Main

John Alston
Born Apr 18, 1735 Bertie Co. NC
Died Jul 2, 1802 ?New Madrid or West Feliciana Parish, Spanish Louisiana

Go to:
Father

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Elizabeth Hines or Hynes m. 1761? New Feliciana, Orleans Terr. b. 1735? ?Granville Co. NC d. Jul 1781 ?Petit Gulf, Natchez Dist.	Philip Louis (or Lewis) b. 1764? Chowan Co. NC d. Nov 16, 1802 West Feliciana Parish, La. Terr.	Anne b. 1767? ?Granville Co. NC d. Jul 2, 1802 New Feliciana (West), La. Terr.	William b. 1769? Granville Co. NC d. Apr 12, 1812 West Feliciana Parish, La. Terr.
	Jacob b. 1770? Natchez Dist. d. 1856	Lucretia "Lucy" b. May 13, 1772 ?Homochitto, Natchez Dist. d. May 13, 1833 Beechwood, West Feliciana Parish LA	Solomon b. 1775? Natchez Dist. d. 1809? ?West Feliciana Parish LA
	Henry b. 1776? Natchez Dist. d. Aug 3, 1781 Petit Gulf, Natchez Dist.
John was born in Bertie Co. NC. Edgecombe Co. NC was formed in 1741 from Bertie Co. (Map), then became part of Granville Co. in 1754 (Map). Warren Co. was formed in 1779 (Map). Map of the region in 1746 from the Granville County 1746 Society's website.
Wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Elizabeth Barham (1711-1770) and Thomas Hines, who died by Nov 18, 1773 when his will was proved in Sussex Co., Parish of Albemarle, VA. In his Will, written one month earlier on Oct 17, he listed "Eliza Alstone" second among his living daughters after daughter Mary Chappell, and son Thomas second after his son William, the co-executor with son-in-law John Chappell [Hopkins, Sussex Co., VA Will Books A-F, 1754-1806, 1990, p. 59].
In April 1781, a person named "Stille" [probably John Stillee], a messenger for the merchant Alexander McIntosh, with whom he resided on St. Catherine's Creek, was forced to be part of a plan to take over the Fort of Natchez from the Spanish guard. Among these rebels was John Alston, who forged the message using his skill in handwriting [JFH Claiborne, pp. 127-8].
The Commandant of the Natchez District received notice of the death on Jul 29, 1781 of Elizabeth Alston. On that date a Conveyance was issued to appoint the guardian of the surviving children, listing their current ages, and an Estate Inventory was performed, listing 16 slaves as well as lands and buildings [McBee, Book A, p. 1].
On Aug 3 [Friday], 1781, Alexander McIntosh declared to the Natchez Court that Henry Alston, aged 5, one of the minor heirs died, and on the 2nd day of the same Month died a negro boy, named "Stephen", aged 7 yrs., belonging to the Alston estate. He also asked that a female slave be sold and that Daniel Perry be appointed to manage the Alston plantation [McBee, Book A, p. 2].
On Sep 5, 1781 John sold "all his cattle" to a William Brocus, as witnessed by John Townshend. By Sep 29, 1781 John Alston had "absconded" when the rest of his estate was put up for sale [McBee, Book A, p. 3, Book F, p. 235].
Joshua Howard was among those who petitioned the British Govt. of West Florida for land on Nov 6, 1776. He was given a warrant for 200 acres on Second Creek in the Natchez District and the receipt for surveying fees was dated Jan. 22, 1777. After the Spaniards took possession of the territory, Howard left the Natchez District for the Cumberland Settlement in an area of far western North Carolina that later became Nashville TN. He returned to Natchez at the end of 1788.
On Nov 11, 1776, the petition of Absalom Hooper for pardon, he being "accused of robbery on the Mississippi", was considered by the West Florida government. On the same day the land grant petition of brother Philip Alston was considered. On Dec 10 and 16, the land grant petition of John Alston was also considered [David Library of the American Revolution, West Florida Records, vol 593, no. 107].
