Henry Ashurst (merchant)

His father Henry was a justice of the peace in Lancashire; his mother was Cassandra Bradshaw of Bradshaw, near Bolton. One of his brothers, William, engaged in politics, becoming M.P. for Newton, Lancashire in 1641 and for the county in 1654 whilst his other brother John became a lieutenant-colonel in the civil war. All three brothers were Parliamentarians and Presbyterians. Their sister Mary became the wife of Dr. Theophilus Howorth of Manchester.

Henry Ashurst the son was apprenticed at the age of fifteen to a London draper; his prospects were advanced by a loan from the Rev. James Hiet, of Croston, Lancashire, and by his marriage with Judith Reresby. He became a successful merchant, entered the common council, and, though ejected in 1662, subsequently became an alderman. In 1667 he was living at Lauderdale House, but at the time of his death, which occurred in November 1680, he is described as of Hackney.

He had the intimate acquaintance of Henry Newcome, of Manchester, Richard Baxter, who preached his funeral sermon, Matthew and Philip Henry, and others; and the writings of all these divines abound in references to him.