With the activities of America-250 in full swing ramping up for next year, we felt it was a good time to acquaint our readers with some of the patriots who lived and are buried in Southern Darke County.
Did you know the Ft. GreeneVille DAR Chapter (Daughters of the American Revolution) have already found and recognized around 30 in our county? Our website will soon offer the listing under our tab “America-250” for you to check them out. AWTHS will also feature displays about our patriots along with early history of our country. Make sure to watch our Facebook events and posts along with website blogs. The displays will be announced when ready to view during open hours.
Today’s blog feature is William Ashley. He was born in 1758 and died in 1828 in Twin Township, south of Ithaca. His remains along with his wife, Phebe and some family members, rest on his farm at the corner of Rt. 503 and Darke-Preble County Line Road. A special memorial stone and service were to be held in his honor, but the farmer changed his mind about the big doings at the last minute and the Ithaca Cemetery stepped up to do the honors of allowing the stone to be placed there instead.
AWTHS has quite a file on Ashley as we obtained notes from actual descendant, Vicky Krogg as well as the Darke Genealogy Society at Garst. David Kepler also did a presentation on Ashley at Ithaca Cemetery in 2022. The video is our AWTHS Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AXozvsYfj/
This bio tells of Ashley’s military record and is from the Ft. GreeneVille DAR brochure:
Revolutionary soldier William Ashley was born May 7, 1758, William Ashley enlisted sometime in July or August 1775, served in Capt. John Grant’s company in Colonel Seth Warner’s regiment, marched to Canada, was at the taking of St. Johns, in the battles of Montreal, Chambly and Sorel, in the retreat from Quebec, and returned to the “United States”, in the summer of 1776. He enlisted July 1, 1777 and served in Capt Ebenezer Allen’s company, Colonel Samuel Herrick’s Regiment of Vermont Rangers, was in the evacuation of Ticonderoga,and at the capture of Burgoyne, continued in the service until the last of December 1777. He enlisted sometime in February or March 1778, served two months in Capt Clarks company, Colonel Fletchers regiment of Vermont militia. He had other short tours in the Vermont militia, once under Capt. Dewey.
William Ashley applied for his pension, November 26, 1826 in Darke County, Ohio (R283 – Green Mt. Boys, Vt.) His pension was rejected because his service was not on the Continental Establishment as was necessary under the Act of Congress March 18, 1818 under which he made his declaration. He listed wife as Phebe and several grown children.
In May 1923 William’s grave was located on the farm of John Frazee by the Daughters of the American Revolution. A large boulder with crude lettering/dates was the only marker found. A suitable monument was planned to be erected. The farm had been owned by William Ashley at the time of his death.
In May1940 a grave marking program was to be held at Ashley’s gravesite under the Veterans Grave project- a WPA project – the Ft GreeneVille Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored the marking of his grave. Several dignitaries were invited to the grave dedication. The morning of the dedication the farmer who now owned the land changed his mind and the Ithaca cemetery agreed that the new government grave marker could be placed there. His body still rests on his original farm which was located near the south west corner of the village of Ithaca.
Go to the blog below on AWTHS web site, awths.org, and view the story of William’s wife, Phoebe and her family-life story. Information is from descendant, Vicky Krogg.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27330822/william-ashley
If you are a descendant or have additional family information, please contact AWTHS at awthsresearch@gmail.com. We also have additional family notes on some of William’s children. If you do a search a couple of stories will come up. Two sons who lived close to Ithaca and Gordon and another son who is buried at Rt. 40 in Bachman Cemetery.
Please follow AWTHS blog guidelines concerning copyrights and credit is to be given to the various individuals and groups. AWTHS, Vicky Krogg, David Kepler, and Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter (DAR).