William's youngest sons' baptismal records from Shenton give William's wife as Elizabeth. John's record is given as "John MILES or ASHBURN" it suggests that she was Elizabeth ASHBURN, although there were ASHBURNERs in Shenton so perhaps ASHBURNER is more accurate.

In addition to his two MILES sons, baptised in Shenton in 1650 and 1652, there were two ASHBURNER girls baptised in Shenton in 1642 (Ann) and 1647 (Mary) by a William and Elizabeth. It seems reasonable that the girls were given the mother's ASHBURNER surname, John was given both MILES and ASHBURNER and the last child just MILES. There are later church records for a "Ann MILES or ASHBURNER"'s marriage and burial which suggests that this theory is sound.

Having now found William's last will and testament of 1658, written shortly after the death of his eldest son William, we know that he was known as William MILES ALIAS ASHBURNER.

Based on his children's birth dates William MILES would have born in about 1621. The nearest available baptism record for a William MILES around this time is for 3 Mar 1621/22 in Mancetter, Warwickshire which is 18 miles from Shenton in Leicestershire. Edward MILES was the father.

Following this thread there was a potential additional son, William, baptised on 6 Mar 1644 in Mancetter by a William and Elizabeth MILES along with a undecipherable daughter baptised on the same day, which might have been the older sister Ann. The timing of this baptism perfectly fills the gap between Ann in 1642 and Mary in 1647.

There is another William MILES in Mancetter having children with Anne during this time. It is safe to assume that this other William MILES is not the son of Edward born 1622 as he and Anne start baptising their children in 1635.

The resulting narrative is that William MILES son of Edward MILES of Mancetter marries Elizabeth ASHBURNER from Shenton in about 1641. Her first child, Ann, is born near her family in Shenton, but their second, William, is born in Mancetter where his family/employment is. Shortly after they move permanently to Shenton where their final three children are born. The deaths of Ann in 1650 and William in 1647 are recorded in Shenton.

Elizabeth, his first wife, died in April 1653 shortly after the death of his son Thomas shortly after his birth in January. I had though that this Thomas was the father of my 9th Great Grandfather Thomas, however he clearly died very young.

William was remarried to Anne, however no record of this marriage has been found.

A William ASHBURNER was buried in Shenton on 1 Oct 1658. It is probable that this was William as on the 20 Sep 1658 he had prepared a last will and testament naming his surviving son John as his heir 10 days earlier. On this document he give the name of his wife as Ann MILES ALS ASHBURNER. The name Ann also appears in the christenings of his youngest children Ann and Elizabeth.