Son of Robert Ashby Jr. (abt. 1718, Stafford Co., VA) and Mary of Stafford Co., VA.

Grandson of Robert Ashby Sr. (abt. 1690-d. 1762) of Stafford Co., VA. (probable b/o Thomas Ashby Sr. who died Frederick Co., VA. in 1752)

Contributor: Gary David Ashby (48711997)

Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., VA. Records
Asbee, Stephen Son of Robert and Mary, born October 19, 1742
Asbee, Stephen Son of Robert and Mary, died September 5, 1744
Asbee, Ann Daughter of Robert and Mary, born January 10, 1745
Asbee, Sarah Daughter of Robert and Mary, born January 17, 1747
Asbee, Thomas Son of Robert and Mary, born March 5, 1749
Ashby, Millie Daughter of Robert and Mary, born September 11, 1751
Ashby, Wilmoth Daughter of Robert, Jr., born October 28, 1753
Ashby, William Son of Robert, baptized July 25, 1756
Ashby, Hanknsson Son of Thomas and Mary, born February 6, 1757
Ashby, Elias Married Winifred Million, September 4, 1745
Ashby, Thomas Married Mary Maccullough, November 14, 1741
Ashby, John Married Sarah Maccullough, February 26, 1756
Asbee, Elizabeth Wife of Robert, died October 15, 1754

ESCAPED INDIAN CAPTIVITY

*** The Ashby's, Foote's, and Washington's have had long-term relations ***
Robert Ashby, Jr. (1718) surveyed lands over the years with George Washington
Richard Foote's (1704) married Katherine Fossaker in 1726, daughter of Richard Fossaker. Her sister, Sarah, was the wife of Robert Washington, son of John and Mary (Townsend) Washington of Chotank Plantation. Richard Fossaker lived on Mattox Creek (George Washington's birthplace) in Westmoreland County. Richard Foote was Justice of Stafford County in 1745.
So it would not be a surprise that Stephen Ashby would marry Susannah Foote.

Married Susannah Foote abt. 1768, Stafford Co., VA.

Children:

1. Miles Ashby (1768, VA-1789, IN) oldest child, fought bravely and was killed by Indians.

2. Tinson Ashby (1770, VA-d. February 1823, Shelby Co., KY). Married Sally Catlett on 30 October, 1816, Shelby Co., KY. Tinson is not mentioned in the will of Stephen Ashby. He is buried in Shelby County, Kentucky. 1810 and 1820 living in Shelby County. Spencer County created in 1824.

3. Obediah "Beady" Ashby (1773, VA-March 1828, Spencer Co., KY), escaped Indian captivity with father). Married Mary Elizabeth Figley on 8 February, 1800 in prob. Shelby County, KY. Beady Ashby became fairly wealthy and was considered by all a success. Beady died before his father and a daughter named Malinda Ashby received the "tract of land I now live" from her grandfather. 1810 and 1820 living in Shelby County. They had a son, Zachariah Ashby #53791074 (1803-1880), living in Spencer County in 1850. Source: Spencer Co., Ky; Will Bk A; P 84 - 86, Written: March 4, 1828, Recorded: March 10, 1828. Estate sale 5-6 Mar 1828.

4. Thomas Ashby (1774, VA-Aft. 1850). Indian captive. Thomas Ashby inherited a slave girl named Lavinna through the Will of Stephen Ashby. Thomas has a son, John Ashby, that receives a negro boy Sonny and a horse, saddle and furniture and one cow and calf. Thomas Ashby may have married Polley Akers/Mary Achas on 18 Feb 1799, Shelby Co., KY. 1810 and 1820 living in Shelby County (Spencer County created in 1824).

5. Robert Ashby (1775, VA-Abt. 1830, Spencer Co., KY). Indian captive. Married Mary Russell on 29 Aug 1806 in Shelby County, Kentucky. Robert Ashby also died before his father's death in 1831 and his daughter, Susan Ashby, is mentioned in her grandfather's will, is given a Negro girl named Dillah by her grandfather, Stephen Ashby. Daughter's Susan Foote Ashby #27246146 (1809-1843) m. John Wesley Shelburne on 9 Dec 1830, Perlina Ashby #49456132 (1810-1878) m. James Mason Shelburne. 1810 living in Shelby County.

6. Mary "Polley" Ashby (1777, VA-Aft. 1831, 1855?). She married Abraham Miller on 9 June, 1808, Shelby County, KY. Mary Ashby Miller receives a Negro girl named Rosianna and Susan by the will of her father, Stephen Ashby. Her daughter, Malinda Miller receives a Negro girl named Mary. Spencer County created in 1824.

