William Flower,2nd Viscount Ashbrook (25 June 1744 – 30 August 1780) was an Anglo-Irish peer.[1]
The Right Honourable The Viscount Ashbrook | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Viscount Ashbrook | |
| Predecessor | Henry Flower, 1st Viscount Ashbrook |
| Successor | William Flower, 3rd Viscount Ashbrook |
| Born | William Flower 25 June 1744 |
| Died | 30 August 1780 (aged 36) |
| Nationality | Anglo-Irish |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Ridge |
| Parents | Henry Flower, 1st Viscount Ashbrook, Elizabeth Tatton |
The only son of Henry Flower, the 1st Viscount Ashbrook and Elizabeth Tatton, daughter of Lieutenant-General William Tatton, William was born at Castle Durrow, County Kilkenny, Ireland. His father died in 1752 when he was eight years old, and his mother in 1759, before he was fifteen.
He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated on 29th November 1762.
Marriage to Betty (Elizabeth) Ridge
editIn 1763, possibly while on a fishing expedition on the River Thames William met Betty Ridge. Her father was Thomas Ridge, born in Buckland around 1712 of a family who made their living from catching fish in the Thames and selling them in Oxford. He had leased Noah's Ark Island, and was keeper of a Flash lock, and a licensed victualler.
She was seventeen and he was nineteen, too young to marry without permission, as an orphan, from his maternal uncles, who were his guardians.[2]
On 20th March 1766 William and Betty were married at the church of St Denys in Northmoor.
Family
editThey lived at Shellingford Manor, and had six children who survived beyond infancy.
- Elizabeth (1766-1847)
- William (1767-1802) William Flower, 3rd Viscount Ashbrook
- Harriet (1771-1813)
- Caroline (1773-1844)
- Sophia (1774-1794)
- Henry Jeffrey (1776-1847) Henry Jeffrey Flower, 4th Viscount Ashbrook
In 1789 The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Francis Warneford of Highworth (brother of Samuel Wilson Warneford) and they had two daughters who survived infancy
- Caroline Elizabeth (1792-1846) - married John Longe (1799-1872) of Spixworth Park - son of John Longe (1765-1834).
- Harriet Elizabeth (1803-1861) - married Charles Wetherell.
The second eldest daughter, Harriet, married John Ellis Agar (1763-1797), second son of James Agar. Following his death she married Pryse Pryse on 20 July 1798, but died in a house fire on 14 January 1813.
The next daughter, Caroline, never married, but lived with her sister Elizabeth.
The final daughter, Sophia, died aged 20.
Death
editWilliam died in August 1780 and was buried at Shellingford Church. There is a monument to him south of the chancel in the church.[3] He left six children under 15 and a 35 year old widow.
His widow, Elizabeth, married Reverend Doctor John Jones, curate at Shellingford church, on 20th January 1790, and she died on 22nd February 1808.
References
edit- ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. 1967. p. 109.
- ^ Godson, Julie Ann (2022). The Water Gypsy. p. 17. ISBN 978-1511973427.
- ^ The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire Volume 4. The St Catherine Press. 1924. p. 477.
External links
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