book claims him as an Ashby.[6] In any event, based on Thomas Ashley/Ashby's date of death, he is clearly not the same person as Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann, Kennebec or Boston and, based on the connections between Thomas Ashley of Charlestown and Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann, Kennebec and Boston (discussed below), he is probably not the same person as Thomas Ashley of Charlestown. The subject of this profile is Thomas Ashley of Charlestown, Cape Ann, Kennebec and Boston, not the unfortunate Thomas Ashley/Ashby of New Haven.)

Charlestown - 1639; Date and Place of Birth; Immigration

The first record of a Thomas Ashley in New England is a July 19, 1639 affidavit by Thomas Ashley of Charlestown, servant of Thomas Ruck of Charlestown. Thomas Ruck had traveled from London to Boston aboard the ship Castle with a large supply of goods and claimed that William Hatch, who Ruck had engaged to act as steward for the voyage, had overcharged him in various ways.[7] Thomas Ashley's affidavit states in part:

Thomas Ashley of Charlestowne in New England servant of Thomas Rucke of the same, aged about 26 yeares . . . he was Thomas Rucke's servant before he came forth from England . . . all the vessells and packes and bundell mentioned in the said affidavit were safely Delivered to his said master forth of the good ship the castle of London, at Charlestown aforesaid, about this time twelve months since.[8]

From this affidavit it is established that (i) Thomas was probably born in 1612 or 1613, (ii) Thomas emigrated from London, England aboard the ship "Castle," (iii) Thomas arrived in Boston sometime around July 1638, (iv) Thomas was the servant (probably an indentured servant) of Thomas Ruck for a period both before departing England and after his arrival in New England, and (v) after his arrival in New England, Thomas lived in Charlestown for a while.

Thomas Ruck's own affidavit from the case,[9] as well as a record from England before his departure,[10] identifies him as Thomas Ruck of Maldon, Essex, England, a well-to-do "woolen-draper," burgess and alderman.[10] Since Thomas Ashley was Thomas Ruck's servant prior to leaving England, it is possible that Thomas Ashley was also from the Maldon area. Alternatively, it is possible that Thomas was from elsewhere in England, had wanted to go to New England, and had been introduced to Thomas Ruck for that purpose.

Possible Parentage

There are several leads for Thomas's possible parentage.

First, a search through images of records of baptisms in 1610-1620 in the three parishes in Maldon (All Saints, St. Peter, and St. Mary the Virgin, available on essexarchivesonline.co.uk) found no baptisms for any Ashley (or spelling variant thereof). There is, however, a record of the burial of a William Ashely at St. Mary the Virgin on April 11, 1626, which could relate to Thomas' father and a record of the marriage of Mathew Passell and Ann Ashy at All Saints on April 23, 1633, which could relate to Thomas' sister.

Second, a search for births or baptisms in 1612 or 1613 in England for persons named Thomas Ashley or similar names, and eliminating those known to have died shortly after birth, produces the following results:

  • Thomas Ashley, bpt. September 10, 1613 in Wigan, Lancashire, son of William Ashley[11]
  • Thomas Asheley, bpt. 1612 at St. Mary, Lichfield, Staffordshire, son of Thomas Asheley[12] (although it is quite possible that this Thomas died at or shortly after birth, as there is a record of a burial of a Thomas Ashley at St. Mary, Lichfield in February 1612)[13]
  • Thomas Astley, bpt. February 9, 1612 in Pattingham, Staffordshire, son of Robert and Elyzabeth Astley[14]
  • Thomas Ashby, bpt. June 20, 1613 in Cranbrook, Kent, son of Roberte[15]

Third, there was a Sir Thomas Ashley, who was a friend of John Winthrop the Elder, was acquainted with a number of other Puritans settled in New England, and was probably of the correct age to have been the father of this profile's Thomas Ashley.

Salem/Marblehead and Cape Ann/Gloucester - 1640-1642

The next record for Thomas Ashley after his 1639 affidavit, is the following from the Salem Quarterly Court of March 31, 1640:

Constables of Salem and Marblehead are ordered to arrest and commit to gaol in Boston, Wm. Maid and Tho. Ashley to answer at the next court in Salem to Jno. Bible in debt and for absence from court. . . . Nathaneell Pittman testified that defendants had warrants for their appearance under Mr. Winthrop's hand.[16]

The record suggests that, as of early 1640, Thomas was thought to be living in Salem or Marblehead and that his servitude with Ruck had ended and his independent life had gotten off to a rough start.

