| HISTORY: |
Nathaniel J.
Alston was from the illustrious ALSTON family of North Carolina which had
begun with the patriarch, John Alston, who had first settled in Chowan
County in the early 1700s. Nathaniel's father was John Joseph Alston
(1775-1816) the oldest son of Lt. Col. William Alston of Halifax County, NC.
John J. and his brother, William C. Alston, had received several bequests of
land in Chatham County from their grandfather, Joseph John Alston, who had
died in Halifax in 1781. Nathaniel J. Alston was married in 1836 to Ellen Letterloh, daughter of
Charles Letterloh, as mentioned in her father's Chatham County will, written
in 1854. Nathaniel wasn't one of the larger landowners
as many of his other family members were, but he did come from a long line
of ALSTONs who were and the records presented here cover several generations
prior to him. And with many of the family having come from Halifax or Warren
Counties, there were quite a few who also had strong ties to those Counties,
who had moved to Chatham and Moore Counties during the latter part of the
18th century. Of note, for instance, Nathaniel's cousin was Joseph John
Alston, a.k.a. "Chatham Jack" Alston (1767-1841) owner of several
plantations in the Chatham area, including Aspen Hall
and the Alston Plantation which was later
changed to the Alston-DeGraffenriedt Plantation. With so many of the family members having the same names, I
hope that these listings will make it easier to follow at least some of the
generations of the enslaved, too.
Line of ALSTONs to NATHANIEL J. ALSTON starting with his great
grandparents, JOHN ALSTON & MARY BAKER:
JOHN ALSTON (Apr 1677 Wethersfield, Essex, England- d. bef. Dec 2, 1758
Chowan Co, NC)
Wife: MARY BAKER (ca 1684-aft 1758)
JOHN & MARY had 10 Children; here is their son J. J. ALSTON's
line:
Son:
JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON (ca 1702-1781)
1st Wife: ELIZABETH CHANCEY/CHAUNCEY (ca 1702-1749)
Children:
1) John Alston (1740-1784) - m. Ann Hunt Macon (ca 1745-1797)
2) Philip Alston (ca 1745-1791) owner of the House in the Horseshoe- m.
Temperance Smith
3) Martha "Patsy" Alston (1747-1814) - m. James Mahoney
4) WILLIAM ALSTON (ca 1748-1789) - m. Anne Yeargain (1752-1785)
JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON (ca 1702-1781)
2nd Wife: EUPHAN WILSON (ca 1725-? )
Children:
5) Willis Alston (1750-1819) - m. Elizabeth Wright
6) Henry Alston (1753- ? ) - m. Sarah Hill
7) Mary Alston (1756- ? ) - m. William Palmer
8) Euphan Wilson Alston (1761- ? ) - m. John Cooper
9) Joseph John "Chatham Jack" Alston (1767-1841) - m. Martha Kearney
(1770-1852)
WILLIAM ALSTON (ca 1748-1789)
Wife: ANNE YEARGAIN (1752-1785)
Children:
1) JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON (1775-1816) - m. Elizabeth Jones (1775-1858)
2) William Chancy Alston (1777-1789)
3) Samuel Yeargain Alston (1779-1789)
4) Oroondates Davis Alston (1780-1851) - m. Miriam P. McDaniel (1787-1855)
5) Nancy Ann Alston (1782-1860)
6) Mary Ann Alston (1785-1867) - m. Edward Rives
JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON (1775-1816)
Wife: ELIZABETH JONES (1775-1858)
Children:
1) NATHANIEL JONES ALSTON (ca -1810- 1885)- m. Ellen Letterloh
2) Nancy Anne Y. Alston - m. John E. DeGraffenreid
3) Mary Anne Alston - m. 1st: Thomas DeGraffenrieid; 2nd: James Taylor
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| SLAVE POPULATION: |
Nathaniel J.
Alston had 8 Slaves in 1840, he had 17 Slaves in 1850, and the same again in
1860. He was very prosperous, since in 1860 his real estate was valued at
$70,000, and his personal estate was $16,000.
A listing of his Slaves from NATHANIEL J. ALSTON'S BOOK, 1833:
SIMON son of DILLA born August 25th 1855
ORAN son of SILVIA born October 21st 1831
WILLIAM son of SILVIA born July 25th 1833
SIMON son of MARSAH born the 25th of May 1845
MUSTOPHER son of MIMA born Sept the 8th 1853
ADALINE girl of MIMA 25th Feb'y 1855
BETSEY daughter of MIMA born April 3rd 1857
MILEY's child 25 Feby/55
SUSAN daughter of MARIAH born 16th March 1836
MARTELIA daughter of MARIAH born July 3rd 1837
DELIA daughter of MARIAH born May 4th 1839
GLOSTER son of MARIAH born Feb'y 20th 1841
SILVIA daughter of MARIAH born February 25th 1843
HESTER daughter of MIMA September 18th 1842
NANCY daughter of MIMA born April 24th 1845
GEORGE son of MIMA born Feb'y 17th 1848
HANNOR daughter of MIMA born Oct 20th 1851
CATHARINE daughter of MARY born Oct the 10th 1844
WINNY daughter of RHODY born December 1st 1845
WESLEY son of RHODY born November the 5th 1847
**********************
Estate of JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON (1775-1816)
Chatham County, Record of Estates
Inventory of JOHN J. ALSTON, Vol. C, 1800-1822; p. 245
Nov Court 1816
SAM aged 75 years
MUSTAPHA age 60
BILL age 28
DANIEL age 20
TOM age 18
JOHN age 18
HANNAH age 80
ESTHER age 30
AMY age 37
LILEY age 20
JOLEY age 17
WINNEY age 13
ANICA age 12
LUCY age 10
SILVIA age 7
TEMPY age 3
CHANEY age 2
BETHIAH age 3 months
BIG JERRY age 11
JACK age 8
FED age 5
ALLEN age 4
WILLIS age 4 months Estate of JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON- 1816
Pursuant to an Order of the Worshipful Court of Chatham County, November
Session 1816
We the Commissioners have met and proceeded to divide and allot to ELIZABETH
ALSTON her proportionable part of the Negroes, to wit, TOM, JALEY, LUCY,
ALLEN and CHANEY by paying to the Children fifty six dollars and seventy
five cents. Given under our hands this 27th Nov'r 1816.
