Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

Directed his Discoure to the Jury telling them that as for the Quakers wee know not theire opinions -- but did beleeue they did not goe together like Bruit Beasts as had beene said, but as Christians ; therefore did Beleeue that the Marriadge Betweene William Ashwell & Anne Ridge was lawfull, & Mary theire daughter Heire to the lands in question ; & Brought a case to satisfie y« Jury it was to the purpose, A man y' was weake of Body and kept his Bed in that Condition -- his desire was to take a wooman p^sent to be his wife ; accordingly he then declared y* he tooke that wooman to be his wife k shee declared y' shee tooke that man to be her Husband & all Bishopps at that time did conclude it to be a lawfull marriage as the Judge then said ; and ffurtlier told ye Jury tliat there was a Marriage in Parradise ; Addam tooke Eue, and Eue tooke Addara, & none other p^sent, and it was, said he, ye Consent of y^ pties y*^ made a marriadge. So ye Jury found it for y« Defendant and Mary Ashwell has Euer since Continued in peaceable possession of her ffathers said lands & Inherritance.

Jolm Theaker of North Collingham in Nottinghamshire Gra zier married Anne y^ Relict of the said William Asliwell & Defended y^ s^ Suite & as Guardian to Mary Ashw^ell had ye land in possession vntill y^ Death of Marv who departed tins life about December 1672 last past.