Thomas ALSTON of Stansted [6143]

  General Notes:

Thomas was described as a farmer. A Legatee by his fathers will, he left a substantial estate including the Rose & Crown in Sudbury, land in Stansted & Glemsford. Bury R O Ref 21. 16

He is variously described in the Stanstead Registers as a Publican to 1840, then a farmer. He was privately baptised again 29 Sep 1812 Stanstead, the Register put him at 79 years at his death, the MI 88.

Committed to Bury Gaol.
W Wheeler for stealing a piece of brass, commonly called a "brass foot" the property of Thomas Alston, of Stansfield, miller; and further charged with stealing a piece of iro, commonly called a "cart streak" the property of Daniel Alston of Stanstead.
Ipswich Journal 11 Aug 1849.

A Thomas Alston was a Juror in the Court Baron of the Manor of Overhall & Netherhall.
Ref: Bury RO HA519/316/2082?

Whites Directory of Suffolk 1844
Thomas Alston farmer Stanstead

Petition to the High Sheriff of the County of Suffolk.
We the undersigned freeholders and inhabitants of the County of Suffolk, interested in the prosperity of British industry request that you will convene a meeting of the said County, to address the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, on the alarming state of distress in the productive classes of Great Britain . . . . . praying that her Majesty will exercise Her Royal and Constitutional Prerogative, by dissolving Parliament and affording to her subjects the opportunity of electing for their representatives, men who would support an Administration based on the principles of protection against foreign competition to every class of British industry.
Signed by a Thomas Alston amoungst many others. A meeting was convened.
Ipswich Journal 26 January 1850

Suffolk Directory 1865. (No Alstons in Cambridge or Norfolk)
Thomas Alston Stansted Hall Stansted Sudbury.

Harrods (?) Directory of Suffolk 1864.
Lists Stanstead Thomas Alston farmer.

England Return of Owners of Land 1873. Suffolk.
Alston Thomas. Stanstead 31a 1r 39p gross estimated rental value. L142/4s/0.

Whites Directory of Suffolk 1874.
Lists Thomas Alston farmer & corn miller of Stanstead

Charge of Arson at Stansted.
William Clover, 27, labourer, was charged with setting fire to a clover stack, the property of Mr Thomas Alston, at Stansted, on the 15th of July.
Ipswich Journal 1 August 1874.

Deaths.
Alston - 25th March, at the Lodge, Stansted, Suffolk, Thomas Alston, in his 80th year.
Ipswich Journal 2 April 1892.

  Research Notes:

Trinity House,
Sudbury, Suffolk,
Dear Sir,
Feb. 25, 1898.
I went to-day to Long Melford and interviewed the two old gentlemen I told you I intended seeing but could extract nothing of any importance from them. The Rose and Crown Hotel came again into the family by the marriage of Thomas Alston to a widow Mrs. Williams.
He was the son of Daniel and his son lately deceased was Daniel.
They lived at Stanstead in this county and have done so probably for some time . . . . . .
I have consulted Hodgson's History of Sudbury and regarding the Rose and Crown have extracted the
following : " 'The Rose and Crown is an ancient hostelry with a courtyard in the centre still partly surrounded by the
original galleries."
It appears by the name of " The Crown " in the Borough accounts for 1585 thus "paid for a gallon of wine sent
to Sir John Heigham and Mr. Blage at the Crown XXD"
"Paid at the Crown 18th September for Mr. William Waldegrave and Mr. Thomas Heigham and my own dinner and ther mennes coming to the town to take vewe of our men and armer iiijs."
Yours faithfully,
(Rev.) DAVID HUGHES.
Alstoniana Pg 375

Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Branch: Weller Poley & Halifax families of Suffolk
Catalogue Ref. HA 519
MELFORD
FILE - Manor of Kentwell (Lord: Wm. Logan, Esq.,): Copy Court Roll: Admission of Jn. Geo. Weller Poley, Esq., of Boxted Hall, and Thos. Alston, Jn. Murton and Saml. Sheen, junr., of Stanstead as Trustees for Stanstead Poor. - ref. HA 519/316 - date: 1838 October 16
STANSTEAD
FILE - Copy of Admission (Overhall and Netherhall Manors in Stanstead) of Jn. Geo. Weller Poley, Esq., of Boxted, and Thos. Alston, John Marton and Samuel Sheen, jnr., all of Stanstead, by deaths of Rev. Thos. Lloyd, Wm. Fenton, Thos. Fenton, Wm. How, jnr., and Simon Kilborn, jnr., trustees of Stansted Town lands, to Huntsman's Yard (1a. 3r. - occupier Joseph Scott) and Dollings (occupier Chas. Bigg), for use of parish poor. - ref. HA 519/2082 - date: 1838 October
Ref A2A

