James ASHBY (1855-1944) was born 3 Sep 1855 in Marylebone, Middlesex, England, a son of James Ashby (1833-1904) & Maria Ann Mary Potter.
He married Rebecca FREEMAN (1863-1924) on March 17 1880 in Auckland. Rebecca was 16 & James was 24.
. Rebecca was born 6 Aug 1863 in Auckland, a daughter of Josiah (1822-1865) & Elizabeth Freeman. Her father was a militiaman of the 2nd Waikatos. He died in Alexandra, Otago when she was 18 months old.

NZ Herald, 20 March 1880 ASHBY-FREEMAN, On March 17, at Auckland, James Ashby of Auckland to Rebecca Freeman, youngest daughter of the late Josiah Freeman.
They lived at Orere, many of the children born in the home.
go to following link, for a must-watch of the history, story and many wonderful old photos .. council made a short film (9:02) of the Ashby family's descendants visiting the park.
Situated 145 Deerys Road, Orere Point, Auckland, is the coastal farm park with a rich Maori history. A white sand, pohutukawa edged beach. The tangata whenua here are 'Hauraki Tribes', the Marutuahu, who originated from the Tainui Canoe. This spot, just south of Orere point, was the northernmost reaches of their lands. A Pakeha bushmen and kauri felling family, named the Ashbys, arrived and built their homestead villa here in 1900 in kitset form, having been delivered by the Matakana steamer. After having 14 children (15 counting . 6 . Emily), they came to use the front room as a schoolroom and post office. It is still in good repair and forms part of the park. Their family cemetery is not far away. Tapapakanga still operates as a farm, with a ranger and sheep and cows. It has won a 'Green' award for the management practices employed here. The pa site is easy to recognise and quite impressive. There are still many marae of the Marutuahu around the district.

their 15 children
. . 1 . .
1880 - 1964 James 'Jim' Ashby
born 16 Dec 1880
married Katherine Emily Douglas (1883-1965) in 1907
. Katherine was a daughter of Robert Turbitt Douglas (1844-1922) & Maria Jane Day (1852-1928). Her brother Frederick William Douglas married James' sister Olive. Her sister Janie Elliot Douglas married his brother Alexander.
their children
* 1908 - 1992 Roger James Ashby (+Kirk)
* 1910 - 2003 Florence Emily Ashby (+Rockell)
* 1913 - 2010 Robert Henry Ashby (+Anderston)
* 1915 - 1994 Katherine Clara Ashby (+Smith)
* 1918 - 2910 Janie Mavis Ashby (+Cochrane)
* 1923 - 2010 Douglas Wilfred (+Eastwood)
* 1929 - 2020 Norman Terry Ashby (+Worsnop)
James died 28 Oct 1964 aged 83
Katherine died 31 July 1965 aged 83
. they were cremated at Hastings

. . 2 . .
1882 - 1961 Rebecca 'Toddie' Ashby
born 18 April 1882
married Hugh Kennedy JONES (1878-1950) 29 May 1908
NZ Herald, 7 May 1908 Miss Rebecca Ashby, daughter of Mr James Ashby, of Orere, near Kaiawa, was married to Mr Hugh Kennedy Jones, estate agent and a former settler in the district, on the 29th alt., the Rev T. A. Norrie, of Pokeno, officiating
. Hugh was born Nukuloga, Tonga, later an Estate Agent in Auckland
known children
* 1910 - 1989 Hugh Ashby Jones (+Nash)
* 1912 - 1980 Hector Douglas Jones (+Newton)
* 1914 - 1979 Gordon Hamilton Pinfold Jones (+Morrison)
* 1917 - 2013 Constance Mary Lyell Jones
* 1918 - 1996 Ross Lyle Jones (+MacDonald)
* 1920 - 1994 Bruce Acheson Jones (+Brown)
Hugh died 22 May 1950 aged 72
Rebecca died 9 Feb 1961 aged 78
. they are buried at Tapapakanga in the family plot

. . 3 . .
1884 - 1976 George John 'Dick' Ashby
born 3 Jan 1884 in Oromahoe, Northland
* George was a builder. He served in WWI as Private 73940 with 40th Reinforcements, A Company, NZEF. Embarked 10 July 1918 on the RMS Tahiti, arrived Devon 10 Sep 1918. His mother Rebecca was next of kin at Orere Point, Auckland
married Rose Emily Angell (1890-1975) in 1923
known children
* 1924 - 1993 Stuart Ashby (+Ogilvie)
* 1926 - 2005 Eunice Angell Ashby (+Donaldson)
* 1934 - 2006 Trevor Thomas Ashby
George died 17 June 1976 aged 92

. . 4 . .
1885 - 1968 Henry 'Harry' Ashby
born 3 Nov 1885
married Elizabeth Eugenia Cullen (1887-1976) in 1919
. Elizabeth was a daughter of Alexander Secundus Cullen (1830-1895) & Gertrude Bacon (1847-1932). In 1911 Elizabeth was living at Tahaenui, Wairoa
known children
* 1921 - 2014 David Cullen Ashby (+Wood)
* 1926 - 2017 Ian Henry Ashby (+Sutherland)
Harry died 25 Aug 1968 aged 83
Elizabeth died 1 March 1976
. they were cremated at Purewa

. . 5 . .
1888 - 1961 Alice 'Lala' Ashby
born 13 Nov 1887
* Alice didn't marry
Alice died 2 Dec 1961 aged 74
. she was cremated at Purewa

. . 6 . .
1889 - 1890 Emily Ashby
born 28 Aug 1889
Emily died 4 Aug 1890 aged 11 months

. . 7 . .
1891 - 1968 Lillian 'Minnie' Ashby
born 15 July 1891
* Minnie didn't marry
* she lived Balmoral, Auckland
Minnie died 3 June 1968 aged 76

