THE ROBERT ASHLEY FAMILY

Generation 1
ROBERT ASHLEY (mar. Widow Horton)

Generation 2
DAVID ASHLEY SR. (mar. Hannah Glover)

Generation 3
DAVID ASHLEY JR. (mar. Mary Dewey)

Generation 4
ELIZABETH ASHLEY (mar. James Dewey)

ROBERT ASHLEY
Generation 1

When ROBERT ASHLEY arrived from England, it is most likely that he spent at least some time at Roxbury, Massachusetts, prior to removing as a Settler to Springfield, Massachusetts. Most of the early Springfield people were drawn from Roxbury by Mr. William Pynchon, Springfield’s founder.

FIRST MENTIONED

ROBERT ASHLEY first appears on record as a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, on 13 January 1638/39.

On that date there was a rating of £40 agreed upon to meet a portion of the expense of the minister’s residence and maintenance. Robert Ashley’s share was £1 for the former and 16 shillings for the latter, being the fifth in amount on the list.*

* At higher rates than Mr. Ashley were, first, Mr. Pynchon, founder of Springfield; then Mr. Holyoke, whose son married a daughter of Mr. Pynchon; Mr. Moxon, the minister; then Henry Smith, Mr. Pynchon’s son-in-law.

Robert Ashley, then, was most likely in Springfield in 1638. To have been assessed, he must have “reached man’s estate”, the age of 21. We know nothing of his origin, save that he was from England, and the only one of the Ashley surname to arrive in New England.

Springfield was settled about 1636 when William Pynchon and several others entered into an agreement with the government of Massachusetts, for the settlement of Springfield, disbursement of lands, etc. Robert Ashley’s name first appears in the land records when he got his first allotment of land on 5 January 1640/41:

It is ordered that these psons underwritten shall have theyr lotts for ye 2d Division of plantinge ground granted them accordinge to ye number of acres and order of place as is under neath written wch is to be measured out by the first of Aprill next, pvided that those yt have broaken up ground there shall have alowance for it as 2 indifferent men shall judge equall. Single psons are to have 8 rod in bredth, maryed psons 10 rod in bredth, bigger familys 12 rod, to begin upward at the edge of ye hill [Chestnut Street].

As he was unmarried, Robert’s lot (No. 3) was 8 rods, located between Widow Searle and John Dibble. His was the fifth largest, behind those of Mr. Pynchon, Mr. Holyoke, Mr. Moxon, the minister, and Henry Smith. Pynchon was the founder and chief magistrate of Springfield; the other three were early settlers with him. Holyoke and Smith were his sons-in-law.

MARRIAGE

Mr. Pynchon’s records detail Robert’s upcoming marriage to the Widow Horton (pp. 19-30). The couple had gone before Mr. Pynchon. They had acknowledged before him their desire and intention to wed. Mary was the widow of Thomas Horton of Springfield, who had died the previous summer, leaving her with two children, one three and the other an infant.

August 7, 1641. Know all men that whereas there is a marriage shortely intended between the widdow Horton & Robert Ashly, both of Springfield. That the said widdow Horton in the prsence of Robert Ashly doth assigne & set over her house & house lott containing about eleven akers & 4 aker of woodland afore the house Eastward all wch is valued now at twelfe pounde: & all [soe] her hogges litle & grate wch are valued at eighteene pounde all together are valued at Thirty pounde, into the hande of Robert Ashly for the use & behofe of her two sonns one sucking and the other about three yeares ould caled Jarmy to be paid to them that is to say to eather of them fifteen pounds apeice when they shall come to the age of Twenty & one yeres: & the said Robert is to have the use & profits of the said land & hogges for the educatinge of her said Two sonnes; and when they shall come to the age of 13 or 14 yeares the said Robert doth promise to put them out as apprentises to some usefull trade such as they shall like of: & if they cannot be put out without a portion of money, then so much is to be deducted out of their portion of 15th apiece as shall be indifferently judged fitt for their bynding out: & the rest of yr said 15th a piece the said Robert doth bynd himself his land goods & cattell to pay to them when they shall come to the age of 21 yeeres: and in the meane tyme doth bynd himselfe to maintaine the present house & fencinge & if he shall leave it in better case than it is at present then he that shall enjoy it shall pay such cost as shall be judged to make it better for his use by indifferent prties & if one of the two sonns of the widdow Horton shall die before the age of 21 yeares then the other shall share his portion also: And the widdow Horton being present before me at the wrighting hereof doth acknowledge that this is her will & meaninge & that she is fully consentinge to what is above expressed, & the said Robert Ashly being also present doth acknowledge that he is fully consentinge to all that is above expressed; and upon this their mutuall Consent I have given them leave & liberty to proceed in marriage when they please: and the Inventory of her goods I have hereunto anexed as they were apprised under the hand of Samuell Wright & Samuel Hubbard. WILLIAM PYNCHON. An Inventory of the Goods & Cattell of the widow Horton of Springfield this first July 1641 we whose names are under written do value & apprize as followeth: Imprimis for all her linnen, brasse, pewter, beddinge, vessels & other implements – £17.0.0 her hoggs little & great as they were rated by the appraisers of the Town rate – £18.0.0. her house & house lot – £12.0.0.* Samuel Wright, Samuel Hubbard. Robert Ashley was sworne at Springfield this 24 day of ye 10 Month 1641. * It would be interesting to know what kind of (and how many) “hoggs” the Widow Horton owned, that were worth more than her house and lot on Main Street.

