Bundle of original papers, research notes and correspondence relating to the Reverend John Ashley compiled by persons working for the Mission to Seafarers whilst undertaking research in relation to the life of Reverend John Ashley and his connection to the Mission to Seafarers. Material has been arranged into four artificial files to aid searching and access as follows:

1. File. Dr John Ashley, 1826-1886. Contains miscellaneous original material relating to Reverend John Ashley, compiled during research undertaken by persons associated with the Mission to Seafarers. Contains the following: Bank account book covering period 1833-1877 headed ‘Revd. John Ashley in acct. with Stuckeys Banking Company'; sealed divinity licence in the name of John Ashley, 15 Jul 1823; administration with annexed will of Reverend John Ashley, dated 10 May 1886; patent relating to a mechanism for attaching horses to carriages in Ashley's name, enclosed is a photograph of a model demonstrating the mechanism, 16 Apr 1862; letter from William Ashley to his sister Miss Mary Ashley, with short note addressed to 'Dearest Moll' added to the end of the letter and is signed 'your truly affectionate father J. Ashley', 9 Dec 1826; Authorised transcript relating to the baptism of Francis John Ashley, son of Francis Busteed Ashley and Mary Anne Ashley, in the parish of Clifton (note that the ceremony was performed by Reverend John Ashley on 16 Dec 1839 and that the transcript is signed by the same and dated the same), 16 Dec 1839; packet of black and white photographs showing the H.M.S. Thisbe at Cardiff, John Ashley stood next to a flag pole, a painting of John Ashley in an academic gown, three men in a small sailed rowing boat which is flying the Flying Angel Flag, portrait of the Earl of Shaftesbury, c.1830s-1860s.

2. File. Discovery of the grave 1935/36. Contains preparatory notes and suggestions relating to the Centenary of John Ashley in 1935, Holy Trinity East Finchley bulletin annotated to show the location of John Ashley's grave, rough manuscript map showing the location of the grave, rubbing showing the inscription on John Ashley's headstone, press cuttings relating to the discovery of the grave dated 15 Jan 1936, correspondence between Trench and various persons concerning a John Ashley Jubilee Memorial Service held 29 Mar 1936, order of service and report relating to the service, flyer titled 'The Church and Our Seamen 1835-1935', ticket for the service, correspondence with notes and a flyer relating to a John Ashley Memorial Service held 27 Mar 1938, and a flyer relating to a John Ashley Memorial Service held 26 Mar 1939

3. Research file. John Ashley, c.1944-2000. Contains rough family trees of the Ashley and Busteed families, typed extracts from the diaries of John Ashley plus three floppy discs on which appear to be saved the original file, manuscript and typescript research notes, certified copies of death entries for John Ashley and Catherine Ashley, photocopy extracts from publications, photocopy of the 'Plan and Regulations of The Bristol Channel Mission Society', photostat copies of alterations to John Ashley's will.

4. File. John Ashley Research, 1944-2000. Contains correspondence relating to various attempts by persons associated with the Mission to Seafarers to undertake research into the life of Reverend John Ashley. Includes: correspondence, 6 Jul 1944-11 Nov 1946; correspondence, 16 Sep 1958-10 Feb 1967; correspondence 28 Feb 1996-24 Oct 2000.