askewhistory

The following is taken entirely from the book:
"Josiah Askew of Edgecombe County" by Alice Ann Askew

CHAPTER I
ASKEW RESEARCH IN ENGLAND
by Fay Askew 1986
Two people, Margaret Fell (1614-1702) and George Fox (1624-1691), give a clue of the English connection of John Askew of Isle of Wight County, Virginia,
mid 1600's.

George Fox, the itinerant preacher, who with his wife, Margaret Askew Fell Fox, founded the Quaker religious movement, came on a preaching mission to America during 1671-1673. In his Journal he wrote, page 298 "On the 5th we set sail for Virginia, and in three days came to a place called Nancemond... Next day we had a great meeting there of Friends and others." Page 299 .... "Another very good meeting also we had at William Yarrow's at Pagan Creek which was so large that we were fain to be abroad." (Note: In rural communities up to modern times most people attended revival services regardless of denomination.)

John Askew and his wife, Bridgett, lived on Pagan Creek within a mile or so of the meeting place. They were among the few people living in the area estimated to be only some 2000 in the whole county at that time. George Fox wrote (page 302) "having many large meetings; as at the Widow Kright's, where a great many magistrates, officers and other high people came...among the officers, my kinsman; he told me the priest threatened to come and oppose us."

There being no known relative of George Fox and only one family of Askews in Nancemond, this kinsman referred to could be the aforementioned John, possible cousin of Margaret Askew Fell, who had married George Fox in her later life.While still married to Judge Fell and living in Swarthmore Hall on Morecombe in the Furness Sands area, Lancaster, England, Margaret Askew Fell had given refuge, encouragement, and guidance to the itinerant and uneducated preacher. Indeed, the servants of Swarthmore Hall and later the Mistress and her children formed the first group of believers later persecuted and called Quakers. They called themselves Friends.

Margaret Fox, twice in her writings that were the basis and exposition of the beliefs of the Friends movement, gave reference to her Askew family. She wrote in a letter to Lord Anoram, January 31, 1685 (A.R.B. MSS. 105) "my father was a gentleman living in Furness behind the sands, his name was Askew and had a good estate as it was counted in his time, and he had children only me and another daughter and he left us as good as six thousand pounds, when I was married to my first husband, who was a barrister-at-law of Gray's Inn." In her writing RELATION (Margaret Fell's Works page 1) "I was born in the year 1614, at Marsh Grange, in the Parish of Dalton, in Furness, in Lancashire, of good and honest parents, and of honorable repute in their country. My father's name was John Askew, he was of an ancient family, of those esteemed and called gentlemen, who left a considerable estate, which had been in his name and family for several generations. He was a pious charitable man, much valued in his country, for his moderation and patience, and was bred after the best way and manner of persons of his rank in his day."

....................this essay is concerned with the William Askew mentioned in the MUSTER of 1624, which is the listing of the adventurers or stockholders of the SECOND CHARTER OF THE VIRGINIA COMPANY, London. England. In a subsequent paragraph full treatment will be given to the relation of John and William Askew as putative sons of the above William Askew, the only Askew mentioned in the Muster of 1624. This effort is being made to consider the same William Askew to be the uncle of Margaret Fell, brother of her father, John Askew. The few tenuous connections will be noted, thus leaving positive proof at the conclusion of presenting known evidence to the sufferance of the reader. Through much research during several years by many of the Askew family, three personally visiting the area of Bootle, Millom, and Swarfchmore Hall with conferences there, and especially through the good offices of family resident agent researcher, Mr. Glenn Dunn, Barrow-in-Furness, England, there are many things proven with documents in hand for all to see.

The Askew/Fell Residence
Marsh Grange, birthplace of Margaret Askew and home of the Askew Family, situated on the Duddon Estuary within the township ot Kirkby-Treleth and in the Parish of Dalton-in-Furness, County of Lancaster

Nine ships under Sir George Somers left London by way of Plymouth on May 15, 1609 to relieve the first wave of the colonization of Jamestown, Virginia of 1607. A storm scattered the ships with some of them finally reaching Jamestown. The ship SEA ADVENTURE was wrecked on the island of Bermuda, where, during the whole year that they were stranded on the island, the survivors built two ships, PATIENCE and DELIVERANCE, and on them sailed into Jamestown in May 1610. John Thomas, grandfather of the two Oglethorpe sisters married to the two sons of John Askew, Isle of Wight, was a survivor of the wreck of the ship SEA ADVENTURE in Bermuda. . .William Shakespeare wrote his play, THE
TEMPEST inspired by that shipwreck. A grandfather of the same sons, John and Nicholas Askew, Nicholas Smith, Justice of Peace and Burger 1659-1660, arrived also in 1610.

The grandfather under consideration, William Askew, according to the Muster of 1624. arrived in May 1610 on the ship PROSPEROUS (See A LIST OF SHIPS1607-1630 by Susan Hillier, June 1970, COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION RESEARCH REPORT #103) with the HERCULES and the STARR as part of Sir Thomas Dale's fleet, having sailed from England on March 27, 1611, (As you will see, there is a question of dates, 1610 or 1611).

The same Sir Thomas Dale was a diligent task master who organized the relatively few survivors of ill-fated first wave of immigrants to Virginia of 1607 who nearly all starved as well as the disheartened ones of the 1609 wave who actually all left to be stopped on the river by Lord Delaware, bringing 140 more, who himself became sick and discouraged and left. Both sides of the James River were scouted to find more healthful places to live and farm. The region south of the river, called by the Indians, Nancemond, was where William Askew found a place in a plantation, as the settlements were called, named Sherley One Hundred. The area in Nancemond that came to be called Isle of Wight was colonized in 1618. William Askew, listed in the Muster of 1624 as of Sherley One Hundred, as being of thirty years of age when he arrived on the ship PROSPEROUS, had few household and farm implements as did others listed. He had either paid eleven pounds ten pence to be a stockholder (adventurer) or, like some, came and by com-ing likewise was due one hundred acres of land. He, as has been noted, was listed as an adventurer. Another Askew, James Askew by name, is listed in the minutes of the Second Charter Virginia Company as a stockholder. Some well known people only lent their names to the list in order to give the company more prestige.

