Sir Anthony Ashley, 1st Bt., PC

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ashley-929

Born 1551.

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/as...

Born 1551.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Anthony_Ashley,_1st_Baronet

Born 1551. Member of the Privy Council.

.1551, 1st s. of Anthony Ashley of Damerham, Wilts. by Dorothy, da. of John Lyte of Lytes Cary, Som.; bro. of Robert. educ. New Inn; M. Temple 1574. m. (1) Jane, da. and h. of Philip Okeover of Okeover, Staffs., wid. of Thomas Cokayne of Ravenston Grange, Derbys., 1 surv. da.; (2) 3 Jan. 1622, Philippa, da. of Sir Thomas Shelton, s.p. Kntd. at Cadiz 1596; cr. Bt. 1622.1

Offices Held

Clerk of PC Mar. 1587-1610; clerk of castle and court of York 1589; j.p.q. Mdx. 1594, Dorset 1599; sec. for war at Cadiz 1596; sheriff, Dorset 1619-20.2

Biography Ashley’s father had been in the service of Sir Christopher Hatton, and it was to Hatton, his ‘honourable patron’, that Ashley looked for employment after leaving the Middle Temple. In the early 1580s he was in France with Hatton’s heir (Sir) William Hatton (formerly Newport), then in his late teens, as a travelling companion and tutor. The young Hatton returned to England in time to sit in the 1586 Parliament, but the absence of records about Ashley at this time suggests that he remained abroad. If so he was very probably occupied as one of Walsingham’s agents. However this may be, on 19 Mar. 1587 he was sworn a clerk of the Privy Council, and so continued until his retirement with a pension of £50 in 1610, though he was by no means always at court. In 1584 Waghenaer’s collection of charts was published in Holland, and the lord high admiral Charles Howard I, Lord Howard of Effingham, persuaded the Privy Council that it was in the interests of this country to have them translated and published in an English edition. This task Ashley undertook, and The Mariner’s Mirror of Navigation appeared in 1588, with a reference to Drake’s raid on Cadiz in the previous year, a dedication to Sir Christopher Hatton, and an apology for the delay arising from Ashley’s ‘daily attendance’ on the Privy Council.3

It was usual at this time for one of the Privy Council clerks to be in the Commons, holding a watching brief for the government, and Ashley was returned for Tavistock by arrangement with the Earl of Warwick, and for Old Sarum through the 2nd Earl of Pembroke. He left no mark on the records of either of his Parliaments. On the earlier occasion William Hatton was also a member of the House. The 1589 Parliament ended on 29 Mar., and on 7 Apr. Ashley sailed with Drake and Sir John Norris on the Portugal expedition. The Privy Council records make it clear that he was responsible for ‘the ordering of ships and goods brought from Portugal’ on behalf of the Queen, who had a considerable financial stake in the enterprise. His letter to the Privy Council recounting its successful outcome reached them on 7 July, and he was at once instructed to handle the disposal of the booty when the fleet should return. In the meantime ‘a most vile and infamous shoemaker’ had squatted in the kitchen and stable of his Holborn house.

Hatton’s death in 1591 deprived Ashley of his patron at court, and in January 1592 he wrote to Burghley, who had recently refused him a wardship, to ask that a grant (possibly of cloth) that Hatton had obtained for him from the Queen might be implemented. Mistress Ashley, he wrote, was ‘in danger of death’, and he himself was still mourning for his ‘honourable dead patron’. He wrote again to Burghley in December 1593, thanking him for ‘favours and comfortable speeches’, and in 1596 he served on the Cadiz expedition. No shoemaker this time, but he caught ‘a kind of cough of the lungs’. During the general recriminations that followed the expedition Ashley was accused of ‘certain oppressions and evil practices’, and his name is not to be found thereafter in the Privy Council registers until the accession of James, when he was re-sworn clerk of the Council, 25 Apr. 1603. His appointment at York he presumably exercised through a deputy.

Ashley invested the proceeds of his court career in west country estates, buying Kinson, then in Dorset, for £1,400 in 1596, and Wimborne St. Giles by 1600, the latter from his ruined cousin Henry. As an old man his marriage with a relative of the leading court favourite caused John Chamberlain to comment (to Dudley Carleton, 4 Jan. 1622):

on Thursday night last Sir Anthony Ashley in his dotage married Mistress Shelton, a young gentlewoman of the kindred, by whom he hath promise or expectation to become some great man. Ashley applied unsuccessfully for the comptrollership of the Household in spring that year. He died in London 13 Jan. 1628, and was buried at Wimborne St. Giles. His will, made 22 Aug. 1625, was proved 1 Feb. 1628. Ashley requested a simple funeral, wishing to ‘go without noise and pomp out of this vale of misery’. The executor was Sir John Cooper, who had married Ashley’s only surviving daughter Anne. Their son was Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.4

ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Anthony_Ashley,_1st_Baronet

Sir Anthony Ashley, 1st Baronet, PC (1551 – 13 January 1628) was Clerk of the Privy Council, which was the most senior civil servant in the Privy Council Office. Ashley accompanied the fleet to Cádiz as a representative of the Queen. He distinguished himself by the capture of Cádiz and was knighted by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex at Cádiz after the capture of the city. Ashley sat in several parliaments, and was highly distinguished by favor of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Ashley was the older brother of Sir Francis Ashley of Dorchester (born c. 1565). Sir Francis was the father-in-law of Denzil Holles, 1st Baron Holles, one of five members of the Long Parliament whom King Charles I attempted to arrest in 1642. Sir Anthony Ashley inherited the family estates at Wimborne St Giles on his cousin, Sir Henry Ashley III's death.

