Sir William ALSTON 8th Bart of Lingfield [3277]

  General Notes:

Sir William is said to have been affected by deep grief at the death of his only son, in later years he lay aside his title altogether, calling himself William Alston in his will.

He appears to have been as economical and wise as his Grandfather was improvident and reckless, investing what came down to him from the wreck of his family's fortune, in the timber trade. In this he prospered, acquiring considerable land around Lingfield. He was also successful in some lottery speculation. He preferred the older fashion of dress for his time, knee breeches, silk stockings, and shoes with silver buckles, and was exceedingly fond of a rubber of whist.

The registers of St George Hanover Sq LON record a marriage between William Alston widower and Ann Rose single woman on the 29 May 1799.

Beneath are interred the remains of William Alston who died 6th March 1819 aged 73 years.
Altar Tomb Lingfield Churchyard.

  Other Records

1. William Alston 8th Bt: Jury Qualified Land Owners, 1805, Lingfield.
Recognition of Williams land 1805 he modestly describes himself as a timber merchant, not a Baronet.

2. William Alston 8th Bt: Will, 27 Jan 1818, Lingfield.
Will of William Alston.
27 Jan 1818
This is the last Will and Testament of me William Alston of Lingfield in the County of Surrey timber merchant made this 27th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen as follows that is to say first I will order and direct that all my just debts funeral expenses and the probate of this my last will and testament be fully paid and discharged by my executors hereinafter named and after full payment and satisfaction I give and devise unto my dear Wife Ann Alston all that my messuage or tenement and garden orchard and premises which I some time since purchased of Thomas Thompsett situated at Domans Land in Lingfield aforesaid to hold the same unto my said dear Wife and her heirs and assigns for and during the term of her natural life Item I give and bequeath unto my said dear Wife one annuity or . . . . . nett yearly sum of one hundred pounds of lawful English money for and during the term of her natural life payable half yearly the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six months next after my decease and I do here by order and direct the said annuity to be paid into the proper hands of my said Wife to and for her own sole and separate use and benefit and not subject or liable to the debts . . . . . disposition or engagements of any future husband with whom she may intermarry and whose receipts alone notwithstanding her future meantime shall be good and sufficient discharges to my said executors for the same and for the more effectual settling the participant of the said annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds clear of all deductions whatsoever unto my said dear Wife I do hereby order and direct that my said executors do and shall immediately after my decease out of my estate and effects layout and invest their names or in the names of the survivor of them his heirs or admonitions in the purchase of stock in some one of the public funds as much money as will produce the said annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds after deducting all taxes and other charges and encumbrances thereon and from and immediately after the decease of my said dear Wife I do hereby order and direct that the said stock or funds so to be purchased as aforesaid or the money to arise by sale thereof shall sink into and be consonant and taken to be part and parcel of the residue and remainder of my estate and effects and given and disposed of as hereinafter mentioned also
I give and devise unto my said dear Wife the free and interrupted use and enjoyment of all my household goods plate linen and china for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I do hereby order and direct the said shall be taken and considered to be as part and parcel of the residue and remainder of my estate and effects hereinafter mentioned and it is my Will and I do hereby declare that the above devise of the said Messuages and premises and bequest of the said annuity and the use and enjoyment of my household goods plate linen and china therein before devised given and bequeathed unto my said Wife are so given devised and bequeathed and the same to and shall be taken in full satisfaction and discharge of all dower and things which she can or may claim by or out of my estate or effects
Item I give and bequeath unto my three granddaughters Susannah Alston Mary Alston and Elizabeth Alston the capital sum of two thousand pounds three percent consolidated annuities each being part of the stock now standing in my name in the books of the Govenor and Company of the Bank of England to be respectively transferred to them by my executors hereinafter named when and as they my said grandchildren shall attain their respective ages of twenty one years with benefit of survivorship in case of the death of either of my said grandchildren under the age of twenty one years and without issue the interest dividends and proceeds of each child's respective (gain) as aforesaid to be by my said executors or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor received as it becomes due the same or so much thereof as they or he shall deem necessary to be in the meantime paid out and applied by them for and towards the bringing up maintaining educating and putting out apprentice such child or children
Item I give and bequeathed unto my daughter in law Elizabeth Alston the widow of my late son William Alston the interest dividends and proceeds of the capital sum of one thousand pounds three percent consolidated annuities of her part of stock standing in my name in the books of the Governor and company of the Bank of England for and during the term of her natural life with interest and proceeds to be received by my executors hereinafter named as the same becomes due and to be by them paid to the said Elizabeth Alston whose receipt alone not withstanding her future meantime shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors for the same to the interest and purpose that the said interest dividends and proceeds may be and remain an unalienable provision for her life and from and immediately after the decease of the said Elizabeth Alston I do hereby order and direct my said executors to transfer the said capital sum of one thousnad pounds at three percent consolidated annuities into and actually between my said three grandchildren Susannah Mary and Elizabeth share and share alike with the life benefit of survivorship in case of the death of either of them under the age of twenty one years and without issue as is mentioned with respect to the legacy of two thousand pounds at three percent consolidated annuities hereinbefore given and bequeathed to each of them by this my will.
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter-in-law Elizabeth Alston widow the Messuages or tenement in which she now lives with the warehouse? shop and house and garden thereunto belonging and adjoining and three acres of land thereto also belonging together with about three quarters of an acre of land lately enclosed and lying in the front thereof being what I purchased of the commissioners acting under the Lingfield Inclosure Act also all those two fields containing about three acres and a half near the same fields which I also lately purchased of the said commissioners all which said premises are situate at Domans Land in Lingfield aforesaid to hold the same unto my said daughter in law Elizabeth Alston widow for and during the term of her natural life but subject to impeachment for waste and from and immediately after the decease of the said Elizabeth Alston widow I give devise and bequeath the said Messuages . . . . . shop land and premises with the appurtenances unto my son in law John Dives of Lingfield aforesaid shopkeeper his heirs and assigns for ever
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my said son in law John Dives all that my Messuages or tenement barn stables lands hereditments and premises called Dorman's situate at or in Dorman's land in Lingfield aforesaid which I lately purchased of Mr Hanson of To. . . am in Kent containing by estimation twenty four acres more or less to hold the same unto the said John Dives and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life but subject to impeachment for waste and from and immediately after the decease of the said John Dives I give devise and bequeath all and singular the said Messuages or tenements Barnes stables outhouses buildings garden orchards fences lands who Hereditments and premises so hereinbefore given and and devised to the said John Dives for life as aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances unto my son in law John Head of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex Linen Draper his heirs and assigns upon trust that he the said John Head or his heirs do and shall with all convenient speed after the decease of the said John Dives sell and absolutely dispose of the said Messuages or tenements Barnes stables outhouses buildings Gardens orchards fences lands Hereditments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances either together in parcels and either by public auction or private contract as he or they shall think best for such price or prices or sum or sums of money as in his or their opinion can be obtained all reasonably expected for the same and to convey and assure the premises which shall be so sold to the purchaser or several purchases thereof and their heirs or otherwise as he she or they shall direct or appoint and I do hereby declare that the receipt or receipts of the said John Head or his heirs or assigns of and concerning the said premises shall be a good and sufficient discharge or discharges for the purchase money thereof and that no purchaser or purchases his her all their heirs executors or assigns shall after payment of the same to the said John Head or his heirs be in any manner answerable for or liable to see to the application thereof or any part thereof and I do hereby Will and direct that the said John Head his heirs executors and assigns shall direct and be possessed of the monies to arise from such sale sales after paying the costs charges and expenses attending such sale or sales and the investing and making out the titles to the said Messuages or tenements lands Hereditments and premises upon trust to pay apply and equally divide the same and every part thereof unto and equally between and amongst all and every the children of the said John Dives by my late daughter Elisabeth the wife of the said John Dives share and share alike as tenants in common and if they shall be but one such child then to such one or only child and to his her and their executors or assigns and to and for his her and their proper use and benefit the share or shares of him her all there to be respectively vested in him her or their when and as they shall obtain his/her all their respective ages of twenty one years and without issue then the share of him her or their so defined or so much thereof as shall not have been disposed of or applied for