Among the true copies of all evidence present in this consideration of William Askew, Virginia, 1610, we present the record of the baptism of a William Askew baptized in 1589 in the parish church near Marsh Grange, birthplace of Margaret Askew Fell Fox at Dalton-in-Furness. Likewise in the same church a record exists of the baptism of Margaret Pyper, Margaret's mother, on April 11, 1586 as well as the record of her marriage to John Askew on February 8, 1613.

The estate, still existing, called Marsh Grange, is in the Furness district on the border of Lancaster and Cumbria, England, not far from Swarthmore Hall. Dalton, the seat of the parish church, is on the Duddon Estuary. Not far away is Grisebaeck (Norse: sandy creek) in Kirby-Ireleth, these places on the road one takes to travel from Barrow-in-Furness up to Millom, Bootle, and Greymanes and on to Carlysle. Today in the phone book, eighty-five families of Askews are listed in that area.

Scholar J. Brownhill, M.A. read at Barrow-in-Furness on September 9, 1909 CART. XVII, THE. ASKEWS OF MARSH GRANGE) a paper that proves that what Margaret Fell said to be true that her father was of Marsh Grange and that the "estate had been in his name and family for several generations." On the back of the will of Richard Askew d. 1551 at Marsh Grange, to be seen at Preston, Lancashire, there is a small fragment of the register of the Kirby area, but other records before 1700 are lost. Yet, there are records at the same place of court pleadings in the time of Queen Eliza-beth I that prove that the same Askew family was living at Marsh Grange at the time.

Richard Askew married Janet...., in his will of 1551 left the estate of Marsh Grange to his wife for ten years, then to two sons: William Askew, baptized 1542, Dalton Register, and John Askew, baptized 1544, Dalton Register. The court pleadings recorded the seemingly successful claim of third son, Roger Askew for his moiety, most likely after the death of brother, John and the end of the claim of Janet. The part ownership of Roger is evidenced by his will of 1593. Since the will of his brother, William Aekew m. Isabel Bolton, Dalton Register 1582 shows that they were living at Bfisebeck nearby, evidently, William and his heirs maintained their share of Marsh Grange along with the share of the son of Roger Askew, Richard Askew, under 21 in 1593, will 1657, died 1662. Whether, as sometimes happened with joint ownership, the cousins lived together at Marsh Grange, or by arrangement, it stands that John Askew was living there when daughter, Margaret was born. After her marriage, Margaret Fell's husband. Judge Fell (THE FELLS OF SWARTHMORE HALL page 428) bought the other shares of the estate ''from the relations" and presented Marsh Grange to his wife as a present. In later years, their son, George Fell, lived at Marsh Grange and after him, their daughter, Mary Fell m. Thomas Lower.

The William Askew, baptized 1589 is presumed to be the son of William Askew m. Isabel Bolton, Grisebeck. Kirkby-Ireleth records show the will of another William Askew, will March 9, 1586 who bequeathed his property to sons, John, William and Thomas and to his wife, Jane, whom we propose to be kinfolks of the other Grisebeck Askews. Since there are no other records of other Askews and since William, baptized 1589, had not been born at the time of William Askew m. Jane's will, March 9, 1586, one presumes baby William to be the son of William and Isabel. It is likewise presumed that the John Askew, father of Margaret Fell, to be the son, John mentioned in the will of William Askew m. Isabel Bolton September 9, 1611.

The name Askew, spelled variously: Aiscough, Aiskeughe, Ayscough, Ascur, Askow, Ascogh, Askyou, Askey, Aiskew, Aykescughe, etc. derives from the Norse words "ask skog". The o is pronouced as oo (food) even now in Norway and Sweden—thus Askoog. Old English (Norse) was still spoken in northern England in the time of King John ca 1197 when, according to Burke's LANDED GENTRY, and accepted by all scholars as certain, a tract of land near Viillom covered with ash trees in that time called Askoog (ash forrest) was given to a certain Thurston, later called Thurston de Bosco (from the forest). Perhaps according to advice at the local historical museum in Millom, he, as a Norman or a local also of Norse descent, accompanied the Lord of Miliom when he led men of the area to the Holy Land on the Crusade of William the Lion Hearted and was given the ash forrest by which he became a yeoman ('land owner). At least, when later some Askew men were knighted, they chose to place on their coat of arms a sword held aloft holding an infidel's head. This tract of land was listed by the name Askoog in the Domesday Book, a land census lifted by agents of William the Conqueror in 1085-1086. The name Askew, thus, is a place name. The children descendants or born on the land were called, as customary, Mary of Askoog, John of Askoog, etc., until, since, few people could read or write, the name was annoted variously as heard and finally after centuries, standardized written as Askew. By the fifteen hundreds the members of the Askew family were sparsely scattered over England but were mostly concentrated near its place of origin from Bootle on the coast across the lower Lake Country along Morecombe Bav over to Bedale past Lancashire into Yorkshire. There the name is well known.

Family members from America visiting the area find a warm welcome from the Rev. Mr. Black of the Bootle Church and from those who frequent the village pub since many of the locals have Askew connections. On one occasion, for one enquiring family member, several searched at home to find for him papers relating to transaction with others of the Cumbria Askews. The original Furness Askews were not the famous ones, only yeomen, fortunately leaving us church and official records enough to prove, perhaps, the relation of William Askew, Virginia 1610 to Margaret Fell Fox. Not far from her home of birth. Marsh Grange, is her home of married life to Judge Fell, Swarthmore Hall, now used as the museum and headquarters of the Quakers.

