I began looking into the lives of a new family, the Hendley's a couple of weeks ago and my research is coming along nicely. I've not put pen to paper yet, but the information I am gathering is proving very interesting.
I wrote about the Hendley families connection to the infamous Culpepper family last week and this week I have been looking into their connection with the family of Ashburnham, the last of which, Ellen Ashburnham, was my 14th great-grandmother.
I wrote about the Hendley families connection to the infamous Culpepper family last week and this week I have been looking into their connection with the family of Ashburnham, the last of which, Ellen Ashburnham, was my 14th great-grandmother.
Ashburnham Place, near Battle in Sussex, was the families ancestral home and where the main branch of the family settled from about the end of the 12th century until 1953. My ancestry does not run along this line but along that of a second son who held a number of important roles in Sussex and Surry at the beginning of the 16th century.
Nothing but the cellars remain of the Ashburnham's 15th century house.
The aforementioned Ashburnham main branch descended via my ancestor's uncle, probably William Ashburnham, to a John (there were two of them) one of whom, was a faithful supporter of King Charles I. The letters below is thought to date from about 1642 and deals with Charles's planned escape from the clutches of the Parliamentarians.
"Now for myself be confident of my Constancy to the Church, for which upon debate I am dayly more & more confirmed for now I see clearly that the Presbiterians dis… & contradicts bouldly the consent of Fathers & the customes of the Catholike Church: & they hould that the Supreme Power is originally in the People to whom all Magistrats ought to account: As for my escaping from hence, I shall not attempt it but by the Queen’s advice alone or such as she shall trust to manage that business, concerning which now that I have declared my Opinion and showen my reasons (as I have fully done in former letters) I have now no impatience, for I shall not loose by my own silence which was the cheefe care I had in this.
Upon Saturday next I expect the London Propositions; for one of which I particularly desire advice they Demand not only the confirmation of their Counterfeit Great Seale, but also the making good of all the Acts which hath beene done by it: I know this is not to be granted (for you remember the great consequences that I tould you, in Oxford depended upon it) but how hansomly to evade it, there is the question: for this I desire the opinions of 351:385:386:387:389, if these thinke it expedient, of 357: with as much expedition as may be to. Give this enclosed to my Wyfe, & me a particular account of her healthe
Your most assured constant friend
Charles R
Upon Saturday next I expect the London Propositions; for one of which I particularly desire advice they Demand not only the confirmation of their Counterfeit Great Seale, but also the making good of all the Acts which hath beene done by it: I know this is not to be granted (for you remember the great consequences that I tould you, in Oxford depended upon it) but how hansomly to evade it, there is the question: for this I desire the opinions of 351:385:386:387:389, if these thinke it expedient, of 357: with as much expedition as may be to. Give this enclosed to my Wyfe, & me a particular account of her healthe
Your most assured constant friend
Charles R
If you look closely you will see that part of the letter is written in cipher, Charles’ didn't want his escape plans to fall into the wrong hands.
Exciting stuff, isn't it?
Exciting stuff, isn't it?
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