Robeson County, NC - William Ashley, Sr. Family

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Bios: William ASHLEY, Sr. Family
Robeson County, Tennessee Ashleys 

William ASHLEY, Sr. (aka William Pinckney ASHLEY by family tradition) 
was born abt 1761, probably in North Carolina and died 26 Mar 1828 in 
Montgomery, Alabama. Though family tradition carries many stories 
(especially a version of "Lord Ashley"), extensive research has not yet 
identified his parents. Fortunately, modern DNA studies can assist us 
with either including or excluding individuals from various American 
ASHLEY groups who claim their own "Lord Ashley" versions.

William ASHLEY was about 14 years old when the American Revolutionary 
War began in April 1775. Although it has not been documented, a teenage 
William may have fought in the war. 

In 1784, at the age of 23, William began acquiring property and was a 
taxpayer in Bladen County, North Carolina with taxable property of 200 
acres (ref: "A List of Taxable Property in Bladen County for 1784, 
Capt. Blockers Dist" by Campbell.) In 1787, Bladen County was divided 
and formed into Robeson County after the Revolutionary War officer, 
Thomas Robeson.

From 1790 through 1810, William ASHLEY was listed in the federal census 
records of the Fayetteville District in Robeson County, North Carolina. 
In 1791, William served as Justice of the Peace. That same year, he was 
responsible for founding the town of Princess Ann in Robeson County 
along with the widow, Mary GRIFFIN. Researcher Linda ASHLEY RHODES 
writes that about 1791, William also married the Widow GRIFFIN. 
However, while I know he married "Mary," I am not satisfied with the 
evidence that she was the Widow Mary.

"William ASHLEY" was a very popular name in North Carolina in the 17th 
and 18th centuries. However, our William ASHLEY came by the name 
through intervention of the courts. Included in The Laws of North 
Carolina 1787 "Act for Altering the Names of Certain Persons?" was "a 
Bill for altering the name of William BARRETT to that of William 
ASHLEY." He would have been 26 yrs old at the time. It is unknown if 
William ever used the BARRETT name.

In 1791, this petition was presented by John BARROT and Right BARROT 
"both descended of the same mother, four of them, to with John is the 
natural son of Edward FLOURS (FLOWERS) & the other, to wit Right, is 
the natural son of William LEGGET (LEGGETT) ...and are desirous to bear 
the name of their natural fathers...?. In his will, John FLOWERS refers 
to William ASHLEY as his brother, but that does not necessarily mean 
biological brother. There are numerous Robeson and neighboring county 
land transactions that included ASHLEY, BARRETT, FLOWERS, LEGGETT, 
BARNES, GRIFFIN, BARFIELD, and INMAN.

On August 8 and 9, 1817, while at the Milledgeville, Georgia land sale, 
William purchased 320 acres of land in the Montgomery vicinity. 
Subsequently, William ASHLEY and wife, Mary relocated from North 
Carolina to the territory of Alabama. 

The move to the Alabama Territory included William and Mary?s children 
named below: 

John Griffin ASHLEY (1792 NC - 1844 AL) 
  and wife Margaret Ann JOHNSTON;
James Martin ASHLEY (1794 NC - 1836 AL) 
  and wife Nancy Ann POWELL (this family returned to NC); 
Elizabeth ASHLEY (c1796 NC - 1843 AL) 
  (never married); 
Wm "Pink" ASHLEY, Jr (1803 NC - bef 1867 TX?)
  found in TX by 1836; 
Rosanna ASHLEY (1806 NC - 1845 AL) 
  married (cousin?) John L. FLOWERS, son of John;
  and 
Felix Leonard ASHLEY (1807 NC - 1883 AL) 
  who married twice to 
  Caroline JOHNSTON and Martha Ellen RUSH.

On 29 Oct 1826, William wrote his will while in Montgomery County, 
Alabama. In addition to naming his children, he also included Jack 
FLOWERS and John BARNES, with Co-executor John McQUEEN, and witnesses 
John HUGHES and William HOBBIE.

Mary ASHLEY died 7 Sep 1821 (from Montgomery Republican: "Mrs. Mary 
ASHLEY died in this town yesterday. She was the consort of William 
Ashley, Esq.").

William ASHLEY died 28 March 1828 (from Alabama Journal: "DIED - At his 
residence in this county, on Friday last, William ASHLEY, sen. Esq -- 
Mr. ASHLEY emigrated to this State from North Carolina about ten years 
ago and no individual was ever more generally esteemed as a respectable 
and an honest man. He has left a large and respectable family of 
children to deplore his loss, and emulate his example of doing good to 
all, and speaking evil of none.")

William and Mary were buried on their plantation on the Old Selma Road 
in Montgomery, Alabama, known as the Robert ASHLEY Cemetery (for 
grandson, Robert Augustus ASHLEY, Sr). However, their remains were re-
interred at the Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery on 9 May 1938.

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Jackie Ashley-PACE - ashley-pace@sbcglobal.net
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