Stephen Ashby U.S.N.A. ~ 52 Ancestors #46

There are a few Stephen Ashbys in my ancestry. 5th great-grandfather, Stephen Ashby, was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. My 3rd great-grandfather of the same name died in 1829, leaving a widow and four young children. I wrote a Surname Saturday: Ashby post several years ago.

My ancestral line is as follows:

Stephen Ashby (1710-1797)
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Daniel Ashby (1759-1834)
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Stephen Ashby (1800[?]-1829)
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Daniel Morgan Ashby (1828-1907) = Mary Elizabeth Gorin
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Mary Bowman Ashby
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Elizabeth Adsit
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Charles McAlpin Pyle, Jr.
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Me

Daniel Morgan Ashby continued the tradition of naming a son for his father. Stephen Ashby was born October 15, 1861, in Barren County, Kentucky, the third child and second son of his parents. (And my second great-uncle.)

Stephen Ashby attended the U.S. Naval Academy, as indicated in the 1880 Federal Census.

1880 US Census, Barren County, Kentucky, population schedule, Town of Glasgow, ED 7, page 4 (penned), dwelling 21, family 32, household of Daniel Morgan Ashby.

I also happen to have one letter that he wrote to his mother in January 1881 when he was attending the U.S. Naval Academy.

Stephen Ashby (U.S.N.A.) to "Dear Ma" [Mary Gorin Ashby], letter, 28 January 1881; privately held by Elizabeth Pyle Handler, 2024.

The transcription is as follows with my notes bracketed in red:

Gran Adsit's Brother [handwriting is either my dad or my grandmother]

U.S.N.A.,
Jan. 28, 1881
     Dear Ma [Mary Elizabeth (Gorin) Ashby]:
           I have just written a letter to the Professor, and as I know you all are anxious to hear of my success on the Semi-Annual I thought I would spend my leisure time to-night very pleasantly by writing to you.
     When I went into the Examination in Trigonometry Monday I had a 3.08 [?] and When I came out I had A 3.02, you will see from the formula I sent Pa [Daniel Morgan Ashby] that I got for my mark

a 2.8.
     In Des. Geometry I had a 2.8 when I went to the Examination, and a 2.7 when I came out. I have not heard from My examination in Constitution but suppose I will have for the term about a 3.5. US I did very well on the examination I have a 2.39 in Seamanship, A 2.75 in Drawing, a 2.70 in Des. Geometry, a 3.02 in Trigonometry, a 3.22 in French, and a 3.5 in English, in the multiple[?] for our relative standing in the Class, Trigonometry, counts 15, English 6, French 5, Des. Geom. 3, Seamanship 3, and Drawing 2. I intend to pull my

average in Sea up before the year is over, and expect to do better in everything next term.
     I am glad to hear of Pa’s success in securing a good trade for the House. I have not written to Jeff [older brother, Thomas Jefferson Ashby] as yet but I intend to do so at the earliest opportunity – will write to Grand-Pa [maternal grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Gorin] tomorrow.
      I received Dan’s [younger brother, Daniel Morgan Ashby, Jr.] very messy letter and will answer it when I find time. I hope Bowmie [younger sister Mary Bowman Ashby] will continue to enjoy herself, and tell her if she wishes to bone up a little Math she can tackle some of the examinations I sent

Professer Well [?]
     We have been enjoying the skating season inso much this year. It has been very cold here for the past four days and the ice has been splendid.
     To-day I had the honor of being placed as relief officer of the day on the Santel [?], the first and second classes had examinations so the third class had to perform their duties.
     You can imagine how very large I felt with a sword buckled around me. Give my love to sister, Aunt Flor [his mother's youngest sister, Florence Gorin], and all the family.
     Your devoted Son
           Stephen

Ancestry.com has the U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992, Navy Department Library - Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C. 

Stephen Ashby of Kentucky is listed:

1879: Fourth Class, Stephen Ashby, born, appointed from, and a resident of Kentucky, and entered the Academy on June 21, 1878.
1880: Second Class: Stephen Ashby, resident of Kentucky, presently at Naval Academy.
1881: Third Class, Stephen Ashby, born, appointed from, and a resident of Kentucky, and who entered the Academy on June 26 [sic], 1878.
1882: Cadet-Midshipman Stephen Ashby was dismissed on May 4, 1881.

After almost three years of study at the Naval Academy, being dismissed must have been tremendously discouraging. Less than three years later, a brief death notice lets us know that he had died.

Deaths, 22 April 1884, The [Louisville] Courier Journal, p. 5, col. 6; Newspapers.com.

I scanned the Army and Navy Journal at Hathi Trust, but no luck finding mention of Stephen's death.

This week's theme is Cultural Tradition.