Bartholomew Ashwood


Bartholomew Ashwood was an English puritan divine.

Life

Ashwood was 'a Warwickshire man,' son of a clergyman of the same name. He became a batter or commoner of St. Alban's Hall in the latter end of 1638, aged 16 years, and so was born 1621-2. But Anthony à Wood informs us: 'Having been puritanically educated, he was translated, after some continuance in the said hall, to Exeter College, and there put under a tutor puritanically then esteem'd, and took one degree in arts as a member of that college, and was soon beneficed and became a man of the times.'
His 'benefice' was Bickleigh, Devonshire, and he is enrolled by Walker as one of the 'loyalist sufferers' of that parish. Walker assumes that he 'died under the usurpation,' i.e. the Commonwealth. But he lived to form one of the 'two thousand' by being 'ejected' in 1662 from Axminster in Devon. He continued to preach for many years, in spite of the severe restrictions imposed on nonconformists. In his old age he seems to have been left in sore straits, and died 'about 1680.' He was the father of John Ashwood.

Works

His three books are: