ASHHURST [ASHURST] FAMILY
of Brighton, Sussex
Biography CONTENTS - ADAMS
ASHHURST [ASHURST] FAMILY
of Brighton, Sussex
Biography
John Swinton Ashhurst [c. 1795 - 1840] and his wife Fanny nee Simpson [1808-1847] Possible Descent under Research although tenuous
John Swinton Ashhurst is considered to have been born around 1800 or prior, very likely the son of Robert Ashurst who was recorded buried at St. Nicholas Churchyard at Brighton on the 2nd February 1831 at the recorded age of 78years [born 1753]. It is believed that the family had ties in Ireland. There were only three Ashhurst [Ashurst] Family Individuals living at Brighton in 1831; John Swinton Ashhurst and his brother Robert Lewis Ashhurst both considered born around the same time and Robert Ashhurst senior formerly mentioned. It is not known which of the two brothers was the eldest.
In 1825 John Swinton Ashhurst was employed as a Clerk in the Office of Mr. Fleetwood, Solicitor at Brighton. On the 30th or 31st December 1825 he witnessed a complicated Conveyance of Property signing his name John S Ashhurst. The family appears pedantic in the spelling of the name with a double 'H'. John later became a 'Law Stationer'. It would be reasonable to assume that John Ashhurst was fairly well educated, confidently literate and had a fair degree of education in Common Law. His brother Robert Lewis Ashurst was a School Master, Teacher of Languages and Dealer in Stationery.
John Swinton Ashhurst married nineteen year old Fanny Simpson on the 28th January 1827 at Preston, a small village just north of Brighton. Fanny Simpson was baptised at St. Nicholas, Brighton on the 19th October 1808 the daughter of William Simpson and his wife Fanny nee Payne. Fanny's only other known sibling baptised two years prior and also named Fanny did not survive infancy. Fanny's mother, Fanny nee Payne died in 1828 a year after Fanny's marriage to John Swinton Ashhurst. Fanny [the elder] was buried in the graveyard adjoining St. Nicholas, Brighton aged 48yrs. A year later John' brother, Robert Lewis Ashhurst married 20 year-old Rebecca Barber 27th November 1828 by licence also at St. Nicholas, Brighton. Rebecca Barber was born on the 25th November 1805 and Baptised on the 9th February 1806 at Nth Street at the Chapel, Countess of Dissentarian Brightonants at Brighton, the daughter of Thomas Barber a cabinet maker and his wife Mary. Her brother Thomas Barber was born 15th Nov. 1807, baptised at the same venue 3rd April 1808. Another possible brother Robert Barber has been suggested baptised at Brighton on the 16th July 1802, parents Thomas Barber and Mary or Ann 'Willince'. A marriage between Thomas Barber and Mary 'Wratten' was recorded at Hailsham, Sussex 14 miles west of Brighton on the 26th August 1799, it is not known if this is connected. John Ashhurst and Fanny had the following issue; Child 1: Lewis Ashhurst born c. 1828. Child 2: John Swinton Ashhurst born c. 1829. Child 3: Fanny Ashhurst was baptised at on the 27th March 1833 at St. Nicholas, Brighton. Following the birth of their second child, John's father Robert Ashhurst Snr died at Brighton in 1831. During this time John worked in the assumed moderately lucrative profession of 'Law Stationer'.
