Ash, Musbury

Ash in the parish of Musbury in the county of Devon is an historic estate, long the residence of the ancient Drake family, the heir of which remarkably was always called John, only one excepted, for ten generations.

[4] Ash was "burnt and demolished" during the Civil War and "lay long in ruins" during which time the family moved one mile away to Trill, Axminster.

[5] John Drake (1625–1669), the wartime occupant who had suffered so greatly for the Royalist cause received some recompense at the end of the troubles by being created a baronet by King Charles II on the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660.

[11] The descent of the estate of Ash was as follows: The earliest record of the Drake family of Devon is in an undated "very old deed" in Latin quoted by Westcote to have been witnessed by "Walterus Draco" and "Wymondus de Dennex" and others.

1695–1733), who died without children and bequeathed all his estates to his widow Anne Williams (died 1793), who remarried to George Speke, MP, of Whitelackington in Somerset, and had by him a daughter Anne Speke (before 1741–1797), who brought the Drake estates, including Ash and the advowson of Musbury, to her husband Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732–1792), who sold them piece-meal to various persons.

"Ash, antient seat of the Drakes" , watercolour dated 13 February 1795 by Rev. John Swete (1752–1821) of Oxton House , Devon. Devon Record Office 564M/F7/129. It was then in use as a farmhouse. This is the house re-built by Sir John Drake, 2nd Baronet (1647–1684) after its near destruction during the Civil War. The building at left is a chapel [ 1 ]
Monument to the Drake family of Ash, south aisle of Musbury Church. It depicts the following persons: left : John Drake (died 1558), with his wife Amy Grenville (died 1577); centre : Admiral Sir Bernard Drake (c. 1537 – 1586), his son, with his wife Gertrude Fortescue (died 1601); right : John Drake (died 1628), who erected the monument in 1611, son of Sir Bernard, with his wife Dorothy Button (died 1631). Also shown four times are the arms of Drake: Argent, a wyvern wings displayed and tail nowed gules . Gilded inscribed biographical tablets appear under each couple of kneeling figures
Anne Speke (before 1741–1797), heiress of Ash, whose husband Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (1732–1792) disposed of the Drake estates piece-meal. Portrait after Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792)