Whatever problems Thomas had with Mr. Bible seem to have been resolved, because the following 1641 entry in Lechford's notebook positively fixes Thomas as a resident of Cape Ann and shows him joining in a fishing venture with several other young men:

Joseph Armitage of Lynne lets a shallop [a common type of coastal fishing boat] of 3 tunnes or therabouts unto Abraham Robinson Thomas Ashley & Willm Browne of Cape Anne fishermen till 29. 7. px [presumably July 29th of the same year] with tacklin & appurtenences & they are to pay 3t in money or good & merchantable dry fish to the said Joseph at the end of said terme therefore & redeliver the said shallop wth the same appurtenences at Lynee.[17]

The indentities of Thomas's fishing partners suggest that Thomas was a respectable young man. Abraham Robinson was the son of the first pastor of the Pilgrims, Reverend John Robinson,[18][19] while William Brown was elected selectman of Gloucester in 1644 and 1647 and married Abraham Robinson's widow.[20][21]

Thomas, Abraham Robinson and William Brown were all early residents of Gloucester, Massachusetts.[22] The History of Gloucester says that Thomas settled in Gloucester before its incorporation in 1642 and had a lot on the harbor front.[23]

Thomas's summer 1641 fishing venture (or perhaps a later one on the same year) seems to have been less than fully successful, as the next record found for Thomas is a record of the Salem Quarterly Court in January 25, 1641/2 for a civil case by the aforementioned Joseph Armitage against Thomas and his fellow fishermen (with James Smith having taken William Browne's place) for debt:

Joseph Armetag v. Tho. Ashley, Abram Robinson and James Smith. Debt.[24]

While a subsequent enforcement action in the Armitage case seems to have only applied to James Smith,[25] by spring of 1642, Thomas seems to have had other unsatisfied creditors. The records for the Salem Quarterly Court on May 12, 1642 show the following entry, which is believed to be the first insolvency action in the history of Essex County:

Jno. Sadler for Mr. Addis, Mr. Millward and Wm. Southmead [all residents of Gloucester][22] v. Thomas Ashley, and his goods attached by the constable of Cape Ann.[26]

This was followed by a record of the Salem Quarterly Court on October 27, 1642 stating that:

Goods, house and land of Thomas Ashley, in custody of Thomas Millward, attached.[27]

Whether Thomas left Cape Ann/Gloucester as a result of his debt problems, because he disliked how Cape Ann/Gloucester changed after the arrival of the Blinman Party in 1642, or just because he saw greater opportunities elsewhere, is unknown. But, in any event, the next record found for Thomas is from present-day Maine where he ended up being much more successful. According to Babson, Thomas was not alone in leaving Cape Ann/Gloucester for Maine and at least 6 of the 82 persons who lived in Cape Ann/Gloucester prior to 1650 left for Maine.[28]

Were Thomas of Charlestown and Thomas of Cape Ann the Same Person?

Evidence that Thomas Ashley of Charlestown and Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann were the same person include (i) the fact that the records for Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann commence shortly after the records for Thomas Ashley of Charlestown cease, (ii) the proximity of Charlestown and Cape Ann and (iii) no evidence suggesting a different subsequent history for Thomas Ashley of Charleston or different prior history for Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann. Perhaps most conclusive, however, is evidence in the following record for the Salem Quarterly Court on May 12, 1642:

Abraham Robinson, Wm. Browne and James Babson v. Tho. Ruck. About taking a skiff.[26]

The Thomas Ruck referenced in the court case was almost certainly either the Thomas Ruck for whom Thomas Ashley had worked as a servant or, more likely, his son. The fact that Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann's fishing venture partners, Abraham Robinson and William Browne, were well acquainted with Thomas Ashley of Charlestowne's former master, Thomas Ruck, or his son, strongly suggests that the Thomas Ashley of Cape Ann and Thomas Ashley of Charlestowne were one and the same.

First Presence in Maine - 1642-1647

While it is likely that Thomas Ashley moved from Cape Ann to present-day Maine in 1642 (around the time his property in Cape Ann was seized), no record of him at any location has been found after that date until an entry in the 1647 book of accounts of Francis Knight (agent for, and relative of, the owners of the Pemaquid patent[29][30][31]), showing a payment to Thomas Ashley of 2 pounds, 5 shillings.[32] Based on this entry, it is possible that Thomas initially settled in or near the Pemaquid Patent, near present-day Bristol, Maine.

Merry Meeting on the Kennebec River - 1648-1657

Sometime before 1654, however (and perhaps directly after leaving Cape Ann), Thomas had settled south of the Pemaquid Patent on the Kennebec River at a place called Merry Meeting.[33]

In 1628, the Plymouth colony received a patent for a large tract of land along the Kennebec River, extending from the Gardiner area north. By the 1650s the Plymouth Colony's monopoly of the fur trade and control of activity on the river had been greatly reduced. To regain its lost control and secure its existing patent, Plymouth petitioned Parliament for a grant to the entire Kennebec River. The petition was denied, but Plymouth did receive authority to govern the entire river. On May 23, 1654, sixteen area head of households met at the home of Thomas Ashley at "Merry Meeting" to pledge allegiance to England and to Plymouth, and to set up a government for the Kennebec River settlements.[34] At the meeting Thomas was appointed as constable.