JOS. BRIDGES
HENRY ROGERS
THOS STONE
November 1826
Received of OROON ALSTON former Guardian of NATHANIEL J. ALSTON the sum of
seven hundred and seventy two dollars & 59½ cents, being the balance due him
the said heir, as for report of Commissioners, subject to the payment of
several debts against sd heir;
Also the following Negroes:
BILL, aged - 40 years
JERRY, aged 22
SILVA, aged 16
AMY, aged 46
BETHIA, aged 10
GLOSTEN, aged 8
********************** ELIZABETH (JONES) ALSTON, Will,
probated February 1858:
To grand daughter ELIZABETH ALSTON:
JOSHUA
To grand daughter MARY ALSTON:
MURPHY
To grand son JOSEPH O. ALSTON:
NATHAN
********************** WILLIAM ALSTON (1748-1789) Will,
Chatham County,
written 1789, Slaves as listed:
To my son JOHN JOSEPH: MUSTAPHA
To my son WILLIAM CHANEY ALSTON: BEN the son of RACHAEL
To my son OROONDATES ALSTON: WILL, son RACHAEL
To my daughter Ann ALSTON: NAN, and all her children
To my daughter MARY ANN, ESTHER & her Child named WINNEY; Molotto
girl who nursed her, named NANNEY
Chatham County, North Carolina
Record of Estates, 1782-1784
Page 149
This may certify that JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON son of WILLIAM ALSTON dec'd
demanded of us JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON & WILLIS ALSTON Executors of WILLIAM
ALSTON dec'd, his proportion of the following Negro Slaves, to wit-
MUSTIPHER, BOSON, WILL, BEN, NATHAN, SAM, ANTHONY, ADKIN, ALLEN, HENDERSON,
DAVY, BEN, PRISS, LOCKY, NELLY, NANNY, SILVY, HANNER, SILVEY, AMY, HAGER,
NANCY and PENNY which were left to the children males and females of the
before mentioned WM share and share alike as they arrive at the age of
twenty one by JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON dec'd father of the said WILLIAM, we having
proceeded by fair and regular alotment and then by ballot have delivered to
the said JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON the following Negro Slaves, to wit, SAM,
MUSTIPHER, HANNER & AMY valued to Three hundred and Severnty five pounds
and in money Eight pound Six Shillings and Eight pence being agreeable to
our opinion and judgment the one fifth part of the real value of the before
named Twenty three Negro Slaves, to which we have hereunto set our hands and
seals as Executors to the last Will and Testament of the before mentioned
WM. ALSTON this 7th day January 1794.
********************** JOSEPH
J. ALSTON (1702-1781)
Most of his slaves (of which he had 150) were unnamed since it was stated
that each of the children could keep all of the slaves that had already been
given to them, and those that were named in his will were in addition to
them:
To son JOHN ALSTON following slave men:
LEVEY
JOSEPH
To WILLIAM ALSTON, now in his possession excepting the following negroes:
HANAH, HAGAR, SILVA, NANCY, PRIS, BOATSWAIN,
MUSERY, ROSE, RACHEL & SAM, which I lend unto my s'd son WM ALSTON the
use of until his children male and female shall arrive to lawfull age or
marriage, when they will be divided up.
To WILLIAM: FORK BEN and his wife PRIS.
To my son, WILLIS ALSTON:
SIMON and POCOSIN BEN, FRANK
to my grand son, JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON, son of my son WILLIS:
Boy named JEM, son of Mulatto PEGG
Girl named JUDE, daughter of PENNY
To my son HENRY, eight other negroes, to wit: HESTER, PETER's daughter,
JACOB, mulatto, boy, YOUNG BOCCOSAN, DYNER and increase SABINA and
DAVY
Lend to my daughter, UPHAN WILSON COOPER, the use of the following Slaves
during her natural life: TOBY, SALL, WILL, ROGER, ANNE, SALL's children,
CREAS, BUCK, NAN, ADAM, CREASE's children, NAN and WILL, CATE's children,
CHARLES and EDIE, PEGG's children, JUBITOR & ABRAHAM, OLD JOE's son,
Woman LUCY, the cook, to be free for 35 years, paying 1 shilling per
year; after expiration of 35 years, she is to be sold, and the money from
the sale to go to his son JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON
********************** From the Estate of the patriarch, JOHN ALSTON (1677-1758)
The slaves were distributed to his children & grandchildren, but only 1 went
to JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON's family as indicated below.
Inventory of the Estate of JOHN ALSTON Slaves, deceased, January 1759,
Chowan Co.:
1 Negro man named DICK
1 Negro man named PETER
1 melato man named EASUP
1 Negro boy named PETER
1 Negro woman named FANEY
1 Negro woman named DINER
1 Negro woman named CATE
1 Negro girl named PRU {to JOS. JOHN's daughter PATSY
1 Negro girl named NANCY
1 Negro boy named NED
1 Negro boy named HARY
1 Negro boy named ROBIN
1 Negro child named NANCY
1 Negro child named JACOB
1 Negro child named FANE
**********************
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