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ASPEN HALL PLANTATION

Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina

(click photo for larger image)

 Joseph John Alston, more famously known as Chatham Jack Alston, was born March 15, 1767 in Halifax County, the ninth and last child of Joseph John Alston, Sr. (1702-1781) and his 2nd wife, Euphan Wilson. The elder Alston was one of the state's largest land owners. In the early 1770s, about the time Chatham County was formed from Orange County, he made dozens of land purchases in Chatham. At his death in 1781, Alston Sr. left his descendants an estimated 100,000 acres scattered over a number of counties. "Chatham Jack" inherited land primarily in Chatham. As late as 1790, however, he lived in Halifax County, where the 1790 census lists him as the owner of 11 slaves. In the early 1790s he moved to Chatham County with his wife Martha Kearney-Alston (1770-1852), whom he married in 1791. There was lots of history between these families from their earliest days. Martha was the daughter of Philip Kearney & Elizabeth Kinchen, who lived in Warren County, NC. Martha's paternal grandmother, Sarah Alston (ca 1713-1764), was Chatham Jack's aunt, being his father's sister. Until his death on April 29, 1841, he remained one of the county's most distinguished persons. In an area dominated by small farms Alston owned a plantation that in size and scope rivaled the larger of those more commonly located in the eastern part of the state. His plantation was one of a number of substantial ALSTON plantations throughout the state.
Half-brother Philip Alston (ca 1745-1781) lived on the Deep River in the "House in the Horseshoe," site of a Revolutionary skirmish between Whigs and Tories, while brother Henry (born ca 1753) lived on 4,000 acres in Warren County, NC. Many of Alston's brothers, half-brothers, cousins, and nephews were important men in the state, serving in Congress, the General Assembly, and the Confederate Army.
It is not certain how much land Chatham Jack actually owned. He acquired the nickname "40-mile Jack" and reportedly owned as much as 40,000 acres at one time. This may be an exaggeration as an 1815 tax list credits him with the ownership of slightly more than 2,000 acres, valued at $6,000. However, the 1830 census credits Chatham Jack Alston with the ownership of 163 slaves, which implies much larger land holdings than 2,000 acres. Chatham Jack built several homes for himself and his children in Chatham and surrounding areas over the years,  One of those homes  built for his son John Jones Alston, was called the Alston Plantation for many years, but later became known by the name of the Alston-DeGraffenried due to several intermarriages with the DeGraffenried family.  Three of his sons died within a year of his own death, and 2 others by the mid-1850s, so there were many court transactions during those decades for the family, with many of the sons and grandsons having the same names. Chatham Jack was the largest slave holder in the county in those years. In 1840 he owned 104 slaves, making him the second largest slave holder in the county. Alston served two terms, 1802 and 1803, in the General Assembly and was one of the founders of the Mt. Vernon Methodist Church, to which he donated four acres in 1832. After the death of Chatham Jack, the Aspen Hall property went to his son Gideon. By the time that he died in 1855, the plantation had dwindled down to 67 Slaves, far less than his father had during the day that his father had been alive. The house was passed to Gideon's wife, Evalina Alston, his 2nd cousin, and then after her death in 1891, it went to their son, Junius. The house stayed in the family for many years, and has passed through many other hands since then.

This ALSTON Family Line was:
JOHN ALSTON (1677-1758) and MARY BAKER (ca 1684-aft 1758)
Son:
JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON (1702-1781)
1st Wife: ELIZABETH CHANCEY/CHAUNCEY (ca 1702-1749) dau/of William Chancey & Deborah Symonds
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-? ) dau/of Willis & Mary Wilson
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)

JOSEPH JOHN "CHATHAM JACK" ALSTON (Mar 15, 1767-Apr 29, 1841)
Wife: MARTHA KEARNEY (Feb 22, 1770-June 1852) dau/of Philip Kearney & Elizabeth Kinchen of Warren County, NC
Children:
1) John Jones Alston (1792-1842) - m. Adeline Williams
2) Elizabeth Kinchen Alston (1793-1874) - m. Samuel S. Jackson
3) Margaret Elizabeth Alston (1795-1855) - m. Richard Carney Cotten
4) Martha A. Alston (1797-1811) - m. John B. Mebane
5) George Washington Alston (1799-1843)
6) Nathaniel Macon Alston (1801-1856) - m. Patsey Kearney Williams
7) Emaline Euphan Alston (1804- 1861)- m. William A. Hamlin
8) GIDEON ALSTON (1806-1855) - m. Evelina Alston
9) Robert William Palmer Alston (1809-1872) - m. Ann Maria Alston
10) Philip Kearney Dawson Alston (1811-1852) - m. Ann Harwell
11) Joseph John Alston Jr. (1814-1842) - m. 1st: Pamelia DeGraffenried. 2nd: Decimus Palmer