Set forth below is the record of the meeting from the Plymouth Colony records:

Wheas it hath pleased the right an honble the counsell of state of the common wealth of England, notwithstanding theire many, great, and waighty occations, to take into consideracion the condition of the English inhabiting upon or neare adjoyning unto the river commonly called Kenibeck, whoe, by reason of remoteness from other jurisdicxtions and theire owne phawsitie of fewnes, have not hereto injoyed the benifit of goument, noe doubt to the great greife of all well affected English, it hath now pleased the right honble counsell of state, by authoritie of Parliment, to confer the goument of the aforsd inhabitants upon the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, the first inhabitants und goument in those ptes, as by theire tres pattents doth appeer.
In prsuance wherof, and by vertue of the aforsaid authoritie graunted to Willam Bradford and his associates, the said Willam Bradford and his associates, att a Generall Court held att New Plymouth, gave full fpower and authoritie to Mr. Thomas Prence, one of the Assistants in the aforsaid goument, for the sellteing of a govment upon the sai river of Kennebecke; by vertue wherof the said Thomas Prence issued aout a warrant, directed to the marshall of New Plymouth, bearing date the 15th of May, 1654, requiring the inhabitants upon the said river to make theire psonall appeerance att the house of Thomas Ashley, att Merry Meeting, upon the 23d of that psent month; att which time and place the people generally assembled, and after publishing of the aforsaid authoritie, the inhabitants heer under written have take the oath of fidelitie, viz:
Thomas Purchase, gentle, John Stone, Thomas Ashly, John Richards, James Smith,[35] Willam James, Thomas Parker, John White, John Browne, Willam Davis, Thomas Weber, Thomas Atkins, James Coale, John Parker, Emanuell Hughes, Allexander Thawyt.
Att the same meeting. Mr. Thomas Purchase was chosen by the psons above named, and approved by Mr. Thomas Prence, to bee an Assistant to the govment in the pte of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, and an oath adminestred in this pte of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, and an oath administred unto him fore the more powerfull and lawfull adminnnestration in the office; and alsoe att the same psent meeting, Mr. Prence had declared that Leiftenant Thomas Southworth, now residing att Cushenage upon the said river, and such other as shalbee sent thether from time to time ot have the govment of that family, are alsoe enveste into the same power and authoritie to bee asistant unto the goverment in this part of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth aforsaid, for the carrying on of govment heer according to such good and wholsome lawes as are shalbee made. At the same time Thomas Ashly was chosen cunstable by the inhabitants, and sworne to the execution of his office.[36]

At the same meeting, Thomas was granted the right to run a tavern:

Thomas Ashly shall have liberty to keep an ordinary for making comfortable provision to entertaine strangers and others for their refreshment, paying for the same.[37]

The fact that the meeting took place at Thomas's house, coupled with the fact that he was granted the right to operate a tavern, suggests that Thomas was a prominent member of the community of Kennebec River settlers and also that his house may well have been an established place that the settlers gathered for festivities (and where Thomas probably sold "refreshment") well before the 1654 meeting. These facts also suggest that Thomas had been living at his Merry Meeting house for a good number of years, since, say, at least 1648.

Beside running a tavern, Thomas probably also farmed, engage in fur trading, fishing, or the lumber business, as those activities were the most significant commercial activities in the region at that time.[38] In any event, it is likely that he had frequent contact with Boston and, like others in the region, commuted to and from Boston on a regular basis to trade and pick up supplies.[39]

Boston - 1658-1662

Several records indicate that Thomas moved his primary residence back to Boston by the late 1650s. Boston town records for 1658 contain an entry dated March 31, 1658 showing that "Thos. Ashley is admitted as an inhabitant"[40] and that a bond was posted "to secure the town from any charge that may arise to the town by said Ashley or his family," which makes it clear that Thomas Ashley had a family (presumably a wife and one or more children) with him in Boston at that time.[40] In a 1661 deed, John Indian Sagamore granted "Thomas Ashley and Thomas Joy of Boston" a parcel of land on the eastern side of the Kennebec River.[41][42] In addition, Boston records show Johanna, the wife of Thomas Ashley, dying in December 1661,[43][44][45] and Thomas marrying a widow named Hannah Broome in January 1662.[46][47]