7. John Ashby (1780, VA-Abt. 1835, Cobb, Caldwell Co., KY). Married (1) Sarah "Molly" Burnett on 13 Dec 1808, Shelby Co., KY., m.(2) Jane Powers on 7 Nov 1815, Shelby, KY). John's inheritance from his father was the "tract of land which I lately purchased of David Jennings". 1810 living in Shelby County. (Spencer County created in 1824). The land on which he lived is located in Cobb, Caldwell Co., KY., and is where his son Stephen Thomas Ashby was born in 1831.

8. David Ashby (1784, PA-9 Feb 1850). Indian captive. David Ashby seems to live close to his father for many years. He married Sarah Burnett, daughter of James Burnett and Margaret Robinson. They moved with Stephen Ashby to Christian County, Kentucky and back to Shelby County. In the late 1820's David and his family moved to Clay County, Missouri, and later to Platte County, Missouri, where David owned a farm just west of the present Kansas City Airport. David died on 9 Feb 1850 and his wife, Sarah, died in 1853.

9. Sarah Ashby (Abt. 1786, PA-Aft. 1831, 1849, TX?). Married William Butler (1786 - 22 Jan 1847, TX). Sarah receives a negro girl named Nancy through the Will of her father, Stephen Ashby.

10. Infant Enoch Ashby (Abt. 1788, PA-1789, IN). Died while in captivity by the Pottawattomie Indians.
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1768 - Stafford County, Virginia
A Rental for Stafford County for the year 1768 - Robert Ashby - 52 acres - 3 years in arrears. [Notice that Stephen Ashby, heir of Robert Ashby, sold this land in 1780. See Deed]

1773 - Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County Rent Roll for 1776 - Robert Ashby Exrs. 52 acres, 8 years in Arrs. [arrears] He is dead. Land so poor nobody lives on it.

In 1778 the decision was made to move and settle in Western Virginia in that part referred to as Kentucky. They would be joining others of the Ashby family (cousins?) already in Kentucky, including an uncle also named (Capt.) Stephen. Like many before them they would build rafts and float down the Ohio River to the "Falls of Louisville" thence overland to what is now Shelby or Nelson County, Kentucky.

1780 (10 Feb) - Indenture made between Stephen Ashby and William Carr for in consideration of 5 shillings current money of Virginia, all the tract or parcel of land, lying in Overwharton parish, and County of Stafford, being part of a larger tract taken up and patented by a certain Isaac Bridwell, and by him, sold to Robert Ashby - decd, father of the said Stephen to whom the said land descends, as heir at-law, to his said father, Robert Ashley and the said Mary Ashby, wife of the said Robert..... (52 acres).

1781-1787 Tax and Exoneration (Cecil, Washington Co., PA)
Stephen Ashby

Stephen Ashby - Having by industry and economy saved a sum sufficient to purchase a valuable tract of land in what is now Nelson County, Kentucky, he determined to settle upon it, In the early part of 1789. INDIAN CAPTIVES IN EARLY INDIANA, by Logan Esarey.

In the early part of 1789 Stephen with his family, a wife and eight children started on their journey to a new life on the frontiers of what was then Western Virginia. There was Stephen and Susannah, Miles about nineteen, Obediah called Beady, Robert, Thomas, John, David about four or five years old, Tinsen, and two girls, Mary and Sarah. The count might not be accurate as there was an infant mentioned in one of the accounts of the adventure that cannot be named.

In 1789, the family encountering a band of marauding Pottawattomie Indians, in the short fight that followed oldest son Miles, died with four arrows to his back and chest. He had fought valiantly but was no match for the attackers. Mrs. Ashby secretly communicated to her husband Stephen that the Indians intended to kill him by burning him. He was urged to leave the family and make an almost hopeless attempt to escape.

Sixteen year old Beady Ashby was told of his father's intentions to escape and pleaded with his father to go with him. The mother's intercessions prevailed and the two left the camp intending to escape. Mr. Ashby having escaped from captivity began a seven year exhausting effort on behalf of his captive and suffering family. Susannah and her remaining children were to remain in bondage seven years. The infant she was carrying in her arms died on the march to the Indian's camp and she was forced to scratch away loose earth in order to lower her infant to its grave. David Ashby estimated to be about four or five years old at the time of capture. Two of the survivors were Obediah "Beady" Ashby and Robert Ashby. Mrs. Ashby and the two youngest of her surviving children were taken to the village on the St. Joseph River in the vicinity of the Elkhart.

Mr Ashby, having escaped captivity, made unremitting excursions in behalf of his capture and suffering family. In order to procure the means, if possible, to liberate them, he sold his fine tract of land.