GIDEON ALSTON (Sept 9, 1806- Dec 24, 1855)
Wife: EVALINA ALSTON (Feb 28, 1806- Nov 11, 1891) dau/of Philip Guston Alston & Mary Williams Harris. of Halifax & Warren Counties
Their children were:
1) Junius A. Alston (1832-1900) - m. Fanny Ann Hamlin; Ida Lloyd
2) Joseph Robert Alston (1838-1902) - m. Susannah B. Hunt
3) Sarah E. Alston (1840-1862) - m. Roger Osborn Gregory
4) Gideon Philip Alston (1846-1909) - m. Rebecca M. Lloyd
 

(Note: Chatham Jack's will bequeathed the slaves that he had already given each of his children previously to them, so for the most part, there were no inventories made at the time of his death. There were however, inventories made after the deaths of each heir, which often referred to the fact that they had originally been a part of their father's property.)

CHATHAM JACK ALSTON's ESTATE:

LIST OF SLAVES HIRED out to following persons on January 3, 1843
LEVI - THOS. HARRIS
PETER - J. H. HAWKINS
EDMUN - WM. DORSETT
ALDREDGE - SAML CRUCHFIELD
DAVE - JAMES SELLERS
AMERICA - J. HARALSON
DAVID - J. HARALSON
AUGUSTIN - J. HARALSON
GID - J. J. PALMER
MINGO - WM. N. CRAVEN
THOMAS - J. J. PALMER
SAM - JOHN ROWE
BOCKNER - J. HARALSON
CHATHAM - HARMAN BURK
RODIN - WM ROWE
MACKTIN - WM DAUSETT
WILLIAM - WM. BRIDGES
ALSTON - RICH'D PATERSON
BOB - DANIEL BAKER
MARY - FRANK SELPH
ISBEL - GEORGE W. STEDMAN
JUDA - PORTER STEDMAN
PATSY - GEOR. BURNS
EASTER - ARCH'D POUNDS
LAURA - PHILLIP ALSTON
LOUISA - HENRY BURNS
NANCY - WM LINDSEY
DINAH - WM. PATERSON
SILVY - NEWTON BRYANT
EVALINE - RICH'D PATERSON
MARGARET - W.A. HAMLIN
MARY - WM. LINLEY
SILVY - MARSHALL GARDNER
WILLIAM - HENRY FIELDS
SINAH - ALVIS MIRICK
PATSY - WM DAUSETT
BETHANY - A. FLEMING
TEMPY - MARTIN HANKS
LANY - RUFFIN BURNS
ARRENA - WM A. HAMLIN
ANZILLA - GIDEON ALSTON
EASTER - WM LINDLEY
THENY - E. HINTON
JINNY - WM LINDLEY
HANAH - GORDON PHILLPS
NANCY - O.A. TYSON
EASTER - M. GARDNER

Expenses for keeping Slaves for the same year:
CHARITY - ARCH'D POUNDS - $7.75
WINEY & 3 Children - PHILLIP ALSTON - 32.50
BLCK WINEY & 4 Children - FRANK SELF - 38.50
RODY & 2 Children - SAML BROOKS - 1.25
ELLEN & 2 Children - THOS. ROBERTS - 10.00
OLD BOCHNER - PHILLIP ALSTON - 13.50
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chatham County
To the worshipful the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions February Term 1845

We the undersigned Commissioners appointed by the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of said County at Nov Term 1844 to make a division of the Slaves specifically given by the will of the late JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON Esq deceased to SAMUEL S. JACKSON, MRS. MARGARET COTTEN, MRS. EMELINE HAMLIN & to MESSRS JOSEPH J. JACKSON, JOSEPH J. COTTEN, JOSEPH J. ALSTON (son of GEORGE), JOSEPH J. HAMLIN & JOHN JONES ALSTON, proved on the 30 & 31st day of Dec 1844 to make said division. Whereupon we have made and we hereby make the following, that is to say:
Lot No.1 consisting of the following slaves is assigned to SAMUEL S. JACKSON, viz- MINGO, DAVID, BOB, WILLIAM, ALSTON, LEVI, ESTHER large, PATSEY, THENEY, NANCY & Child, SINA and two children, HANNAH, MARY short & 2 children, SAM, TEMPY, WINNEY, AMBROSE, ANNA and GABE

