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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