Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/819

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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in itself is an evidence of the sterling worth of the man and of his faithfulness to his trust. He was one of the oldest officers in the state, being in his eighty-ninth year, having held office in the county before he became corporation clerk. He was an in- cessant worker, and spent the remaining four months of his life putting his personal af- fairs in shape.

The Richmond "Times." now the "Times- Dispatch," of May 2, 1902, said of him ;

He was always courteous and accommodating, and it was a pleasure to do business with him. He was noted for his courtly manners, and especially for his chivalry. Xo man could be more deferential to women than Colonel Rison, and in this respect, as in all others, he was an exemplar for young men. He was a thorough Southern gentleman of the old school, a loyal citizen, a devout churchman, and altogether lovable.

Colonel Rison was many years a consist- ent member of the Episcopal church of Danville ; was a Mason, being a member of Roman Eagle Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of wh:ch he was a past master, and always took a deep interest in the order. By reason of his advanced age and standing in the lodge, a few years before his death he was made an honorary member, and his bur- ial was with Masonic honors.

One of the Danville papers said of him :

As a business man and public servant Colonel Rison had few equals. He was a tireless worker and his motto was always to do a thing right if it was worth doing at all. His conduct of the clerk's office was highly satisfactory to the bar, the court and the people, which was attested more than once by his re-election to succeed himself.

A special meeting of the Danville bar was called to arrange suitable action in refer- ence to the funeral of Colonel Rison, and this meeting was held in the courtroom at 9:30 of the morning following his death. The following resolutions were adopted :

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call from this life William Rison, for so many years the faithful and efficient clerk of the courts of the city, and it is therefore the wish of the courts and bar of Danville to express in fitting manner their appreciation of the eminent services of this vener- ated officer, and their sorrow and sympathy with his bereaved family.

Resolved, That we the officers of the courts and tha bar in meeting assembled this 2nd day of May. 1902, do duly record our high esteem for Colonel William Rison and especially of his excellent serv- ices for nearly thirty years in the discharge of the duties of his responsible and important office as

clerk of the courts of Danville. That we commend his record as a model to all officials, and by that record justify our opinion that no man ever better discharged his official duties or more perfectly ful- filled his official obligations.

In early life Colonel Rison married Sally Ann Townes, eldest daughter of Colonel George and Elizabeth Barker (Tunstall) Townes, a descendant of Sir Owen Cjlen- dower (see Barker), and niece of Whitmell Pugh Tunstall (see W. P. Tunstall). Her sister, Emily Townes, married Colonel A. S. Buford, of Richmond (see Buford). Colo- nel Rison is survived by the following chil- dren : Betty Tunstall, now Mrs. Pleasant R. Jones, residing in Danville ; Emma Whit- mell, now the widow of Edwin A. Barber, of Richmond (see Barber); Hon. George lownes, a resident of Chatham, Virginia, and senator from Pittsylvatiia ; John Foster, of Danville; Whitmell Tunstall, of Green- ville, South Carolina ; and Sally, wife of Rev. Jfjhn Martin Oakey, Jr., of Danville, Vir- ginia.

Bernard Ashby. The name .■Xshby is a cciinbination of the Saxon word Ash and the Danish word Bye (town), which in modern English makes Ashby or Ashtcwn. Ihe ancient castle of Ashby in Leicester- shire is first mentioned as Asebi in the time of Edward the Confessor, and at the time of the Domeday survey it was held by Hugh, under Countess Judith, to whom it was presented by her uncle, William the Conqueror. Various owners succeeded Hugh as lord of the manor of Asebi, or Es- sebi, but no regular order of succession can be traced vmtil the reign of Henry III., when David of Essebi was lord of the manor. David of Essebi forfeited his lands in the leign of King John for adherence to the barons, but Henry III. in 1217 directed by a writ that the lands be restored to David de Assebi. In the next century these lands came into the possession of the Bishoj) of Coventry and Litchfield and took the name of Castle Ashby, but the name of Ashby David continued in use until the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In 1424 Ashby Castle had fallen into ruins, was rebuilt in 1522 by Piaron Hastings, and is now owned by his descendants. Richard de Ashby, the founder of the estates now owned by the Ashby family in England, was lord of the Manors of Quenby and South Croxton in Leicester-