It must be fairly faced that certain proofs linking Margaret Askew Fox with John Askew who was living on Pagan Creek when George Fox visited Virginia are missing; records do not say "this one is the son of this one and that one is the brother of that one". Records merely state the notation of baptisms, marriages, deaths, wills in favor of certain family members and others. The essay offers many official papers, but in them relations are not always indicated. It is fair to consider that William Askew who is re-gistered as baptized in the Dalton Church June 14, 1589 was not mentioned in the will of his supposed father, William Askew, 1611, Grisebecke. Sons John, Thomas, Richard, wife Isabel, granddaughters Elizabeth and Hannah were named along with others receiving bequests. The three sons mentioned were left the sum of twenty pounds each. The will is difficult to read so that the mention of a son named William has not been found. The before-mentioned agent researcher, Mr. Glenn Dunn, who found the legal, church and literary proofs at Dalton and Preston conferred extensively with genealogists in the area and with the curator of Swarthmcre Hall, the Quaker Museum, at the corresponding depository of the Margaret Fell papers at Barrow-in-Furness, at the Dalton Church and the Registry at Preston. Those with whom he conferred suggested that since there is no record in the Dalton Church of the marriage or death of William Askew, baptized June 14, 1589, it could well be that he had received beforehand his portion of his father's estate, perhaps twenty pounds, like the brothers deciphered, enough to become a stockholder in the SECOND CHARTER OF THE VIRGINIA COMPANY and gone to Virginia.

Young William could have heeded the call announced and even preached in pulpits all over England for younger sons to emigrate to Virginia and sailed on March 27, 1611 with Sir Thomas Dale's fleet on the ship PROSPEROUS arriving May 10th. If such be true, son William was not included in the will of William Askew d.September 1611 in which all immoveable property was left to his wife Isabel, because son William had received his share from his father before sailing for Virginia March 27, 1611. When Glenn Dunn made these presentments at Swarthmore Hall there was general agreement that it could well be that the William Askew listed in the Muster of 1624, 30 years of age on arriving be the son of William and Isabel Askew of Furness, brother of John Askew of Marsh Grange, uncle of Margaret Fell married to George Fox, who said, while in the very community where John and William Askew, putative sons of William Askew lived, "a kinsman spoke to me".

We are all mature enough to know that if we cannot prove that our John Askew of Pagan Creek is the son of William 1610, then, all we prove of William's family in England still doesn't prove him to be our ancestor.My personal view is that John Askew of Pagan Creek is a native of Virginia because he was joined with the important families of Smith, Thomas and Oglethorpe. The many court records show family type relations with him as if they knew him well. He himself acted as a willful strong character more like a man of the soil than of a parvenu. William, mentioned in the Muster of the area, "could" have been his father.

EARLY LIFE IN ENGLAND
We live such a life of conveniences in this atomic and space age that I think it behooves us to look back and find out the circumstances of living day by day in the early days of our English ancestors - common people, not royalty.

The population in mid sixteenth century lived mostly in a large number of small villages. Apart from these small villages, there was only one large town - London and only two main ports - London and Bristol. The manorial system was prevalent. Farmers did not know how to grow good crops in quantity. Animals were smaller than we know them today and their main use was for skins rather than meat. Unemployment was rampant especially after Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. The wealthy were taking over the lands to raise sheep.

To fully understand the lives of our English ancestors, one must first understand the parish church, for it was there that almost all life -social as well as religious - centered. The church was usually made of stone. It was often a place of refuge against storms or civil disturbances which accounts in part for its thick walls and narrow windows.

Inside the church would be a baptismal font, chancel screens which were beautifully carved in oak: the rood (an image of Christ on the Cross) was fixed above the chancel screen on a rood beam. Many of these were destroyed during the Reformation when zealous reformers attempted to simplify the church. The altar was always at the east end of the church. Anciently, the congregation stood during the whole service but by the sixteenth century pews or benches had been erected. Church bells were very important - they called the people to church on Sundays, celebrated Christmas, rang in the new year, opened fairs, announced marriages, warned of advancing enemies and much more. At funerals they tolled the age of the deceased.

Another very important thing in the lives of our ancestors besides the church was the local fair. They were held in all the large towns at least once a year. Merchants came with their goods, there were minstrel shows and ale tasting. In fact, millions of gallons of ale were drunk every year. Fairs lasted for several days.

Then there were markets where farmers brought their crops and cattle. Fish was an important part of English lives but there was no way of keep-ing it fresh in those days so it had to be sold near the harbors.

GENERATION II
JOHN ASKEW AND NICHOLAS ASKEW ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA

The earliest mention of the presumed sons of John Askew is 1694 in a dispute about the Oglethorpe estate. In Thomas Oglethorpe's will he does not show other than the name Oglethorpe for his daughters, but surely they must have been married by this time: Katherine to John Askew and Sarah to Nicholas Askew. Apparently Margaret died after the writing of her father's will.

In court of 9 August 1694, Nicholas Askew and Sarah, his wife, versus John Askew and Katharine, his wife, execxs in their own wrong of estate of Thomas Oglethorpe, deceased, referred to next court, defendants to produce
all papers from the record warranting their possessions of that estate.

In court of 9 October 1694, Nicholas Askew and Sarah, his wife, against John Askew and Katharine, his wife...defendants not appearing after refer-ences obtained...judgment by nihil dicit is granted plaintiffs returnable to next court.

On 24 October 1694, Nicholas Askew agrees to pay to John Askew, ninety and nine thousand pounds of tobacco. Conditions being that they being possess-ed of a plantation which was formerly Thomas Oglethorpe's - 170 acres -Nicholas consents that John have plantation where he now lives. Nicholas and Sarah sign with their marks.

John and Nicholas were listed on the 1704 Virginia Quit Rents, both in Isle &f Wight. County.

The Isle of Wight County records do not have mention of Nicholas and Johnexcept for the following:
Nicholas Askew was a witness to the will of Thomas Bullard of the Lower Parish, 26 April 1713.