New Merry Meeting on the Kennebec - 1662-1676

Even if Thomas was living primarily in Boston from 1658-1662, he appears to have moved his primary residence back to the Kennebec about 1662. There are no Boston records after that year that are clearly associated with this profile's Thomas Ashley (although it is possible that some Boston records linked to his son Thomas, in fact, relate to this profile's Thomas). Land records indicate that Thomas was living at a place called New Merry Meeting, which was almost certainly on what is now called Thwings Point on the eastern side of the Kennebec just north of Merrymeeting Bay.[48][49][50] By the 1670s, he seems to have owned land for miles around Thwings Point, as well as some land on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay down near the Muddy River.[49][50] As late as 1677, deeds still referred to Thomas as "of Kennebec."[48]

Boston; New Town; Boston - 1677-1686+

King Phillip's War from 1675-1678 may have caused Thomas and his family to leave the Kennebec River area and head back to Boston. In 1675, he sold some of his landholdings east of New Merry Meeting,[50] and in 1677 he sold landholdings to the north of New Merry Meeting as well as "Ashley's marsh" on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay near the Muddy River.[48] The 1677 deed refers to Thomas's "late dwelling on the Great Point called New Merry Meeting,"[48] suggesting that he no longer liver there. However, the deed also describes Thomas as "of Kenebeck," which may mean either that, while he had left the Kennebec River area (and perhaps moved to Boston), he was still identified as from that area or that he had moved to a different location in the Kennebec River area. (One possibility is that he had moved down river to Arrowsic Island, as a record shows he son Thomas Jr witnessing a will there in 1673,[51] athough it is also quite possible that Thomas Jr. was just visiting Arrowsic for trading or other purposes.) The fact that either Thomas or his son took the oath of citizenship in Boston in 1678[52] suggests that the family may have moved back to Boston about that time.

After the Treaty of Casco brought an end to King Phillip's War in the Kennebec River area, in 1679, a new settlement called New Town was established on Arrowsic Island.[53] Sometime in the 1680s, Thomas moved to New Town and built a house on a lot between John Ryford and David Oliver.[54][55] In 1686, Thomas Ashley was one of nine inhabitants and yeomen of New Town named in a grant of 900 acres in the southernmost part of the town.[56]

In February 1686/7, however, Thomas Ashley "Sometime of Sadudohock or New Ton in ye County of Cornwall"[54][57] sold his house in New Town. At that point, Thomas probably moved back to Boston where his eldest sons, Edward and Thomas, had settled.[58].

Death - 1687+

There is no record of the date or place of death of Thomas Ashley. The last known record of him is the February 1686/7 deed for the sale of his home in Newtown on Arrowsic Island, which was acknowledged March 31, 1687.[54] Thomas, then 73, probably moved back to Boston where his sons lived and died there sometime thereafter.

Marriages

Boston records from 1661/2 show the wife of a Thomas Ashley, named Johanna, dying on December 27, 1661[43][44][45] and a Thomas Ashley marrying a widow named Hannah Broome on January 31, 1661/2.[46][47][59] Due to a lack of other known Thomas Ashleys in New England at the time, sources generally assume (reasonably) that these records relate to wives of Thomas Ashley of Kennebec.

The one wife that is definitely connected to Thomas Ashley of Kennebec is a woman named Rebecca, whose maiden name is unknown. Every deed made by Thomas Ashley of his land on the Kennebec River from 1675 to 1686 mentions his wife Rebecca.[50][48][54]

Based on available evidence, it is therefore likely that Thomas had three wives:

  1. Johanna Unknown, m. about 1647,[60] d. December 27, 1661[43][44][45]
  2. Hannah Broome, m. January 31, 1661/2,[46][47] d. sometime before 1675[61]
  3. Rebecca Unknown, m. sometime before 1675[62]

Children

With probably three different wives, it is likely that Thomas had a number of children. However, because there are no birth records for the Kennebec River area during that time period, birth and parentage must be inferred from other information or derived from fortuitous sources.

Children by first wife, Johanna:

  1. Edward [uncertain], b. about 1648. See his profile for discussion of parentage and birth date.
  2. Thomas Ashley, Jr. - b. about 1650. See his profile for discussion of parentage and birth date.

Children by third wife, Rebecca:

  1. Joseph [uncertain], b. about 1675. See his profile for discussion of parentage and birth date.
  2. Rebecca [uncertain], b. about 1678. See her profile for discussion of parentage and birth date.
  3. Abraham [uncertain], b. July 28, 1682. See his profile for discussion of parentage and birth date.

There is a record of a David Ashley being admitted as a freeman of Boston on May 19, 1680,[63] who could possibly have been another son of Thomas. No other record for this David Ashley has been found. It is possible that this record relates to David Ashley, the son of Robert Ashley of Springfield. However, no source has been found that indicates that that David Ashley was ever a resident of Boston.

