HISTORY OF THE ASHLEY NAME (Source www.surnamedb.com)

This long-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from any of the numerous places thus called, for example, Ashley in Cheshire, Kent, Wiltshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire. The name, recorded as Ashley, Ashlee and Ashleigh, in all cases, derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "aesc" meaning "ash", plus "leah", a wood or clearing. Hence, "the ash wood" or "area cleared of ash trees". Locational surnames, such as this, were usually acquired by a local landowner, or by the lord of the manor, and especially by those former inhabitants of a place who had moved to another area, and were thereafter best identified by the name of their birthplace.

The surname is first recorded in the latter half of the 12th Century (see below), and other early recordings include: Robert de Aslegh, who appears in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Devon, and a Robert de Ashley, recorded in the 1281 Court Rolls of Wiltshire. The marriage of Richard Reeve and Anne Ashley was recorded in London, in 1617, and on January 2nd 1634, Samuel Ashley embarked from the port of London on the ship "Bonaventure" bound for Virginea. He was one of the earliest recorded namebearers to enter America. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Esselega, which was dated 1162, in the "Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189.

Our Ashley family including Davidge

GENERATION ONE:

1. ~ ~ ~ ANN ASHELY was born Abt. 1805 and was baptized on 23 October 1808 in Laverton, Somerset, England. Ann was the eldest daughter of JAMES ASHLEY and MARY RANDAL. Ann married WILLIAM DAVIDGE on 10 October 1826 in Laverton, Somerset. William was born in 1800 in Orchardleigh, Somerset, England and was the son of WILLIAM DAVIDGE and ANN (DAVIDGE).

> Refer to the DAVIDGE family for more information about the Davidge family and the children of William and Ann.

Siblings of ANN ASHLEY included:

JAMES ASHLEY, baptized 14 July 1811 in Laverton, Somerset.

FANNY ASHLEY, baptized 1814 in Laverton, Somerset.

ELIZA ASHLEY, baptized 27 January 1819 in Laverton, Somerset.

Please note that in keeping to genealogy publishing protocol I have not included information about later generations including living persons.

If you have a family connection please contact me for further information.

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