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Ashley Lawrence Barnes-Lawrence was born in Bridlington on 4th January 1854. He was the son of Reverend Henry Frederick Barnes-Lawrence (1815-1896) and Emily Lloyd (1821-1916), both pictured below, who married on 27th January 1841 in Dinder, Somerset. Henry had been born in Bombay, as his father, George Barnes (1773-1824) was Commodore in the East Indian Army, whilst Emily’s father, Richard Lloyd (1770-1834) was vicar of St Dunstan-in-the-West.
Henry assumed the name Lawrence later in life, and is remembered in Bridlington on the following plaque, which again shows his interest in both military and clerical life:
Similarly, Henry and Emily had several children who either joined the Clergy, or the Military. Ashley Lawrence Barnes-Lawrence graduated with an M.A. degree from Oriel College, Oxford in 1877, and appointed Curate at St. Paul’s Leeds from 1877 to 1879, before moving to Brighton where he stayed as curate until 1881. On 5th October 1880 at St. Michael’s Church, Middlesex, Ashley married a widow, Emma Casement Davidson (1843-1927). Emma’s first husband, Francis Hill MacNaghton (1839-1868) had been a Captain in the 5th Bengal European Cavalry, and they had married in West Bengal in 1863. Emma’s father Thomas Reid Davidson, had also been in the Military.
Ashley was appointed Vicar of Thornes, Yorkshire from 1881 to 1886, and became Vicar of Aberford in 1886, living at the Parsonage. At the Peckfield Colliery Disaster, Ashley attended the scenes at the pit head, and gave an interview to the press in respect of the Bellerbys. He also conducted the funeral service for the miners from Aberford who were killed in the disaster. Less than one month later, Ashley’s father passed away, and Ashley was at the funeral in Bridlington, along with his brother, the Reverend Arthur Eveline Barnes-Lawrence, Vicar of Blackheath (pictured below):
Ashley left Aberford in 1905, and was appointed Vicar at Silton in Dorset. In August 1925, Ashley published a novel, which was serialised in the press, “In the Valley of Decision”. Reverend Ashley Lawrence Barnes-Lawrence passed away on 2nd February 1934 at Holmwood Lodge, Frome, Somerset, and was buried at Bathwick Cemetery on the 6th February 1934. He had written his own eulogy. In his estate, valued at £8,232 18s 5d, he bequeathed £1,000 to the York Diocesan Board of Finance to pay for the Rector and Churchwardens of Bridlington Priory Church, provided that his parents grave there was kept in good order.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 