On Oct 19, 1778 brother Philip Alston bought 200 acres from Philip Barbour. The land was located just below Petit Gulf. He had asked for 1,100 acres five days earlier from West Florida. John Alston had also requested land "but no locations were designated" [McBee, p. 592].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
In January and October 1779, Absalom Hooper signed Loyalist petitions to the governor of British West Florida. On 27 Oct 1780, he was named in a deposition now held in Seville, Spain. Several others named in depositions in the record series in late 1780 include Joshua Howard, Thomas Holmes, and Philip Alston, father of John McCoy Alston who in 1795 married Hooper's daughter Sinia.
By May 1780, brother Philip Alston was in the new Cumberland Settlement in Washington Co. in western NC territory (now TN). Philip, along with about 250 other men over the age of 16, signed the Cumberland Compact created May 1, 1780. It was finalized on May 13 and established a provisional government for the isolated area; provided for the election of twelve representatives from the eight stations or forts; provided for a Sheriff, a Clerk, a Militia that required service by all men over age 16, and for the adjudication of causes, the administration of estates, and the awarding of executions. Image of page 4 of what survived of the original Compact. The signature, of "Philip Alston" is next to last of all signatures, just below that of "Howard Lucas". It appears to be written with his own pen and in perfect script.
A possible son or nephew of John also signed the Cumberland Compact in May 1780. Image of page 3. The signature of "Thos. W. Alston" is third of the signatures on the page, after the first signature of "Thos. Hines" probably Elizabeth's brother mentioned in their father's 1773 will. To sign the compact, both would have to be at least sixteen, born by 1763, which would make Thomas W. the first born son of John or Philip Alston. The two Alston signatures are similar.
Statue of co-founders of the Cumberland Settlement, James Robertson and John Donelson, with the Compact signers listed below, is located above the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville TN. John's brother "Philip Alston" is listed next to last in the last column. "Thos. W. Alston" is listed near the middle of the fourth column, second below that of possible brother-in-law "Thos. Hines".
Washington Co., previously Washington District, was formed by North Carolina in 1777 and extended west to the Mississippi River, mostly containing land inhabited by five different tribes of Native Americans, but mostly Cherokee. In 1779, the Cumberland Settlement was created by the granting of land by the NC government. In 1783 this settlement was mostly contained in the newly formed Davidson Co. and surrounded by Indian Lands, and Virginia and Kentucky to the North. Map of the Cumberland Settlements showing Forts, known as Stations, in present-day counties.
Joshua Howard arrived in the Cumberland Settlement from the Natchez District by the beginning of 1781. He eventually was assigned Captain of the Freeland's Station on Mar 15, 1783 [Clayton, p. 37].
John Alston and John Smith, participated in a 1781 attempt to overthrow the Spanish in Natchez. After the Apr 1781 rebellion to take control of Fort Panmure at Natchez, and about the time Spain was ceded control of British West Florida, "John Alston with another small party of loyalists, which seems to have included Captains Blomart and Winfrey, Parker Carradine, George Rapalje, John Smith, and William Eason, made his way to the Creek nation, where he and his companions were arrested by the Indians. After being carried to Mobile, they were carried to New Orleans and condemned to death on the charge of rebellion, but were pardoned by the Governor" by Jul 5, 1784 [Siebert, Loyalists in West Florida, p, 13].
On Jun 17, 1782 two lands of John Alston were confiscated "for use of the King" of Spain. One was 800 acres on Second Creek in the Narchez District very near the British grant of Joshua Howard.
Niece Frances married James Dromgoole in 1782, in the Natchez District.
On May 26, 1784, daughter Anne married Alexander Stirling (1753-1808), who was born in Scotland. He owned the plantation named Egypt in the New Feliciana portion of the Mississippi Territory that became West Feliciana Parish LA in 1824 and where he died.