. . 8 . .
1894 - 1991 Olive 'Dot' Ashby
born 25 Feb 1894
married Frederick William Douglas (1886-1920) in 1915
. Frederick was a son of Robert Turbitt Douglas & Maria Jane Day. His sister Katherine Douglas, married Olive's brother James Ashby & his sister Janie Elliott Douglas, married Olive's brother Alexander
known children
* 1917 - 2011 Robert James Douglas
* 1919 - 2013 Frederick William Douglas
* 1921 - 2000 Alfred Francis Douglas
* 1922 - 2020 Charles Alexander Freeman Douglas
Frederick died 2 June 1929 aged 43
Olive died 31 Dec 1990 in Oramahoe, Coromandel aged 96
. they are buried Shortland Cemetery, Thames

. . 9 . .
1895 - 1975 Alexander 'Alec'/'Sonny' Ashby
born 13 Sep 1895
married Janie Elliott Douglas (1895-1970) in 1924
. Janie was a daughter of Robert Turbitt Douglas & Maria Jane Day. Her sister Katherine Douglas, married Alec's brother James Ashby & her brother Frederick William Douglas married Alec's sister Olive.
known children
* 1925 - 2002 Janie Ruth Ashby (+Williams)
* 1927 - Muriel Beth Ashby (+Fleming)
* 1928 - 2019 John Alexander Ashby (+Heath)
* 1934 - 2014 Colin Keith Ashby (+Lewis)
Janie died 17 Feb 1970 aged 74
. cremated Waikumete
Alec died 17 June 1975 aged 79
. ashes North Shore Memorial Park

. . 10 . .
1897 - 1954 Gladys 'Tui' Ashby
born 11 June 1897
married Walter Gordon Buchanan (1896-1979) in 1927
known children
* 1928 - 2020 Donald Gordon Buchanan
* 1930 - 2014 Stuart Duncan Buchanan
Tui died 1 Nov 1953 in Auckland aged 56
. cremated Waikumete
* Walter remarried in 1953 to Margaret Alicia Gardner (1912-2012). He died 11 Oct 1979 & cremated at Pyes Pa

. . 11 . .
1898 - 1976 Frederick Edwin 'Fred' Ashby
born 26 Sep 1898
married Annie Mabel MacDonald (1895-1980) in 1920
known children
* 1921 - 2003 James Frederick Ashby (+Scholefield)
Frederick died 8 March 1977 aged 87
Annie died 21 Sep 1980 aged 85
. buried together Taita cemetery, Old Section

. . 12 . .
1901 - 1986 Wilbur Walter 'Bill' Ashby
born 23 March 1901
married Hazel Winifred Humby (1904-1986) in April 1930 at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Kyber Pass, Auckland
. Hazel was a daughter of Tom Humby & Mary Jane Wright
known children
* 1931 - 2016 Beverley Merle Ashby (+Miles)
* 1941 - 1996 Jewel Wilma Ashby (+Hardy)
Wilbur died 9 Sep 1986 in Waitangi aged 85
Hazel died 4 days later aged 82
. they were cremated at Whangarei

. . 13 . .
1902 - 1985 Edward 'Ted' Ashby
born 25 Sep 1902
* Ted was a seafarer and scowman. His whole life was intimately involved with the scows and he was the author of the book 'Phantom Fleet'. The NZ Maritime Museum named a ketch-rigged deck scow Ted Ashby after him
married Catherine Adele 'Dell' Gozar (1905-1985) in Auckland 1927
. Catherine was born in Te Arai, Auckland, to George Joseph Gozar & Elizabeth Wickman Richards
known children
* 1928 - 2015 Kerry Ayling Ashby (+Griffin)
* 1930 - 1996 Edward Bruce Ashby
* 1931 - 1990 Murray Ashby
Dell died in May 1985 aged 80
Ted died 27 Sep 1985 aged 2 days from 83
. they were cremated at Purewa

. . 14 . .
1905 - 1991 Alfred 'Alf' Ashby
born 17 Jan 1905
Alf died 27 June 1991 in Auckland aged 86
. ashes Manukau Memorial Gardens

. . 15 . .
1906 - 1993 Muriel Emily 'Mu' Ashby
born 27 Dec 1906
married Phillip Douglas McINTOSH (1901-1990) in 1928
. Phillip was a son of Andrew Crawford McIntosh (1865-1952) & Laura Bell (1873-1913) of Totara North
Muriel died 14 Nov 1956 aged 49
Phillip died 5 Aug 1990 aged 89
. ashes were scattered at Waikumete


REBECCA Ashby died 15 Sep 1924 Auckland Star, 16 Sep 1924 ASHBY - On September 15, at her late residence, Orere, Hauraki Gulf, Rebecca, beloved wife of James Ashby; in her 61st year. Private interment.

JAMES Ashby died 29 Oct 1944
ASHBY - On October 29, at his home Orere, James, beloved husband of the late Rebecca Ashby and father of James, Rebecca, Dick, Alice, Henry, Lilian, Olive, Aleck, Tui, Frederick, William, Ted, Alfred and Muriel; in his 90th year - He died as he lived - a man. Funeral will be at 1.30p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) at Orere.
* They are buried in the family Ashby Cemetery located in the Tapapakanga Regional Park, Manukau, Auckland

PHOTO Ashby Family, Tapapakanga 1903
At the back, left to right: Harry, Jim & Dick
In the middle: Alice holding Ted, mother Rebecca & father James holding Bill, & Rebecca 'Tod'
At the front: Dottie, Fred, Tui, Alec & Minnie.
Not yet born: Alfred 'Alf' & Muriel 'Mu'