Descendants of John Alston of Newton by Sudbury Suffolk

This is a genealogy of a yeoman family, the Alston's of Suffolk, who spread to London, Bedfordshire and elsewhere, making their mark over the centuries. In 1898/1905 the definitive work on the family, Stemmata Alstoniana, was published by a family member Lionel Creswell, running to over 400 pages, see button on Home Page. It is available from Archive CD Books 0987. Alston is an extensive family in Britain, this work does not include Alston pedigrees from Lancashire or Scotland.

Reproduced in the Research Notes on John Alston [2826], the earliest established progenitor, is the Prefatory Chapter to Alstoniana; Cresswell covers in some depth the history of the name both geographic & personarum, a worthwhile background for all those interested in the name. Many members of the family became wealthy, and rose in professional and social status to be knighted or purchase a Baronetcy; armigerous dynasties were formed, few have survived.

Much has been added to the record in the last 100 yrs, perhaps the most poignant, the story of George Downing Alston [68]. Mariner, Lawyer, Priest a brilliant but flawed man. In the Navy aged 13 spending his Prize Money in Genoa. Married to an Heiress descended from Edward III but accused before a Judge aged 34. The Vicar of Bethnal Green aged 44 working in and agitating against the poverty, depravity and death of London's cholera ridden East End. Aged 55 finds him buried in obscurity in remote Dorset as the new Rector of Studland, still at loggerheads with his family.

In rather a different tone is the 17th century orgy at the house of John Alston [3116] of Stisted, Essex, researched by Dr Frances Timbers of the University of Toronto.

There are a great number of Alstons and related families not included in this line of descent. These include the Royal Descents of the Hon Temperance Crewe [3035], Lady Penelope Evelyn [3241] both Paternal & Maternal, Anne Charlotte Oxenden [69], and Galfridus Mann [2903]. They can all be found under the Family Pedigrees button

This website is a collaborative effort and you are invited to join it with your contribution.

ATTENTION Alston's of America - those of you still displaying in your pedigree the completely false information that you are descendants of John Alston of Pavenham Bedfordshire should desist forthwith for the sake of your credibility alone, this old assumption is now completely disproved. See John Alston of Pavenham BDF [15900] for the documentary evidence and Col John Alston of Chowan co Nth Carolina [543] in the Pedigrees section for the history of this deception.

Family, Social Historians, anyone with an interest in our past, it is hoped you find something of worth in these pages.
Edward Fenn

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