• Index to Genealogies

Ash/Ashe of North Carolina & Lumpkin County, Georgia

John Baptiste Ashe was born Tiffont, Wiltshire, England, died 11 Nov 1734, Cape Fear, Brunswick County, North Carolina. One source said that he was a son of James Edward Ash of Tiffont, however, nothing has been found on this. He lived on the Cape Fear River in N. C., Bath Co., on a plantation called "Ashwood." According to the History of Perquimans County, North Carolina by Mrs. Watson Winslow, P. 420, he m. dau. of Major Samuel Swann. Elizabeth or Sarah. In LWT of John Baptiste Ashe dtd 12/2/1731, pvd 11/15/1734 Bath Co., he named "my brothers, John and Samuel Swann." LWT of Samuel Swann dtd 9/12/1707, pvd 4/20/1708 Perquimans Co., N. C., naming children, Sampson, Henry, Thomas, Samuel, John, Elizabeth and Sarah. The impression on Swann Will appears to have a coronet on the seal. The LWT with copy of Will annexed thereto is signed by W. Glover, sealed with seal of the proprietors, a cross is surrounded by a coat of arms of the right lords proprietors. In the LWT of John Baptiste Ashe, he is explicit in his land holdings, devising "lands up the northwest branch of the Cape Fear River, called "Ashwood", My other lands on north side of river, land on Stumpy Sound called Turkey Point; one hundred acres called Stumpy Island or New River Banks, 2560 acres near Rockfish Creek on n.w. branch of Cape Fear River; 640 acres on n.e. branch of Cape Fear River. He was not only a wealthy land owner, but concerned about education of his children, instructing that they be taught to read and write, Latin and Grammar, Greek, to be schooled in Va., learn French. Perhaps some Frenchman at Santee will undertake this, he said in his Will. One son to learn law, the other merchandising. "I will that a brick vault may be built at Groveley and my dear wife's body taken up out of the earth and brought to lie there; if it should be my fortune to die in Carolina so as my corpse may be conveyed thither, I desire that one large coffin may be made and both our bodys laid together therein and lodged in the said vault." From this information, we know that wife of ..John Baptiste Ashe was decd before 1731, and that she may have been buried elsewhere, perhaps Surry Co., Va. at Swann Family Seat, or Perquimmans Co., N. C. The book, Lower Cape Fear by Lawrence Lee mentions that he had 2000 acres in 1731 and was prominent and wealthy resident who died in 1734.

In Bartram's Travels, Ashwood is mentioned. Apparently the home was still standing, and belonged to his father. Upon Bartram's his return trip to Philadelphia in 1775, he travelled on the Old Georgetown Road (from Charleston, South Carolina) through North Carolina, near Little River. He travelled northeasterly, going through present Calabash, Shallotte, and Supply. The next day Bartram proceeded up the west side of the Cape Fear River, "rested two or three days at the seat of F. Lucas, Esq." in southern Bladen County, and then continued on the plantation of his uncle, "Ashwood" which was situated on the east bank of the river about five miles northeast of Council, Bladen County. He remained on the property of his uncle which was located on the high banks of the river, living there more than seven years. His vivid description of the site in Part Three of the Travels reflects his fondness for Ashwood. Issue follows:

• John Ashe.
• Mary Ashe.
• Dau. who m. Daniel Hendrick of S. C.
• Samuel Ashe, Sr., his LWT, not dated, New Hanover Co., N. C., naming issue: Elizabeth, Porter, Paoli, Richard, John Baptiste Ashe, Jr., Thomas, Cincinnatus, Samuel. Issue:

