Thomas de Ashton (alchemist)

Permission was granted by Henry VI to Sir Thomas to transmute the precious metals, and on 7 April 1446 a special order was issued, encouraging two Lancashire knights, Ashton and Sir Edmund de Trafford, to pursue their experiments in alchemy, and forbidding any subject of the king to molest them. ==Descendants==

Sir Thomas, born in Kingsley, Lancashire, England, married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Byron, by whom he had eleven children. The eldest son, John, was knighted before the battle of Northampton, 10 July 1460, was MP for Lancashire in 1472 and died in 1508. ;Children • Elizabeth, b. 1431, married John Trafford, Knight, d. 1488 • Douce, b. 1435, married Thomas (Sir) Gerard, Knight, born 15 July 1431 in Kingsley, Lancs, England, died 27 March 1490 in Kingsley, Lancs., England • Joan, b. 1437, married Sir John Legh of Norbury Booths. ==Note==