johnashbrook

John Ashbrook was born about 1664, possibly in Armagh Co., Ireland. He sailed from Belfast on the ship Antelope as a servant (per 5 years) to John Atkinson arriving in Philadelphia 1682. It appears that John was of the Quaker faith. John eventually settled in Gloucestor Co., NJ. A more complete documentation of John's arrival and life can be found at the web site of Mary K. Harris.

Children of John Ashbrook:
1. Elizabeth
2. Aaron b abt 1703 Gloucestor Co., NJ d 1751 Frederick Co., VA
3. John b abt 1706 d 1748
4. James b abt 1710

Aaron Ashbrook left Gloucestor Co. when several Scotch-Irish families removed to VA 1740-1743. He settled in Frederick Co., VA, which is now the eastern part of Hampshire Co., West VA. Aaron held a deed for 640 acres.

Children of Aaron Ashbrook:
1. Hannah b abt 1728 md. Jeremiah Chew
2. Mary b abt 1730 md. John Jones
3. John b abt 1732
4. Aaron b abt 1735 d abt 1810 Bourbon Co., KY
5. Levi b 1738 d 1808 Hampshire Co., VA
6. Moses b abt 1740 Gloucestor Co., NJ d possibly in TN
7. Catherine b abt 1742 d 1792 md. Peter Jones
8. Thomas b abt 1745 d abt 1781

Moses Ashbrook spent most of his life between VA and NC, many of his children being born in Hampshire Co., VA (now W VA). Documentation shows that in his later years he was in TN. A recent discovery to me was finding him listed among "Petitioners for Reduction of Constitutional Limits of Jackson Co., TN, July 1806" along with sons James and Moses. It is uncertain where and when Moses died. Documentation for places of residence for Moses may be viewed here.

Children of Moses and Sarah:
1. George b 1763 Hampshire Co., VA d 1839 MO
2. Hannah Mary b 1766 Hampshire Co., VA d 1845 Bedford Co., TN md Nicholas Woodfin
3. Elizabeth b 1769 Rutherford Co., NC d 1855 Maury Co., TN md Wm. Lewis Mackey
4. Daughter b 1771 Rutherford Co., NC
5. William b 1773 Rutherford Co., NC
6. Sarah b at 1775 Rutherford Co., NC d 1848 md Smith Williams
7. Aaron b 1777 Hampshire Co., VA
8. Daughter b 1779 Hampshire Co, VA
9. Daughter b 1781 Hampshire Co., VA
10, Daughter b 1783
11. Son b 1784 Washington Co., VA
12. James L. b abt 1786 NC d bef 1854 Russell Co., KY
13. Moses b 1788 Rutherford Co., NC d after 1850 MS

Song title: Merrily Kiss the Quaker

To view inscription on the stone

From Ashbrook's Burial Ground, Glendora, Gloucestor Township New Jersey
by William W. Leap, 1995.
In this historical account, John is recognized as a first settler of Runnemede and Glendora, selecting land in 1688 on the Gloucestor River where the abandoned site of the old Indian village of Armewamex once stood. In England 1674, the Society of Friends (Quakers) purchased West New Jersey (today southern New Jersey) for colonization.

John became an active and involved citizen serving as constable of old Gloucestor Co. in 1694. By 1697 he was a member of the general assembly of the Province of West New Jersey. This same year he was found guilty of "killing hogs in the woods contrary to law" in the court of Gloucestortown.

From 1705-1727 John served as "Ye High Sheriff" of old Gloucestor Co. and as a county freeholder from 1718-1727. In his lifetime he would accumulate 443 acres, leaving one acre of land for a burial ground. John died 1729/30 in Gloucestor Co.

(NOTE: Today's Camden Co. was part of old Gloucestor Co. until 1844.)

Pic from my visit to the
Asbrook Burial Ground
April 2006

Transcribed will of John Ashbrook

Back to my Pulaski Co. Ashbrooks