ASHBYS ?  or BOYLES ?

Boyle Family Arms.

Extracts from THE BOOK OF MARSTON BIGOT by Michael McGarvie (19 Styles Hill, Frome , Somerset BAL1 5JG) "The seventh Earl of Cork and Orrery was a spendthrift and a womaniser.  Around Marston he played fast and loose with the women, and fathered several children on Dorothy Meaden, the wife of Robert Ashby (I), a tenant farmer who had six children baptised at Marston Church between 11765 and 1778.  The eldest was called Edmund.  This was well known locally.  The Boyles were noted for their auburn colouring and this has descended through the Ashby family"...... (this part of the quotation was supplied by the late George Asberry Ashby (Dorset) and has more recently been completed for me by cousin Kaye Mobsby (Brisbane) who supplied the following:: "...together with Boyle Christian names. By 1780 Edmund (Boyle) had a reputation of being 'devoted to the most wretched voluptuousness'  By his wife, Edmund had six children, born between 1765 and 1773, of whom the eldest, John-Richard, died in infancy."

Ashby Family Arms. (from copy in tapestry by my cousin George Ashby's daughter)   - NEA  photo album #30

HOME (Index) ON to ROBERT ASHBY I

Dorothy's eldest son was indeed named Edmund - the same as Edmund Boyle, her lover.  The fact that Robert accepted this child, and all others of that liason, as his, may have indicated that he was infertile but happy to bring up children born by his wife.  The auburn hair feature has continued down the line too. It may or may not be a co-incidence that in more recent times two of my Uncles, John and James, were both auburn haired. In view of Dorothy Meaden Ashby's dalliances it would seem that many, if not all, of her "Ashby" descendants, were and are, not Ashbys in truth, but illegitmate Boyles !!!   Sadly, or perhaps not so sadly, in the absence of better records (or DNA testing !)  during the last three centuries, we can never know !                                                                                                                                                       (Noel)

OR TAKE A SIDE TRIP TO VIEW EDMUND BOYLE AND HIS BOYLE ANCESTORS

This page was last updated on: January 27, 2007