Ashley family

The first known Ashleys originally came from Wiltshire, England, where they were lords of the manor of Ashley, at a very early period. Benedict of Ashley was born around the year 1260 in Ashley Place of Wiltshire in England. He lived during the reigns of King Henry II and King Edward I. In ancient and medieval times, the concept of surnames as we know them today was not very well developed. An individual either took the name of the village in which he lived (this would generally be the case for those starting with a "de"), or a derivative of his father's name, in the form of "fils de" (son of). The Ashley surname is taken from the name of the ancient ancestral homeland of Ashley in Wiltshire.

There were only a few castles and churches built in the 11th century. Most were built out of wood and consisted of a simple organic materials. Few from the time of Benedict survive today. The name of Benedict Ashley was recorded in medieval times, simply as the great-great-grandfather of Robert Ashley, who was the first Ashley to reside in Wimborne St Giles. He was the fifth great grandfather of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.

Robert Ashley was married to Egidia Hamelyn, daughter of Sir John Hamelyn. Through this marriage, Ashley greatly increased his wealth, which included the ownership of a large family manor in Wimborne St Giles, East Dorset. Ashley thrived, expanding his land and holdings under King Henry IV of England. Ashley's two immediate successors, his son, Edmund Ashley (born c. 1425), and grandson, Hugh Ashley (born c. 1460), flourished as well. When Hugh Ashley died 29 April 1493, his estates transferred to his eldest son, Sir Henry Ashley I.

Sir Henry Ashley I was married to Radegan Gilbert, daughter of Robert Gilbert of Somerset. Together, they had two sons, Henry II (his heir) and Anthony of Damerham. When Sir Henry Ashley I died on 1 March 1549, his son Henry II inherited the estate at Wimborne St Giles. Sir Henry Ashley II was married to Catherine Bassett, sister of Anne Bassett, both daughters of Sir John Bassett and Honor Grenville, Viscountess Lisle. Sir Henry II was knighted at the coronation of Queen Mary and appointed ranger of Alice Holt Forest. He was succeeded by his son, Henry Ashley III, who was gentleman pensioner to Queen Elizabeth. Sir Henry Ashley III was married to Anne Burgh, daughter of Lord Thomas Burgh, 1st Baron Burgh. Sir Henry and Anne had three sons and four daughters. All seven children died without heirs, and the family estates passed to Sir Henry’s cousin, Sir Anthony Ashley of Wimborne St Giles. Sir Anthony Ashley of Wimborne St Giles was the son of Sir Anthony Ashley of Damerham and Dorothy Lyte of Lytes Cary in Somerset. Dorothy was the sister of the botanist, Henry Lyte, and the sixth great aunt of Henry Francis Lyte, curate at Brixham and writer of numerous hymns including "Abide with Me".

Anthony Ashley was not born or raised expecting to inherit. His passion and pursuits focused on public employment. For many years, he had enriched himself in government service in support of the crown. He had served as Clerk of the Privy Council (1584–1609), and in 1589, he accompanied the failed Drake–Norris Expedition, against Portugal as Royal Commissioner.

Capture of Cádiz

Ashley sat in several parliaments and was highly distinguished by favor of Queen Elizabeth. In April 1596, Spanish regiments took the town of Calais from French Huguenots, which geographically offered an advantageous place from which to prepare for an invasion of the British Isles. Before dawn of the imminent Spanish invasion, Queen Elizabeth ordered the attack on the Spanish fleet anchored at Cádiz.[1]

East Dorset noblemen and regular soldiers were commissioned by the monarch to supply troops, raising their quotas by indenture from a variety of sources. A Commission of Array was used to raise troops for a foreign expedition during this time, while various Militia Acts directed that (in theory) the entire male population who owned property and lands over a certain amount in value, was required to keep arms at home and periodically train or report to musters. The musters were usually chaotic affairs, used mainly by the William Paulet, 3rd Marquess of Winchester, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset and other officers to draw their pay and allowances, while the troops used the musters as an excuse for drinks after their military drills.

On 13 June 1596 the English fleet set sail from Plymouth to Cádiz. Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham was the admiral commanding the English fleet, while the landing forces were under the command of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Lord Thomas Howard, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Vere, Sir Conyers Clifford, and Sir George Carew, each commanding a squad. The proceedings of the generals and councils were recorded for the Queen by Anthony Ashley, who as Clerk of the Privy Council, was the most senior civil servant in the Privy Council Office. Ashley accompanied the fleet to Cádiz as a representative of the Queen.[2] Ashley distinguished himself by the capture of Cadiz and was knighted by Essex at Cadiz after the capture of the city.