Their marriage isn’t recorded in Springfield’s records, but it certainly took place as it is known that he married about 1641, that his wife bore the christian name Mary, and that after 1641 the widow Horton’s name disappears from the records.

RESIDENCE

Springfield’s home lots were laid out on the west side of what is now Main Street and extended to the Connecticut River. On the east side of Main Street was the “wet meadow,” which was allotted to each inhabitant in equal widths and were just opposite to their home lots, running 40 rods to the foot of the hill. Adjoining the wet meadow on its eastern end, each was also given a wood lot 80 rods long by 8 rods wide.

Robert Ashley’s home lot was on what is now the NW corner of Main and State streets and extended down to the river. Neighbors were Francis Ball on the north and John Leonard on the south. His “wet meadow” and “wood lots,” just opposite, extended back along State Street to what is now Spring Street. His land in the “planting grounds” was across the Connecticut River, between it and the Agawam River.

OCCUPATION

Like most people in Springfield, Robert Ashley was a farmer. His ear mark for his cattle was “in the off ear a slit cut in the under side or back side of the ear (not at ye top of ye ear), but toward ye root of ye ear, the slit is but a little slanting outward toward ye root of ye ear.” His mark was still used for Ashley cattle in Deerfield, Massachusetts, to around 1904.

ROBERT ASHLEY'S LANDS

As can be seen by the below list, Robert Ashley over time accumulated much land, receiving grants from the Plantation on many occasions from the Plantation, buying it on others.

• April 6, 1642. Grant 17 acres -- the 4th largest of the allotments in that distribution.
  
  
• Received 4-1/2 acres of meadow ground on the Agawam side of the river.
  
  
• Was granted 2-1/4 acres on the other side of “ye greate river for meddows.”
  
  
• 6 May 1644. A “rate” was made the 6th of May, 1644, "for the payinge of £20 in part of payment for ye Indian purchas of ye land of ye Plantation." Robert Ashley paid 15s (the 5th highest amount). The only four who owned more land than Ashley at this time were Mr. Pynchon, Mr. Holyoke, Mr. Moxon and Henry Smith.
  
  
• In 1647, Robert was taxed on a total of 51 acres.
• March 15, 1653. Bought about four acres of meadow in the woods beyond the Swan pond on the left side of the Bay Path from John Leonard.
  
  
• Owned a lot of 18 or 19 acres “in the Plain.”
  
  
• Bought from the Widow Johns, about 6 acres, a planting lot in “the Long meddow.”
  
  
• 15 Mar 1652. Bought from Jonathan Leonard, about 1-1/2 acre meadow lot over the Great River.
  
  
• January 2, 1655. Was granted 4 acres of wet meddow and other land which is to run from the Highway that goes up to “ye Round Hill eastward to ye brow of ye further hill” (“to ye hither end of ye woodlots”). This land was granted upon condition that he continue five years in Town or else leave it. He was not “to hinder a cartway”; also, the cartway should be where it shall be most convenient over the meadow and through the low land.
  