His brother Robert & wife Rebecca also recorded issue at Brighton; Child 1: Robert Ashhurst born 1832. Child 2: Rebecca Ashhurst born 1836. Child 3: Thomas Ashhurst born 1837. During this time Robert had gone into bankruptcy; London Gazette dated 15th November 1833; Robert Lewis Ashhurst noted formerly of Wood Street, then of Mulberry Square, then of Edward Street, then of Castle Square, then of High Street and late of Shipping Street Gardens, all in Brighton, Sussex. School Master, Teacher of Languages and Dealer in Stationery. John's brother Robert Lewis Ashhust dies; Two years after the birth of his youngest child, Robert Lewis Ashhurst died in the September Quarter 1839. He was survived by his wife Rebecca of eleven years marriage, now aged thirty-four and his three children, Robert jnr. aged seven, Rebecca jnr. aged three and Thomas aged two years. John Swinton Ashhurst dies; Within six months following the death of his brother, John Swinton Ashhurst died at Brighton in the March Qtr. 1840, there was no age recorded. He was survived by his wife Fanny of 13 years marriage now aged 37yrs and his three children; Lewis Ashhurst aged twelve, John Swinton Ashhurst jnr aged eleven and daughter Fanny Ashhurst aged eight. The widows are recorded in the 1841 Census; 1841 Census - Fanny, widow of John Ashurst; A Census was held on the 6th June 1841, a year after John's death on the 6th June 1841 and records Fanny Ashhurst, widow, aged 32yrs living at Carlton Row Brighthelmstone, [the ancient Anglo Saxon name for Brighton] Sussex. Living with her were two of her three children; John aged eleven and Fanny aged seven. They were residing in the house of Samuel Heather and his wife Mary and their three children. Fanny’s occupation in the document unfortunately is illegible. All occupants of the house were documented born in Sussex. [NOTE: Samuel Heather was documented as forty years old, occupation a 'Porter'. A family link to the Heather Family has not been established as yet.] Son; On the same Census Fanny's eldest son Lewis Ashhurst was found at the home of Peter Gardener age 35 'a Printer' and his wife Sarah at North Street Brighton with three adolescents; Thomas and John Buck aged 15 [twins!] the latter brother recorded as 'a Printer's Apprentice and Lewis Ashhurst aged fourteen. It is unknown whether there is a connection to the Ashhurst Family except perhaps by profession. 1841 Census - Rebbecca widow of John's deceased brother;
Robert's widow Rebecca Ashhurst was recorded as aged 35yrs and her children Robert Ashhurst now nine, Rebecca now five and Thomas four years old were living with her parents Thomas Barber aged 70yrs 'a Cabinet Maker' and his wife Mary 65yrs at Regent Row, Brighton. All were recorded born in the district. Fanny Ashhurst dies; Around three years later in 1844 Fanny took ill after a further three battle with the affliction she died at 23 Circus Street Brighton on the 6th March 1847 cause certified as Phthisis. ["Phthisis is a disease characterised by the wasting away or atrophy of the body or a part of the body and Tuberculosis of the lungs. The Term is no longer in use. " Definition Source: Free Dictionary URL: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/phthisis] . The informant on the document and present at Fanny's death was Mary Tutt of 42 Nelson St. Brighton Fanny was buried at the same venue as her mother in the grounds of St. Nicholas at Brighton on the 11th March 1847 at the recorded age of 45 yrs. She was survived by her three children; Lewis aged nineteen, John aged eighteen and Fanny fourteen.See Transcription below EPILOGUE
Lewis Ashhurst: eldest son of John Swinton Ashhurst & Fanny [nee Simpson]
Lewis sought a Military Career.
He appears to have been assigned for Service in Ireland where he married Maria [nee unknown] around 1855.
The couple remained in Maria's native Ireland where two of their children were born;
Lewis Ashhurst b. 1856
Mary Ashhurst b.1858 recorded later as born at Dublin.
Within the following three years Lewis returned to England where he was found on the 1841 Census at the Hampshire
Barracks, Middlesex, documented as age 30yrs, 'a Private' 16 Lancers,
with his wife Maria age 24 born Ireland
and his two children recorded Lewis now five and Mary three, both recorded born in Ireland.
Lewis [the elder] was not found on subsequent Census and seems to have returned to Dublin, Ireland.
Lewis Ashhurst [the younger] born 1856 - in Ireland the son of Lewis Ashhurst and Maria nee unknown.
A recent source relates that at the age of fourteen his son Lewis may have later joined the British Army at Dublin.
Mary Ashhurst [the younger] born in Ireland the daughter of Lewis Ashhurst and Maria nee unknown.
Mary remained at Brighton when her parents and brother appear to have returned to Ireland and lived with her
paternal uncle John Swinton Ashhurst [Jnr] and his wife Maria [nee Bonner] at Brighton who appear to have had no
surviving issue.
Mary was found on the 1871 Census as living with her paternal uncle at John Ashurst age 41yrs 'a Painter'; Maria his
wife age 42. Mary was recorded as John's 'niece', a scholar, born in Ireland, aged thirteen.
She remained living at Brighton with her Uncle John Swinton Ashhurst and his wife Maria, and subsequent to her
uncle's death in 1877, Mary continued to live with his widow Maria until the age of twenty one when she married William
Alfred Osborne 'a Painter Journeyman' in the June Qtr. of 1879.
Two years later she was recorded in the 1881 Census living with her husband and three week old daughter Evalyn A
Osborne in Brighton.
Mary was again recorded in the 1891 Census still living at Brighton, now with five children and living with her husband
William and three of William's unmarried siblings, Her husband William recorded born in Beckley Kent had changed
occupations and was now working as 'Printers Compositor'.
Mary and William were again recorded at Brighton in 1901 [Census] as both aged forty-two. Their daughter Evalyn now
aged twenty was still unmarried & living at home. No further information.
