William ALSTON Esq of Odell & Pavenham [3020]

  General Notes:

William was Barrister-at-Law of the Inner Temple and purchaser of the estates at Odell. Memorial in Chancel Odell Church.
Had in 1630 a grant of the office of Custos Brevium in Com. Banco, and in 1634 a further grant of Keeper of the Briefs in the Kings Bench in Reversion a place of considerable profit and honour, being usually conferred on the nobility or eminent persons. (Rym. Foed. tom VIII, part III, fol 163; and part IV, fol 113.).
William was a pious and charitable man, gifting plate and bells to the Church of Odell, he did not marry

William Alston - Adm. pens. at Caius 22 May 1624 age 16; Eldest son of Thomas Gent. of Polstead SFK; School Newton SFK; Admitted at the Inner Temple 6 Feb 1626-7; Of Odell Beds.Buried there 16 Mar 1636-7; Perhaps migrated to Queens and graduated there as Aliston. (Venn. I. 266; Vis of Beds. 1634)
Alumni Cantabrigienses.

First Name: William
Last Name: Alston
Occupation Given: gentleman
Address: Gedding Hall Suffolk
Admission Date: 06/02/1627
Call Date: 15/10/1634
Inner Temple Admissions (2009)

Alston, William: son of Thomas Alston, gent., of (Polstead and Gedding Hall) Newton, Suffolk (bapt., Oct. 12, 1607). At school there, under Mr Meade, three years. Age 16. Admitted, May, 22, 1624, pensioner to the bachelors table. Surety, Mr Moore, fellow. Eldest son. Admitted at the Inner Temple, Feb. 6, 1626/7. Bought the estate of Great Woodhull (Odell), Beds. Died unmarried. Buried at Odell, March, 16, 1637. M.I. there. Will proved (P.C.C.)March 8, 1637/8 (F.G.) Pedigree in vis. of Beds., 1634. Brother of Thomas, 1626; Edward 1628; and John 1631.
Ref: Gonville & Caius College Register Pg., 266. Dr Venns. NZSOG.

Extract from the Bedfordshire Magazine Vol 7 Pg 32 Bed RO.
"The first Alston of Odell was Keeper of Briefs in the Kings Bench, and his brother Thomas, also a lawyer was created a Baronet"
Extract from the Bedfordshire Magazine Vol 2 Pg 261 Bed RO.
Pavenham is isolated and almost completely encircled by the river Ouse, in Doomsday its Manors numbered three. Between 1635 & 1638 Sir William Alston bought one and portions of the others, which together were known as Stevington Manor. In 1649 his brother John bought Cheneys and Brays the remainder.
Note: William is incorrectly described as a Knight.

ALSTON v. STOCKDALE & others.
Chancery B. and A. Charles I. A. 22, (19.)
Bill dated 17 June 1631, by William Alston of the Inner Temple, London, gent. v. Thomas Stockdale and others.
Orator, who was heretofore seised in fee of Bilton Park, co. York, by indenture dated 25 November last, between himself and the said Thomas Stockdale of Preston, co. Lancaster, Esq., sold the said property to Stockdale.
The suit is brought in consequence of annoying proceedings on the part of Stockdale and his confederates.
Alstoniana Pg 171

ALSTON v. CHETWOOD.
Bill, 3 June 1633: by William Alston of the Inner Temple, London, Esq. v. Sir Richard Chitwood of Odyll, co. Bedford, Kt., and Richard Chitwood, his son and heir apparent.
About Hilary term last past Orator agreed with the defendants for the purchase of the manors of Great Odyll and Little Odyll, and for divers lands &c. in those places, and did give the greater sum therefore, being assured that the same was free of all incumbrances. Now, before full conveyance is made, the defendants acknowledge divers recognisances and judgments to which the premises are and will be liable, whereby orator is not only in danger of losing his money paid for the said manors, but also of being evicted from the same.
Defendants, in their auswer, acknowledge and recite a number of judgments given, chargeable on the said lands, but say the Orator was aware of these, before entering into the purchase.
Mitford 42/29 1633

ALSTON v. TUKE & another.
The answer of George Tuke, Esq. and John Seamer to the complaint of William Alston, Esq. They acknowledge complainant has acquired the reversion of the manor of Stebington and Patenham, after expiry of a lease granted thereof to William Seamer. The suit relates to the corn mills which form part of the property.
Mitford. 52/4, 1633?