On Jul 4, 1786, the McIntosh brothers William and James, administrators of the estate and guardians of the children of John Alston, declared to the Natchez District Commandant that a 20 year old slave named King had been stolen by James Drumgoole and Philip Alston. King had "formerly belonged to the 'robber' Philip Alston" [McBee, p. 34].
On Dec 31, 1788, "Joucha Hayward" arrived in Natchez from "Cumberland/Tennessee", not listed among the flatboats and without family. A "Joshua Houvard" reported producing 5,000 pounds of tobacco in 1790 [MDAH, website].
In a letter dated Mar 2, 1790, from Carlos de Grand-Pré, Natchez, Mar 2, 1790 to Governor Don Estavan Miro, the amount of tobacco was reported by growers of Natchez. The Alston family reported as follows: John 11,000 pounds, son "Lewis" 13,000 pounds, son William 3,000 pounds, and brother James 1,000 pounds [MDAH, website].
On Oct 26, 1789 The mother of James and William McIntosh, "Eunice McIntosh, widow, [sold] to Ithamar Andrews a negro named King, aged 23, nat. of Va., for $550 (Mexican), terms" and James McIntosh witnessed the transaction for Mrs. McIntosh [McBee, Book B, p. 71]. James and his brother William had reported King stolen on Jul 4, 1786.
Son Lewis married Marianna Gray but she died Feb 28, 1790 in Natchez, when she is identified as his wife when he signed an inventory along with a Mr. Ruffin Gray who "represents that his sister Marian Gray, lawfully married to Lewis Alston" [McBee, p. 343]. He then married Rebecca Smith, who was born in SC in 1772 and died Oct 7, 1822 in Wilkinson Co. MS. They were raising children in what became West Feliciana Parish by 1792 [Geni.com, website].
New Feliciana was in what became in 1810 Feliciana Parish (see present day map for location). It borders Mississippi south of Natchez.
Daughter Lucy married Ruffin Gray before 1790. They had a son Ruffin Jr. born in 1794 in West Feliciana Parish in the Mississippi Territory. He was buried in Beechwood Plantation in St. Francisville in 1817. The sister of Ruffin Gray Sr. married Lewis Alston, Lucy's cousin and son of Philip Alston.
About 1789, son William married his wife [familysearch.org, website]. In Mar 1804 "Amelia Alston" was one of the heirs of Samuel Wells in Mar 1804, who moved to New Feliciana in 1795 [McBee, Book D, p. 442].
By Jan 16, 1791, the will of Frederick Calvit, dated Sep 22, 1790, was opened. Son "Lewis Alston" was one of the witnesses [McBee, Book B, p. 81].
According to the 1792 Spanish Census for Natchez District, brother "Phelipe Luis Alston" was head of a household in the District of Buffalo Creek, which was replaced by parts of Adams and Wilkinson Cos. MS along with households headed by "Juan" and "Guillermo" (son William) [MSGenWeb, Head of Household Index]. A different translation has a "Juan Haton" with 1200 arpents of land (about 1,000 acres), 3 White persons [possibly John, son Solomon and ?], and 13 Black persons, in the same area, which was south of Natchez [Adams Co. Miss. Gen. & Hist. Network].
According to a 1799 land map of a portion of the "Feliciana District, Spanish Louisiana" the Alston family owned five tracts on or near the "Lac de la Croix" west of Thompson Creek. John or a nephew owned 1070 acres on the lake, and 400 acres just west; nephew Lewis owned 400 acres between these two tracts, son and nephew "Wm. and James Alston" owned 800 acres to the south, and son Solomon owned 400 acres to the east. Nephews Lewis and James were the same brothers involved in the Aug 2, 1793 suit. The "John Wilton" who gave a deposition in that suit also owned 400 acres nearby [Library of Congress ..., image of map online].
In a claim relating to a British grant to "Innis Hooper" of 250 acres on Second Creek, bordering a Samuel Wells in 1772, who died by Mar 23, 1804, son William and "his wife Amelia" were among many claimants and heirs of Wells who claimed being settlers in the "sd territory on 27 Oct. 1795" [McBee, Book D, p. 442].