It may be that a number of other children died young or stayed in the Kennebec River area, where their identity is lost due to a lack of records. Children of some of these unidentified offspring may account for some of the Ashleys (e.g. John and Abraham) that appear in the Kennebec area land records in the early 1700s.

Chronology of Records

  • 1639. On July 19, 1639, Thomas Ashley of Charlestown in New England servant of Thomas Rucke, aged about 26 years, testified that he was Ruck's servant before leaving England and that the goods were delivered from the ship Castle in London, at Charlestown about 12 months earlier.[8]
  • 1640. At an Essex County Quarterly Court held at Salem on March 31, 1640, Constables of Salem and Marblehead are ordered to arrest and commit to gaol in Boston, Wm. Maid and Tho. Ashley to answer at the next court in Salem to Jno. Bible in debt and for absence from court[16]
  • 1641. Sometime in April-June 1641, Joseph Armitage of Lynne let a shallop [a common type of coastal fishing boat] of 3 tunnes or therabouts unto Abraham Robinson Thomas Ashley & Willm Browne of Cape Anne fishermen[17]
  • 1641. At an Essex County Quarterly Court held at Salem on June 29, 1641, in a suit by Nathaneell Pitman [of Salem] against Osman Dutch [of Cape Ann] regarding a raft, Thomas Ashley deposed he was there and could not do anything with the raft.[64]
  • 1641. At an Essex County Quarterly Court held at Salem on January 31, 1641/2 - Joseph Armetag v. Tho. Ashley, Abram Robinson and James Smith. Debt[24]
  • 1642. Jno. Sadler for Mr. Addis, Mr. Millward and Wm. Southmead v. Thomas Ashley, and his goods attached by the constable of Cape Ann[26]
  • 1642. Goods, house and land of Thomas Ashley, in custody of Thomas Millward, attached.[27]
  • 1647. Book of accounts of Francis Knight shows a payment to Thomas Ashley of 2 pounds, 5 shillings[32]
  • 1654. Meeting at Thomas Ashley's house at Merry Meeting to establish a government for settlers on the Kennebec River; Thomas Ashley appointed constable and granted a permit to run a tavern.[36]
  • 1658. Thos. Ashley admitted as an inhabitant of Boston, and Mr. Tho. Lake, Wm. Hudson and Peter Olliver post a bond of 20 pounds to secure the town from any charge that may arise by said Ashley or his family.[40]
  • 1661. Deed by John Indian Sagamore of High Head on the Kennebecke River on the westerly side of a bay called merry meeting Bay, to Thomas Ashley and Thomas Joy of Boston of land on the easterly side of Kennebecke River from Reskkegan point to Cape Saugs.[41][42]
  • 1661. Johanna, wife of Thomas Ashley, dies.[43][44][45]
  • 1662. Thomas Ashley & Hannah Broome widow were married the last of January by Mr. Thomas Danforth of Cambridge.[46][47]
  • 1662. Thomas Ashley mentioned in inventory of the estate of Roger Wheeler of Boston.[65]
  • 1666. Mordecay Creiford (Mordecai Crawford of Salem) is Dr (debtor?): on 3: 9: 1660 [November 3, 1660] to Thomas Ashley per Richd. Hearle's order, 13s, 2d.[66]
  • 1666. Thomas Ashley bought from Robin Hood Sagamore and his son Ramchock land northeast the great Point called New Merry Meeting later sold to Symon Lynde in 1677.[48]
  • 1673. Deed of gift by Thomas Ashly, Planter on the east side of Kennebeck at a place called New Merry Meeting, to his son, Thomas Ashley, of land adjoining to the southward of Thomas Ashley, Sr., and including land on Merry Meeting Cove [now Lilly's Cove?] head southwards to a point east of Abacondossacks point [probably the current Abagadasset Point on the west side of the Kennebec River], as well as two acres of marsh at Muddy River (on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay).[49]
  • 1673. Deed by Thomas Clark and Thomas Lake, Boston merchants,[67] to Robert and Mary Morgan land in Tuisset/Tuesack Neck on the Kenybecke River, witnessed at Arrosic house by H. ffrensham and Tho. Ashly Junior[51]
  • 1675. Deed by Thos Ashley & Rebeck his wife to Richard Collicut of two tracks of land on the eastern side of the Kennebeck River near the great Cove alias New Merry Meeting, running from the Kennebec River easterly into the woods two miles.[50]
  • 1677. Deed by Thomas Ashley of Kenebeck in New England, planter, & Rebecka his wife to Symon Lynde of Boston in New England, merchant, for 30 pounds, of the land northeastward of Ashley's former dwelling house on the great Point called New Merry Meeting (which land Ashley had bought in 1666 from Robin Hood Sagamore and his son), as well as land on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay near the Muddy River.[48][68]
  • 1678. Thomas Ashley took the oath of allegiance in Boston on November 11, 1678.[52] (This record could relate to either this profile's Thomas ashley or his son.)
  • 1683. A claim by Col. Elisha Hutchinson of Boston on behalf of himself and the heirs of Mehetabell Warren claimed a plantation at Black Point alias Scarburrough, as per a deed from Wymond Bickton signed and delivered December 18, 1683/-- and sworn to by Jonathan Jackson and Thomas Ashley.[69]
  • 1686. By a decree dated September 8, 1686, John Palmer Esq, of the Council of the Colony of New York, granted and confirmed to Lawrence Dennis, John Butts, Samuel Bowles, John Ryford, John Spencer, John Tillman, James Widger, John Moulton, Thomas Ashley of New Town in the County of Cornwall, yeoman, a parcel of land in New Town at the southernmost end of Rowsick alias Arrowsick Island, containing an estimated 900 acres, provided they pay 9 bushels of wheat every year on the 25th day of March and allow fishermen to settle on the southernmost end of the island and have a house room, stage room, and flake room for the benefit of fishery.[56]
  • 1687. Deed dated February 8, 1686/7 by Thomas Ashley, "Sometime of Sadudohock or New Ton in ye County of Cornwall", and Rebecah his wife, to Laurance Dennis of a house and land in Newtown on Rousick (Arrowsic) Island in the Kennebeck River, bounded on the north by a lot of John Wriford (Ryford) and on the south by a lot called David Oliver's.[54][55]

