Ashley, William

Ashley, William a Baptist minister, was born at Hillsborough, N. C., in 1793. In early life he removed with 'his parents to Claiborne County, Tenn. While pursuing his studies at Anderson Seminary, he enlisted, in November, 1814, in a company of volunteers to serve in the war against Great Britain, and was in service at Mobile when the battle of New Orleans was fought. His conversion, in connection with that of his brother, occurred in the autumn of 1815, and he united with a Freewill Baptist Church. In 1817, having decided to give himself to the work of the ministry, he was an itinerant preacher in several of the Southern and Southwestern States. Coming east, he spent a winter in St. Catherine's, Canada. and in 1820 and 1821 was engaged in abundant and successful evangelistic labors in the Eastern States and Nova Scotia. In the town of Liverpool it is said that an extensive revival broke out, and such was the general interest that business was for the time partially suspended, and great numbers were converted.' He was settled in several places for brief periods as a Freewill Baptist minister. Later in life he united with the Calvinistic Baptists, and was pastor of several churches in that denomination. He died at South Gardiner, Mass., June 6,1860. See Watchman and Reflector, July 19, 1860. (J, C. S.)