The will of John Askue of Isle of Wight County was filed in the State of North Carolina and I believe is where he died:
"In the Name of God, Amen. In the reign of our Sovereign Lady - Queen Ann -Queen of Great Britain England Scotland France and Ireland, I, John Askue of Isle of Wight County and living in the Loer parish being in a weak con-dition but never the less being in perfect health of mind and in memory and in my right senses, blessed be God for it.

Doth nominate and constitute and ordain and appoint this to be my last will and testament as followeth -
I give my soul up unto the hand of God Almighty whom gave it unto me hoping for eternal rest in heaven with my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and as for my bodv I return it to the earth from whence it came. I ordain and appoint my well beloved brother, Nicholas Askue whom is my Executor to see my body buried after a decent manner and after my funeral charges and other worldly debts are paid, I give and bequeath my well beloved son, William Askue the plantation where he now lives on and all other lands as belong to me or plantations and all the land belonging hereunto and as for my goods and catties and other of this worldly affairs it is my desire that it shall be equally divided amongst my children whose names is William Askue, Joseph Askue, Sarah, Nellie, Mary Askue. I constitute and ordain my beloved brother, Nicholas Askew as my Executor to see this my last will and testa-ment conformed which is according to my desire.

I constitute, ordain and appoint my trusted friend (George ?) Smith to see all my land bargains which can be made appear by virtue of any evidence that ever I sold to any person wheresoever that he shall be my lawful and just attorney to acknowledge the same lands as can be made appear as afsd in any part of the government of North Carolina, as (al)though I were there personal in place at court myself.

This will as is above written I ordain and appoint to stand good as my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal the 18th day of October 1713. This being my whole desire to die quietly and peaceably before these witnesses. So bidding this world adue in peace and quietness. Enter-lined before afixed this cutting of all other wills, John Askue. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us: John Browne, Will Williams, Elizabeth E. B. Browne."

Though the above John Askue does not mention a wife in his will, in 1714 on 24 January, the court ordered his estate appraised. The estate was appraised by Thomas Gale, John Neavil, Michael Murfrey and Richard Mathews as presented by Catherine Asque. It was admitted to record 28 March 1715. Appraisement of the inventory was made the 12th day of February 1714. His inventory included bedstead, cows, heiffers, mare, saddle, bridle, pewter pots, trunk, chest, table and cupboard, spinning wheels (linen and woolen), gun, pistols,holsters, hand saw, fire tongs, looking glass, feather bed, couch, leather, kitchen ware. Valued at 19 pounds 11 shillings 9 pence.

In 1721, a William Askew and Elizabeth Wilkinson, daughter of John Wilkinson married. 1723, 29 September, William Askew and Elizabeth, his wife, of Lower Parish give to Joseph Askew, brother to William, forty acres. This deed shows William to be son of John Askew, deceased, and that the land came from Thomas Oglethorpe who in turn had given it to his daughters. William signs with a mark: \^/ . A witness was Wm. Askew.

In 1724, William and Elizabeth Askew sell to James Noleby, 45 acres part of the 170 acres William received from the Oglethorpe land. In considera-tion for 3600 pounds of tobacco. Proved and recorded 9 December 1724.

No further information can be found of the daughters mentioned in the will.

No will was found for Nicholas Askew in Isle of Wight County but the inventory of his estate was made the 24 June 1728 by Jon Wilkinson, B. Beal, and John Games as presented to them by Sarah Askew, Admini strix. The inventory included cows, heifers, bull, steers, salt, saw, leather, feather bedding, blankets, sheets, chests, tables, pewter (55 pieces of new), table cloth and napkins, couch, woolen wheels and linen wheel, cards, books, box iron and heater, spices, leaden spoon moulds, pistols and holsters, guns, skimmer and small pair of shoes, wrought iron, parcel of old tools, meal sifters and wooden ware, shoemaker tools, pots and hooks, grindstone, hoes and axes, carrying knife, hides. At the end of the inventory Sarah adds "To my---- and my House my Husb was pleased to give me besides my equal part of his estate in consideration of my trouble of bringing up my two youngest children namely, Godfrey and Aaron." The estate was valued at 37 pounds 7 shilling 11 pence.

The children of Nicholas and Sarah Askew are as follows: William Askew, John Askew (see page 31 ), Thomas Askew, Godfrey Askew, and Aaron Askew. William is proved by Deed Book 5 page 397, Isle of Wight County viz William Askew of Newport Parish to Thomas Askew of Newport Parish...23rd of March 1740 for four pounds current money...50 acres whereon Thomas now lives...part of a tract William received from Thomas Oglethorpe via his mother. Witnessed by Niches X Dixon, Godfrey X Askew and Joseph /--/ Askew.
Signed William Askew and Sarah X Askew.

An earlier deed of 21 April 1733 (Deed Book 4 page 737 Isle of Wight County) shows William Askew and Sarah, his wife, give to Thomas Askew fifty acres... luring his natural life.

Isle of Wight County was first known as Warrosquyoake Parish which was established 1629 or prior and then to county 1634 to 1637, when it became known as Isle of Wight County. In 1643 it was divided into two parishes: Upper Parish which became known as Warrosquyoake Parish, and Lower Parish which ecame Newport Parish. Lower parish to extend from the Pagan Point upon the iver side to the plantation of Rich. Hayes, from the Paganpoynt upon the bay including all the southerly side to the plantation of the said Cobb, and that all the inhabitants already residing or that hereafter shall reside on that side belong to the said lower parish.

The only other mention we have of Nicholas Askew in Isle of Wight County is that he was a witness to the will or Thomas Bullard of the Lower Parish on 26 April 1713 (.Deed Book 6 page 571).
Deed Book 6 page 173 shows that on 15 November 1742 William Askew of Bertie recinct, North Carolina sells to Richard Matthis of Isle of Wight thirty five acres...same land and plantation where Nicholas Askew, deceased, father f William lived which was part of the land of Thomas Oglethorpe which he willed to his daughters.

