John Ashe (of Freshford) facts for kids

John Ashe (born 1597, died 1658) was an English businessman who made and sold cloth. He was also a politician who served in the House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament, at different times from 1640 to 1656.

Who Was John Ashe?

John Ashe was born in 1597. His father was James Ashe from Freshford, Somerset, and his mother was Grace Pitt. John Ashe became very successful in the cloth business. People said he was one of the "greatest clothiers" of his time. A clothier was someone who made and sold fabric.

Early Life and Beliefs

In the 1630s, John Ashe had some disagreements with church leaders. He was involved in protests against certain church practices. He also helped share books and writings that supported Puritan ideas. Puritans were a group of people who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. Because of his beliefs, Ashe even spent time in jail. He was against the strict religious rules set by Archbishop William Laud. Ashe helped spread a famous writing called News from Ipswich by William Prynne.

A Career in Politics

In April 1640, John Ashe was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Westbury. This was for a short meeting of Parliament called the Short Parliament. He was chosen again for Westbury in November 1640 for the Long Parliament.

During a period called the Commonwealth, John Ashe was well-liked by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell was a very powerful leader at that time. However, Ashe did not want to be one of the judges who decided the king's fate.

Textile Innovations

John Ashe was also very good at inventing new ways to make textiles. In 1650, he brought skilled workers from the Netherlands to Freshford. They taught new methods to improve how cloth was made, especially a technique called "Spanish warp." This new way of working doubled the amount of cloth that could be made from the same amount of wool. This helped Ashe become even richer.

He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Somerset in 1654. This was for the First Protectorate Parliament. He was elected again in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. On January 19, 1657, John Ashe suggested an idea to Parliament. He wanted to congratulate Oliver Cromwell for surviving an attack. He also hoped that Cromwell would "take upon him the government according to the ancient constitution." This meant Ashe wanted Cromwell to become king.

John Ashe passed away at the age of 61 in 1658. He left behind a large estate worth a lot of money each year.

His Family

John Ashe married Elizabeth Davidson. Her father was Henry Davison from Freshford. John and Elizabeth had a family together. His brother, Edward Ashe, was also a Member of Parliament. John's daughter, Grace, married another clothier named Paul Methuen.