I have been researching Ashbrook genealogy for over 30 years as time has permitted. I began my search into my Ashbrook family by first corresponding with a second cousin, Ruedell "Pete" Ashbrook, who so very generously gave me his complete file. All his work was accomplished before the internet, and it proved to be a solid basis from which to expand.  For this I am extremely grateful.

Second, I would like to thank Mary Kathryn Harris who assisted me in verifying James L. Ashbrook as a son of Moses.

My line begins with John Ashbrook who sailed from Belfast, Ireland on the ship Antelope arriving in Philadelphia 1682.  James L. Ashbrook, son of Moses, grandson of Aaron, and  the great grandson of "Antelope John" first appears on the Pulaski Co. tax list in 1808 as a single male over 21 indicating he was born before 1787. 

James married Christina Fry April 28, 1811 in Wayne Co., KY. Christina was the daughter of John Fry and Christina Waller (Muller). James and Christina had three daughters and one son, Matilda being my third great grandmother.

I must also acknowledge that  Christina had a son, Charles Fry, born prior to her marriage to James Ashbrook. Charles Fry married Lucinda McClenndon.  Their daughter, Serena, married Willis Tarter, parents of Willis McKinley Tarter married Robert G. Young who was the father  of Mittie Young (my grandmother). 

Christina died before 1829 as James married Margaret Combs in September of that year. His third wife was Elizabeth Grimes whom he married December 30, 1845 in Russell Co.

James and Christina's children are as follows:
Serena Ashbrook was born abt 1811, 
Mariah Ashbrook abt 1814, 
Matilda Ashbrook abt 1815
James Smith Ashbrook abt 1816.

Years ago, I found in Pulaski Co. a marriage bond for Matilda Ashbrook and John Elliot(t) dated May 9, 1839. More recently I found a marriage bond for Matilda and Milton B. Elliott in Casey Co also dated May 9, 1839.

For more detail What is the mystery of these Elliott Marriage Bonds? Well I think I may have an answer!

After the marriage bonds, the next record I have located for Matilda is the Russell Co., Census 1850. She is listed as head of household, Matilda "ASHBROOK", with son William age 10, and twins Nancy and John age one month. 

The twins prove to be (by death certificate of John Wesley Ashbrook) the children of her half sister, and William is to be her only child

William L. Ashbrook married Mary Frances Lynch, daughter of Alexander Lynch and Frances Jennings in Russell Co. September 3, 1860. They had six children, John Hooker Ashbrook being my great grandfather. 

John Hooker Ashbrook, born January 31,1867 died February 5, 1945  was their fifth child . He married on December 29, 1889 to Laura Ellen Harris born June 3, 1872 died March 27, 1951. Laura Ellen was the daughter of William Henry Harrison Harris and Rachel Johnson. John and Laura are buried in the Somerset Cemetery, Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY.

John and Laura had a large family of eleven children. Luther Ashbrook, my grandfather, born January 18, 1893  died June 13, 1959  married August 1, 1920 Pulaski Co., KY Mittie Young born April 22, 1895  died September 24, 1978. Luther and Mittie are buried at Nancy in the Mills Springs National Cemetery.

 
 
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For my  account of "Antelope John's" history and his descendants through Moses, Click here.

The other names that I research include:
 Young, Tarter, Harris, Lynch, Jennings, Fry (Frey)

 My FLANAGAN genealogy -

Johnson, Gadberry, Ard, French

favorite Ireland photos click here.