William Askew, son of Nicholas Askew
ne inventory of the estate of William Askew was given by Sarah Askew, Administratrix and proved in May Court 1751 and on motion it was ordered to be recorded. His inventory included cattle, hoggs, mares, horse colt, sheep, thirty seven shilling and seven pence sterling, beds, bedsteads, clothes, set of shoemakers tools, knives, iron potts, pewter dishes, spinning wheels, pans and skillets, candlestick, chests, porringer, guns, swords, two Common Prayer Books, one Testament, one Primer, one Spelling book, razor, fire tongs, corn, four hundred weight meat, violin, salt, bridle and saddle, bottles, chairs, barrels, table, cotton and flax, cart and wheels, earthen potts,loom, slay (sleigh) and harness, five hundred threepenny nails, slay raisers two large bells, collar and harness, one small bell, one iron frov, one flax brake, and debts due by accounts. Bertie County, North Carolina.

The division of William Askew's estate was made 3 August 1752 to the following:

Sarah Askew, widow and administratrix, her part: two cows, one mare, two sheep, and thirty head of hoggs, one fetherbed and furniture, one iron pot and old puter bason, one puter plate and four d spoons, twelve Ib. of cotton and flax and one cart and wheel, one loom and gear worth 15 Ibs 15 shillings.

By debts and charges for which the following articles are sold: 12 barrels of corn and 400 Ibs of meat, 1 coat and hors colt, 200 Ib. of tobacco and 1 iron frow, 4 head of cattle, 3 broad hoes and a pr of cards, 1 flax brake and to Jas Johns, credit from John Leves, cr from William Herren (Warren?) amounting to 14 Ibs 8 shillings.

To William Askew, his part: one cow, one eight year old heffer, one sheep, one large puter dish, two d spoons, one candlestick, one case of knives, one chest, one musket, one common prayer book, five hundred three penny nails, slay reazers, three bells, one cutlish worth 4 Ibs. 10 shillings.

To Nicholas Askew, his part: five two year old stears, one mair, one bead, and furniture worth 4 Ibs 10 shillings.

To Prisila Askew, her part: one cow, one three year old heffer, cash, one iron pot and hooks, one large puter dish, one cotten wheel, two puter spoons, one chest, one Testement, one water __, one tub and tray, one meal sive, two earthen pots, one bridle and saddle, four glass bottles, six old chears worth 4 Ibs. 6 shillings.

To Thomas Askew, his part: one cow, one three year old mear, two sheep, peart of a set of shoemakers tools, one curring knife and beam d , one small puter dish, one d tankerd, one Primer, seven sides of lother, one old puter bason worth 4 lbs. 10 shillings.

To Amos Askew, his part: one cow, one two year old heffer, one gunn, one puter dish, one linnin wheel, one iron skillit, two puter spoons, one car-penders adds, one pr iron wedge, one Common prayer book, one fidle, one puter plate and two spoons, one box iron, one New England ax, worth 4 Ibs 10 shillings.

To Ame Askew, her part: one cow, one two year old heffer, one bed and rureneture, one iron pot and hooks, one botton of a puter bason, two d spoons, one d pornder, one pepper box, one spelling book, one cow hide, (the next item completely blotted out by fragile paper), one half bushel measure, one table, one rezor and two puter spoons, four cypres __, one puter plate, worth 4 Ibs 10 shillings.
Note: Ame was certainly an unusual name for that period of time. It could possibly be Anne.

(Nathan mar Rachel Shaw)

To Nathan Askew, his part: one cow, one draft ox, one coat, one par of briches, two prs of hose, one hatt, one cotten ves, one frying pann, one puter plate, two d spoons, one Primer, one handsaw, one plow hoe, one piggin, one
bushel of salt, worth 4 Ibs 10 shillings.

Sarah Askew, William's widow, shows up next on the 1757 Taxable list of Bertie County with son, Amos. Also in 1758 and 1759. From "An Account of Letters of Administration 1765-1766": Sarah Askew, July Court 1765, Executors, Isaac Pearce and Nathan Askew.

John Askew, son of Nicholas Askew
We know that John is the son of Nicholas because of the following deed file in North Carolina, Book D page 163, Bertie County, dated 7 May 1734........
"William Askew, cordwinder, of Isle of Wight County, Virginia to my brother, John Askew of Bertie Precinct...by patent dated 27 August 1734 to Richard Williamson." Witnesses were John Wynns and Mary Wynns. Proved in May court 1735.

Thomas Askew, son of Nicholas Askew
Though Thomas Askew is not a proven son of Nicholas and Sarah Askew, the fact that he is the only unaccounted Askew living in Isle of Wight County at the appropriate time and apparently is not the son of John and Katherine Askew, that has to put him as the son of Nicholas.
In the Newport Parish vestry book, Thomas Askew is mentioned in 1743, 1747 and 1751 concerning processioning of lands. Then in 1758 in Will Book 6 page 453 the account of sale of his estate is listed and recorded on 7 December 1758 in Isle of Wight County. No wife is named. The sale amounted to 15 pounds18 shillings and 10 pence.
The other two notable entries in the Newport. Parish book show that by order of the church warden of Newport Parish, Aaron Askew, orphan of Thomas Askew be bound out... 3 November 1760; also by order of the church warden of Newport Parish, David Askew, orphan of Thomas Askew is bound out...5 March 1761. We find no records that show to whom these children were bound. It does seem very likely that they are the ones who we find later in the early records of Bertie County, North Carolina.

