Henry ALSTON of Edwardstone [2643]

  General Notes:

Lionel Cresswell in Alstoniana was unable to integrate into his Newton family line a significant number of Alstons particularly those associated with Edwardstone (an adjoining village). Conjectural stem trees, (page 388 Alstoniana) including many of these persons, have been worked on by researchers since, seeking to establish a proven link.

The Newton line were generally more wealthy than the family in Edwardstone and made numerous advantageous marriages both financially and socially, they also embraced higher education graduating from Cambridge & Oxford.
About 1550 Edward assumed the Lordship of the Manor of Sayham in Newton, his issue spread West particularly to London, many entering the minor aristocracy receiving Knighthoods and purchasing Baronetcies, becoming very successful in business. A dynasty evolved at Odell, Bedfordshire when Sir Thomas a successful barrister of the Inner Temple bought the Manor.

By comparison the Edwardstone line mainly remained Yeoman farmers and small businessmen in the area until Samuel b1721 son of Samuel, aspired to the Law and became a successful Attorney in Nayland.

It is not inconceivable that the two families, in spite of their geographic proximity, had little contact over the centuries and no intermarriage ?

At this point (2011) this researcher of Alston history, has established a line from Henry of Edwardstone, based on stray Alstons from Alstoniana, Parish Records, Wills and elsewhere. The line is established by christening records or Wills with the exception of Samuel Alston [640] where it is based on the scrap Tree referred to by Cresswell on page 371 of Alstoniana.

Henry is conjecturally placed as a brother of William Alston of Newton, no evidence yet exists for this view.

For descendants of the Edwardstone/Nayland Alston family, proving the parentage wife & marriage of Samuel [640] remains a challenge as does establishing Henry's parents or siblings, and agreeing on a likely Edwardstone line.

Lionel Cresswell in 1898 ponders:
"Unplaced in the Tables. Henry was probably a younger brother of William Alston of Newton . . . . . who died 1563. It will be noticed that Henry refers to his brother-in-law Henry Simonds of Wenham, William Alston's wife's name was Simonds. That Henry was younger than William I infer from his children being said to be under 16 years of age, whereas William had one grandaughter at least at the date of his will."
Alstoniana Pg 151

2005 - A DNA matching arranged by Susan Perrett amongst various branches of the family, including those in America, reveals a match between the Edwardstone and Newton families.

A Henry Alston and Robert Alston are mentioned in the "Rotuli Hundredorum" as having lands at Fulbourn, co. Cambridge.
Alstoniana Pg 2

What is Henry's relationship to William Alston son of John are they brothers or contempories? were they married to sisters?

Mary Terbrack in 2017 writes "it looks to me that Henry [2643] is a second cousin of William [2819], so they could have married into the same family. Though I doubt if it is the armiger family for Henry who was not as rich as William, he being from the line of the oldest son, inherited all the riches, the other sons got less. If John the oldest (from the Will of Thomas) ie. the six sons of John, also got the large portion, and going down the sons, second son was deputy and was educated to be as capable as the son and heir, should the son and heir died. The sixth son was probably apprenticed out, apprenticeships costing the same as 1 years university fees. Needless to say the youngest 3 sons would have had a trade, and married ladies of lesser standing, with fathers that didn't necessarily leave wills, and the younger sons weren't buying land or ending up in court or chancery, with the resulting documentation.
The Will of Henry [2643] reveals modest assets. Gregory got a tenement as the oldest son, he was probably the second oldest and son and heir a first son ? Henry having died. The rest got goods and gowns. He was not a wealthy man unlike his second cousin ? William [2819] of Newton who owned considerable property in the surrounding villages.
Descendants of Henry [2643] of Edwardstone, and William [2819] of Newton, little over a mile away, have been shown in 2005 to share a very close DNA match, but the families over the centuries probably had little contact which remains the case to today.
M Terbrack.