Lot No. 2 to MRS. MARGARET COTTEN:
EDMUND, DAVID, BOCKNER, THOMAS, MACKLIN, JUDA, EVALINE, ESTHER; RODIN, LANY & Child, ANGELLA & Child, ELLEN and two Children, DINA, BLACK WINNY and 2 children

Lot No. 3 to MRS EMELINE HAMLIN:
PETER, AMERICA, GIDEON, ALDRIDGE, ISABEL, YOUNG SYLVA, MARGARET, LOUISA, PATSEY and two children, BETHANY and child, LAURA and child, CHARITY, WILLIAM, RODY and two children.

Lot No. 4 to JOHN J. JACKSON - [blank]
Lot No. 5 to JOHN A. COTTEN - Girl ANNA
Lot No. 6 to JOHN J. ALSTON - Girl KISSIA
Lot No. 7 to JOSEPH J. HAMLIN - [blank]
Lot No. 8 to JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON - NANCY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the Death of MARTHA KEARNEY-ALSTON, new inventories were made to re-distribute the Slaves in following listings.  June 1852.

Names of Slaves which the widow of JOSEPH J. ALSTON (Chatham Jack), MARTHA KEARNEY-ALSTON, held upon her death in June 1852:

BECKY, LETHE, ANN, JULIA, MARINDA, ANDERSON, MURPHY, KISIA, MIMY, BETHIA, HAYWOOD, SARAH, JOE, WILLIAM, NORMAN, JUDY, CINDERELLA, HAGA, ANN, HESTER, WILLIAM, LETTICE, LUCY, PATRICK, NELLY, DICK, BRITTON, ABB, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, JACOB, NELSON, BETHIA, DULCENY, DUFFY, AARON, BETHENY, VINEY, JUDY, WILEY, PETER, DEMPS, CINTHA, FINETT, BOB, ALVIS.
 

Inventory of Slaves of JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON, which was bequeathed to his Widow:

(Note: most of these names were written in groups which appear to have been families. Most are obvious, others were not)

BECK - Age 40
LETHE, child of BECK - Age 15
SARAH - Age 14
JULIA - Age 12
BETHEA - Age 10
ANDERSON - Age 7
JUDE (f) - Age 5
MURPHY - Age 3
GRIZZY (f) - Age 6 months
DULCENIA - Age 24
BETHIA - Age 44
DUFFY - Age 3
AARON - Age 7 weeks
NELSON - Age 48
BETHENIA - Age 25
WILEY - Age 8
PETER - Age 6

PETER - Age 45
CHARITY - Age 32
TOM - Age 11

Total: 68 Names

Slaves on the plantation on Landram's Creek, commonly known by the name of the Lower Quarter, not bequeathed to Widow:

Slaves put into the possession of MRS. K. JACKSON after she married & were in the possession of SAMUEL S. JACKSON at the time of her father's death:

********************

Chatham County
May Term 1853
The following Slaves were allotted to MALCOM D. McNEILL as the Administrator of GEORGE W. ALSTON in the division among the sons of JOS. J. ALSTON dec'd and their lawful representatives according to his Will between said McNEILL in his own right and the children and heirs at law of GEORGE W. ALSTON, deceased as proceeded by appointed Commissioners on 19th day of February 1853:

ALVIS - 800.00
JULIA - 650.00
MARINDA - 200.00
PATRICK - 600.00
NELLY - 250.00
WILLIAM - 250.00
 

February 13, 1856
Chatham County, North Carolina
Division of Slaves of MRS. MARGARET COTTEN, who is now deceased, which were given to her by the Estate of her father, JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON, SR.
Allotted to JOHN Y. DAVIS & wife ELIZABETH:
BUCK, SAM, BOKNER, CHARLES, TATE & her 5 children (LAVINIA, MARTIN, JOHN, JAMES & ELIZA). ESTHER & child AARON, PATIENCE & child FRED, SYLVIA & her 2 children BETSY & WINNY, CHARLES, Long EDMUND & wife PENNY.