ALSTON v. ESTWICK & another.
Bill 10 Oct. 1637, by William Alston of Wodhull, co. Bedford, Esq., v. William Estwick and John Seamer.
Cp. suit, Alston v. Tuke., (Mitford 52/4).
This is the bill in the said suit, the name of Tuke being mentioned, and his name apparently torn away here, (the bill is damaged). The answer annexed is that of Wm. Estwick, which accounts for the fresh naming of the suit.
The Manor is here spelt Stevington ad Patenham, no Alston particulars are given
Mitford, 76/45 1637.
Alstoniana Pg 172 & 173.

Inner Temple records 1603-1660 Vol II. NZSOG.
John? Alston Esq departed his life in his chambers in the Inner Temple and paid all dutyes belonging to the Temple Church for burial, and after all dutyes were paid his body was carried out of the Temple, the 13th March 1637/38 to be buried in the country.
This is taken to be William not John.
General Account Book.
Account from 3 Nov 13 Chas I, AD 1637 to 3 Nov 14 Chas I, AD 1638.
Reciepts: Of the Executors of William Alston, deceased, late one of the utter barristers of this House, as given by him towards the beautifying of the Temple Church of The Inner Temple 20L

FUNERAL CERTIFICATE OF WILLIAM ALSTON, FOUNDER OF THE ODELL FAMILY.
Heralds College.
Mr. William Alston of Odell in the county of Bedford, Departed this mortal life at his Chamber in the Inner Temple London upon the 3rd day of March Anno Dni 1637 from whence his body was conveyed in a Carriage with the rights befitting his degree unto Odell two Officers of Armes ryding in the proceeding from the Temple to Islington and John Philipott Somersett Herald one of them appoynted to goe to Odell where upon the day of the funerall he directed the funerall rights which being performed the defuncts body was interred in the Chauncell of Odell Church he being Lord of the manner of Odell and patron of the said church. He died a Batchelor and his second brother Mr. Thomas Alston is his heire who hath testified this Certificate to be true by the subscription of his name.
(signed)
Ex. J. P. S.
Thomas Alston.
The above is a faithfull extract from the book of Funeral Certificates marked I 24 now remaining in the Records of the Heralds College, London.
G. Ambrose Lee,
Bluemantle.
5th April, 1898.
Alstoniana Pg 273

WILLIAM ALSTON, Esquire.
Inquisition Post Mortem taken at Bedford.
6 September 14 Charles i. (1638).
Ser. ii Misc. Pt 22 No 16 1638 co. Bedford & co. Essex
The said William was seised of the manor of Great Woodhull, alias Odle, and Little Woodhull, alias Odle, and of land in both places, and in Langford, Hockliffe, Shernbrooke, and Wymyngton, and of the adowson of the church of Great Woodhull, bought by the said William of Richard Chetwood, Kt., and Dorothy his wife ; held of the King in chief by military service.
Also of the manors of Stevington alias Steynton, and Pavenham alias Patnam, and land in both places and in O'Kell, Bromham, Stageden and Sturvy alias Turvy, bought by the said William of William Terrell Esq., and Dorothy his wife, and held as above ; and the manor of Pavenham alias Pabenham, bought by him of Edward, Lord Gorges, and others; by tenure unknown;
and also of other messuages and parcels of land in the above named places.
Also of 2 messuages and land in Halsted, Pebmarsh and Colne Engaine, co. Essex, formerly belonging to William Thurgood, gent., by tenure unknown,
By his indenture dated 1 March 13 Charles i. (1638), by the name of William Alston of the Inner Temple, Esq.,
he conveyed the premises above set forth to the use of Lady Frances Temple, widow, his mother, after his death.
He died at Great Woodhull, 3 March 13 Charles i. (1638).
The said Lady Frances is now living at Woodhull aforesaid.
Alstoniana pg 261.