  1. Elizabeth Ashe.
  2. Porter Ashe.
  3. Paoli Ashe.
  4. Richard Ashe.
  5. John Baptiste Ashe, Jr., his LWT undtd in New Hanover Co., N. C., probated around 1781, naming wife, Rebecca. He m. Rebecca Swann, dau. of Thomas Swann, the latters LWT dtd 5/7/1733, pvd 8/9/1733 Pasquotank Co., N. C., bequeathing dau., Rebecca, land at Moyock, Currituck Co., N. C. Thomas Swann's issue were William and Samuel, the latter of which was named as one of heirs in John Baptiste Ashe, Jr.'s Will. John Baptiste Ashe, Jr. was also named in LWT of John Swann Porter, New Hanover Co., N. C., undated, but probated after 1773, of Rocky Point. This Will names John Baptiste Ashe, the son of Samuel Ashe; Samuel Ashe, the youngest son of Samuel Ashe; and Cincinnatus Ashe, the son of Samuel Ashe. Issue of John Baptiste Ashe, Jr.: John, Samuel, William, Algernon, Acount, and Rebecca.
  6. Thomas Ashe.
  7. Cincinnatus Ashe, named in LWT of John Swann Porter.
  8. Samuel Ash., youngest son, Speaker of House in N. C.; Governor from 1795 to 1798. He lived in Cumberland Co., N. C., his LWT dtd 1835, Bk B, P. 250, naming wife, Mrs. Eliza H. Ashe, extrx and issue: John, or Sarah. In LWT of John Baptiste Ashe dtd Sarah, Susan, Richard, Mary Porter Ashe who m. Simon Gratz Moses, according to a 1839 Marriage Contract, Cumberland Co., N. C., recorded in Deed Book 42, p. 463, Betsy m. m. Owen Holmes, William, believed to be William Ash of Wilkes Co., Ga., mentioned in Franklin Co., Ga. deed dated 12/28/1798, Elijah Fleming to William Ash of Wilkes Co., 630 acres in e LWT with copy of Will annexed thereto is in Franklin Co., both sides Indian Creek. P. 36, DB N, Habersham Co., (taken from Franklin Co.), William's brother, Thomas, found in Habersham Co. and Thomas Ashe, the last son of Samuel.

  Thomas Ashe, b. ca 1770 New Hanover Co., N. C., son of Samuel, above, listed 1830 Habersham Co., Ga. Census, and 1840. His wid., Elizabeth, listed 1850 Lumpkin Co., Ga. Census, was b. 1770 in N. C. Lumpkin Co. Deed Book D, p. 196, 11/20/1835, Thomas Ashe of Lumpkin Co. to John McAfee, Lot 93, land formerly in Habersham Co. Will Book A, Lumpkin Co. (1833-52) shows that William Ashe, Henry Ashe, George L. Quillian and Joseph Singleton paid $500 to the Court of Ordinary as administrators of the Estate of Thomas Ashe dated 5/4/1847. Book C., Inventories, Appraisements, Sales, Lumpkin Co. (1847-73), p. 1-2, account of the Sale of Personal Property belonging to the Estate of Thomas Ash, deceased, of Lumpkin Co., sold on 6/25/1847 by William and Henry Ashe, administrators. Lumpkin Co. Tax Returns, 11/25/1833, three households shown, i. e., Thomas, Joseph and Henry Ashe. 1838 Returns shows Thomas, William and Joseph Ashe. Issue of Thomas and Elizabeth Ashe follows:

  Joseph Ash, born ca 1795 in North Carolina.

  William Ash, born ca 1797 in North Carolina, married Sarah Spencer.[1] Issue:

  1. Coleman W. Ash, born 1825 in Cumberland County, North Carolina, married 4/15/1847 in Lumpkin County, Bethem D. Dowler.
  2. William A. Ash, born 1828 in North Carolina, married 4/12/1851 in Lumpkin County, Frances Caroline Cantrell and (2) on 11/2/1870 in Lumpkin County, Celia Turner.
  3. Henry Ash, born 1829 in North Carolina, married 10/19/1852 in Lumpkin County, Emily A. McAfee.
  4. Daughter, born 1830/1835 in North Carolina.
  5. Eliza Ash, born 1832 in North Carolina.
  6. Frances Ash, born 1834 in North Carolina.
  7. Sarah Ash, born 1836 in North Carolina.
  8. Rebecca Ash, born 1838 in North Carolina.
  9. Jane Ash, born 1840 in Georgia.
  10. Martha Ash, born 1842 in Georgia, died 1/5/1926, married Rev. Washington Caldwell.
  11. Andrew Jackson Ash, born 1844 Georgia, died 9/26/1904, married Fannie Vernetta Caldwell.[2]

  Elizabeth Ash, born 1808/1810, unmarried.

  Barberry Ash, born 1810/1820.

  Henry Ash, born 1815 married Louisa.

  Francis M. Ash, born 1830/1835, died 1847 in Lumpkin County.[3]

Ref: Lumpkin Co., Ga. Marriages; Lumpkin Co. Wills & Estates; History of Perquimmans Co., N. C. by by Mrs. Watson Winslow; Lower Cape Fear Valley by Lawrence Lee; The Georgians by Jeannette Holland Austin.

[1] Lumpkin County Deed, 19 March 1850, between William Ash and Henry Ash of Lumpkin County for $500.00, for land in the 4th District of originally Habersham, now Lumpkin County, being part of Lot 115.
[2] Personal records of Mrs. Carl Black, Route 4, Cleveland, Georgia 30528 (1977).
[3] Personal records of Mrs. Carl Black, Route 4, Cleveland, Georgia 30528 (1977).