28o COMPLETE PEERAGE ashton ASHFIELD See " Thurlow of Ashfield, co. Suffolk," Barony {Thurlow)^ cr. 1778 ; extinct 1806, the Barony of Thurlow of Thurlow {cr. 1792) remaining. ASHFORD i.e. " Ashford of Ashford, Kent," Barony (Keppel), cr. 1697 with the Earldom of Albemarle, which see. See " Ardilaun of Ashford, co. Galway, " Barony (Guinness)y cr. 1880. ASHLEY i.e. " Ashley of Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset, " Barony {Cooper')^ cr. 1661 ; see " Shaftesbury, " Earldom, cr. 1672. ASHTON BARONY. r. James Williamson, of Ashton, co. Lancaster, 2nd s. T of James Williamson, of Parkfield in Scotforth, co. "^* Lancaster, sometime Mayor of Lancaster [d. 3 Jan. 1879), by Eleanor, da. of Leonard Miller, of Lancaster, was b. 31 Dec, 1842 ; ed. at the Lancaster Grammar School ; became a successful manufacturer of linoleum^) at Ashton, afsd. ; High Sheriff for co. Lancaster, 1885 ; M.P. (Liberal) tor the Lancaster div. of N. Lancashire, 1886-95, and was cr. 25 July 1895, C) BARON ASHTON (') of Ashton, co. Lancaster. He was not, however, introduced into the House of Lords till (nearly two years later) 25 Mar. 1897. He w., istly, 23 Sep. 1869, Margaret, istda. (") The Morning Foit, I July 1 895, under "Resignation Honours," states that this grantee " is described as a manufacturer. " C") This was one of the four Baronies conferred on the retirement or the Earl of Rosebery from the Premiership. There would seem at first sight little to justify two out of these four creations, vix. this and ' Wandsworth, ' but as the bad days of jobbery are long gone by, and it is impossible that a Minister desirous of mending the House of Lords should recommend anyone for a peerage except on the ground of merit and public service, it is clear that the grantees must have privately advanced solid reasons for their promotion, though these have not been, and are not likely to be, revealed to the outside world. See also note iub Wandsworth. V.G. f^ The arms of Lord Ashton, a modern grant, are Party cheveronwise gold and silver with a cheveron nebuly between two trefoils and a demi-eagle of sable. These arms are a version of those of the old Nottinghamshire family of Williamson of Wakeringham and Burton. No kinship with this family is alleged by Lord Ashton. {ex inform. Oswald Barron.) V.G.
