Biographical Sketch of Edward Baker Ashbridge; Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

***********************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial  
individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter 
information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites 
requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 
We encourage links to the state and county table of contents.  

http://www.usgwarchives.net/
***********************************************************************

Source: "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs 
of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 1, edited by Gilbert Cope 
and Henry Graham Ashmead, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 560-561.

"Edward Baker Ashbridge.  The family to which Edward B. Ashbridge belongs is of 
English-Welsh extraction, and is among the oldest in Pennsylvania, having been 
planted here as early as 1698, by George Ashbridge, who purchased a grant of 
land from William Penn in that year.  He came from England and settled first in 
Philadelphia, later removed to Edgmont, then in Chester, now Delaware county.  
On August 23, 1701, at Providence meeting, George Ashbridge married Mary Malin, 
and the following named children were born to them: John, George, Jonathan, 
Mary, Elizabeth, Aaron, Hannah, Phoebe, Lydia, and Joseph.  The mother of these 
children died February 15, 1728, and on January 6, 1730, Mr. Ashbridge married 
Mrs. Margaret Paschall; his death occurred at Chester in 1748.

George Ashbridge, second son of George and Mary Ashbridge, was born December 19, 
1704, and in 1732 he came to Goshen township, Chester county, and took 
possession of the farm purchased for him by his father, the same having come 
down by will to the present owner, Edward B. Ashbridge.  George Ashbridge was 
elected to the assembly in 1743, and continued to be elected each year until his 
death, which occurred March 6, 1773.  He married Jane Hoopes in 1730, and their 
children were - Mary, George, William, Susanna, Phebe, Jane, Daniel, Joshua, and 
Lydia.

Joshua Ashbridge, grandfather of Edward B. Ashbridge, was born on the old farm, 
September 17, 1746, and subsequently became one of the viewers who located the 
present almshouse of Chester county.  On November 4, 1773, he married Jane 
Davis, and five children were born to them: Daniel, Joseph, Thomas, Lydia and 
Hannah.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Ashbridge were members of the Society of Friends; his 
death occurred September 4, 1820 at an advanced age.

Joseph Ashbridge, father of Edward B. Ashbridge, was born on the old homestead 
September 5, 1777, and acquired his education in the common schools of the 
vicinity.  Being familiar with farm work from his boyhood, he followed that 
occupation upon attaining young manhood, and for more than sixty years disposed 
of his produce in the market of Philadelphia, taking the goods there with a 
wagon and team of horses.  Mr. Ashbridge was a prominent member of the 
community, and was chosen to serve in the various town offices, which he filled 
both creditably and acceptably.  His religious membership was with the Society 
of Friends.  He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Baker, daughter of Edward 
Baker of Edgmont.  Their children were: Jane, Susan, William, Mary Ann, John, 
Edward Baker, J. Davis, Henry C., and Anna M.; of this family Edward B. and J. 
Davis are the only survivors.  Mr. Ashbridge died Mary 10, 1847.

Edward B. Ashbridge was born on the old homestead in East Goshen township, 
Chester county, July 28, 1827.  Until he attained the age of fourteen years he 
was a pupil in the district schools, after which he went to Unionville, and 
under the preceptorship of Jonathan Gause and Joseph Strode studied algebra, 
surveying and navigation.  In 1845 he engaged in the occupation of teaching 
school, and after being thus employed for a year and a half his father died; he 
then returned home and assumed the management of the home farm, which was then 
almost a wilderness.  He cleared the ground of the stones and brambles, and for 
twenty years devoted it to the pasturage of cattle, and in the meantime followed 
his trade of surveyor, and is probably able to locate more corner stones in 
Chester county than any other man.  Politically, Mr. Ashbridge is a Republican; 
he has served as county surveyor for six years, (two terms); auditor of the 
township for thirty-six years, and also as school director.  He is a faithful 
attendant at the services of the Friends' Meeting House.

On October 2, 1851, Mr. Ashbridge married Miss Susan B. Seal, born August 3, 
1830, daughter of Jesse and Sally (Sharpless) Seal.  Their children are: 
Charles, born October 30, 1853, died June 5, 1860, at the age of seven years; 
Clara, born June 17, 1856, died March 23, 1883, aged twenty-seven years; Sally 
S., born April 17, 1859, died aged seven months, November 30, 1859; Howard, born 
March 28, 1862, a successful farmer, married Rebecca Smedley, daughter of 
Chockley Smedley, and their two children are: Carlton, born February 22, 1892, 
and Elva M., born October 22, 1895; E. Lewis, born September 21, 1866, who is 
unmarried and resides at home; Ann Mary, born May 4, 1868, wife of Joseph H. 
Hilton; their children are: Stella, born March 1, 1899, and Mary A., born Mary 
17, 1902."