Volney V. Ashford
Encyclopedia
Volney V. “V.V.” Ashford (1840s-1900) was an American soldier and involved in 19th century rebellion in Hawaii
.
in 1863 after leaving his home in Port Hope
, Ontario
. He was a British citizen since Canada was a territory of the United Kingdom
. He became a Quartermaster Sergeant
in the Grizwold Light Cavalry during the American Civil War
. After the Civil War, Ashford, became a surveyor for the Beaverton railway
and joined the Prince of Wales' Royal Canadian Dragoons were he made Captain. He was widowed twice in addition to the death of his daughter. In 1884 his brother and future Attorney General of Hawaii
, Clarence W. Ashford, invited him to visit Honolulu. After moving to Hawaii he jointed the Honolulu Rifles
, a militia
. Ashford became responsible for the Rifles’ growth from 100 men in 1886 to a battalion of three companies in 1887 and recognition as a paramilitary
force. With his participation he rapidly moved up the ranks entering with his Canadian rank as Captain he move through Major
and Lieutenant Colonel
becoming Colonel
in 1887, the highest rank and commander of the Rifles itself.
. The Hawaiian League used the Rifles in the Rebellion of 1887 a bloodless revolution
to enact the Bayonet Constitution. In 1889 the Rifles did battle with forces of Robert Wilcox
in the Wilcox Rebellion
. Upon Wilcox’s surrender by message he offered Ashford his sabre
, he accepted the surrender but turned down the sabre. Ashford began to regret his support for the Hawaiian League. He believed the League was more corrupt than the monarchy at advancing their own interests rather than improving Hawaii. He joined the Liberal Party, a third party that supported nether the Monarchy nor the Missionaries. Ashford was arrested in an plot to overthrown both the Monarchy and Bayonet Constitution known as the Burlesque Conspiracy and went into exile. His brother took his place in his absence as commander of the Honolulu Rifles. After the Overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
Ashford returned to Hawaii and retired from his position as commander of the Rifles. He was a strong supporter of annexation but with the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii
he gave little support for the new government. Ashford was approached by counter-revolutionaries as a consultant to restore the monarchy. He revealed at his military tribunal that he disapproved of the mistreatment of Hawaiians by the Republic.
ended in failure in 1895 and Ashford was charged with misprision of treason
and received one year in prison and a $1000 fine. Due to his ill health he was given the option of the one year sentence or become exile
d. After accepting exile he moved to California
, his brother moved in with him under similar circumstances. Ashford died on March 21, 1900 in Oakland, California
.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Military career
Ashford joined the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in 1863 after leaving his home in Port Hope
Port Hope
Port Hope mar refer to:*Port Hope, Michigan, U.S.*Port Hope, Ontario, Canada**Port Hope Aerodrome**Port Hope Conference**Port Hope Panthers**Port Hope railway station**Port Hope Transit...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He was a British citizen since Canada was a territory of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He became a Quartermaster Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant is a class of rank or appointment in some armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.-Ireland:Quartermaster Sergeant appointments in the Irish Defence Forces include:...
in the Grizwold Light Cavalry during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the Civil War, Ashford, became a surveyor for the Beaverton railway
Midland Railway of Canada
The Midland Railway of Canada was a historical Canadian railway which ran from Port Hope, Ontario to Midland on Georgian Bay.-Early days:This railway was originally conceived as a rail link between Port Hope and Peterborough and the company was originally named The Peterborough and Port Hope...
and joined the Prince of Wales' Royal Canadian Dragoons were he made Captain. He was widowed twice in addition to the death of his daughter. In 1884 his brother and future Attorney General of Hawaii
Attorney General of Hawaii
The Attorney General of Hawaii is the chief legal and law enforcement officer of Hawaii. In present-day statehood within the United States, he or she is appointed by the elected governor with the approval of the state senate and is responsible for a state department charged with advising the...