Monument Odell Church.
Here Lie Interred The Bodies Of.
William Alston Esqr eldest son of ye said Thomas
and Frances who died Bachelor at the Inner
Temple was buried here March xvi
1637.

  Research Notes:

Parvengham Manor
The names of the successive owners with the dates of their deaths are as follows: John Tyringham, 1484 (fn. 22) ; Thomas Tyringham, 1504 (fn. 23) ; Robert Tyringham, 1531-2 (fn. 24) ; Thomas Tyringham, 1595 (fn. 25) ; Anthony Tyringham, 1614 (fn. 26) ; Thomas Tyringham, 1637-8. (fn. 27) John Tyringham, son of the last-named Thomas, almost immediately on the death of his father sold Pavenham Manor to William Alston, who died seised of it in 1638. (fn. 28) It thus became merged into the larger estate of the Alstons in Odell, under which parish its descent will be found traced until the year 1814, when Thomas and Justinian Alston suffered a recovery of the manor. Mr. Rowland Crewe Alston is the present lord of the manor. (fn. 29)
Ref: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42386&strquery=John%20Alston

Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Record Service:
Archdeaconry of Bedford
Catalogue Ref. AB
Creator(s): Church of England, Archdeaconry of Bedford, Bedfordshire
COURT
Case Papers - ref. ABCP
FILE - Testamentary: (Hockliffe?) deposition of Tho. Goodall of Ur.Gravenhurst, blacksmith - ref. ABCP115a - date: 7 June 1718
[from Scope and Content] Maladministration of estate of Tho. Coote planned by Langley of Leighton: he heard conversation in the Cock, Hockliffe, betw. Chas. Ventris & Mr. Alston (tenant of Tho. Coote).
A2A
Placement uncertain 2005

  Other Records

1. William Alston: Will, 2 Mar 1636/37, London.
THE WILL OF WILLIAM ALSTON OF THE INNER TEMPLE Esq.
Dated 2nd March 1637
I desire to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix
By an Indenture dated 1st March I have settled all my Manors, lands tentaments and hereditaments to the use of myself and my heirs and in default of such issue to my mother Dame Frances Temple widow and her heirs, with a power of revocation reserved to me -
I now confirm the said indenture - any lands which I have bought in the names of my younger brethren, I direct shall be conveyed to my mother and her heirs - I appoint my mother sole executrix and leave to her the residue of my estate
signed : WILLIAM ALSTON
Witnesses : Edward Alston, Henry Teague, Joseph Alston, Isaac Allen, Row: Jewkes Will. Jenins, Andrewe Baddeley.
CODICIL
I give for beautifying the parish Church of Great Woodhall one hundred marks
for beautifying the inside of the Temple Church L20
to the poor of the parish of Gt. Woodhall, L10
to the poor of the parish of Stevinton Bedf. L5
to the poor of the parish of Patenham Bedf. L5
to the poor of the parish of Newton Suff where I was born L5
I give to my nephew and godson eldest son of my brother Edward L300
to my nephew and godson. eldest son of my brother John L300
to my cousin Mr Doctor Alston L40
to my cousin Mr Will Blomfeild of the Temple L20
to my servant Rich. Cecill L20
(legacies to other servants)
Signed: WILL: ALSTON
Witnesses :Edward Alston, Joseph Alston, and others same as to will
Proved: 8 March 1637/8 by Lady Fran. Temple widow, mother of testator and executrix named in will.
Ref. Lee 25.