  
• Was granted about 9 acres on “the next brook that runs into the Greate River below Agawam River.”
  
  
• 29 Sept 1656. Bought 5 acres of wet meadow on the Mill River from Rice Bedortha. This land added to land on the south of it that he already owned. He also bought about 5-1/2 acres more of wet meadow from Thomas Miller.
  
  
• 1 February 1657. Was granted a house lot and 4 acres extending from the street fence to the Great River. In the same line eastward opposite his Houselott 2 acres of wet meddow more or less of the same breadth, with a woodlott of 4 acres more or less, extending in length from the wet meadow 80 rods eastward; breadth was 8 rods. On the other wise of the Great River opposite to his Houselott 4 acres more or less, Breadth 8 rod, length 80 rod, extending from the Great River west to Agawam River. He later conveyed this to Samuel Marshfield.
  
  
• 2 Feb 1657. Bought 3 acres of wet meadow from Sam Marshfield. This land, also, added on the south to his own wet meadow land granted him by the Town.
  
  
• 18 Sept 1657. Bought from Samuel Ferry about 3 acres of wet meadow.
  
  
• 18 Sept 1657. Granted from the Plantation, about 4 acres of wet meadow, extending from the highway “that goes under the Round Hill” eastward to the woodlots.
  
  
• 20 Jan 1659. Bought 3 acres from Richard Fellows, which adjoined his own three acres.
  
  
• 18 Oct 1660. Bought from John Riley, about 43 acres in Chickupee Plain on the west side of the Great River.
  
  
• 12 Feb 1660. Granted all the meddow that lies upon the North Branch of the next brook that runs into the Great River below Agawam River. This grant was to four men, Ashley, Ensign Cooper, Samuell Marshfield, and James Warriner, to share equally those meddows amongs them, themselves also are to agree where each man’s share shall lie.
  
  
• 12 Feb 1660. Also granted to Ensign Cooper, Robert Ashley, Samuell Marshfield and James Warriner all the meddow that lies upon the North Branch of the next brook that runs into the Great River below Agawam River, the said 4 persons are to share equally those meddows amongst them, themselves also are to agree where each man’s share shall lie.
  
  
• 1 Jan 1661. Bought from John Dumbleton, 24 acres of Land more or less in the Plain called Chickupee Plain on the West side of the Great River, which 24 acres is 19-1/2 rods in Breadth and 20 rod in Length. Ashley’s own land was to the South, and the Commons to the north.
  
  
• 19 Feb 1661. Granted a house lott of 5 acres between the two brookes below Chickuppe Playne on ye West side of the Greate River provided that he build and dwell there, or that he dispose not of the lott but to such as shall build and dwell there. Later four acres were added on the opposite side of the road.
  
  
• 16 Mar 1661. Granted six acres of meddow on the back side of Chickuppe Playne within 2 or 3 mile of the Great River where he can find soe much undisposed of. He was granted liberty to build on his land towards the round hill.
  
  
• 1661. Granted to Captain Pynchon, Robert Ashley and George Colton that share of upland at Woronoco Meddow that was formerly granted to Jonathan and John Gilbert who forfeited their grant of these lands. These lands thus granted are all the low lands between the River and the hills on the Northeasterly side of Woronock River, and this grant is upon condition that these lands be confirmed to the Towne by the General Corte and that the grantees doe buy out the Indians’ right in the said lands here granted. [This title eventually went to his son, David.]
  
  
• 6 Feb 1664. Also granted to Robert Ashley 4 acres woodlot next beyond Samuel Ferry’s woodlot (in the west meadow).
  
  
• 1 Feb 1665. Robert Ashley desires that the 4 acre woodlot which was granted him next beyond Samuel Ferry’s woodlot last February, 1664, may have an addition to it, so that he may have eight or ten acres there in all, his desire is granted, viz: that his woodlot there shall be in all 8 acres, to run in length 30 rods as the other woodlots do and so to be the more in breadth, only there is just to be three rod broad left common for a highway to be disposed for passage to the woods, either there or lower as shall be most convenient.

INNKEEPER

Robert was licensed to keep the ordinary in 1646. It's unclear if he did so then due to the fact that on 22 January 1651-52 he received a grant of land on Mill River on the condition that he keep the ordinary. He did consent and operated the ordinary (or inn) for several years. Keeping an ordinary in those days was a highly respectable position, only authorized to those deemed by the town to be responsible persons.

