Edward Ashe, MP

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Jump to: navigation, search Edward Ashe (ca. 1609 – 31 October 1656) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1652.

Ashe was the son of James Ashe of Freshford, Somerset and his wife Grace Pitt, daughter of Richard Pitt of Melcombe Regis[1] He acquired the manor of Halstead, Kent.[2]

In November 1640, Ashe was elected Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in the Long Parliament.[3]

Ashe died at the age of 47.

Ashe married Elizabeth Woodward, daughter of Christopher Woodward and had a family. His brother John was MP for Westbury.[1]

Extract from "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland: Vol. I" by Sir Bernard Burke (1879) Lineage: James Ashe, Esq. of Westcombe, Somerset (whose ancestry is detailed in Burke's Extinct Baronetage), sat in several Parliaments during the reigns of James I and Charles I; he married and had five sons: - John, his heir, of Westcombe, ancestors of the Ashes of Ashgrove, co. Tipperary; - Edward, of Heytesbury, from whom the Ashes of that place, the representative of whom, William Ashe, Esq., of Heytesbury, married Anne, daughter of Alexander Popham, Esq., of Littlecote, and had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married, 1705, Pierce A'Court, Esq., M.P. for Heytesbury, and was great-grandmother of William, 1st Lord Heytesbury; - Joseph, of Twickenham, created a Baronet in 1660; - Jonathan, of London, who left an only daughter, Rebecca, who married Sir Francis Vincent, M.P. for Surrey; - Samuel.

Extract from "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank, but uninvested with with Heritable Honours: Vol. II" by John Burke (1835) Edward of London, M.P. for Heytesbury, 16th Charles I, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Woodward, Esq, and had a son and heir: William Ashe, Esq. of Heytesbury, who died in 1713, leaving by Anne, his wife, daughter of Alexander Popham, Esq., M.P. of Littlecote, two sons, whose posterity became extinct, and one daughter: - Elizabeth, who wedded Pierce A'Court, Esq., of Ivychurch.

Extract from "Records of the Ashe Family" by Waller Ashe (1876) Edward Ashe, M.P. of Heytesbury, temp. Charles I, married Elisabeth, daughter of Christopher Woodward, and left a son and heir, William Ashe of Heytesbury.

Edward bought the Manor and Hundred of Heytesbury in 1641. The Ashe family had become extremely wealthy in the early 17th Century from making woollen cloth in Somerset and selling it in London and abroad, which enabled Edward to buy the 'Manor and Hundred' of Heytesbury from a Thomas Moore. The Manor of Heytesbury had earlier been in the possession of the Hungerford family since at least the 13th Century, but when Walter Hungerford (created First Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury in 1536) was executed at the Tower of London in 1540/1 it is believed that the Heytesbury Estates were confiscated by the crown. The Manor of Heytesbury (and apparently Tytherington) was granted to Henry Wheeler by the Crown in 1553, who later sold it to the Moore family.

Edward had an additional unnamed daughter who married Robert Wilson.

Edward was buried in All Hallows Staining, City of London, close to Fenchurch Street Station. The church was demolished in 1870. An inscription can be found in Heytesbury Church: In memory: Of Edward Ashe of Halstead in the county of Kent and Lord of the Manor which he purchased off the family of the Mores in 1641 and died 31 October 1656 aged 47. Of Elizabeth his widow daughter of Christopher Woodward of Lambeth Esquire who died 24 June 1698 aged 78. Of Anne wife of William Ashe Esquire daughter of Alexander Popham of Littlecote who died 30 April 1684 aged 35. Of William Ashe Esquire who died 22 October 1713 aged 67. Of Frances wife of Edward Ashe Esquire daughter of Edward Harvey of Coombe Neville of the county of Surrey Esquire who died 30 March 1743 aged 68. Of Edward Ashe who died 22 May 1748 aged 75. Of William Ashe who died 11 August 1750 aged 36. Of Pierce à Court Ashe son of Pierce à Court of Ivy Church in this county and Rodden in the county of Somerset. Of Elizabeth his wife daughter of William Ashe who died 6 September 1768 aged 66. Of Annabella à Court Ashe wife of General à Court Ashe daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Vernon of Twickenham Park in the county of Middlesex who died 29 February 1777 aged 70. Of William à Court Ashe a general of his Majesty's forces and colonel of the 11th Regiment of Infantry who died 2 August 1781 aged 73. Of Laetitia wife of the Honourable William Eliot of Liskeard (elder daughter of Sir William Pierce Ashe à Court Baronet, and Of Dame Laetitia his wife daughter of Henry Wyndham of the Close of Salisbury Esquire) who died 20 January 1810 aged 31.

John Ashe, a nephew of Edward Ashe, emigrated to Carolina in the late 17th century. The town of Ashville and Ashe County are named after them.

