Capt Stephen Ashby

DAR Ancestor #: A003425

Stephen was the founder of Ashbyburg, KY, and one of the first Justices of the Peace. Also a Colonel and a Captain.

http://www.mark.stickels.org/FamilyTree2/Ashby-Stephen-1718.html

Captain Stephen Ashby was a Captain in Woodford's Brigade in the Virginia Continental Line, from which he retired on or about September 14, 1778 at White Plains, New York, when the 15 regiments of the VA Continental Line were consolidated into 11 regiments, retiring some 50 or 60 senior officers as supernumeraries in order to allow active young officer to move up. Mr. S.H. Parker's letter of May 15, 1847 to Gilliam Gordian, Esq, datelined Richmond, refers to this consolidation as to "Capt. Stephen Ashby of Woodford's Brigade, who aged and infirmed elected to retire".(National Archives: Bounty Land Warrant Claim BLW & -2420-300).

Stephen Ashby

• Birth: 1710 - Prince William, Virginia, USA
• Death: May 19 1797 - Christian, Hopkins, Kentucky, USA
• Parents: Capt Thomas Edward Ashby, Rosanna Berry

"Son of Thomas and Rose Ashby, born in 1710 in Prince William County, VA. He died on 19 May 1797 in Hopkins County, KY. He was buried in Old Ashby Cemetery, Hopkins County KY. He is reference number 82988. Captain Stephen Ashby was a Captain in Woodford's Brigade in the Virginia Continental Line, from which he retired on or about September 14, 1778 at White Plains, New York, when the 15 regiments of the VA Continental Line were consolidated into 11 regiments, retiring some 50 or 60 senior officers as supernumeraries in order to allow active young officer to move up. Mr. S.H. Parker's letter of May 15, 1847 to Gilliam Gordian, Esq, datelined Richmond, refers to this consolidation as to "Capt. Stephen Ashby of Woodford's Brigade, who aged and infirmed elected to retire".(National Archives: Bounty Land Warrant Claim BLW & -2420-300).

Virginia Grants of land in Kentucky states that Stephen Ashby, Captain of Virginia Continental Line was granted 1000 acres on Warrant 3591 on Dec. 11, 1784 along with his brother Benjamin Ashby. Stephen Ashby pension in Archives Records of Virginia (B.L. Wt. 300) Bounty Land Warrant 2420 for 300 acres.

Capt. Stephen Ashby died in May of 1797 in what was then Christian County, KY and probably in that part which is now Hopkins County. However, at the time he was a citizen and resident of Mercer County, KY where his will was proved in July Court 1797(Mercer County, Will Book 2, p 36). It names five sons and three daughters and mentions his wife, but not by name.

Hopkins County records show that seven of his children resided there(Order Book Aug. 1831/Dec. 1839) The only one who appears not to have lived there was daughter Letty Nealle. A document of April of 1834 mentioning heirs of Capt. Stephen Ashby names his grandchildren"except the children of Letty Neale".

Stephen Ashby, his heirs at law proven in Court by oath of John Combs of this County that Daniel Ashby, Letty Neal, widow of Thomas Neal, deceased, Absolom Ashby, John Ashby, Stephen Ashby, Enos Ashby, Rose Timmons, wife of George Timmons, and Anne Prather, wife of Thomas Prather. That they were the children and heirs at law of Capt. Stephen Ashby who departed this life in May 1797 in what was then Christian County , KY. It was further proven to the satisfaction of the Court that the said decedent at the time of his death was a citizen and resident of Mercer County, KY. January 13, 1834. Court Order Book 1831-1839, pg 137.

More heirs of Capt. Stephen Ashby were beside ones named (on pages 137 and 139) are as follows: Iley Prather, Thomas T. Prather, Fielding T Prather, Sally Ann Prather, James Ashby, Lewis Ashby, Wilson Ashby, Sally Prather, wife of Philip Prather, Ann Barr, wife of Alfred Barr and Gemima Pritchett, wife of Robert Pitchett. Excluded as heir were the children of Letty Neal. April 14, 1834. (pg 145)."

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial

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The following was taken from US Gen Net

THE CAPTIVITY OF STEPHEN ASHBY AND HIS FAMILY

Taken from: THE INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY, VOL. 9, 1913, PAGE 109 Which was taken from and a series of sketches written by Judge William Polke and printed in the Fort Wayne Times in 1842. Judge Polke knew personally Stephen Ashby THE BOOK OF AUGUSTINE SHELBURNE by descendants of Stephen Ashby Audio Tape of the Katherine Thurman Washburn's story of the Captivity of Stephen Ashby THE ASHBY BOOK by Lee Fleming Reese submitted by Harold R. Coffman (SYCR90A@Prodigy.com)

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His family did well over the years. Beady Ashby became fairly wealth and was considered by all a success. He married Mary Elizabeth Figley. Beady died before his father and a daughter named Malinda Ashby received the "tract of land I now live" from her grandfather. Robert Ashby also died before his father's death in 1831 and his daughter, Susan Ashby, is mentioned in her grandfather's will. Young David Ashby seems to live close to his father for many years. He married Sarah Burnett, daughter of James Burnett and Margaret Robinson. They moved with Stephen Ashby to Christian County, Kentucky and back to Shelby County. In the late 1820's David and his family moved to Clay County, Missouri, and later to Platte County, Missouri, where David owned a farm just west of the present Kansas City Airport. His son, Cromwell Ashby owned a farm east of the present day airport. David died in early 1850 and his wife, Sarah, died in 1853. Cromwell's son, David P. Ashby born 8 May 1851 lived until 1939, and I, Harold Coffman, was born on his birthday and remember him well. But, I never heard of the adventures of my three great-grandfathers David Ashby. How I would have loved the story as a teenager in the 1930's had I known it. Judge William Polke ended his story of the "Captivity of Stephen Ashby and His Family" with these words: "What patriot and friend to his county, will not say that such sufferers deserve the gratitude and bounty of their country?"

Harold R. Coffman (SYCR90A@PRodigy.com) and Lisa Wilke Spulick October 1997

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jun 22 2019, 0:52:58 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 29 2023, 3:54:20 UTC