Relationship to Other Ashleys in Early New England

There is no evidence that positively links this profile's Thomas Ashley to any of the other Ashleys who are believed to have come to New England before or about 1650, although a family relationship with one or more is quite plausible:

  • Edward Ashley of Penobscot (probably born about 1590-1600) - Probably too old to be a brother. Not known to have married or had children, so probably not the father. But may have been an uncle.
  • Robert Ashley of Springfield (born about 1615) - "Representative Men" says that Thomas and Robert were brothers.[70] Although no direct evidence of a relationship has been found, the theory is quite plausible. They were probably close enough in age to be brothers. Interestingly, both Thomas[37] and Robert[71] ran taverns, perhaps suggesting a common father who had run one.
  • William Ashley of Wells (born about 1630) - Probably born too late to have been a younger brother of Thomas and/or Robert and born to early to have been a son. May have been a close cousin.
  • Master Ashley who captained the Pied Cowe to New England in 1634[72] (probably born about 1590-1605) - Probably too old to have been a brother, but may have been another uncle.
  • Alice Ashley who came to New England in 1634 as a maid servant to William Hoeman's family (born 1614) - Although Savage says she was an Ashley,[73] "Great Migration" has her as Alice Ashby.[74] If she was an Ashley, she could have been Thomas Ashley's sister.

Location of Thomas's 1654 Merry Meeting Home

The record of the 1654 meeting says that Thomas's house was located at "Merry Meeting," while his subsequent records refer to his house being located at "New Merry Meeting."[50][48][49] The land deeds associated with Thomas's property near New Merry Meeting seem to establish that his New Merry Meeting home was on what is now called Thwings Point. There is some uncertainty, however, as to whether his 1654 house was at the same location on Thwings Point, at a different location on Thwings Point, or perhaps not on Thwings Point at all.

One theory is that the 1654 house at Merry Meeting was at a different location than his house at New Merry Meeting. Arguments supporting this theory include:

  • The references to "New Merry Meeting" suggest that there was an "old" Merry Meeting, which was probably the Merry Meeting where his house was located in 1654.
  • The records indicating that Thomas lived in Boston from 1658-1662 suggest that he may have abandoned his old 1654 house at Merry Meeting.
  • Deeds in 1673 and 1677 indicate that Thomas had landholdings on the westside of Merrymeeting Bay near the Muddy RIver,[49][48] and the 1677 deed states that the land by the Muddy River "hath been Possessed & occupied by me this Many Years last past."[48] Could these landholdings have been the site of the 1654 Merry Meeting house?