Recorded Chatham County Register of Deeds, 28 March 1856, Deed Book AI, Pp.528-529

********************

ESTATE OF MARGARET W. COTTEN, deceased (daughter of CHATHAM JACK ALSTON)
November Court 1855
From the Estate of MARGARET W. COTTEN, Slaves Allotted to following.
To MRS. EMILY CRUMP:
DANIEL
WILLIAM
ANDERSON
ELLEN
BETSEY & her child ELIZABETH
LAVINIA
MARY & her child DOUGLAS
HENRY
GEORGE
HARRIETT
PENNY
ANN
CAROLINE
LAVINIA & child CROCKET
WALTER
DINAH
------
Valued at $10,475

To DOCT. JOHN Y. DAVIS:
BUCK
SAM
BOKNA
CHARLES
TATE & her 5 children, LOUISA, MARTHA, JOHN, JANE & ELISA
ESTHER & her child AARON
PATIENCE & her child FRED
SILVIA & her 2 children BETSY & WINNEY
CHARLES
LONG EDMUND & his wife PENNY
---------
Valued at $9575

To RICHARD C. COTTEN:
RODEN
RICHARD
LANEY & her child FRANK
PATSY
ELISA
ANN
JANE
WILLIAM
ALFRED
JAMES
MARY & her 4 children OSBORNE, BASCOM, ERASMUS & MIVALDA
HANNAH & her child WHITMEL
MACKLIN
SHORT EDMUND
And 10 shares of preferred stock in the Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Co.
-----------
Valued at $9550

To THOMAS B. LONG:
WILEY
DAVE
DILCY
MELISSY
JUDY & her 3 children JOHN, MARY & ELLIS
ANN
AMY
NANCY
MARGARET
NARCISSA
LINUS
PRISSY
CHARITY
KEZZIAH
----------
Valued at $9475

To JOHN COTTEN:
PRINCES
CABE [COLE?]
ESTHER & Child, VINEY
STEPHEN
EVILINA
LETHY and child CAROLINE
BOCKSA
ANDRELLA
---------
Valued at $9250
 

********************

Following from the Wills & Estates of 2 of CHATHAM JACK's sons:

JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON JR. (1814-1842) Petition Papers
State of North Carolina
Chatham County
In pursuance to an order of the Court of Pleas of Quarter Sessions at its November Term 1847, appointing the undersigned Commissioners to allot & set over to MRS DECIMUS F. ALSTON widow of JOSEPH J. ALSTON JR. dec'd & one third part in value of the Negroes belonging to the Estatge of said J. J. ALSTON the undersigned proceeded to value the said Negroes at the Court House in Pittsboro on 31st December 1847 & valued them as follows, viz;
JOSHUA - $556
DONALDSON - 543
JESSE - 431
ROMAN - 512
PRIMUS - 562
PATSEY & Child - 487
OTELIA - 450
CATEY & Child - 481
CATHARINE - 406
ABBY - 393
SOPHY - 350
JOHN - 343
SUCKEY - 56
(Total) -$5570

Of which we allotted to the said DECIMUS the following:
JOHN - valued at $343
ABBY - 393
CATEY & Child - 481
PRIMUS - 562

In addition to which the said DECIMUS is to receive from the other heirs the sum of $77 to make her share equal in value to each of the other two thirds. All which is submitted.
Given under our hands this 31st December A.D. 1847.
GREEN WOMACK
N. A. STEDMAN
W. T. HORNE
H. A. LINDON
 

JOSEPH JOHN ALSTON JR. (1814-1842) Estate. 1842
Chatham County, North Carolina
February 17, 1848
Account of Sales of the Slaves belonging to the Estate of JOSEPH J. ALSTON JUN'R, dec'd sold by G. W. GOLDSTON Administrator on a credit of nine months according to petition & order of Court:
Purchasers - Slaves
GIDEON ALSTON - JOSHUA - $385.00
JONATHAN WORTH - DONALDSON - 512.00
DAVID JOHNSON - JESSE - 315.00
PHILIP K. ALSTON - ROMAN - 427.00
PASCHAL McCAY - PATSY & Child - 515.00
JOHN C. MOORE for W.L. OTEY - OTELIA - 500.00
JOHN C. MOORE for W.L. OTEY - KATHARINE - 430.00
CARNEY BYNUM - SOFA - 350.00
WILLLIAM A. HAMLIN - SUCKY - 2.00
Total: $3439.00

GIDEON ALSTON, Will written Nov 14, 1855 -WB C, P.408
To son GIDEON: MARTHA, age 13 or 14
To daughter SALLY: MINDA, age 12 or 13