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, Stanstead SFK. Thomas is recorded as a publican aged 25 born Suffolk

2. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Stanstead Hall Stanstead SFK. Thomas is described as a son married aged 38 farmer born Stanstead

3. Thomas & William Alston to Edward R S Bence: Indenture, 1861, Stansted SFK.
INDENTURE
Between Thomas Alston farmer and William Alston miller both of Stansted selling by auction for a price of £155/0/0, 13 acres described as Potash Field, Mill Field, Simmons Pasture, Scottisford Wood, at an annual Quit Rent of 2/4d, in the late occupation of Daniel Alston deceased, as executors of his Will dated 13 Apr 1860, proved 28 Dec 1860, to Bence of Kentwall Hall.
Part of this land was acquired by Daniel Alston through the Manors of Overhall and Netherhall abt 1835 - 20th Aug by action of Court Barron.
Ref Bury R O HA505/3/52

4. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Stanstead Hall Stanstead SFK. Thomas is recorded as head of house married aged 48 a farmer of 410? acres in Stanstead employing 17 men .... 120 acres in Glemsford employing 2 men and 3 boys born Stanstead
RG9/1132

5. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Stanstead SFK. Thomas was living at Hall Farm Stanstead married aged 68 born Stanstead also in the house were:
Emily Alston married aged 70 born Stanstead
Bathsheba Garwood widow aged 60 born Boxted SFK
Elizabeth J Brettsmith aged 11 born Stanstead
FHL 1341443 PRO RG11 Pc 1831 Fol 174 Pg 7

6. Thomas Alston: Will, 28 Apr 1888, Stansted ESS.
The Will of Thomas Alston farmer of Stansted SFK
Dated 28 April 1888
Testator died 25 Mar 1892.
Rose & Crown Inn Sudbury and appurtances to be sold then:
Half proceeds to Daniel Alston son
Quarter proceeds to Mary Ann daughter wife of William Robert Cooper
Quarter proceeds to children of daughter Elizabeth deceased, late wife of Henry John Cooper.
To Daniel Alston son freehold tenements and lands in the Parish of Stanstead including Wind Mill, Steam Mill in occupation of Daniel Alston, Simmons Pasture 2 acres, Potash Field 6 acres, Whitehart Field 2 acres, all in my own occupation, Two cottages next to road occ James Whiterod & Jacob Jarmin. 3 cottages near last occ by Playle, Finch & Brown, 4 cottages near last occ by Gowers.
To Daniel Alston son my freehold house, shop, bakehouse, and barn at Glemsford with yards gardens belonging late in occ of Alfred Ransome.
also freehold farm at Clare purchased from George William Thorpe subject to payment of L1000 in title documents.
To Daniel Alston my son Messuage and land called Upper Street Farm of 14 acres with barn stable etc.in my occ and part occ of Alfred Chaplin also 3 cottages in Stanstead St also my freehold wheelwright shop in Stanstead late in the occ of William Killbourn, also freehold house and two cottages.
Daniel his son charged to pay L1000 to the Widow and children of his late son Thomas Alston.
Executors & Trustees: Daniel Alston, William Robert Cooper son-in-law, Joshua George Steed solicitor of Melford.
Proved at Bury St Edmunds 2 Feb 1893 by Daniel Alston miller and farmer for L2257 0s 2d
From precis by Roy Alston 2003 Will
Ref Bury RO1893 21.322

Thomas married Emily PLAYLE [5697] [MRIN: 2043] on 23 Feb 1837 in Great Yeldham ESS. (Emily PLAYLE [5697] was born on 23 May 1810, died on 10 Jun 1882 in Stanstead Hall Stanstead SFK and was buried on 16 Jun 1882 in Stanstead SFK.)