Henry Ashurst (merchant)
Encyclopedia
Henry Ashurst was a wealthy and benevolent merchant
of London
, noted for his gifts of money to pious or charitable purposes.
in Lancashire
. His mother was one of the Bradshaws of Bradshaw
, near Bolton
. Of the sons of this marriage William engaged in politics, becoming M.P. for Newton, Lancashire
, in 1641, and for the county in 1654; John became a colonel in the civil war
; and Henry, born about 1614, entered into trade; all being parliamentarians and Presbyterians. A daughter, Mary, became the wife of Dr. Theophilus Howorth, of Manchester
.
Henry Ashurst the son was apprenticed at the age of fifteen to a London draper
; his prospects were advanced by a loan from the Rev. James Hiet, of Croston, Lancashire, and by his marriage with Judith Reresby. He became a successful merchant, entered the common council, and, though ejected in 1662, subsequently became an alderman
. In 1667 he was living at Lauderdale House
, but at the time of his death, which occurred in November 1680, he is called of Hackney
.
He had the intimate acquaintance of Henry Newcome
, of Manchester, Richard Baxter
, who preached his funeral sermon, Matthew
and Philip Henry
, and others; and the writings of all these divines abound in references to him.
's missionary efforts in North America
, and Eliot termed him his worthy and true friend. Ashurst acted as treasurer for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, was a trustee of Boyle's Lectures, and was a patron of religious literature. Baxter describes him as 'the most exemplary person for eminent sobriety, self-denial, piety, and charity that London could glory of, as far as public observation, and fame, and his most intimate friends could testify.'
; he was the builder of Waterstock
. The second son, William
, was knighted in 1689, and was Lord Mayor of London
in 1693. Each brother received £20 by bequest of Robert Boyle
.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, noted for his gifts of money to pious or charitable purposes.
Life
His father Henry was a justice of the peaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. His mother was one of the Bradshaws of Bradshaw
Bradshaw, Greater Manchester
Bradshaw is suburb of the unparished area of South Turton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it lies on the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors.-History:...
, near Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
. Of the sons of this marriage William engaged in politics, becoming M.P. for Newton, Lancashire
Newton (UK Parliament constituency)
Newton was a parliamentary borough in the county of Lancashire, in England. It was represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1559 to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, in 1641, and for the county in 1654; John became a colonel in the civil war
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
; and Henry, born about 1614, entered into trade; all being parliamentarians and Presbyterians. A daughter, Mary, became the wife of Dr. Theophilus Howorth, of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Henry Ashurst the son was apprenticed at the age of fifteen to a London draper
Draper
Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a wholesaler, or especially retailer, of cloth, mainly for clothing, or one who works in a draper's shop. A draper may additionally operate as a cloth merchant or a haberdasher. The drapers were an important trade guild...
; his prospects were advanced by a loan from the Rev. James Hiet, of Croston, Lancashire, and by his marriage with Judith Reresby. He became a successful merchant, entered the common council, and, though ejected in 1662, subsequently became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. In 1667 he was living at Lauderdale House
Lauderdale House
Lauderdale House is an arts and education centre based in Waterlow Park, Highgate in north London, England. As an arts centre, it runs an extensive programme of performances, workshops, outreach projects and exhibitions....
, but at the time of his death, which occurred in November 1680, he is called of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
.
He had the intimate acquaintance of Henry Newcome
Henry Newcome
-Life:He was the fourth son of Stephen Newcome, rector of Caldicote, Huntingdonshire. He was born at Caldicote, and baptised on27 Nov. 1627. His mother was Rose, daughter of Henry Williamson, B. D. ,...
, of Manchester, Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
, who preached his funeral sermon, Matthew
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry was an English commentator on the Bible and Presbyterian minister.-Life:He was born at Broad Oak, a farmhouse on the borders of Flintshire and Shropshire. His father, Philip Henry, had just been ejected under the Act of Uniformity 1662...
and Philip Henry
Philip Henry (clergyman)
Philip Henry was an English Nonconformist clergyman and diarist.-Early life:Henry graduated from Oxford in 1652 and was ordained in 1657. He was the eldest son of John Henry, keeper of the orchard at Whitehall, and was born at Whitehall on 24 August 1631...
, and others; and the writings of all these divines abound in references to him.
Charity
His charities to his Lancashire countrymen were extensive: he allowed needy ejected ministers in that county £100 per annum, and relieved the widows of ministers. He was interested in John EliotJohn Eliot (missionary)
John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians. His efforts earned him the designation “the Indian apostle.”-English education and Massachusetts ministry:...
's missionary efforts in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and Eliot termed him his worthy and true friend. Ashurst acted as treasurer for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, was a trustee of Boyle's Lectures, and was a patron of religious literature. Baxter describes him as 'the most exemplary person for eminent sobriety, self-denial, piety, and charity that London could glory of, as far as public observation, and fame, and his most intimate friends could testify.'
Family
His son Henry, also a friend of Richard Baxter's, became a baronetBaronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
; he was the builder of Waterstock
Waterstock
Waterstock is village and civil parish on the River Thame about west of the town of Thame in Oxfordshire. The parish is bounded to the north and west by the river, to the south largely by the A418 main road, and to the east largely by the minor road between Tiddington and Ickford Bridge across the...
. The second son, William
William Ashurst
William "Bill" Ashurst was an English football player who played for Lincoln City and Notts County, as well as the English national side. He later played for Newark Town and Bestwood Colliery.-External links:**...
, was knighted in 1689, and was Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1693. Each brother received £20 by bequest of Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
.