Michael Ashford

Leads: (Everything below is just leads on his family -- nothing tied to him specifically). - Father may be a Francis Ashford. Possible will: Will of MICHAEL ASHFORD, dated 20 Oct 1734, proved 20 Mar 1734 Prince William County, Virginia [Will Book C (1734-1744) Pages 28-29], copied from the Shetterly and Bragg Family Tree, http://shetterlyandbragg.50megs.com/index2.htm. That site seems to identify him as the one who m. Rachel Neville, BUT note that his wife is named Ann in the will, and no daughter named Ester is named. Thus, it may not be the same Michael Ashford. "Will of Michael Ashford, dated 20 Oct. 1734. Michael Ashford of Prince William County,Virginia, being sick and weak in body. To my son John one horse named Roger and one black foal and two cows and two calves. To my son Michael a horse called his and a young bay mare. To my son William a bay horse called his own and two cows and two calves. To my son Michael all that tract of land lying on the head of Doge Run and 1 feather bed with the furniture. To my sons George and William that tract of land at Doge Run not before bequeathed to be equally divided between them allowing their brother Michael Timber suffiecient to supply his necessity. To my sone John a tract of land lying between Doge Run and little Hunting Creek and one feather bed with the Blanketts and rugg and sheets belonging to it. To my daughter Ann a little white horse called credit. To my son George a black mare which came of a Dun mare. To my daughters Mary and Constance two filly foals between them. I do constitute appoint and ordain my loving wife to be my sole executrix. To my son George one negro man named Dick. Unto my son John that tract of land upon the head of Auatinck. Unto my son William 1 bed with the rugg blanketts and sheets belonging to it. Unto my sons George and William one bed a piece with ruggs blanketts and sheets belonging to them. Unto my daughter Ann, Mary and Constance each of them one bed and furniture with the ruggs blanketts and sheets belonging to them. I do constitute and appoint my well beloved wife my sole executrix. Mic. Ashford Wit: John Camplin Joshua (I) Oxely 20 March 1734. Presented into Court by John Ashford. Proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto subscribed. Ann Ashford sole executrix apointed in the said will being dead without having first undertaken the burthen of the execution thereof, on the motion of the said John Ashford certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration with the said willl annext. Page 30. Bond of John Ashford, Thomas Smith and Edward Embs unto Denis McCarty, first justice. For L300. 20 March 1734. John Ashford is administrator with willl annexed of Michael Ashford. John Ashford Thomas Smith Edward E. Emns Wit: Catesby Cocke, Thomas Robinson ---------------- The following is from http://linda_walker999.tripod.com/aqwn82.htm#3145: Michael ASHFORD From genfourm: I have been of the opinion that my Mary Ashford who married James Bird at Old Swede's Church in New Castle County, Delaware in 1745, was a child of Michael and Ann Ashford. The Mary in the will of Michael Ashford seemed to have been quite young, along with several other children, as I recall. Mary Ashford and James Bird settled in the part of Orange County, NC, which is now Alamance County. Just north of Alamance is Caswell County, where a William Ashford also settled in the period between 1750 and 1770. Also residing in Caswell County was Nancy Ashford, who was wife of John Walker, Revolutionary soldier who served as one of Washington's aide-de-campes. The Ashfords owned land in Virginia which was sold by one of the elder sons,(George?) of Michael and Ann Ashford, land which was included in the holdings of George Washington in making up his Mount Vernon Estate. It would appear that these Ashford's, Walkers, and Birds were very much in the right places to support a connecting link. Here is info given to me by Samuel B. Ashford, my uncle, now deceased, "Michael Ashford & his wife Ann each filed a will in Prince William County, Virginia, in 1734. (Will book "C".) Michael's will named the following children: John, Michael, William, George, Ann, Mary & Constance. Michael probably left Prince George County, Maryland & moved across the Potomac River into Stafford County, Virginia, in 1712--that part of Stafford became part of Prince William County in 1730 and later Fairfax County in 1742. (Michael Ashford was a vestryman at Pohick Church according to Minutes of the Vestry.) Part or all of Michael Ashford's estate became part of Mount Vernon. George & his wife Mary as well as John & William. Prior to July 10, 1789, George Ashford bought 150 acres of land in Newberry County, South Carolina. Mary & George has 18 children. Each used the same given names for their children. George named his oldest son Michael & his oldest daughter Ann. Two of their sons, Michael & George, fought in the American Revolutionary Army in South Carolina. There is also record of George Ashford residing in Union County, South Carolina, in 1784, on 163 acres. Evidently lived on this farm until he bought farm in Newberry County in 1789."