“To Robert Ashley and his wife, keepers of the ordinary in Springfield. January 22, 1651. There is granted to Robert Ashley three acres and half of meddow upon ye Mill River begining lowermost on ye Southeast branch, and so going up to ye little brooke and then upward to ye 16 Acres, and so over to ye North branch at ye upper end, and then come downeward, and lastly to ye lake or pond. But one acre and half of it is given in relation to his keeping ye ordinary, and he is to leave it into ye Town’s hand whenever he shall cease to keepe ye ordinary, and he to enjoy 2 acres, at most but 2 acres and half.”

The keeper of the ordinary was under the supervision of the town’s officers and was placed under certain restrictions. Evidently some breach of the restrictions occurred instigating the following order served on the Ashleys by the town Commissioners on 27 June 1655:

To Robert Ashley and his wife, keepers of the ordinary in Springfield. Whereas it is famously known how the Indians abuse themselves by excessive drinking of strong liquors whereby God is greviously dishonored, and the peace of this Plantation in great danger to be broken: And whereas you have noe Lycence formally and according to Law to sell eyther wine or stronge waters to English or Indians: These are therefore to will and require you uppon yor perill that you henceforth forbear to sell eyther wine or strong waters to any Indians, though for selling to the English wee would not restrayne you, but doe allow you of.

Robert resigned as keeper of the ordinary, probably in the fall of 1660 as the next appointee was named in December:

“December 31, 1660. Whereas there was one acre of meddow on ye Mill River wch Goodman Ashley had in relation to his keeping of ye ordinary, and he was to leave it into ye Towne’s hands whenever he should cease to keepe ye ordinary: He having given over ye ordinary, and 1 acre of meddow more or less now falling into ye Towne’s hands, it is ordered that Samuel Marshfield who now keeps ye ordinary shall have it.”

By 1660, Goodman Ashley owned much land on the west side of the Great River in what is now the Riverdale section of West Springfield. His house lot there had been granted him in February, 1661, “provided that he build and dwell there,” and in March he had “liberty to build on his land towards ye round hill.” All the earliest settlers built their houses along the hill for fear that floods would cover the plain below. The plain stretches about two miles to the north from Meeting-house Hill and was the first part of West Springfield to be cultivated. Robert lived there the remaining twenty years of his life.

LITIGATION

Goodman Ashley was involved in few litigations, but the following are recorded:

• 24 December 1640. “It is ordered and voted that whereas Henry Grigory, John Leonard and Robert Ashley have contrary to an order formerly made sold away theyre cannoes, they have therefor liberty granted them to redeme and bringe ym into the Plantation agayne untill the 15th of May next, and in case of defect herein they shall be Lyable to the forfeiture yt is expressed in the order dated Febr. 14th, 1638.” [Cancelled.] This order was that no inhabitant should sell his canoe to outside parties.
  
  

• 15 February 1641. Robert Ashley entered a complaint against John Woodcock for not delivering to him a gun for which he had paid 22 shillings. The jury sided with Ashley and he was awarded 26 shillings.
  
  

• 12 Sept 1659. “In Answare to a Peti[ti]on of Robert Ashley of Springfield for Satisfaction for a horse killed by a Nepanett Indian the last yeare: The Commissioners being informed by Mr. Pinchon that the said Indian liveth att Quabage under the Sachem Annoackamor doth thinke twenty pounds should bee demaunded of the said Sachem or the man that killed the horse to bee delivered into the hands of the said Ashley to bee kept by him and disposed of as hee sees cause. Mr. Pinchon is desired to take care that Satisfaction bee demaunded, and the ptie cecured if there bee opertunitie, which if hee cannot attaine, wee desire the Massachusetts Government to effect the same as they shall see cause.” (“Acts of the Commissioners of the United Colonies” [Vol. 2, p. 225] Sept. 12, 1659.)
  
  

• September 27, 1659. Robert Ashley entered a complaint against Richard Fellows “for detayning a sword from him. The sword and damages he reckons at forty shillings.” Ashley later withdrew his complaint promising to pay “the costs for the costs”.
  