John Swinton Ashurst [the younger]: 2nd child of John Swinton Ashhurst & Fanny [nee Simpson];
Sometime during the four years following his mother's death in 1847 John and his younger sister were found 47 miles north
at London where in the 1851 Census John was recorded working as a ‘shop man’ at 35 George Street St. Marylebone, the home
of Elizabeth Tucker and her 17-year-old daughter. John was documented as a servant with Maria Palmer 18yrs a domestic servant.
John appears to have seen to his young sister's marriage in 1851. He then returned to Brighton where he worked as a Painter &
Glazier. At the age of twenty four he married Maria Bonner in the December Quarter of 1854 his name recorded as John
Swinton Ashhurst. John and Maria continued to live at Brighton where they seem to have had no surviving issue.
The couple appear to have assumed the care of John's niece Mary Ashhurst born in Ireland to his brother Lewis. They continued
continued in caring for their niece together till John died in the June Qtr of 1877 aged forty-seven. John's widow Maria continued Mary's support until Mary's marriage at the age of twenty one to William Arthur Osborne
in the June Qtr.1879. Maria survived a further twenty-four years, continuing to live at her birthplace at Brighton and died
childless in the June Qtr. of 1903 at the documented age of seventy-five years undoubtedly fondly recorded by her niece Mary who
was living close by with her young family at this time.
Fanny Ashurst [the younger]: Third child of John Swinton Ashhurst & Fanny [nee Simpson];
Fanny Wright nee Ashurst Sometime during the four years following her mother's death in 1847, young Fanny with her brother John found their way 47miles north to London Middlesex where Fanny was documented on the 1851 Census held on the 30th March, aged seventeen, working as a barmaid and residing at the home of Joseph Till and his wife with several servants and boarders. Six months later in September 1851 Fanny married Thomas Wright at Poplar near where she was working. Thomas and Fanny had four recorded children; [Also Access Wright Descendant Chart] Fanny Matilda Wright [1852–1891], married Thomas Beard 1875 had issue - See Wright Descendant Chart. Julia Wright [1855-1903] died unmarried and without issue 1903 Melbourne, Australia. See Wright Descendant Chart Teresa Wright [1856-post 1861]. See Wright Descendant Chart. Amelia Ann Wright [1859-1934] Married John Coyne Riley, Melbourne Australia 1881. Had issue - See Next Generation. Elizabeth Wright [1860-post 1861]. See Wright Descendant Chart. The 1861 Census documents Thomas as a Licensed Victualler at the Trinity Arms in Orchard Place Poplar London. Fanny was said to have studied piano for a brief period in France as a child with Composer Johan Strouss. The very disease which took the life of the Famous Composer also took the lives of her parents, her own and her spouse. At some period in young Fanny's life before 1845/6 she was accompanied to France where she tutored by the Composer Johann Strauss [1804-1848] who was accepting students at that time. The Tuberculosis which took the life of the Great Composer was said to have also taken not only the lives of the young Fanny's Parents, Uncle, later her spouse and to which she too would succumb. The full Story of Fanny and her marriage to Thomas Wright. The Family of John's brother: Robert Lewis Ashhurst & Rebecca nee Barber; Rebecca Ashhurst nee Barber; Wife of Robert Lewis Ashhurst.
Two years subsequent to Robert's death the 1851 Census found Rebecca living at her parent's home at Brighton, Thomas Barber now recorded as a widower 'a cabinet maker' age 76yrs and Rebecca now 45yrs, his grandchildren Robert Ashhurst aged 19 years working as 'blind maker', Rebecca Ashhurst now aged 17 yrs and Thomas Ashurst now 14yrs employed as a coffin maker. Thomas Barber [the elder] did not appear on the subsequent Census. Rebecca [the elder] married for the second time in the June Qtr. 1859 to Charles Shaw. The couple was recorded as on the 1861 Census both living a Brighton, Rebecca then fifty and Charles sixty-seven. There appears to be no issue from this union. After a marriage of six years Rebecca was widowed again in the March Qtr of 1865. The 1871 Census records her living at Tidy Street Brighton as a widow, lodger, aged 61. The Census of 1881 shows her living at 3 Peels Place Brighton, recorded a widow, lodger, aged 65yrs. Rebecca died in the June Qtr 1886 at Brighton at the documented age of seventy-five. She had outlived two husbands and all of her three children had predeceased her. She appears to have been survived by only one granddaughter Annie Rebecca Venables nee Ashhurst aged twenty-four at the time of her paternal grandmother's death, the daughter of Rebecca's son Thomas.