Son Thomas escaped captivity in 1794 to the British, a year before General Anthony Wayne's August 1795 treaty with the Indians at Greeneville, the Treaty of Greenville. In his appeal to General Throckmorton was in time released. Having regained liberty, he rejoined his father's family in their pioneer home at Little Mount, Kentucky.

The eldest three children to the Illinois River where they endured their cruel captivity until released after the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. At the treaty of Greenville in 1795, which ceded much of Ohio to the United States, Stephen recognized the Indian that had committed the barbarous act on son Miles Ashby. The Indian apparently recognized him also for he always avoided coming in contact with him. The treaty also provided for the exchange of prisoners, a procedure that took considerable time. In late autumn in 1795, Stephen Ashby went to Fort Wayne to meet his long-suffering family. Part of the children that had been separated from their mother arrived first. Stephen Ashby learned that his wife and remaining children would be brought in a few days from the Elkhart Indian village. He went out to meet them and met his wife on foot with a heavy load of the Indian's baggage. Stephen Ashby regained his family after their seven-year ordeal and they settled in Shelby County, Kentucky. He lived comfortably and was beloved and respected by his neighbors.

1791 Tax List (Jesse Davis #1, Adam Gurhrys Company - northeast Nelson Co., KY)
Stephen & Beady Ashby & Tinson Ashby (NG-Not Grown)

1792 Census (Dist. of Gabriel Scott, Nelson Co., KY)
Asby, Stephen 1 male (16-21), 1 male (21+) 80 acres
Ashby, Stinson 1 male (21+) 25 acres

1793 Census (Dist. of Gabriel Scott, Nelson Co., KY)
Ashby, Stephen 1 male (16-21) 112 acres
Ashby, Tinson 1 male (21+) 100 acres
Ashby, Botte 1 male (21+) 100 acres

1794 Census (Dist. of Anthony Foster, Nelson Co., KY)
Ashby, Stephen 1 male (16-21) 112 acres
Ashby, Tinson 1 male (21+) 100 acres
Ashby, Beady 1 male (21+) 100 acres

His son Thomas escaped Indian captivity in 1794 to the British, a year before General Anthony Wayne's August 1795 treaty with the Indians at Greeneville, the Treaty of Greenville. In his appeal to General Throckmorton was in time released. Having regained liberty, he rejoined his father's family in their pioneer home at Little Mount, Kentucky.

1800 Tax List (Shelby Co., KY)
Stephen Ashby

It must have been during the Great Revival that swept the western frontier in the early 1800's that drew Stephen to the Church. Sometime, about 1801, he became a minister, and spent the remaining years of his life as "a respectable preacher of the gospel of the Baptist denomination".

The Little Mount Baptist Church, in Spencer County, was organized on August 21, 1801 with 35 organizing members, who came from a as far away as Rivals on the north to Little Beech Creek on the south. The first location was on a ridge off Snake Run or the present Little Mount Church Road. The log structure was used for forty years before the church was moved to its second location a mile to the north.

Little Mount Baptist Church has a rich and colorful history, faithfully recorded in minutes dating back to its inception. Preachers were uneducated members of the community licensed "to exercise their talent in public". Brother STEPHEN ASHBY was the first pastor. They were not paid, lest their congregations would mistrust them. Members were usually generous in providing for their needs.

Stephen's wife died in 1820, son Obediah died in Spencer County, Kentucky in 1825, son Robert living in Spencer County, Kentucky in 1830, and died there. Robert's daughter Susan was married in Spencer County to John Shelburn on 9 Dec 1830 (by whom?).

Will of Rev. Stephen Ashby dated 9 Mar 1828, Will Book A, Caldwell County, Kentucky, page 433. Proven on 17 Jan 1831.
Son Thomas, my negro Girl Lavinna
Son John, my tract of land which I purchased of David Jennings and my negro boy Ben
Son Robert, not in Will, deceased
Son David, my negro Girl Rosianna
Daughter Mary Miller, my negro Girl Susan
Daughter Sarah, my negro Girl Nancy
Grandchild Malinda Miller, d/o Mary Miller, negro girl Mary
Grandson John Ashby, s/o Thomas Ashby, my negro Boy Sonny a horse, saddle and furniture and one Cow and Calf
Granddaughter Malinda Ashby, d/o Beady Ashby (dec'd) , tract of Land I now live on.
Granddaughter Susan Ashby, d/o Robert Ashby, my negro Girl Dillah

My negro boy Joe my Black man George and Nancy his wife. It is my will that they be free, and to hold all the property that they have now in possession.

Also a Sixty dollar horse, the remainder of my property to be sold at twelve months. Credit and the money to equally divided amongst all my children after my Debts and funeral expenses is paid.