James Henry Golden Ashton , circus director in Australia Born 1820 in Australia dead 1889-01-17 in Australia . James Henry Ashton was a trick and bareback rider equestrian, who was the first Ashton to perform in Australia with Robert Radford's circus in Tasmania, 1848. He was son of Golden Ashton (1779-1833) and Charlotte Hardy or Hodskss (1790-1869). James Ashton married circus performer Elizabeth "Mary" Critchley. Together they had seven children, three boys and four girls. In 1889 James Henry Ashton died at the Metropolitan Hotel in Gladstone, QLD, aged 70 and was buried in the local cemetery. At the time of his death he was still on the road. From memorial plaque was erected by the Hanging Rock community in appreciation of the support of Ashton`s Circus during the 150th anniversary celebrations:
