Modern Slavery

Elizabeth Ashurst attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention with William Ashurst in 1840.

Elizabeth worked with Matilda Hays to translate work by George Sand (pen name of Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin) into English and thereby make the work available to a global correspondence network. Elizabeth died in childbirth in 1850, cutting short her efforts to support radical causes.

As we build our anti-slavery efforts and connect and engage with others around the world, we will build a modern day equivalent of the correspondence network established by the Ashurst's in the 1800s.

Although Elizabeth was unable to achieve all that she wished for in her life, through the Elizabeth Ashurst Anti-Slavery Network, her name will endure and remind us to value the time we have to try and make a difference.

In addition to supporting the abolition of slavery, Caroline Ashurst was involved in efforts to reform and repeal a range of laws, as well as taking on leadership roles including serving as Assistant Secretary of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage, of which she was known to be an active member from 1867 to 1883.

The Caroline Ashurst Anti-Slavery Awards will support a future joiner from Ashurst's London office to spend time supporting Anti-Slavery International, and a future joiner from one of Ashurst's offices in Australia to spend time supporting Anti-Slavery Australia, before joining the firm.  

Through this we hope to increase awareness in modern slavery issues amongst our newest stakeholders and nurture future connections between those organisations and our future leaders at Ashurst.

Matilda Ashurst attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention with William Ashurst in 1840 and is described by her daughter as having been "roused to white heat" over the treatment of female campaigners at the Convention.

In addition to continuing her abolition efforts post-Convention, Matilda also became engaged in the emerging suffrage movement, including by disseminating one of the earliest printed leaflets in favour of female suffrage, sent to her by fellow anti-slavery campaigner Anne Knight in 1847.

On 1 January 2020, we commenced the Matilda Ashurst Anti-Slavery Fellow Grant, a 10 year commitment to support a key role in Anti Slavery International's efforts to eradicate slavery.

Through this, Matilda's desire to participate in the work of the organisation behind the first World Convention in 1840 will finally be achieved, with Anti-Slavery International today at the forefront of ensuring women play a key role in the battle against modern slavery.

Listen to episode 1 about the Matilda Ashurst Anti-Slavery Fellow Grant, the first in a four-part podcast series that examines the legacy of each daughter.

Emilie Ashurst helped to organise the first mass petition in favour of votes for women in 1866 which was submitted to Parliament by John Stuart Mill.

Emilie served in a number of prominent roles in many major campaigns of the nineteenth century including editor of journal The Shield, executive committee member for the reform of the married women's property laws, member of the Women's Franchise League and more. The Emilie Ashurst Development Grant will be used to support the development of women in the anti-slavery movement across Asia, ensuring they continue to play a prominent role in future work.