Aaron and Godfrey Askew, sons of Nicholas Askew
From the tax records of Bertie County, it shows Aaron and Godfrey on the 1757 list which I believe are the two youngest sons of Nicholas and Sarah Askew. It seems to be corroborated by the tax list of 1759 which lists "Aaron Askew and his brother Godfrey". I believe Godfrey to be an incompetent person. In the earliest deeds of Bertie County we first find an Aaron Askew in 1742 as witness to a deed, ditto in 1743. The Aaron Askew who bought land from Benjamin Wynns August 1748 for 12 pounds 10 shillings... land in Chinopen Neck adjacent to John Vanpelt....on Polecat Branch.
The last will and testament of Aaron Askew was dated 5 May 1770...of Bertie County, planter... lists children as Jessie, Moses, Sarah, Ann and Ferriba, wife, Martha. The will was proved in court bv Elisha Freeman in March Court of 1771 (Court Minutes, Bertie County, 1763 through 1771 #957). An inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of Aaron Askiew was exhibited in open court and sworn to by David Valentine and on motion, ordered to be recorded (ibid #963-964).
There were a number of Aaron Askews in Bertie County, but I believe the above will pertains to Aaron, son of Nicholas and Sarah. Nothing further is known of their son, Godfrey.
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Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia by John B. Boddie.
Marriages of Isle of Wight County, Virginia by Blanche Adams Chapman.
Research done in the county records of Isle of Wight County by Fay Askewin June 1980.
Wills and Administrations 1647-1800 by Blanche A. Chapman.
The Lives and Times of our English Ancestors by Frank Smith.
Virginia - The English Heritage in America by Park Rouse, Jr.
Old Albemarle and Its Absentee Landlords 1947 by Worth S. Ray. , etc.

CHAPTER VIII (Nathan's cousin)
BENJAMIN ASKEW

Benjamin Askew (John, Nicholas, John) was born in Bertie County, North Carolina in 1747. His will was dated 18 June 1811 and proved in March 1831 in Jones County, North Carolina. He married Susannah MNU.

Benjamin was a Revolutionary soldier and served part of his service under General Anthony Wayne. He was at one time during his service as a soldier laced as a picket with others on the opposite side of a river from where he American Army was camped, with orders that if the red coats came in sight, to fire on them, throw their guns in the river and swim to the Amerian side. Before they swam to the other side, bullets of the enemy were striking the water near them as they swam, but none were killed. On another ccasion, Benjamin was with American troops who captured a British camp and a good lot of supplies, among which was a supply of good old Jamaican Rum. It is hoped that the capture of this rum did not have the demoralizing effect as did the capture of the whiskey taken by General Early and his army at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864.

For membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Corinne Price and her niece Helen Aldridge, used the voucher issued Benjamin for payment or service in the Revolutionary War dated August 1783 as proof.

Benjamin is listed in the 1790 census of Jones County, North Carolina, Newbern District, page 144.

The abstract of his will: To John Askey, 100 acres on north side of Cabin Branch; to son Josiah, 100 acres on south side of Cabin Branch and joining Masons Branch, including plantation whereon I now live, also 100 acres on north side of Harrys Branch, and the last two mentioned sons are to pay to my son Zadock 100 dollars each and if either die without issue, the land to descend to Zadock and $200 to Zadock Askew; to daughter Susannah, a cow and calf, a heifer, a feather bed and furniture; my daughters Elizabeth Hawkins and Peggy Tilman are to have a heifer each; if my son Nathan ever returns he to have $1.00. To wife, Susannah, the choice to live on either plantation with full privileges for her lifetime, executors to sell certain goods here named and that left to wife. Executors, Susannah Askew and son, John Askew.

1800 census, Jones County page 817; 1810 census, Jones County page 292;
1820 census, Jones County page 12; 1830 census, Jones County shows Susan skew as head of the household, page 138.
25 July 1822 in Jones County, Benjamin made Deeds of Gifts of land to two of his children - daughter, Susannah and son, Josiah.

Issue of Benjamin and Susannah: (my Nathan's first cousins once removed)
2. Nathan Askew,
3. Zadock Askew d 1818 Jones County, NC m Nancy MNU.
4. John Askew
5. Susannah Askew.
6. Elizabeth Askew m Mr. Hawkins.
7. Peggy Askew m Mr. Tilman.
8. Josiah Askew b cl792. Removed to Lenoir County, NC.

Wills of Ben and Zaddock and some land deeds found in Jones Co Documents

4. John Askew (Benjamin 1) b 16 Aug 1789 Jones Co, NC d 12 Dec 1866 Russell Co, AL m 1st to Nancy Wood d 17 Oct 1815 m 2nd 1816 to Elizabeth King b 6 Jun 1800 NC d 6 Jun 1860 bur Baptist Cem, Salem, AL m 3rd 21 Jul 1861 Tabitha Pace d 24 Sep 1896.

Isle of Wight Co., VA

1662 200 acres confirmed to John Askew

Jan 10,1666 Edward Hinkson sees John Smyth servant to John Pierce at John Askew's house.Decreed that Askew pay costs.Francis Ayres,Arthur Smith ,John Bond,Thomas Taberer

Feb 1,1666 John Askew and Bridgett ,wife,sell John Watson 50 acres(Church Field located between Pagan Creek and Phillip Dewell) for 4500 pounds of tobacco.

Jan12,1668 John Askew and wife Bridgett sell to Nicholas Smith 200 acres of land

Jan 2,1670 John Askew sells to Nicholas Smith of Pagan Point some cattle.Bridgett Askew wife also signs

Jan 1,1672 John Askew,planter,sells William Boddie,planter,a gray gelding for 800 pounds of tobacco

Jan 14,1673 William Boddie bought land from John Askew

Jan 16,1677 John and William Askew signed a petition for the release of William West fugitive that took up arms against Indians that murdered his father.

Nicholas Askew agrees to pay John Askew 99,000 pounds of tobacco for land and plantation

From: History of the Martyrs

As the story of Mrs. Anne Askew has been distinguished, we cannot but give it considerable attention. She had been apprehended in 1545, and questioned on the sacrament hanging over the altar, being Christ's real body, asserted that she would rather read five lines in the Bible, than hear five masses, protested against private masses for departed souls, and stoutly parried their impertinent observations. After being eleven days in the Compter, a priest came to interrogate her on her faith; but some questions, she said, she had already answered, and to some she would give no answer. She then relates a conversation with the archdeacon, whom she convicted of unjust censures; and, when brought before bishop Bonnor , he attributed assertions to her, which, as she had never uttered, she firmly denied, and to others she refused all replies. A sort of confession being drawn out, which she was persuaded to subscribe, but altered in the registers more to their own minds; but she insisted on having the expression in it, that she did " believe all manner of things contained in the faith of the Catholic Church, and not otherwise," at which Bonner flew in a rage, but was at last prevailed on so to accept her subscription. She was then remanded to prison, and led from place to place for several days, and at last recognizance was taken for her …. coming.