  

• September 29, 1663. Robert Ashley and Miles Morgan complain against John Scott, John Riley, William Brooks and William Morgan for violating town orders. It seems that on the 25th of September, 1660, Miles Morgan had sued Robert Ashley for wrongfully impounding his swine. [A state of Miles Morgan appears in Court Square, Springfield.]
  
  

• Not necessarily litigation, but from the Pynchon Records, another document refers to a maid servant in Robert Ashley’s service: “July 29th, 1671. Katharin Hunter (of about 14 years old) servant to Robert Ashley Deserting from her Master’s service unlawfully: once last Tuesday and then coming againe on Thursday and yet goeing away againe on Friday morning to her father and for noe cause yt shee can relate herself but only yt her dame once only and yt some tyme before gave her a blow of 2 with her hand: there being nothing to justifie her in her unlawfull depture. I [Mr. Pynchon] ordered her to ye house of corection there to abide till I discharged her. And William Hunter her father for harburing his sd daughter and not discharging her and sending her to her aforesd Mr. (none informing), I acot 20s. Due by law to ye County: But respited the sentence till some other tyme.”
  

CIVIL SERVICE

Goodman Ashley was very active in town affairs. A short history of Springfield is available on this website.

He often served on juries. The town’s court records for 2 January 1639/40 record that he was on the jury that tried Mr. Moxon’s slander suit against John Woodcock. He served as juror again in Springfield’s court on 13 February 1639/40. Again on 1 March 1654, and in the courts held in 1661, 1662, 1664, 1667, and 1670.

Springfield, like all towns, required a lot of maintenance for security purposes and for the good of the inhabitants. All men were expected to contribute, however, the men were chosen for the responsible positions by the appropriate committees. Ashley, like most of the men, served in many capacities over the course of his life in Springfield.

• November 3, 1646. Chosen along with Miles Morgan to oversee the fences of the house lots and the “greate playne” according as directed by “ye townsmen”.
  
  
• November 5, 1650. Chosen along with William Warriner to oversee fences for the fields, pertaining to the upper part of the town from the meeting house upward.
  
  
• November 4, 1651. Chosen with Nathaniel Bliss as surveyors of highways for the next year. Ashley was also chosen to this office in 1652 and 1667.
  
  
• When the town was reorganized in 1653 by the younger men, Robert was chosen as one of five Townsmen “who are to order ye prudential affairs of ye Town for ye year ensuing.” In 1655 he with two of the others refused to serve and they were fined 20 shillings each. Other than that incident, he was reelected annually until 1660, skipped a year, then again for 1662 and 1665. In 1657 he was chosen “First Selectman”.
  
  
• Robert took the oath of fidelity on 23 March 1655/56. This was an important step in the citizenship of any town. And it is very likely that we will see his responsibilities in the affairs of the town significantly more important than prior.
  
  
• On 7 February 1659, he was chosen town constable.
  
  
• On 5 March 1659, he was chosen to be sealer of weights and measures, and was reelected to that office the following year.
  
  
• June 1662. The towns people made joint arrangements for the grinding of their corn. At a town meeting, it was agreed that Mr. Holyoke should grind the corn. Without food the town would not survive; it was quite serious business. The town designated John Pynchon, Robert Ashley, and three others to make this all happen, as a firm commitment according to “Law”. This document was signed on June 4th, 1662, by John Pynchon, George Colton, and Samuel Marshfield, and marks were made by Robert Ashley (Γ) and Miles Morgan.
  
  
• The town ordered and appointed Robert Ashley and two others as “sealers,” “to mak a Tole with true and exact to ye twelth pt of ye bushell, and to seale it with ye Towne’s seale.” What this probably means is that when the grain was ground and bagged, it was sealed up as guarantee of its true weight and measure.

Public officers were expected to attend strictly to their duties. At a Court held at Springfield on 27 September 1664, Robert Ashley and Jonathan Burt were presented for the offence of not viewing on the East side of the River, being chosen for the work. But Robert Ashley pleaded that he:

“had not warning yt he was soe chosen & it beinge not proven yt he had warninge, the Selectmen are fined 20s a peese for the use of the Towne accordinge to ye law except they can cleare ymselves and they did give warninge to ye viewers, wch Captain Pynchon is ordered to examine & determine, vizt: whether he had legall warning, and if he fynd Robert Ashley had legall warning yrof then the Selectmens fynes are to be remitted & he is to pay as a fine 20s for the use of the County.” Hampshire County Court Record (Vol. 1) p. 42.

In April 1665, Robert Ashley and several others were fined for absenting themselves from the town meeting.

Robert Ashley and his two oldest sons were among the 62 inhabitants of Springfield who signed the petition against “a custome imposed on all goods and merchandizes” by an order of the General Court at the October session in 1668.

On 30 March 1669, Ashley petitioned to be relieved of military training. “At a Court held on that date, he presented his desires that, by reason of the weakness of his body, he might be freed from military exercises. “The Court granteth his desires on such terms as the chief officers of that company shall determine.” [Hampshire County Court Record (Vol. 1) p. 103.]

And finally, our ancestor took the Oath of Allegiance with the other Springfield inhabitants on December 31, 1678.

THE CHURCH

Robert Ashley took an active role in the religious life of the village. He always paid his proportion of the tax for the maintenance of public worship. The first time his name appears in the Springfield records was in connection with a rating to raise support for the minister and whenever it was necessary to raise funds for the minister, he always paid his share of the assessment.

The Meeting House needed a new floor. At a town meeting on 5 February 1651, Ashley, along with George Coulton, were nominated by Mr. Jno Pynchon, and were appointed by the vote of the inhabitants “to gather in ye rate yt shall be made by ye Selectmen for ye charge layd out about this floore” [of the meeting-house chamber].

He loaned out his mare “for the use of the church,” and received 3 shillings as payment in February of 1653.

The first list of seating assignments in the meeting-house was on 23 December 1659. Robert Ashley sat in the first seat, and was on the seating committee. His two oldest sons sat “below ye pillars on ye North side.” In 1663 he was again one of a committee to distribute the seats.

Our ancestor was a man of obvious energy and ability, qualities recognized by his fellow townsmen as shown by his election to the offices and duties described above. The offices he filled were not necessarily of the highest grade. They were, however, in his time, of great value and were never bestowed upon any but trustworthy men. Like many of his time, he did not write, therefore it is to be assumed that his education precluded his holding some of the more important offices in the administration of village affairs. His mark was something like a Greek Γ. He was called Goodman Ashley in Mr. Pynchon’s account books.

DEATH

CHILDREN OF ROBERT ASHLEY

1. DAVID ASHLEY (twin) was 3 June 1642 at Springfield, Mass. He died in Westfield, Mass., on 8 Dec 1718, in the 77th year of his age. He married Hannah Glover, the daughter of Henry & Helena Glover, in New Haven, Conn., on 24 Nov 1663.
   
   

2. Mary Ashley (twin), died at birth. According to the Springfield town records, "At the same tyme [as David's birth] a daughter was borne to Ro Ashley with life in it, but it presently dyed.”
   
   

3. Mary Ashley was born 6 April 1644 at Springfield, Mass. She married on 18 October 1664, John Root of Westfield, Mass.
   
   

4. Jonathan Ashley was born 25 February 1645/46 at Springfield, Mass.
   
   

5. Sarah Ashley was born 23 August 1648 at Springfield, Mass. She was not mentioned in her father’s will which was made in 1679. She probably died young.
   
   

6. Joseph Ashley was born 6 July 1652 at Springfield, Mass.

DAVID ASHLEY SR.
Generation 2

BIRTH AND YOUTH

DAVID ASHLEY (SR.) was born on 3 June 1642 at Springfield, Massachusetts. The Springfield Town Records state he was ""borne 4 Mon: 3d 1642 about 9 of ye clock in ye morninge" at Springfield, Massachusetts.

Along with him was born a twin sister, Mary, who died at birth. The record states, she “presently dyed.”
k in ye morninge" at Springfield, Massachusetts.

David married on 24 November 1663 at New Haven, Connecticut, HANNAH GLOVER, the daughter of Henry and Helena Glover. She was born at New Haven in May of 1646.

Go to the GLOVER FAMILY [not ready yet]

RESIDENCE AND LAND

David took his bride, Hannah, to Springfield where they lived the first 3-1/2 years of their married life.

On 8 February 1663/64, David Ashley received his own 30-acre grant at Woronoco, on condition that he and the other grantees were “to pay the Indians for their purchase within three years and that they go there to dwell”. He was one of the original grantees of land on the Fort Side (Main Street) on 6 July 1666.

