Ayshfords of Ayshford
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The Broadclyst Ayshfords
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EXODUS

William Moore Ayshford was born in Broadclyst in 1792. He married Mary Broom of Uffculme in Uffculme on 21st December 1815, and they subsequently settled in Silverton, Devon. They had nine children, of whom Edward, c. 1816, and Henry, c. 1827, nothing more is known. His wife, Mary, died in 1835 and he moved, either with or at a similar time to half his children, to London and remarried to Elizabeth Jones in 1842. In 1841 he is found in St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey and is recorded as a 'Manager'. In 1844 he is recorded as being of Worth House, Silverton, for the wedding of his daughter, Eliza Merrifield to John Davey of Exeter (This is stated in a report of his daughter's Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 1904, so it may have been his former address). In 1846 and 1852 he is recorded in Post Office Directories as being a tavern keeper of the Fishmonger's Arms in Soho. William Moore died in 1864 in Kensington.

Of his children:

William Moore, c. 1818, married Sarah Hannah Morrish in 1853, moved to South Wales and then emigrated to Australia.

Francis Broom, c. 1819, moved to London and married Elizabeth Dobson in 1842. Francis Broom was a Licensed Victualler.

Thomas Blake, c. 1821, also moved to London and marrried Ann Roberts in 1847. Thomas Blake Ayshford was a Coach Builder, initially in Drury Lane then moved to the Britannia Carriage Works in Fulham, London.

Abraham Merrifield, c. 1823, also moved to London and married Rosetta Ryland in Newington, London in 1845. They had a daughter, Mary Ann, in 1847 and were still in Newington. On the 15th May 1848 Abraham was tried at the Central Criminal Court for "stealing two pairs of trowsers (sic) and 1 jacket, value £3 10s; the goods of William Smith, his master" to which he pleaded guilty - and was confined for six months. On the 23rd October 1850 Abraham was tried at the Andover Sessions for Larceny Simple (theft) - and was imprisoned for six months hard labour this time. The family is next sighted in the 1851 Census; Rosetta and daughter Mary Ann are in Southwark, Rosettta is recorded as the wife of a Taylor, whilst Abraham is found in the Hampshire County Prison, Winchester. He is recorded as Abraham Ashford, a Journeyman Taylor, aged 27, born Silverton, Devon - which confirms the correct person and the details of the trial in the Andover Sessions found above. In 1861 Rosetta and Mary Ann are at 11 Swan St, Newington, one of three families in the same house. Rosetta is a cap maker. No sign has been found of Abraham. No sign has been found subsequently of the family; another Ayshford researcher possibly spotted Abraham Ayshford in New South Wales, Australia.

Eliza Merrifield, also c. 1823 and possibly a twin to Abraham, married John Davey, a Master Boot Maker in 1844 in Exeter, Devon. In 1848 they were in Camden Town, London, where their first daughter, Emma, was born. By 1851 they were back in Exeter where three sons were born; Edward Henry in 1850, William Henry in 1853 and Harry Cecil in 1854. By 1857 they were back in North London where another son, Alfred John was born in Dalston. Between 1861 and 1871 they were in Kensington, London, where two more children were born; Alice Constance in 1864 and Arthur in 1866. 1881 finds them in Ilfracombe, Devon, where they remained. In 1891 and 1901 John Davey is finally a retired Boot Maker. In 1904 they celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, as shown in a clipping from the local newspaper. Both John and Eliza M die at the close of 1913; John at the age of 92 and Eliza M at 90.

Aaron, c. 1825. By 1841 he was drapers assistant to a Richard W Atton in Taunton, Somerset, presumably as an apprentice. By 1851 he is living with his Uncle Thomas Blake Ayshford, a coach maker in Drury Lane, Westminster in London. In 1852 Aaron married Elizabeth Harriet Atton, daughter of his former employer, in Taunton, Somerset, and returned to London to found the Hackney Branch of the London Ayshfords.

John, b. 1830, remained in Devon.

Exodus
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