, Clarence W. Ashford, invited him to visit Honolulu. After moving to Hawaii he jointed the Honolulu Rifles
Honolulu Rifles
The Honolulu Rifle Company was a paramilitary force loyal to the Missionary Party and the later Reform Party. It was created in 1854 as a militia to deal with internal conflict, 24 Rifles were deployed during the [[ʻIolani Barracks#1873 Barracks Revolt|1873 Barracks Revolt]]...
, a militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. Ashford became responsible for the Rifles’ growth from 100 men in 1886 to a battalion of three companies in 1887 and recognition as a paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force. With his participation he rapidly moved up the ranks entering with his Canadian rank as Captain he move through Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
becoming Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1887, the highest rank and commander of the Rifles itself.
Ashford and Annexation of Hawaii
Shortly after becoming Colonel, a group of conspirators within the Missionary Party, who wanted to annex Hawaii to the United States. Ashford believed the monarchy was corrupt and was recruited in what would be known as the Hawaiian LeagueCommittee of Safety (Hawaii)
The Committee of Safety, formally the Citizen's Committee of Public Safety, was a 13-member group of the Hawaiian League also known as the Annexation Club...
. The Hawaiian League used the Rifles in the Rebellion of 1887 a bloodless revolution
Bloodless war
A bloodless war is generally a small conflict, crisis, or dispute between rival groups that is resolved without death or injury, although the threat of violence usually seems very likely at the time. Typically, these events are recorded in history as wars even though the term "war" generally...
to enact the Bayonet Constitution. In 1889 the Rifles did battle with forces of Robert Wilcox
Robert William Wilcox
Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox , nicknamed the Iron Duke of Hawaii, was a native Hawaiian revolutionary soldier and politician. He led uprisings against both the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii under King Kalākaua and the Republic of Hawaii under Sanford Dole, what are now known as the...
in the Wilcox Rebellion
Wilcox Rebellion of 1889
The Wilcox Rebellion of 1889 was a revolt led by Robert Wilcox to force King Kalākaua of Hawaii to reenact the Hawaiian Constitution of 1864 from the Constitution of 1887.-Liberal Patriotic Association:...
. Upon Wilcox’s surrender by message he offered Ashford his sabre
Sabre
The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...
, he accepted the surrender but turned down the sabre. Ashford began to regret his support for the Hawaiian League. He believed the League was more corrupt than the monarchy at advancing their own interests rather than improving Hawaii. He joined the Liberal Party, a third party that supported nether the Monarchy nor the Missionaries. Ashford was arrested in an plot to overthrown both the Monarchy and Bayonet Constitution known as the Burlesque Conspiracy and went into exile. His brother took his place in his absence as commander of the Honolulu Rifles. After the Overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy
Until the 1890s the Kingdom of Hawaii was an independent sovereign state, recognized by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Germany. Though there were threats to Hawaii's sovereignty throughout the Kingdom's history, it was not until the signing, under duress, of the Bayonet...
Ashford returned to Hawaii and retired from his position as commander of the Rifles. He was a strong supporter of annexation but with the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii
Republic of Hawaii
The Republic of Hawaii was the formal name of the government that controlled Hawaii from 1894 to 1898 when it was run as a republic. The republic period occurred between the administration of the Provisional Government of Hawaii which ended on July 4, 1894 and the adoption of the Newlands...
he gave little support for the new government. Ashford was approached by counter-revolutionaries as a consultant to restore the monarchy. He revealed at his military tribunal that he disapproved of the mistreatment of Hawaiians by the Republic.
Exile and Illness
The counter-revolution1895 Counter-Revolution in Hawaii
The 1895 Counter-revolution in Hawaii was a brief war from January 6 to January 9, 1895, that consisted of three battles on the island of Oahu, Hawaii...
ended in failure in 1895 and Ashford was charged with misprision of treason
Misprision of treason
Misprision of treason is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions around the world, having been inherited from English law. It is committed by someone who knows a treason is being or is about to be committed but does not report it to a proper authority...
and received one year in prison and a $1000 fine. Due to his ill health he was given the option of the one year sentence or become exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d. After accepting exile he moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, his brother moved in with him under similar circumstances. Ashford died on March 21, 1900 in Oakland, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.