Extract from "The Endowed Charities of the City of London" by the Commissioners for Inquiring concerning Charities (1829) Edward Ash's Gift. By a clause in the will of Edward Ash of London, merchant, dated the 26th April, 1656, the testator bequeathed as follos: "And I do give, will and devise unto my son-in-law, Robert Wilson, and my brother, Joseph Ash, their executors and administrators, all that my rent charge or annual payment of ten pounds, issuing out of certain tenements in Philpott lane, London; and all penalties and forfeitures, and remedies for recovery of the same, or for non-payment therefof; and all my term, estate, and interest in and to the same, which is the remainder of a term of one thousand and nine hundred years, upon trust and confidence that they shall pay and dispose of the same annual payment, as followeth: viz., One half-part thereof to the church and poor of the parish of Halstead, in the county of Kent, in lieu of the twenty six shillings and eight pence which is pretended to be chargeable upon the said manor and lands in Halstead, so as the said six and twenty shillings and eight pence shall, within six months after my decease, be released in such manner as my said son John shall require, otherwise the same half part not to be paid to the said parish, the other half part thereof to the poor of the parish of Allhallows Stayning, London." No such annual sum as was so bequeathed, has been received by the parish since the year 1771. The sum of 5l. was received from the year 1657, till the fire of London; and, in the churchwardens' accounts, the following receipt occurs: "Received of Percivall Sarjeant, a carpenter at Carpenter's yard in Golden lane, the gift of Edward Ash, to the poor of this parish, paid out of two houses in Philpott lane, inhabited by Henry Toone and Thomas Whitacre, for one year, ending Lady-day last, 3l. 6s. 8d. (less 6s. 8d. abated for one year's taxes to his Majesty); from 15 th December 1708, the rent is to be yearly 5l. per annum, as it was formerly, for that the judges by their decree, dated the 15th December 1668, abated it third part for 40 years, 3l." There further appears an entry in the vestry book, of which the following is a copy: "Memorandum -- On the 20th of June 1753, agreed with Mr. Robert Brumfield, and with the consent of the Rev. Mr. Henry Wotton, that as Edward Ash, esq. left to the parish an annuity of 5l. to be paid yearly, whereof, for some years, only 4l. hath been by the parish received, that for the future shall be paid 4l. 10s. clear of all deductions." The last payment was made in 1771 (10th June), when it appears that 4l. 10s. was received. By a minute of vestry, dated 15th April 1773, it was resolved that a committee be appointed to take into consideration Edward Ash's gift, and the affairs relating to the same; after which no entry appears on the subject. It is not easy to identify the houses left by the said will; but, from the description in the rent roll, it appears that there were two messuages and tenements, sometime a brewhouse, called the Cock and Bell, or the Hoop. But no other description of them in any other document can be found. The first payment that appears in the book (5l.) was received of Mr. Glyde, at Christ's Hospital, in the year 1657 (the year of Mr. Ash's death); application has been made at Christ's Hospital for information respecting these tenements, by the churchwardens of this parish, at our request, and, by the answer received from the secretary of that institution, it appears that the result of a very diligent search has been to ascertain that, since the year 1771, no monies due to the hospital from this charity have been received. We have also learned that the share of the rent charge devised to the parish of Halsted, in Kent, has not been received by that parish for a great many years. The last receipt entered in the parish book is dated in May 1769.

Extract from British History Online Notes on the Aldermen of the City of London, 1502 - 1700: 1653: Edward Ashe, son-in-law of Christopher Woodward (Alderman 1622), uncle of John Ashe (Alderman 1672), brother of Sir Joseph Ashe, Bart., and ancestor (through the marriage of his grand-daughter to Pierce A'Court) of the Lords Heytesbury.

Extract from "The History of the Worshipful Company of the Drapers of London: Vol. IV" by Arthur Henry Johnson (1922) Members of the Livery: Edward Ashe, 1631-45, 1647-52. Notes on some Leading Drapers: EDWARD ASHE (Ash). Alderman of Vintry, 1653. Died 1656. Brother of Sir Joseph Ashe, Bart., and (through the marriage of his granddaughter to Pierce A'Court) ancestor of the Lords Heytesbury. Masters and Wardens of the Drapers Company: 1646-47 \endash Master: Francis Bickley; Wardens: William Middleton, Stephen Burton, Andrew Beece, Edward Ashe and John Rogers (the latter loco Edward Ashe fining 'in regard of his continuall employment as a member of the howse of Commons in Parliament'.

Note by Robert Ashe: It is evident that there is some confusion over the two wives of Edward Ashe. While a number of sources speak of only one wife, Elizabeth Woodward, an equal number of sources refer to a second wife, Elizabeth Jolliffe (or Jolley). The fact that they have the same first name has probably added to the confusion, as has the memorial inscription in Heytesbury Church giving the date of death of Elizabeth Woodward as 24 June 1698. It is also unclear as to which wife produced which child, and I have assigned the children to the two wives based on the research to-date, but this could be wrong. However, the association of Elizabeth Ash, née Jolliffe/Jolley, to Leek in north Staffordshire, as well as the fact that her married name is spelled without the "e", opens up the possibility that other Ash(e)s in that area, e.g. Stockport, Ashby de la Zouche, Macclesfield, could be part of the larger Ashe family.

Extract from "The Visitation of London, Anno Domini 1633, 1634, and 1635: Vol. I" by Sir Henry St. George and Sir Richard St. George (1880) Ash of Devon: John Ash of Westcomb, in com. Somerset, the younger son, had issue: - James Ashe, of Westcombe, living 1634, who married Grace, daughter of Richard Pittes, of Weymouth in com. Dorset, and had issue: (1) John Ashe, of Freshford, living 1634, eldest son. (2) Edward Ashe, of London, Draper, living 1634, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Christofer Woodward, of Lambeth, and had issue: (a) Edward Ash, eldest son. (b) Katherine. (3) Joseph. (4) Jonathan. (5) Samuel. Signed: Edward Ashe

Ashe was the son of James Ashe of Freshford, Somerset and his wife Grace Pitt, daughter of Richard Pitt of Melcombe Regis[1] He acquired the manor of Halstead, Kent.[2] In November 1640, Ashe was elected Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in the Long Parliament.[3] Ashe died at the age of 47. Ashe married Elizabeth Woodward, daughter of Christopher Woodward and had a family. His brother John was MP for Westbury.[1]

This Robert Wilsons father was a draper in London, but, he is shown to have married Susan (Alice) Ram.