Knighted circa 1491 Sir Thomas married Elizabeth Staveley circa 1471, Anne Greystoke in 1482, Agnes Harrington circa 1497 and Joan Mainwaring in 1512. A man in armor kneels facing rightwards at a reading desk, with four women kneeling in prayer behind him, each facing rightwards at a reading desk, all with open books; all figures display the Ashton mullet and are set on a tiled floor; blackletter inscription: /O (rate pro/ bôo/ statu) / Thoê As/(heton Militis)/ A/(gnetis/ uxoris suee)/ p aîab(us Elizabethe)/ m/ (uxo/rum/ eius q can/..../om ecclesi)/ fiiebatl. Pray for the good Estate of Thomas Ashton, Knight, Agnes his wife, and for the souls of Elizabeth and Anne, his wives. He completed (the chancel of) this church. Little restoration, pitting and corrosion on women’s garments. Ashton-under-Lyne, parish church, 1497-1512. © Raguin/MMK

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