This land was to be settled “in their own persons on the last of May next.” He probably removed his family to Westfield in the spring of 1667. He lived near the confluence of Great and Little rivers, and styled himself “yoeman” (which means farmer).

The title to the lands at the new settlement of Waronoco that David's father got in 1661 by grant to himself, Captain Pynchon, and George Colton, eventually was confirmed to David.

In March of 1668, a division of territory was made into three parts, and lots were cast for it. David Ashley’s lands fell in the first division.

LITIGATION

At a county court held at Springfield 27 September 1670, Walter Lee brought an action against David Ashley “for taking away from him 10 shock of his wheat last year and a load of Indian corn this year off the ground which he had plowed and sowed.” This must have been a mistake on Mr. Ashley’s part, as the parties agreed before the jury brought in their verdict.

CHURCH

In the fall of 1671, Mr. Edward Taylor, recently graduated at Harvard College, was invited by the inhabitants of Westfield to come there and preach to them. He says in his diary, “This being the 2d (1st?) of December, we came to Westfield. ... We went to Mr. Whiting’s. There the men of the town came to welcome me, and after supper I went to Goodman Ashley’s, where I was till Mr. Whiting had got his house ready that I might be with him.”

David united with the Westfield church on 1 January 1679/80, five months after its organization.

CIVIL SERVICE

Mr. Ashley was one of a committee of three appointed to convey to the government at Boston the protest of the town against a letter dated 20 March 1676, advising that the town of Westfield be abandoned and the inhabitants retreat to Springfield for protection against the Indians, as the cost of maintaining the scattered settlements along the Connecticut River was considered too much. This was during King Philip’s War.

OCCUPATION

David Ashley, as mentioned above, styled himself as “yeoman”, which means farmer. So the land distributions made to him would have been used by him, for farming. Many of our earliest ancestors did more than farming, and David certainly was one of these. In March of 1669, Sacketts creek was granted to , Joseph Whiting and David Ashley “to set a mill thereon and grind corn.”

Milling operations must have been successful for David, for 16 years later, on 6 September 1685, the town granted liberty to erect a sawmill “on the brook on the northeast side of the river,” to David Ashley, Thomas Noble, Isaac Phelps and Nathaniel Weller.

TAXES

“At a town meeting held November the 18, 1696, it is voted yt Left Samuel Root, Nathaniel Bancroft, Adijah Dewey and David Ashley should be as a commitey to prise all lands in Westfield, and stock all yt is above one year old, and yt all heads should bee apprised at ten pound pr head to defray town charges.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE

On June 9, 1712, towards the close of Queen Anne’s War, the town voted to “fort” certain houses, and David Ashley’s was one of those selected to be “forted”.

David Ashley was prominent in the management of Westfield affairs and held a number of responsible offices:

• Served as a juror in 1665.
  
  

• Appointed as a Selectman in 1676, 1677, 1679 to 1685, 1694 and 1699.
  
  

• Served as Clerk of the Writs in 1678, 1686 and 1690.
  
  

• Took the freeman’s oath at a court held at Springfield on 28 September 1680.
  
  

• Served as Treasurer of the town in 1694.

DEATH

David Ashley died at Westfield, Massachusetts, on 8 December 1718 in his 77th year. His wife, Hannah, died there on 7 June 1722 in the 77th year of age.

Our ancestors' gravestones are among the oldest in the Old Westfield cemetery -- short irregular slabs of native stone, so weather-beaten that they were deciphered with difficulty as follows:

DAVID ASHLEY DYED ON DES YE 8 1718 AGED 77 YEAR HANNAH YE WIFE OF DAVID ASHL EY DYED ON IVNE TE 7 1722 AGED 76 YEAR

ESTATE OF DAVID ASHLEY SR.

Administration of David Ashley Sr.’s estate was granted on 10 March 1718/19 to his widow Hannah. The inventory was taken on 6 January 1718/19 and amounted to £270:7sh:6p. It included:

• his home and homestead, £96;
  
  

• a lot in the Fort Meadow, £43;
  
  

• a 4 acre pasture in the Plain, £16;
  
  

• 16 acres of plowing land, £35;
  
  

• 50 acres at Four Mile Brook, £5;
  
  

• 16 acres at Munn’s Meadow, £2;
  
  

• 5 acres in the 100 Acre Swamp and 6 acres at the Pine Hill, 5 £;
  
  

• and cows, swine, household furniture and wearing apparel.
  