Another theory is that the 1654 house at Merry Meeting was at the same location as his house at New Merry Meeting. Arguments supporting this theory Include:

  • The references to the 1654 meeting being at Merry Meeting may have been imprecise or the name for the location changed over the years (perhaps to better distinguish it from the place of Indian festivities called Merry Meeting).
  • Even if Thomas lived in Boston from 1658-1662 he may have still maintained his Merry Meeting home as a secondary residence and perhaps had hired help maintaining the property in his absence.
  • Thomas's landholdings on the westside of Merrymeeting Bay are referred to as meadows and marshlands, so they do not seem to be a likely location for his dwelling.[49][48]

A final theory is that both the 1654 house at Merry Meeting and his later house at New Merry Meeting were both on what is now called Thwings Point, but at sufficiently separate locations on the point that Thomas gave the location of his new house a new name. Arguments supporting this theory are a combination of the arguments for the other two theories, as well as the suggestion that, since the 1677 deed refers to Thomas as "of Kennebec," perhaps he had a current dwelling house at New Merry Meeting on Thwings Point and that therefore the reference in the 1677 deed to "my late dwelling house" referred to his old 1654 house also located on Thwings Point.[48]

Archaeological Dig at Thomas Ashley's New Merry Meeting House

The site of Thomas Ashley's house at New Merry Meeting has been the subject of archaeological digs in recent years. For a report on the initial dig in 2009, see Leon Cranmer, "Report on 2009 Archaeological Excavations, at Thwings Point, Woolrich, Maine," Maine Historic Preservation Committee, July 2010. For information on the 2015 dig, see "Outside! 2015 Thwing’s Point Archaeological Dig," friendsofmerrymeetingbay.org.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. Vol. I. Little, Brown and Company, 1860. p. 69. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts. 1900. p. 21. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Libby, Charles Thornton. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Volume I. The Southworth Press, 1928. p. 67. Link to volume at familysearch.org.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 James Shepard, "The New Haven and Wallingford (Conn.) Johnsons," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 56 (April 1902), p 133
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Records of the colony and plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649. Hartford: Printed by Case, Tiffany and Co., for the editor, 1857. p 31. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Robert L. Ashby, Ashby and Badger Ancestry,"1955, pp 35-36
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay from June 27, 1638 to July 29, 1641. John Wilson and Son, 1885. pp. 163-167. Link to page at archive.org.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay from June 27, 1638 to July 29, 1641. John Wilson and Son, 1885. pp. 118-119. Link to page at archive.org.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay from June 27, 1638 to July 29, 1641. John Wilson and Son, 1885. p. 118. Link to page at archive.org
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Clark, Andrew. "Notes of the Quarter." The Essex Review. Vol. XVI, No. 61 (January 1907). p 98. Link to page at books.google.com.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWXY-96R : accessed 24 January 2016), Thomas Ashley, 10 Sep 1613; citing WIGAN,LANCASHIRE,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 899,804.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3PJ-5Y5 : accessed 24 January 2016), Thomas Asheley, 1612; citing Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, reference - 2:2LPFRX1; FHL microfilm 1,068,982.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Staffordshire burials
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5L7-6NZ : accessed 24 January 2016), Thomas Astley, 09 Feb 1612; citing PATTINGHAM,STAFFORD,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 873,643.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQWS-7YN : accessed 24 January 2016), Thomas Ashby, 20 Jun 1613; citing Cranbrook, Kent, England, reference item 1; FHL microfilm 1,751,814.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656. Essex Institute, 1911. pp 16-17. Link to page at archive.org. See original record at FamilySearch Film #008121376, image 55 of 669. Link to image at familysearch.org.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq.,Lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638 to July 29, 1641. John Wilson and Son, 1885. pp. 406-407. Link to page at archive.org.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Babson, John J., "History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann," Proctor, 1860, p. 134
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Pringle, James R., "History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts," 1892, p 49.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Babson, John J., "History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann," Proctor, 1860, p. 65
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Pringle, James R., "History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts," 1892, p 40.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Pringle, James R., "History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts," 1892, p 52.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pringle, James R., "History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts," 1892, p 37.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656," Essex Institute, 1911, p 33
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656," Essex Institute, 1911, p 42
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656," Essex Institute, 1911, p 43
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656," Essex Institute, 1911, p 48
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Babson, John J. History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport. Proctor Brothers, 1860. p. 53. Link to page at archive.org.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Spencer, Wilbur D. Pioneers on Maine Rivers. 1930. p. 322. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Virtual Phips: Archaeology of the Phips Homestead Woolwich, Maine (ca. 1639 to 1676)," Salem State College, Link via Internet Archive, captured 14 March 2016.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Jordan, John W., "Colonial Families of Philadelphia," p 1363
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Suffolk Deeds, Liber III, fol. 101. Link to folio at books.google.com.
  33. ↑ Based on the meeting to organize a government for the settlers on the Kennebec held at his house in 1654.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Leon Cranmer, "Report on 2009 Archaeological Excavations, at Thwings Point, Woolrich, Maine," Maine Historic Preservation Committee, July 2010. pp2-4
