The first marriage of Richard SHEAVYN has long presented a mystery. The Willington marriage register shows the groom as Richard SHEAVYN, of Ticknall, and the bride as Ann ASHMOLE, spinster, of Willington. Ticknall parish registers, for the baptisms of Richard's children, show his wife as Mary. Then there is the burial entry, on 21 Apr 1807, for Mary, wife of Richard Sheavyn.

Inspection of Willington parish registers shows (above) that although the bride's name is given as Ann, her signature shows as "the mark of Mary Ashmole".

Further inspection of Willington parish registers gives a baptism, 10 Feb 1771, for Mary ASHMOLE, d/o Thomas & Jane. This date exactly coincides with the age, given on her tombstone in Ticknall churchyard, for Mary SHEAVYN:

Sacred to the Memory of MARY Wife of RICHARD SCHEAVYN (sic)
who departed this Life April 18th 1807 Aged 36 Years

Thomas & Jane ASHMOLE had no daughter named Ann. There was no other ASHMOLE family left in Willington by 1800