Upon some pretence of relapse, we find her again in custody, and under interrogation various times by the king's council, and at length was committed to Newgate. Being brought to Guildhall, she was there called a heretic, which she denied, declaring that by God's law she had done nothing worthy of death. To the former declarations of her faith she stood firm, and was thereupon condemned. Then she wrote to the lord-chancellor, stating her faith to the king. Being afterwards removed from Newgate to the sign of the Crown, the bishop of London and others, in vain, induced her to recant, and she was sent to the Tower. There she was urged to declare persons of that sect, and who maintained her in the Compter, and who encouraged her to persist in her opinions; but she said she could prove nothing of persons, which had been named: that her maid collected mo-ney in the streets from apprentices and charitable persons, though she knew not who they were. They said divers gentlewomen had given her money, but she said she knew not their names; and that divers ladies had sent her money, when she answered she had once received ten shillings from a man, and from another eight shillings, saying it came from ladies whom he named, but she did not know that he spoke the truth. Only she knew that her maid so informed her. She was equally constant when put to the rack; which was done by the lord-chancellor and Mr. Rich until she was nearly dead. On being loosed. she swooned; and, on being recovered, sat on the bare floor two hours, reasoning with the chancellor. Being brought to a house, she was put to bed; and there the chancellor, sent her a choice of leaving her opinion and doing well, or, if she persisted, of being sent to Newgate to be burned.

On her being racked in the Tower, she was first led down into a dungeon, where the lieutenant commanded his gaoler first to pinch her with the rack, and he then designed to have taken her down. But the chancellor who was present, having obtained no confession ,commanded she should again be strained,and threatened with informing the king of his disobedience; when he and Rich threw off their gowns to do it themselves, and almost separated their bones and joints. After this they took horse to go to the court; whilst the lieutenant in a boat first came to the king, stated the whole of her case, and the chancellor's threats, and obtained the king's pardon, with orders to return to his charge. It seems the council were very desirous to suppress the fact of her being racked in the Tower.

False surmises of her recantation having ''gone abroad, she stated the case as follows:
I have read the process which is reported of them that know not the truth, to be my recantation. But, as the Lord liveth, I never meant any thing less than to recant. Notwithstanding this, I confess, that in my first troubles I was examined of the bishop of London about the sacrament; yet had they no grant of my mouth, but this, That I believed therein as the word of God did bind me to believe. More had they never of me. Then he made a copy, which is now in print, and required me to set thereunto my hand; but I refused it. Then my two sureties did will me in no wise to stick thereat, for it was no great matter they said ; so that with much ado, at the, last, I wrote thus;—I, Anne Askew, believe this, if God's word do agree to the same, and the true Catholic Church. Then the bishop, being in great displeasure with me, because I made doubts in my writing, commanded me to prison, where I was a while, but afterwards, by the means of friends, I came out again. Here is the truth of that matter. And, as concerning the thing that you covet most to know, resort to the sixth of John, and be ruled always thereby. Thus fare you well.
ANNE ASKEW."

Of her confession in Newgate, before she suffered, few words will suffice. She declared that she was " by the law unrighteously condemned for an evildoer, though she held no opinions contrary to his most holy word." Then she referred to their doctrine of transubstanation in the sacrament, which she denied; and for this was to suffer death. She next asserted her full belief in the scriptures, as efficient for salvation; but the mass, as then used she rejected as abominable idolatry.

So greatly had she been tormented as to be unable to live long in so much distress, and yet she was not suffered to die secretly; but was brought into Smithfield in a chair, being unable to walk through her sufferings, and there bound to a stake round the middle to keep up her body, and to the sermon of Dr. Shaxton answered, like Kerby, by assenting to what was right, and declaring to what was ,wrong that he declaimed without book.

At the same time John Lacels, a gentleman of the court and household of the king, John Adams, a taylor, and Nicolas Belenian, a priest, of Shropshire, were burned; for whom two or three stakes were prepared. Anne Askew added to their firmness, by her steady demeanour and, after their prayers, the fire was kindled, and flamed round them till their lives were terminated, and their bodies con-sumed. During their imprisonment, we have only to notice that John Lacels wrote a letter out of prison, wherein he stated the blasphe-my and wickedness of the mass, and described the right use of the Lord's supper in the time of the apostles, and the power of the minister in the consecration. To this may be added the martyrdom of one Rogers, in Norfolk, who, about the same time, was condemned and suffered there for the six articles, through the instigation of the bishop of Norwich, to the duke of Norfolk. At this time also the bishop of Winchester was occupied in his old stratagem of working against the favourers of the gospel, on finding queen Catherine was well disposed towards them, and for a time caused a coolness of the king; but it was in some measure defeated by a reconciliation, though it did not altogether check his machinations, though the king was very favourably disposed towards a reformation, in pulling down roods, &c.

Yet we must neither omit a narration of the trouble of sir George Blage, a gentleman of the king's privy chamber, nor the procla-mation for abolishing English books. On the Sunday before Anne Askew's martyrdom, he was sent for by the lord-chancellor Wriothesley, on an accusation made against him, committed to Newgate on Monday, and thence to Guildhall, where he was condemned; being charged with asking, " What if a mouse should eat the bread ? by my consent they should hang up the mouse," though he denied, even when all danger was passed, that he ever spake them. But he showed some sinister tricks for decoying him, and perverted his observations into matter of accusation this was soon known to other gentlemen of the privy-chamber, who whispered together so as to be observed by the king; on which he insisted to know the subject, and, on being informed, was grievously offended at their boldness, sending for Wriothesley, and commanding him to draw out his pardon instantly.

