Solomon Ashley

MP for Bridport 1734-1741, director of the Royal African Co. and deputy governor of the Welsh Copper Corp. [sic], and the holder of unspecified claim over estates in Jamaica (Catherine Mount and Catherine Hall) which descended to the family of Humphry Sturt (q.v.). His wife was Winifred Pitfield, daughter of Alexander Pitfield MP. The couple had two daughters: (a) Dorothy who married firstly Charles Pitfield (her first cousin, with whom she had a daughter Mary Sturt nee Pitfield, wife of Humphry Sturt, q.v.) and secondly Felton Hervey; and (b) Elizabeth, who married Julines Beckford (q.v.) and had with him a son, Peter Beckford of Stapleton (q.v.).

1. Will of Solomon Ashley of St Pauls Churchyard London [and then of St James's Square] [made in 1763 with a series of codicils, the latest dated 1773] proved 22/02/1775. He left £4000 to Peter Beckford, the only son of his late daughter Elizabeth, together with £425 11s 10d 'my stock of and in the united five keys' between the Tower and Bridge of London, and £4000 in trust for his granddaughter Mary Sturt. He made Humphry Sturt both his residuary legatee and sole executor.

2. The will does not specify the claims in Jamaica that appear to have passed to Humphry Sturt.

http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1715-1754/member/ashley-solomon-1775 [accessed 26/11/2019].

1. PROB 11/1004/382.

2. The Crichel Estate Papers at the Dorset Archives include 'Case: Beckford v Sturt: demands of Humphrey Sturt, residuary legatee of Solomon Ashley on estates in Jamaica 1772', D-CRI/A/115/3, http://dcc.dorsetforyou.com/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=D-CRI%2fA%2f115%2f3 [accessed 26/11/2019].

We are grateful to Michael Pitfield for his assistance with compiling this entry.