Thomas Ashburnham, 6th Earl of Ashburnham

Military career

The Honourable Thomas Ashburnham was the fifth of seven sons born to Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham, by his wife, Lady Catherine Charlotte Baillie. His eldest brother, also named Bertram, succeeded to the title as 5th Earl in 1878.

Thomas Ashburnham attended Adams Grammar School before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge and being commissioned in the 7th Queen's Own Hussars. He served in South Africa in 1881, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. He later served as a Captain in the British Expeditionary Force during the Anglo-Egyptian War. He served as aide-de-Camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1886 when that post was held by the Earl of Aberdeen. Later he was stationed for several years in India. Captain Ashburnham retired from the Army in 1899, and moved to Canada in 1901, settling in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Marriage and life in Fredericton

Thomas Ashburnham took up residence in a Fredericton hotel and became acquainted with Maria Anderson, the night switchboard operator at the New Brunswick Telephone Company, after making regular telephone calls from local taverns to the livery stable for a horse and carriage to take him home at the end of the evening. Infatuated by her pleasant voice and friendly manner, he asked to meet her in person, and in early 1903 they were engaged to be married. Their marriage took place on 10 June 1903 at St. Anne's Parish Church in Fredericton. Thomas Ashburnham bought two large houses on Brunswick Street, one of which had been his wife's family home, and the other an inn, and had them connected by a second floor conservatory over a porte-cochere leading to a garden. The resulting residence was called Ashburnham House. The couple, who lived comfortably on a large allowance from the Ashburnham family, had no children.

6th Earl of Ashburnham

The 5th Earl of Ashburnham died in Paris on 15 January 1913, without a son and having outlived all his younger brothers except Thomas, who accordingly succeeded to the titles of Earl of Ashburnham and Viscount St. Asaph and inherited his family's property. This included Ashburnham Place in Sussex as well as extensive estates in Wales. The new Earl left for England immediately to assume his title and settle his brother's affairs. He returned to Canada in the spring, leaving again with his wife, now Lady Ashburnham, on 15 May 1913. They took up residence at Ashburnham Place, but remained in England for only 13 months before returning to Fredericton in June 1914. They brought with them several English servants, as well as family furnishings and heirlooms for their Fredericton residence. Lord and Lady Ashburnham continued to live at Ashburnham House in Fredericton for the next ten years, during which they were leaders of the town's social life and generous patrons of charitable causes.

In 1924 Lord and Lady Ashburnham intended to make a six-month visit to England, leaving Fredericton on 26 April. Lord Ashburnham became ill with a cold during the trans-Atlantic journey on the White Star Liner "SS Regina". He developed bronchial pneumonia and died on 12 May 1924 in London. He is buried in the family vault at Ashburnham Church.

Because the 6th Earl had no male heir, the family titles became extinct. In his will, his widow was left a life annuity of £2,300, and Ashburnham House in Fredericton. She died on 9 October 1938. The Ashburnham properties in Great Britain, including Ashburnham Place, were inherited by the 6th Earl's niece, and the 5th Earl's daughter, Lady Catherine Ashburnham.