William Ashburn and Family
The surname Ashburn was first found in Derbyshire, at Ashbourne, a market town in the Derbyshire Dales now famous for its historic annual Shrovetide football match. The first record was found in the Domesday Book where it was listed as Esseburne, having derived from the Old English aesc + burna, meaning "stream where the ash-trees grow."
Some family stories that I have run into on the internet say that the first Ashburn to come to this country was a child who was sold into an indentureship by an uncle after his parents died. When he got here, Virginia, he ran away and was taken in by a kind family in Pennsylvania. (This could be in reference to the William Ashburn who ends up in Bucks County, PA.)
Another story says that the first Ashburns were tailors and that they came to Massachusetts in the 1600s. I haven't found any connection with Massachusetts, but William and Thomas Ashburn are both listed as tailors.
John and Hannah Griffin) Ashburn had had children, Hannah, John and Thomas, and William. The family lived for a time in Northumberland County, Virginia. Thomas is reported to have been born there in 1702.
Created in 1634 as an original shire or county named Warrisquyoake, the county name was changed to Isle of Wight in 1637. (after England’s island of the same name) Shortly after the establishment of the Jamestown settlement in 1607, Capt. John Smith crossed the James River in search of food. He met the Warraskoyak Indians who supplied him with several bushels of corn. In 1619, the first English settlement in Isle of Wight was established close to the village of Mathomauk. As Indian lands were encroached upon, the relationship between the English and Warraskoyak began to falter. The Warraskoyak took part in the March 1622 massacre at two settlements known as Basse’s Choice and Bennett’s Welcome, killing 53 people. Between 1622 and 1650, the Warraskoyack disappeared from the colonial record as a result of the ongoing Anglo-Indian Wars. The first English plantations along the James River within present-day Isle of Wight were established by Puritan colonists, beginning with that of Christopher Lawne in May 1628. By 1634, the colony consisted of eight shires, or counties, with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants By about 1700, the Ashburns are living in Isle of Wight County, when their son, William, was born.
William Ashburn who was born between 1700 and 1706 in Saint Stephen's Episcopal Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, is the first of the Ashburns that we can be (fairly) certain of claiming. His parents are probably John and Hannah Griffin Ashburn above, although this is not proven.
In 1728, William married Sarah Eleanor Denson, daughter of James and Sarah (Dryton) Denson, who was born in 1704, also in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Their first daughter, Mary, was born 13 Aug 1731,
On 23 June 1732, William Ashburn of the lower Parish of Isle of Wight County, Virginia bought 160 acres of land on Dirty Branch. (Deed Book 4 -183) He sold this land on 21 February 1733, and is listed, in Deed Book 4-34 9-50, as William Ashburn of Bartie Precinct.
So they were living in Bertie County, North Carolina at this time. Bertie County is located in the northeastern portion of North Carolina and was named for James and Henry Bertie, to whom King Charles II granted tracts of land in the New World called "Carolina".
William and Sarah's first son, William Ashburn, Jr. is born in Bertie County, North Carolina on 22 May 1733.
On 17 May 1733, William, Sr. bought 225 acres of land (Bertie County Deed Book D-123) and sells it in Deed Book D-272.
)n 7 November 1733 a deed was registered from Hugh Hyman (Highman) of Cashy Neck to William Ashborn on November 7, 1733. William traded one "Negro Girl” for 225 acres out of a 400 acre patent at Berry Meadow on Herring Creek. Wit. William Lattimer, Michel King. It was filed at the August Court 1734. John Wynns D.C.C.
Denson Ashburn was born in Bertie County, N.C. On 10 Jan 1735.
Another deed was registered in Book E, page 49- William Russell of Tyrrell Precinct to William Ashborne on 30 May 1738. 125 Pounds for 200 acres in Cashy Neck at Spring Branch. Wit: John Xaskey, Moses Tomlimson, Thomas Whitmell, Jurat. August Court. 1739. John Wynns D.C/C.
In 1738 Benjamin Ashburn is born.
On May 18, 1741, William Ashburn sold 225 acres to Thomas Brewer of Nansemond County, Virginia (Deed Book F, 272, Bertie County) The land was on the Main branch of Herring Creek called Perrys meadow and had been purchased from Hugh Highman by deed November 7, 1733. Witnesses were Thomas Holladay, jurat, William Campbell, Henry Shivers. August Court 1741. Benjamin Hill C.C.
Sarah Ashburn was born in 1744, followed by a brother, Elisha Ashburn on 25 Feb 1746.
In Bertie County Deed book G, 177, William Ashburn, taylor, conveyed to Thomas Ashburn on February 26, 1747 - 200 pounds for 200 acres and Negroes. Land at Cashia adjoining Richard Bradly, Thomas Rogers. ".... also Nan and her son George and a Negro woman named Hannah and her daughter named Patt...." Witnesses were William Taylor and James Tart. Clerk of Courts was John Lovick. (This is probably his brother, Thomas Ashburn, who appears in Bertie County deeds beginning 27 February 1733/4. Thomas is reported by some researchers to have “married an Indian maiden.”
William died after February 26, 1747 when this deed was written.. I have not found a will or probate for him as yet. I haven't found much information on these children-Benjamin, Sarah and Elisha. Sarah died in 1760, still living in Bertie County.
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