The settlement of his estate was to the widow Hannah, the nine living children, and James Ashley (the only child of his son Joseph, deceased).

CHILDREN OF DAVID & HANNAH (GLOVER) ASHLEY

1. Samuel Ashley was born 26 October 1664, probably at Springfield, Massachusetts. He married 27 April 1686 at Hadley, Mass., Sarah Kellogg, the daughter of Lt. Joseph and Joanna Kellogg. She was born 27 Aug 1666 at Hadley and died 30 Jan 1729 at Westfield. Was carpenter and kept the inn at Westfield for a number of years. Owned 1/4 interest in a gristmill at Two Mile Brook with his brother Dea. David Ashley, and with Lt. James Dewey. In 1719 he sold to his brother David half the homelot which had belonged to their father. Samuel died in 1722 at Westfield, Mass.; Sarah died at Westfield, Mass., on 30 January 1729.
   
   

2. DAVID ASHLEY JR. was born 10 March 1666/67, probably at Springfield, Mass. He married Mary Dewey, born 28 Jan 1667/68, the daughter of Cornet Thoms & Constant (Hawes) Dewey. [Mary was one of three Dewey siblings who married Ashley siblings.] He was a Deacon and a clothier. David died in 1757 at Westfield, Mass.
   
   

3. John Ashley was born 27 June 1669, at Westfield, Mass. Was Captain of the Town’s Military Company. He married thrice. (1) Sarah Dewey, the daughter of Jedediah & Sarah (Orton) Dewey [these Deweys were my ancestors]. He married (2) Mary Whiting Sheldon, the widow of Joseph Sheldon, Esq. (one of my ancestors), a prominent citizen of Suffield, Conn., who had died the previous July while attending the General Court at Boston. Mary Whiting Sheldon was the daughter of the Hon. Joseph and Mary (Pynchon) Whiting, born 19 Aug 1672 in Westfield. She died 13 March 1735 at Westfield. John married (3) Hannah Glover, the daughter of Peletiah and Hannah (Parsons) Glover. Hannah was born on 27 Dec 1693 at Springfield. The record of her death has not been found, but she is supposed to be the “Widow Hannah Ashley of Wilbraham” who in 1767 sold “land laid out to Lazarus Miller, Henry Gilbert, Samuel Bliss, Jr., and Thomas Taylor.” [The parentage of this Hannah Glover does not appear connected to the Glover family for Ashley Generation 2.] John Ashley died 16 April 1759 at Westfield, Mass.
   
   

4. Joseph Ashley was born 31 July 1671, at Westfield, Mass. He married Abigail Dewey (b. 1681). [Joseph’s older brother, David, married Abigail’s sister, Mary Dewey, above.] Joseph died 25 February 1705/6. Was a Surveyor and farmer.
   
   

5. Sarah Ashley was born 10 September 1673, at Westfield, Mass. She married on 22 July 1692, Thomas Ingersoll of Westfield.
   
   

6. Mary Ashley (twin) was born 26 December 1675 at Westfield, Mass. She died on 19 July 1676.
   
   

7. Hannah Ashley (twin) was born 26 December 1675 at Westfield, Mass. She married on 13 September 1694, Nathaniel Eggleston of Westfield.
   
   

8. Jonathan Ashley was born 21 June 1678 at Westfield, Mass. He married on 1 February 1699/1700, Abigail Stebbins. He died in 1749; was a landowner.
   
   

9. Abigail Ashley was born 27 April 1681, at Westfield, Mass. She married on 25 November 1699, Nathaniel Lewis of Farmington, Conn.
   
   

10. Mary Ashley was born 3 March 1682/3 at Westfield; married 21 December 1709, Benjamin Stebbins of Northampton, Mass.
    
    

11. Rebecca Ashley was born 30 May 1685 at Westfield, Mass. She married about 1710, as his 2nd wife, Samuel Dewey of Westfield (born 1670). [This is the third of the three Dewey-Ashley sibling marriages.]