Thomas Ashmeade

Thomas Ashmeade, c.1764-1840. Baptised 25 October 1764 in St Michael, Gloucester. His parents were William and Mary Ashmeade. His siblings were Mary (baptised 1760), William (1769) and Henry (1771) (all q.v.). Thomas Ashmeade married Ann Ewbank, daughter of William Ewbank, probably before 1794. They had at least three children: Thomas, (baptised St Ann 1795); Frances, (baptised St Ann, 1796; she married John Chippendale), and Susanna (baptised about 1803; she married John Johnson, and their daughter was Ann Ewbank Johnson (q.v.)

He was a member of the St Ann Militia: Lieutenant about 1795, Captain from 18 March 1796, Lieutenant-Colonel from 1807, Colonel from 1820 until at least 1824.

Thomas Ashmeade was owner of estates in St Ann 1809 to 1840. He registered enslaved people in St Ann in each of the registrations 1817 to 1832. In 1817 as owner, as guardian of his children, and as mortgagee of Carlisle; in 1820 as proprietor and as guardian; in 1823 as proprietor and as guardian; in 1826 as proprietor, as agent to his children, as agent to Carlisle Plantation, and as agent to the Estate of Ann(e) Ashmeade; in 1829 as owner, as guardian, as Manager for the Estate of Ann Ashmeade, as Mortgagee; in 1832 as Mortgagee, as owner and as guardian to his children. The numbers of enslaved people are consistent for each category across registrations.

Thomas Ashmeade is recorded as Vestryman in St Ann in the 1817 Almanac, and as Assistant Judge and Magistrate in St Ann in the 1824, 1833 and 1839 Almanacs. He died in his seventy-sixth year in Jamaica in 1840.

We are grateful to David Barker for his assistance in compiling this entry.

Gloucestershire, England, C of E Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813. Jamaica, C of E, Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1879, St Ann, 1795 and 1796; Will of William Ewbank (in LBS) Jamaica Almanacs, 1796 to 1824. Slave Registers, St Ann, 1817 to 1832. Jamaica Almanacs, 1817, 1824, 1833, 1839. See also: Brett Ashmeade Hawkins, 'Ashmeads in Jamaica', http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/ashmead/36/ [accessed 16/08/2017].