An Ashby Anecdote
One day Capt. John Ashby sent a hogshead of tobacco by a trusted slave named Ephraim to Dumfires for sale. The inspector reduced the grade below what Ephriam believed to be true, and in order to prevent it getting into the hands of cheats, land sharks and grafters, he rolled it into the Quantico Creek, there to rot, and went back home.
Capt. John Ashby asked how he got through with the tobacco, and Ephraim straightforwardly replied, “Poorly.”
“What did you do with it?” asked his master.
“Them rascals down in Dumfried,” said Ephraim, “wanted to reduce yo’ tobacco to nothin’ an’ sooner ‘an let you’ be cheated, why I jes’ rolled it into the creek.”
The uncompromising old ranger sprang to his feet and instead of a reprimand, exclaimed, “You did right, sir; you did as your master would have done had he been there! But, Eph, the fish of Quantico Creek will not forgive you for the next six months for making them drink bitter water.” Capt. John and Ephriam passed the incident off with several drinks of honest whisky.
Capt. John Ashby died about 1797 and left a name and reputation long treasured by his countrymen, who admired the sterling character of this diamond in the rough.
Notes found in Florence Chiles Maltsberger and Isabel Gaddis family papers.
To learn more about Captain John Ashby, click here.