Robert Ashhurst [the younger] son of Robert Lewis Ashhurst and his wife Rebecca nee Barber; In the 1851 Census Robert Ashhurst was recorded aged nineteen, working as a 'Blind Maker', unmarried and living at home with his mother, two siblings and grandfather at 4 Regent Row, Brighton Robert died nine months late in December just before New Year's Day. He was buried at St. Nicholas at Brighton on the 3rd January 1842, he was recorded aged 20 years.
Rebecca Ashurst [the younger] daughter of Robert Lewis Ashurst and his wife Rebecca nee Barber;
Rebecca was not found on the 1861 or subsequent Census. No marriage could be found for her. She is considered to be the
same Rebecca Ashurst whose death was recorded at Cuckfield 13 miles NW of Brighton in the September Qtr. 1858.
At that time Rebecca would have been aged twenty-two years.
Thomas Ashurst son of Robert Lewis Ashurst and his wife Rebecca nee Barber; Thomas married Sarah Annie Funnell in 1859. The 1861 Census shows him living at Brighton now 22yrs 'an undertaker' with his wife Sarah, their eight month old son Harry Thomas Ashhurst and a servant Jane Dale 14yrs all born at Brighton. A daughter, Annie Rebecca Ashurst was registered born in the March Qtr 1862. Thomas was widowed ten months later, Sarah's death recorded at Brighton in the December Qtr 1862. Seven years later his son Harry Tom Ashurst died also at Brighton in the December Qtr 1869 at the documented age of nine years. Thomas appears to have been the last surviving child of his father Robert Lewis Ashhurst, his siblings thought to have predeceased him. At this point in his own family Thomas, now a widower had only one surviving child, his daughter Annie Rebecca who at the death of her brother was aged seven. He appears to have left the area leaving his daughter Annie with her maternal grandmother Annie Funnell who was also living at Brighton working as a bun-seller. From this point on Thomas disappeared and no trace of him has been found to date. Annie Rebecca Ashurst; daughter of Thomas Ashurst and his wife Sarah nee Funnell; Thomas' daughter Annie Rebecca, possibly the only surviving grandchild of Robert Lewis Ashhurst was found in the 1871 Census still living with her maternal grandmother Annie E. Funnell then recorded as 57yrs 'a retired bun seller' Annie the elder was recorded born in Harlow, Kent, recording Annie as her granddaughter, a lodger and scholar. Annie Rebecca's grandmother appears to have died over the next few years and the 1881 census sees her nineteen, working as a Servant in London for the Dickens Family. It is not known but highly likely that Annie had contact with her 1st Cousin Fanny Wright nee Ashurst who was also living in London at this time. Two years later Annie married William Page Venables in the March Qtr. 1883 and settled in Greenwich, London. Eight years later Annie was recorded on the 1891 census as twenty-eight, the wife of William born in Kent aged 34, 'a cricket bat maker' who was also on the document with their children William aged six and Mabel aged one. The 1901 Census saw them having remained at Greenwich living at 99 South Street and recorded with them were six of their children; Mabel Vernables now sixteen, Bertie Vernables 11yrs, Stanley Vernables 8yrs, Ralph Venables 9 or 7yrs [altered], Winifred Vernables 5yrs Hilda Vernables aged three months. By now William was forty-four and Annie Rebecca was as forty. No further information.
Mary Tutt: Informant and present at the death of Fanny Ashurst nee Simpson, wife of John Swinton Ashhurst [the elder];
Mary Tutt was born in 1824 at Hailsham in Brighton. She was recorded as unmarried working in various occupations as
'Drop Maker', 'Servant' and 'live in housekeeper'. After working in various households through the years recorded always
recorded 'unmarried' it is considered that Mary may have been a friend, servant, nanny and/or nurse to Fanny Ashhurst
and her children during her three year illness. As with the Heather Family research was suspended pending a connection
with the Ashhurst or Simpson Families.
Transcription of Death Certificate of Fanny Ashhurst [nee Simpson]
Description |
Details |
When and where died |
Sixth of March 1847 - 23 [Circus?] St. |
Name |
Fanny Ashurst |
Sex |
Female |
Age |
38 years |
Occupation |
Widow of John Swinton Ashurst, Law Stationer. |
Cause of Death |
Phthisis - 3 years - Certified. |
Signature, description & residence of informant: |
The Mark X of Mary Tutt. Present at the death - 42 Nelson St. |
When registered |
Eighth of March 1847 |
Signature of Registrar: |
Illegible |
XX