Monday, May 13, 2013

Military Monday ~ Captain Stephen Ashby

My 5th great-grandfather, Stephen Ashby, served as Captain in the Revolutionary War. The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) online database shows Captain Stephen Ashby was born circa 1725 (though other records indicate he was born circa 1710) in Virginia. He died July 25, 1797, in Mercer County, Kentucky. His service is sourced and summarized by the DAR as follows:

Service Source: NARA, M881, COMP MIL SER RECS, ROLLS #977, 1074; SANCHEZ-SAAVEDRA, A GUIDE TO VA MIL ORGS IN THE AM REV, P 67; BLWT 2420-300

Service Description: 1) 3RD CO, 12TH & 8TH VA REGTS, 3RD VA BRIGADE, COL JAMES WOOD, BRIG GEN CHARLES SCOTT

On Fold3, I found Captain Stephen Ashby in the Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War. He was commissioned a captain on September 9, 1776, serving under Colonel James Wood of Virginia in the 12th Virginia Regiment, which was re-designated the 8th Virginia Regiment in September 1778, at which time Captain Ashby retired from service.

The card below shows when he was appointed a Captain.

Stephen Ashby
Appears with the rank of Capt. on a
List
under the following heading:
"An Arrangement of the Officers belonging to
the 12th Virginia Regiment, with the time their
several Commissions Ouught to bear Date"
(Revolutionary War.)
List dated
9 Septem 1776
Remarks: * * * By an Ordnance of the
Convention of Virginia which Passed in
June 1776, a Company consisting of a
Captain Lieutenant and Ensign three Ser-
geants and fifty Rank and file, were Ordered
to be raised for the Protection of the Frontier,
and to be stationed at the mouth of Wheeling
on the Ohio, with Direction for the Committee
of Hampshire to nominate the officers; who
elected Stephen Ashby Captain, Ben-
jamin Casey Lieutenant and Richard
Routt Ensign.


Additionally, in the Revolutionary War Pension files at Fold3, I found handwritten correspondence from 1847 written on behalf of his heirs (all eight of his children had died by 1846) making a claim to the land he was awarded for his service in the Revolution. There are also 20th century letters written to the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. with typewritten replies that summarize what is in the handwritten 1847 correspondence. This is a tremendous genealogical resource for any descendants of Stephen Ashby's children: John, Enos, Daniel, Absolom, Stephen, Rosa Timmons, Lettice Neale and Annie Prather.

As noted in my Ashby Surname Saturday post, I am descended from his son Daniel Ashby, who also served in the Revolution.

8 comments:

  1. Hello Elizabeth,
    Captain Stephen Ashby is also my 5th Great Grandfather, his Daughter Rose Ashby who married George Timmons were my 4th Great Grandparents. I'm in the process of gathering all my record information so I can join the DAR in Valparaiso, Indiana and came across your site.
    Very nice to see your site and join, can't wait to see everything else you post.
    Christie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Cousin Christie,
      My Ashby line is a bit challenging as Stephen Ashby (about 1805-1829) died young and without a will. However I have found transcriptions of court records involving his wife and his children that helped me.
      I joined the DAR on my Gorin line using Bible records that I have. Best of luck with your application.
      Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  2. Capt. Ashby was also my 5th great grandfather. I am a descendant of Absolm. Unfortunately, I can't find much about Absolom, nor can I find where he is buried. Much of the family is buried in a family cemetery in Hanson, Kentucky or across the road at Providence Rural United Methodist Church, where my family still attend. I, too, am attempting to join the DAR, which I could do via other relatives. But I wish to pursue this line, as it appears that none of Absolom's descendants are members.

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    Replies
    1. Hello cousin Mary Anne,
      Best of luck in your search. If you live right there in Kentucky, hopefully you have access to materials that might otherwise be challenging for researchers like myself to find.
      Thanks for reading and commenting!

      Delete
    2. Capt Ashby is my 6th gr grandfather, through his daughter, Leticia. I have recently been accepted into the DAR through this line. Exciting! I have not been to Kentucky but would love to do research there.

      Delete
    3. Hello Cousin Bethel! Congratulations on your DAR acceptance. Thanks for the comment.

      Delete
  3. capt ashby is my 7th grandfatber through absolom. that being said my son is enlisted into the military as an army combat engineer. he is proud of his heritage and so am I

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  4. Hello cousins

    I just discovered today - through Family Search - that Capt Ashby was my 4thgreat grandfather

    ReplyDelete