Person:Robert Ashley (3)

Robert first appears in Springfield on 2 Jan 1639/40 when he served on a jury for slander. On 24 Dec 1641 he was sworn in as constable. He was also involved in several lawsuits, including a lengthy one with Thomas Merrick involving a pig. (Pynchon Court Records in Families of the Pioneer Valley)

Among the original proprietors of Springfield, he appears on the assessment list in 1646/7. The list shows who lived where in the town. In 1645, residents of Springfield felt the need to expand their town, and they looked toward what is now Longmeadow. After some controversy over the division of lands, it was decided that those in the north part of town were to take distributions in Plainfield, those in the souh in Longmeadow. Robert fell barely on the northern side of the line. (Hist of Springfield [1])

From "Pioneers of Massachusetts 1636-1736" by Pope, pg.231.. "Robert Ashley, proprietor of Springfield, Mass., town officer and keeper of an ordinary (tavern)...”

Will

Will; 9 Oct 1679; Springfield, Hampden Co., MA.

"Robert Ashley deceased, his Last Will and Testament togeather with an Inventory of his estate was prsented to this Corte [holden at Northampton March 27, 1683] which will aforesaid was attested to by Mr Holyoke before ye Worshipll Major Pynchon and ye Worshipfull Major Pynchon made oath before this Corte as witnesses to sd will & it was thereupon approved & confirmed in Corte as ye Last Will and Testament of Robt Ashley deceased. And Wras he nominated noe Executor to his sd Will this Corte, therefore appointed & allowed the widdow Relict of sd Robt Ashley and Joseph Ashley his son as administrators to sd Estate of Robt Ashley.

(*) See "N.-E. Hist, and Geneal. Reg.," vol. 9, p. 87.

Here followeth Coppys of s?? Robt Ashley's Last Will and of ye Inventory of his Estate.

I, Robert Ashley, being aged and of infirme body but yet of sound minde and perfect memory doe now make this my Last Will and Testament. In the first place I doe comitt my Soul to ye care, grace and salvation of one God in three persons, the second person being incarnate, Who by His blood hath purchased it, trusting in His name for all that good of grace and glory He hath bought for His, having hopes only for His own sake and in His alsufficient mercyes, that He will at ye Resurrection of ye just reunite Soul and Body to enjoy a sinless state with Himself in that house not made with hands which He hath prpared for those who believe in Him. And my Body to such decent buriall as my friends and surviveing relations shall judge meete.

Nextly I doe confirme my deede of gift made to my beloved son Jonathan of lands, uplands, meadows on ye East side of Conitticut River all as in that sd deede is expressed.

And to my beloved son Joseph I doe give all my lands on ye West side of ye sd River, that at Chickapy plaine and that over against the town plott on ye East side of ye sd River, and that below Agawame River, all these on the West side of Conitticut River. Also I doe give unto my son Joseph that lott I have this yeare bought of Major Pynchon, Esqr, lyeing and fronting on the lane that leades to ye upper wharfe on ye East side Conitticut River.

And to my welbeloved son David I doe give five pounds besides what I have given him alreadie.

And to my welbeloved wife Mary I doe give the full thirds of all the lands on both sides ye sd River, dureing the terme of her natureall life.

To my grandson John Ashley I doe give a colt.

And to the rest of the children of my beloved son David Ashley I do give ten shillings pr child.

And to the children of my beloved son John Root I do give ten shillings a peice.

And for the rest of my estate, all my debts being paid, and in particular that debt for the lot fronting upon the upper wharfe, I do give one third thereof to my well beloved wife during her natural life.

And the other two thirds to my son Joseph and my wife's thirds to Joseph at her decease, he being to pay her five pounds when she dyes, and in case my son Joseph dye without issue then this whole estate bequeathed hereby to my son Joseph I do order and bequeath to my son David and his children.

In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of October Anno: Dom: 1679.

Robert Ashley ?? his mark.

Signed sealed in ye presence of John Pynchon, Sen. John Holyoke."(*)

(*) Hampsh. Co. Prob. Rec., vol. 1, p. 225. The original is not on file.

"March 26, 1683, Mr, John Holyoke appeared declared being present at the time he saw Robert Ashley signe and seale this Instrument as his last Will and that when he so did he was of sound understanding to the best of his knowledge and hereunto made oath before me John Pynchon, Assistant." "Major Pynchon made oath as a testimony to this and that the testator was of sound mind when he made it to the best of his understanding. March 27, 1683. S. P., Clerk."( Hampsh. Co. Prob. Rec., vol. 1, p. 226. ) This instrument having obtained official approval, the court appointed his son Joseph and his widow Mary administrators of his estate.

Disputed Lineage

Unsupported speculation calls him the son of William Ashley of Shropshire.

1. ↑ Stott, Clifford L. Vital Records of Springfield, Massachusetts to 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002).
2. ↑ DUNHAM - WILCOX - TROTT - KIRK.

   citing original records

3.   Trowbridge, Francis Bacon. The Ashley Genealogy: A History of the Descendants of Robert Ashley of Springfield, Massachusetts. (New Haven, 1896).
4.   Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862).

   ROBERT, Springfield 1639, perhaps had been of Roxbury a short time, as most of the early S. people were drawn from R. by Pynchon, had David, b. 8 June 1642; Mary, 6 Apr. 1644; Jonathan, 25 Feb. 1646; Sarah, 23 Aug 1648; Joseph, 6 July 1652; and perhaps more. He d. 29 Nov. 1682, and his w. Mary, d. 19 Sept. foll. Mary, his d. m. 18 Oct. 1664, the sec. John Root of Farmington, after of Westfield.