While some[3] of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury's biographers have made the mistake of claiming that Sir Anthony Ashley served as "Secretary to the Council of War" to Queen Elizabeth, there was no such office in those days. However, Ashley did serve as Secretary to the Privy Council during the reign of King James I.[4]

Imprisonment for embezzlement

After his return in August, Sir Gelli Meyrick, a Welsh supporter of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and conspirator in Essex's rebellion was officially reported to have smuggled home some prize India hides. Sir Anthony Ashley brought charges of pilfering in connection with the goods captured from the enemy were brought against him. He retaliated by accusing Ashley of far more serious offenses. On his return home, Ashley was charged with embezzlement, was imprisoned, and lived for some time in disgrace.

Marriages and later life

Sir Anthony Ashley was married twice. His first wife was Jane Okeover, daughter of Philip Okeover of Okeover Hall. Jane was the widow of Sir Thomas Cokayne of Ashbourne and High Sheriff of Derbyshire. Sir Anthony and Jane were married about 1592 and had a daughter, Anne Elizabeth Ashley.

About 1620, Ashley's daughter, Anne, married John Cooper of Rockbourne. Through this marriage, as the only child and heir of the Ashley family, the Ashley estates at Wimborne St Giles were conveyed to the Cooper family. As a condition of their marriage, Ashley had stipulated that if the family ever attained the peerage, the title would be that of Ashley. This agreement was made prior to the succession of either Ashley as 1st Baronet of Wimborne St Giles or John Cooper as 1st Baronet of Rockbourne.

Sir John and Anne (Ashley) Cooper, in accordance with the agreement, became the parents of the celebrated statesman, Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury. While he was christened Ashley-Cooper, his siblings and their descendants remained Coopers.

Later in life, when Ashley inherited the Wimborne St Giles estate, he became a liberal benefactor of the parish. He rebuilt the parish church, and built and endowed alms houses for the relief of eleven senior citizens. He also introduced the cultivation of cabbages from Holland.

In 1622, two years after his wife, Jane, died from smallpox, Sir Anthony married 19-year-old Philippa Sheldon. Philippa was the sister of Elizabeth Sheldon, who was married to Christopher (Kit) Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey, brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. Through this marriage, Ashley cemented a political alliance with the most powerful man at court.

Baronet of Wimborne St Giles On 3 July 1622, Sir Anthony Ashley was created 1st Baronet of Wimborne St Giles.[5] However, his liveliest interests rested in the grandchild born to inherit the ancient possessions of his house. He made arrangements to have him christened, in deviation from custom, with the hyphenated surname of Anthony Ashley-Cooper.

Ashley died in 1628. At the foot of his canopied tomb, located inside the parish church, is the kneeling figure of his only daughter Anne, who married Sir John Cooper of Rockbourne. She was the mother of Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper, later the first Earl of Shaftesbury.

After Ashley died, his wife Philippa went on to marry Carew Raleigh, son of Sir Walter Raleigh, while his daughter, Anne, inherited the family estates at Wimborne St Giles, then conveyed to her husband, Sir John Cooper, 1st Baronet, of Rockbourne. Anthony Ashley-Cooper was seven years old when his grandfather died.

References

^ Raleigh, Sir Walter; Oldys, William; and Thomas Birch (1829). The Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, Kt., University Press. ^ Clowes, Sir William Laird (1996). The Royal Navy: a history from the earliest times to the present, Volume 3, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1861760104 ^ Thomas Birch: Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, contiene la relación de los oficiales ingleses participantes en la expedición, extraída de entre los documentos de Francis Bacon ^ Clowes, Sir William Laird. The Royal Navy: a history from the earliest times to the present, Volume 3, Publisher: Naval Institute Press, 1996. ISBN 978-1-86176-010-4 ^ George Edward Cockayne Complete Baronetage Volume 1 1900

Reference Stirnet (subscription needed) have (from BEB1841 (Ashley of Winbourne St. Giles)) which runs along the same lines of "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland and Scotland"

No birth date

(b) Anthony Ashley of Damerham
m. Dorothy Lyte (dau of John Lyte of Lytes Carey)

((1)) Sir Anthony Ashley, Bart of Winbourne St. Giles (d 13.01.1628, Secretary)

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http://www.shaftesburyestates.com/stgileshouse.php

"In the sixteenth century two of the Ashleys, father and son, were knighted. The second Sir Anthony, who was briefly Elizabeth I's Secretary for War, is worthy of a culinary footnote in that he is thought to have introduced the first cabbage into England from Holland. He also built the lovely range of brick almshouses adjoining Wimborne St Giles church. He died in 1628, and at the foot of his canopied tomb inside the church is the kneeling figure of his only daughter Anne, who married Sir John Cooper of Rockborne and was the mother of Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper, later the first Earl of Shaftesbury."

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There is an image at Wimborne St. Giles Church. Monument of Sir Anthony Ashley. 1628 at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/rchme/dorset/vol5/plate-13

Mention at http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol4/pp586-591 (not necessarily but possibly this Anthony)

"The rectory and church and all tithes in Damerham and Stapleham were granted in 1579–80 to Anthony Ashley."