  35. ↑ Could this be the same James Smith who was a co-defendant with Thomas Ashley and Abram Robinson in the above-mentioned lawsuit by Joseph Armetag in the November 25, 1641 Salem Quarterly Court?
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Records of the Plymouth County, Vol III, p 57-61.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Records of the Plymouth Colony, Vol III, 1651-1661, p 61
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Peggy M. Baker, "The Pilgrim and the Fur Trade," Pilgrim Hall Museum
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 E.J. Chandler, "Ancient Sagadahoc," Author's Choice Press, 1998
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 Second Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, 1877, p 143. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Suffolk Deeds, Liber III, 494
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 One source says that the 1661 deed was for land that included Thwings Point. See James Richard Joy, "Thomas Joy and His Descendants," 1900, p 24. However, there is little in the deed that supports that theory.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook)
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 Boston, Index of Deaths, 1630-1690, Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook)
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699. The Record Commissioners of the City of Boston. 1883. p. 81. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 "Boston Records, Boston Marriages." The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. XX (1866), p 43
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, 1630-1699. The Record Commissioners of the City of Boston. 1883. p. 82. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  48. ↑ 48.00 48.01 48.02 48.03 48.04 48.05 48.06 48.07 48.08 48.09 48.10 48.11 48.12 York Deeds, Book XIV, pp. 385-387
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6 Moore, Mrs. M. J. "Book of Eastern Claims." The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. Vol. VIII. 1895. pp. 200-201. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 Moore, Mrs. M. J. "Book of Eastern Claims." The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. Vol. VII. 1893. p. 152. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 James Phinney Baxter, "Documentary History of the State of Maine, Vol. IV," The Maine Historical Society, 1889, p 337
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 A Volume of Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Miscellaneous Papers, Boston, 1900, p 166. Link to page at hathitrust.org
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Arrowsic, Maine," Wikipedia
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 Moore, Mrs. M. J. "Book of Eastern Claims." The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. Vol. VIII. 1895. p. 81. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 The 1686 deed by Thomas Ashley is referenced in a claim in the Book of Eastern Claims by Laurance Dennis. The claim states that the lot in Newtown that he purchased from Thomas Ashley was bounded by the lots of Jno Wriford and David Oliver. John Ryford and David Oliver, but not Thomas Ashley, were named in the original 1679 Newtown grant by Sir Edmond Andross. James Phinney Baxter, "Documentary History of the State of Maine, Vol. IV," The Maine Historical Society, 1889, p 387
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Suffolk County Court Files, Case 2428. FamilySearch Film #008131507, images 40-47 of 560. Link to images at familysearch.org.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Sagadahoc was the name of the area at the mouth of the Kennebec River. See, e.g., E.J Chandler, "Ancient Sagadahoc," Authors Choice Press 2000, p 12. Cornwall was the name at the time of the county in which Arrowsic was located. See, e.g., "Cornwall County, Province of New York," Wikipedia
  58. ↑ See profiles for Edward Ashley and Thomas Ashley, Jr.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 According to Savage, Hannah's first husband was George Broome, who died Feb 1662. See James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Vol I, p 263
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Marriage date for Thomas and Johanna is estimated based on estimated date of birth of Edward Ashley.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Hannah is presumed to have died sometime before 1675, because that is the date of the first known deed that refers to Thomas's wife as Rebecca.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Thomas is presumed to have married Rebecca sometime before 1675, because that is the date of the first known deed that refers to Thomas's wife as Rebecca.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 A volume of records relating to the early history of Boston. Boston: Municipal Print. Office, 1900-1909. p 155
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume 1 1636-1656. Essex Institute, 1911. p 28. Link to page at archive.org.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 "Suffolk County Wills," Genealogical Publishing Company, 1984, p 211
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 "Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Volume III 1662-1667," Essex Institute, 1913, p 33
  67. ↑ Clark and Lake were the co-proprietors of the main settlement on Arrowsic Island. Lake was one of the men who posted a bond for Thomas Ashley Sr. when he was admitted as a citizen of Boston.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Moore, Mrs. M. J. "Book of Eastern Claims." The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. Vol. VII. 1893. p. 191. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Moore, Mrs. M. J. "Book of Eastern Claims." The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. Vol. VII. 1893. pp. 80-81. Link to pages at hathitrust.org.
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 J.H. Beers, "Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts," p. 1321
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Francis Bacon Trowbridge, "The Ashley Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts," 1896, pp 8-9
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Savage, James. "Gleanings for New England History" p 29
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 Savage, James. "Gleanings for New England History" p 23
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Anderson, Robert Charles, Sanborn Jr., George F., Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. "The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volume I." New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1999. p 92




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