When Blage, on his release, came into the king's presence, " Ah, my pigge, saith the king to him, (for so he was wont to call him;) Yea, said he, if your majesty had not been better to me than your bishops were, your pig had been roasted ere now." The proclamation, after these Catholic Christians had destroyed Anne Askew and her fellow-martyrs, was concerted and determined, for an entire extirpation of truth, sanctioned by the king's name and authority. Then they collected numerous errors, or heresies, as they called them, out of Tindall's books of The Wicked Mammon, The obedience of a Christian Man, and The Revelation of Antichrist, and out of the Book called, The Sum of the Scripture; to all which are separate and distinct comments. Various other good men are afterwards repre-sented as traduced by these bloody-minded prelates. On account of an old grudge con-ceived against one Merial, who heard bishop Stokesly, twelve years before, make some strange expressions about purgatory, when popery was discountenanced in the time of queen Anne Boleyn, a tavern-keeper, accustomed to set up the stakes in Smithfield, found means to suborn witnesses against him of uttering expressions highly derogatory to Christ's passion, he narrowly escaped condemnation, but was put to penance and bore a faggot. Soon after this, in the month of August, we have the king's letter to bishop Bonner for abolishing holidays.

In this year, too, we find the martyrdom of Mr. George Wishart, in Scotland. Being imprisoned on a charge of heresy in St. An-drew's Castle, he was brought to the abbey-church to hear a sermon upon heresy, to which, when the preacher had finished, he made this reply: " many horrible sayings unto me a Christian man, many words abominable to hear, you have spoken here this day, which not only to teach, but to think, I thought ever great abomination." He then solicited their patient hearing. Stating his reasons. The various articles exhibited against him are then stated, with copious answers; but it was of no avail, as they immediately condemned him for a heretic, and, as soon as the fire could be prepared, taken away, with his hands tied behind him, a rope round his neck and an iron chain round his middle. With great reso-lution he addressed the multitude, encouraging them to perseverance in the truth, and with prayers for his enemies, submitted to his sentence to be hanged and burned.

The bloody archbishop of St. Andrew's, who condemned him, was visited, in somewhat less than three months after, by a premature death; for he was murdered in his bed, in his own castle there, on the last day of May, Wishart having suffered on the first of March; who lived like a butcher, and like a butcher died, and was more than seven months unburied, and at last, like carrion, secreted in a dunghill. And here we have to close the occurrences of this year, and the reign of Henry VIII.

Unknown Source

ASKEW, or Ascue:, ANNE (1521?-1546), English Protestant martyr, born at Stallingborough about 1521, was the second daughter of Sir William Askew (d. 1540) of South Kelsey, Lincoln, by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Wrottesley. Her parents betrothed her elder sister, Martha, to Thomas Kyme, a Lincolnshire justice of the peace, but she died before marriage, and Anne was induced or com-pelled to take her place. She is said to have had two children by Kyme, but religious differences and incompatibility of temperament soon estranged the couple. Kyme was apparently an unimaginative man of the world, while Anne took to Bible-reading with zeal, became convinced of the falsity of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and created some stir in Linclon by her disputations.

According to Bale and Foxe her husband turned her out of doors, but in the privy council register she is said to have "refused Kyme to be her husband without any honest allegation." She had as good a reason for repudiating her husband as Henry VIII. for repudiating Anne of Cleves. In any case she came to London and made friends with Joan Bocher, who was already known for heterodoxy, and other Protestants she was examined for heresy in March 1545 by the lord mayor, and was committed to the Counter prison.

Then she was examined by Bonner, the bishop of London, who drew up a form of recantation, which he entered in his register. This fact led Parsons and other Catholic historians to state that she actually recanted but she refused to sign Bonner’s form without qualification. Two months later, on the 24th of May, the privy council ordered her arrest. On the 13th of June 1545, she was arraigned as a sacramentarian under the Six Articles at the Guildhall; but no witness appeared against her; she was declared not guilty by the jury and discharged after paying her fees.

The reactionary party, which, owing to the absence of Hertford and Lisle and to the presence of Gardiner, gained the upper hand in the council in the summer of 1546, were not satisfied with this repulse; they probably aimed at the leaders of the reforming party, such as Hertford and possibly Queen Catherine Parr, who were suspected of favouring Anne, and on the 18th of June 1546 Anne was again arraigned before a commission including the lord mayor, the duke of Norfolk, St John, Bonner and Heath. No jury was empanelled and witnesses were called; she was condemned, simply on her confession, to be burnt. On the same day she was called before the privy council with her husband. Kyme was sent home into Lincolnshire, but Anne was committed to Newgate, " for that she was very obstinate and heady in reasoning of matters of religion."

On the following day she was taken to the Tower and racked; according to Anne's own statement, as recorded by Bale, the lord chancellor, Wriothesley and the solicitor-general, Rich, worked the rack themselves she " would not convert for all the pain " (Wriothesley, Chronicle i. 168). Her torture, disputed by Jardine, Lingard and others, is substantiated not only by her own narrative, but by two contemporary chronicles, and by a contemporary letter (ibid. Narratives of the Reformation, p. 305; Ellis, Original Letters, 2nd Ser. ii. 177). For four weeks she was left in prison, and at length on the 16th of July, she was burnt at Smithfield in the presence of the same persecuting dignitaries who had condemned her to death.

AUTHORITIES. —Bale's two tracts printed at Marburg in November
1546 and January 1547, are the basis of Foxe's account. See also Acts of the Privy Council (1542-1547), pp. 424 462; Wriothesley’s. Chron. i. 155, 167-169: Narratives of the Reformation,passim;Gough's Index to Parker Soc. Publications; Burnet's Hist.of the Reformation; Dixon's Hist. of the Church of England', Dict. Nat. Biogr.