Volume Thirteen - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - even more aspects - Slavery - echoes of the past . . .

The Rev. John's father was also named John Ashley and is listed as the owner of the Ashley Hall Estate at Vere, Jamaica during the years 1796 to 1798 (John Ashley of Vere and Bath) and also in the period 1809 to 1839 (John Ashley of Clifton and Ashley Hall). John Ashley of Ashley Hall now residing in Clifton, Bristol, whose will was proved 13/05/1850. [Source: PROB 11/2112/307]

Previous to this there was a reference to another John Ashley Esquire (possibly the Grandfather) in the 1769 returns, also in the parish of Vere, who had a total of 73 slaves (41 male, 32 female and 8 boys). I believe he died in 1790's and the heir of the estate, as listed in 1799, was the Rev. John's father. Also an entry which states John Ashley of Clifton and Ashley Hall Jamaica, eldest son of John Ashley, who was of Bath when he made his will in 1791 (proved in 1799).

The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery provided the following information about the Rev. John Ashley's Grandfather:

John Ashley of Vere and Bath - Profile & Legacies Summary - Biography:

1] Possibly the John Ashley who contributed £9 10s to the University of Pennsylvania following Dr John Morgan's fundraising tour of the West Indies in 1772-1773.

2] Will of John Ashley [of the parish of Vere in Jamaica but now residing at] of Bath [made in 1791] proved 23/01/1799. In the will he left Ashley Hall to his wife Mary for life and then to his four children as tenants-in-common: he also left his children annuities of £100 p.a. each. [Source: PROB 11/1317/174]

In accordance with the 1833 Act for the Abolition of Slavery, an unsuccessful claim was made by the Rev. John Ashley's father who was the owner-in-fee of the Ashley Hall Estate amounting to £5,546 9s. 5d. [equivalent to c.£626,945 in 2025]. Three mortgagees, were, however, granted payment under the Act and a claim of £3,695 11s. 2d. [equivalent to c.£417,700 in 2025] was paid to Stephana Biscoe (nee Law), George Law and the Rev, William Biscoe.