On Mar 31, 1804, after John died, son Solomon claimed "as heir and representative" 450 acres 5 miles south of Natchez granted to John Alston on Jun 16, 1777 by the British Govt. This land back then bordered the lands of Absalom Hooper and "Mrs. Holmes" [McBee, p. 504].
Nephew John McCoy Alston married Sinah Hooper, daughter of Absalom Hooper, on Jan 3, 1795 in Davidson Co. when it was part of the Southwest Territory.
Petit Gulf where the Alston family owned land is now part of Jefferson Co., created from Adams Co., Mississippi Territory, in 1796 (see present day map).
Nephew Peter Alston was an associate of the outlaw Wiley Harpe and was hanged in Old Greenville in Jefferson Co. MS on Feb 8, 1804, after Wiley was identified when the two tried to collect a reward for Harpe's capture by bringing in the severed head of the leader, Samuel Mason, of the gang the two belonged to.
On Mar 24, 1804 Capt. John Stump claimed a lot in Natchez. Lot no. 4, Square no. 26 in the town of Natchez was originally granted on Oct 3, 1795 to Louisa Higdon before she became the wife of John Wylie. Louisa and John Wylie deeded the lot to John Stump "of Davidson Co. Tennessee" [McBee, p. 450]. John's sister, Anna Guice, named her daughter born in 1807 Louisa.
In the 1816 Franklin Co. MS Census, page 4 (line 17), there is a household headed by "Jonathan Guice" with: 2 males over 20 [Jonathan], 1 male under 20 [son Nathaniel], 1 female over 20 [Anna Stump, John's sister], 4 females under 20 [daughters Salome, Elizabeth, Barbara, Louisa], and 10 slaves.
Franklin Co. MS was founded in 1809 (see present day map for location).
Son William died on Apr 12, 1812 just a few weeks before Louisiana became a state [familysearch.org, website].
Sources: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. Claiborne, J.F.H., Mississippi as a Province, Territory and State, with Biographical Notices of Eminent Citizens, vol. 1, Power & Barksdale, Jackson, MS, 1880, pp. 126-131. Clayton, Prof. W.W., History of Davidson County Tennessee, reprod. 1971 by Charles Elder, Nashville TN. Corbitt, D. L., The formation of the N.C. counties, 1663-1943, Dept. Arch. & Hist, Raleigh NC, 1950, 323 pp. Cumberland Compact, original document signed May 13, 1780, Washington County NC, website. David Library of the American Revoution, "British Colonial Office Records CO5 West Florida Reords", website, vol 593, item 107. Drake, Doug, Jack Masters and Bill Puryear, Founding of the Cumberland Settlements, The First Atlas, 1779-1804, Warioto Press, 2009, pp. 23, map E7. Gurganos, Ray, "Ray's Extended Family Tree", website. Hopkins, William, Sussex Co., VA Will Books A-F, 1754-1806, 1990, p. 59. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Wash. DC, "Portion of a map of Feliciana District, Spanish Louisiana ... 1799", image, var. websites. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, pp. 343, 592, Book A, p. 1-3, 34, 450, 541, Book B, pp. 71, 81, Book D, p. 442, Book F, p. 235. MS Dept. of Archives & History (MDAH), Jackson MS, rootsweb, Americans Arriving in Spanish-Held Natchez 1780-1790. MSGenWeb, Natchez District 1792 Census Index, comp. by Ellen Pack, Head of Household Index, transcribed and translated from Spanish. Siebert, Wilbur H., Loyalists in West Florida, vol II, no. 4, p. 13. Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950, "John Alston" Marriage Record, p. 8. Wells, Carol, Natchez Postscripts 1781-1798, Heritage Books, pp. 101, 144-5, 151. Will Books 3 and 4, Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1811-1848, The Genealogical Society of "Original" Wilkes County), Will Book 3, "Estate of Joshua Howard", Oct 1814, page 89, 120.