his her or their advancement or preferment in the . . . . . in pursuance of the the power hereinafter contained for that purpose shall go . . . . . and be found to the survivor or survivors or other or others of them if more than one and if but one then to and in such only child as such and the same time and times as is here in before expressed and declared relative to his her and their original share or shares and upon further from and after the decease of the said John Dives in case the he shall depart this life during the minority of his said child or children to pay the interest dividends and proceeds of the monies arising by such sale or sales for and towards the maintenance and education of such child or children in such manner as the said John Head or his heirs executors or assigns shall in his or their direction thereof propose provided always and it is moreover my Will and desire that the said John Head his executors or administrators do and shall after the decease of the said John Dives if he or they shall think proper to part apply or advance the whole or any part of the appurtenant or presumptive share or shares of the said children or child or any or either of them unto him her or them or to any other person or persons for his her or their preferment or advancement in the world in such manner as he or they shall deem advisable or expedient although the portion or portions of such child or respective children shall not then have become payable or . . . . and that the receipt or receipts of such child or children or other person or persons shall be a good and effectual discharge to the said John Head his heirs executors or administrators and they nor either of them shall not thereafter be accountable for the same all be in any way bound to see to the proper application therefore any part thereof
Item That I give and devise under the said John Dives all that part or parcel of land containing about two acres called Heyers Head which I lately purchased of John Bennett? to hold the same to the said John Dives his heirs and assigns for ever
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah the wife of John Head of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex Linen Draper subject to the estate for life of my said dear Wife hereinafter given and devised by me to her all that my Messuages or tenement land garden orchards and premises which I some time since purchased of Thomas Thompsett situate in Domans land in Lingfield aforesaid and which I now use and occupy and also all the rest and residue and remains of my Messuages tenements lands Hereditments and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever which I may happened to die seized or possessed of or entitled unto to hold the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my said daughter Sarah the wife of the said John Hand and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of my said daughter Sarah the wife of the said John Head I give devise and bequeath all singular the said Messuages or tenements barnes stables Gardens orchards fences lands Hereditments and premises with their and every of the rights premises and appurtenances unto my said son-in-law John Head his heirs and assigns for ever and as to all the rest residue and remains of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kind whatsoever which I am happened to be seized and possessed of or entitled unto I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my two sons in law the said John Dives and John Head there heirs executors and administrators and assigns for ever to be equally divided between them share and share alike as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said John Dives and John Head joint executors and trustees of this my last Will and Testament and guardians of my several legatees during their respective minorities and it is my Will and meaning and I do hereby order and direct that my said Executors and Trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for any more money than they shall severally and respectively actually receive nor for any loss unless the same happens through their wilful negligence or default nor the one for the other of them but each for his own acts receipts and defaults respectively and lastly I do thereby revoke and make void all former and other Will and Wills before at any time or times heretofore made and do declare this and this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I the said William Alston the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in five sheets of paper set my Hand and Seale at the top of the first sheet where the same are affixed together and my hand at the bottom thereof and my Hand at the bottom of the three next following sheets and my Hand and Seale to the fifth and last sheet the day and year first above witness
William Alston
Signed sealed published and delivered by the said William Alston the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have here unto inscribed our names
witnesses WH Barrow James ..... Squire JH Collin's of East Grinstead Sussex.

Proved at London 14 October 1819 before the worshipful Jesse Adams Dr of Laws and Sealed by the oaths of John Dives & John Head the Executors to to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

William married Mary ROSE [3283] [MRIN: 1113] on 18 Dec 1770 in Lingfield Church SRY. (Mary ROSE [3283] was born in 1749 and died on 3 Feb 1782 in Lingfield.)

William next married Ann ROSE [3284] [MRIN: 1114] on 29 May 1799 in St George Hanover Sq. (Ann ROSE [3284] was born about 1753 and was buried on 4 Aug 1820 in Lingfield Church SRY.)