Henry is currently the oldest Henry in this file (2004)

WILL of HENRY ALSTON of EDWARDSTONE.
Dated 17th October 1558.
In the Name of God Amen xvii day of October 1558 5th and 6th years of Philip and Mary
I Henry Alston of Edwardstone in Co. Suffolk to be buried in Church Yard of Edwardston
To Gregory Alston my Sonne and to his heirs my Tenement called flods with all the lands thereunto belonginge both free and copye at the age of xxi yeres he paying to eyther of the resydew of my syx childrenne x.s. within three years aft the said age ys completed that ys to wete xxs by yere to twoe of the eldest as they come in age and I will that yf Gregorie my Sonne doe decease before the Said age of xxi years then I will the one shalbe the others heyers paying out to the rest of my Childrene suche legacies as I have before assigned and at suche tymes as the Saide Gregorie should have done.
Also I give to Gregorie my Sonne my best chafing-dish.
Also I give to Wm. Alstonne my Sonne twoe of my best bras pots and one of my best pewter dishes
Also I give to John Allstonne my Sonne my best kettles ij of my best pewter dishes and ij Sawcers.
Also I give to Elizabeth Alstonne my daughter my wives best gowne, her silver hokes and a Silvr pinne one of my best pillowberes one pewtr dishe and my wives best worsted apron and my best hutche to be delyvered to her immediately after my decease.
Also I give to Margerye Alstonne my daughter my wives next gowne and her best red peticoat and one of my next pillowberes and one of my best pewter dishes to be delyvered to her immediately after my decease.
Also I give to Briget my daughter my wives best curtle one of my best bocrome (buckram) Shetes one pillowbare one of my best cushions and one pewtr dishe.
Also I give to Ann Alstonne my daughter my lytle fozer my brazen mortar with the pestle and my posnet and one of my next pillowberes, my wives second curtell, one of my best cushions and one pewter dishe,
Also I give to my 4 daughters all manr of Suche lynenne as did apperteyne to my wives bodie to weare, to be equally devyded among them.
Also I will that Thomas Cunstable shall have the Kepinge of all suche legacies afore by me given, to five of the yongest of my Children to be delivered to every of them at xvi yeres of age, so that the saide Thomas shall well and safely kepe them with oute waste
or hindrance to my said Children.
Also I give to Henrie Simonds of Wenham my brother in law all the residew of my moveable goods and debts what so ever they be payeinge my debts and also I will that the Said Henry shall have the Saide house and lands to the honest bringinge up of my Said Children till Gregorie come to the age before menconed.
And also I will that the faide Henrie Shall well and honestlye keep my childrene till they be able to be put into honest men's hands and also to pay to every of my vii Childrenne vi.s viijd (6/8d) to be payde to every of them at the ages of xxi yeres and if yt Shall please God that anye of my Childrenne doe decease before the ages before lymited in which they should receve legacies. Then I will that such legacie or legacies to them before given Shall be equally devyded amongst the rest that doth Survive.
Also I will that the Said Henrie Simonds do discharge all maner of rente and doe all maner of such and Service due and also Shall Susteyne and Maynteyne my Saide houses by all the Saide terme in good and Sufficient reparacons and in them so to yelde them up.
Also I do ordeyne, Constitute and make the said Henrye Simonds my Sole Executor to this my last will performed and done and Thomas Constable to be superuisor thereof and I will that the saide Thomas shall at all tymes when he shall think nedeful to call the Saide Henrie to an accompte and to compell the Saide Henrie to doe all and Euerye article conteyned in this my last will and testament accordinge to the true meaninge intent and purpose thereof.
Also I give to the Saide Thomas Constable for his paynes taking vi.s. viijd.
Theis being witnes William Bogas, James Gosnolde, Richard Huggon of Edwardstone aforesaide with others the day and yere above written.
Proved at Lavenham xviij April 1559 before Master Thomas Simonds official in the Archdeacon of Sudbury.
Adom to exor

See Image

Tunna Family Tree Ancestry puts Henry b 1485 Siam Hall Newton - no parents or source given - 2022

  Research Notes:

Whites Directory 1844
EDWARDSTONE, a scattered village, in the vale of a small river, 5 miles E. of Sudbury, has in its parish 495 souls, and 1872 acres of land, mostly arable, but including 105A of wood. The distinguished family of De Monte Canisio, or Montechensy, were anciently seated here, and their heiress carried the manor in marriage to the Walde-graves, who sold it, about the year 1598, to John Brand, clothier, of Boxford. The Kemps obtained it by marrying the heiress of J. Brand, Esq., and in 1714 sold it to Wm. French, draper, of London. Charles Dawson, Esq., is now lord of the manor, and owner of nearly all the soil. He resides at the Hall, an ancient mansion with pleasant grounds, and is patron of the Church, (St. Mary,) and lessee of the great tithes, which belong to the Bishop of Ely. The vicarage, valued in K.B. at £4.13s. 4d., is enjoyed by the Rev. G. A. Dawson, M.A., of Groton, who has a yearly modus of £263, awarded in 1840, when the rectorial tithes were commuted for £373 per annum. Here was formerly a cell to the monastery of Abingdon, near Oxford ; but the monks were re-moved to Colne Priory, in Essex, which obtained the appropriation of the rectory, afterwards annexed to the See of Ely by Queen Elizabeth, is exchange for some valuable manors. Here is a National School, built in 1843, at the cost of £250, subscribed by C. Dawson, Esq., and other contributors.
In 1709, ISAAC BRAND left £100 to be laid out in land, the rent thereof to be distributed among the most aged and industrious poor of Edwardstone, on Easter Sunday. This legacy was laid out in the purchase of a cottage and croft, which were sold in 1804 for £205, which was laid out in 1823 in the purchase of £249. 17s three per cent. reduced annuities. The dividends, £7. 8s. a year, are distribated in linen cloth by the churchwardens.
In 1722, JOHN BRAND left two yearly rent-charges of 20s. each, to be laid out in bread for the poor of Edwardstone and Boxford, but these payments having become void, Joseph Brand, in an in order to revive the charities, conveyed to nine trustees two tenements in Sherborne street, with half an acre of land adjoining, in trust to distribute the yearly rents thereof, in bread, among the poor of Edwardstone and Boxford, on the 5th of November. The two tenements were burnt down about 43 years ago, and a new cottage was built on the site, at the expense of Boxford Parish, which receives the whole of the rent of £3 per annum.
In 1725, JOSEPH CHAPLIN left £250, to be laid out in land, for providing coats and shoes for five men, and gowns, petticoats, and shoes for providing poor women of the parish of Edwardstone. This legacy and £53 left by Sir Joseph Alston, were laid out in 1809, in the purchase of a barn and 22A 2R. of land at Polstead, now let for £26 a year, with an allotment of 1A awarded to it in 1817. The vicar is one of the trostees. and distributes the rent in coats and gowns. The Town Lands are in 3 small plots, let for £8 a year, of which £5 10s is paid to the master of the Sunday school, and the remainder is distributed in clothing. It is unknown how the parishoners acquired this land, and there stands upon it a building, long used as a workhouse. The parish sends two free scholars to Boxford School, and the poor have a yearly rent-charge of £2 out of Edwardstone Hall, supposed to have been left by Wm. French.
In 1758, EDWARD APPLETON left three yearly rent charges out of a farm here called Rockets, viz., 40s. each to Great and Little Waldingfield, and 20s to Edwardstone, for the poor of those parishes. These annuities have not been paid during the last twenty years, but the land charged is supposed to belong to the Dawson family.

In 1870-72, John Goring's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Edwardstone like this:
"EDWARDSTONE, a parish in Cosford district, Suffolk; on an affluent of the river Stour, 4^1/2 miles E of Sudbury r. station, and 5^1/2 W of Hadleigh. Post town, Waldingfield, under Sudbury. Acres, 1, 872. Real property, L.3, 851. Pop., 462. Houses, 103. The manor belongs to the Bishop of Ely. A cell to Abingdon abbey was founded here, in 1114, by the Munchenses; and given, in 1160, to Colne priory. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely. Value, L.203.* Patron, Hon. H. Corry. The church has an ancient brass; and there are an Independent chapel, and charities L.45"

St Mary, Edwardstone
St Mary has as grand an approach as any Suffolk church. You enter the grounds of Edwardstone Hall through the great gateway on the road between Boxford and Little Waldingfield. But the Hall has gone now, so it is the church that seems to be at the centre of the surrounding park. Most Suffolk churches could not live up to this setting; but, although not well-known, St Mary is one of Suffolk's best small churches in an area of some of the grandest and most famous. I would squeeze it into my Top 30 if I could.
St Mary presents its north face to the drive, but you enter round the back through the brick south porch. The church you step into is alive with light and warmth. Look up at Suffolk's finest kingpost roof, or eastwards to G.F. Bodley's remarkably good chancel. This was one of the best Victorian restorations in Suffolk, although, like so many, it has been toned down in the years since.
The North aisle dates back to the early 15th century, and seems contemporary with the tower. This creates an unusual space within the church, as north aisles often can; since the Reformation deprived them of their liturgical function, they can make the chancel appear wildly off-centre, as if its placing against the south wall had some significance, which of course it doesn't. The width of the aisle here makes the nave appear almost square, and partitioned by the pretty arcade.
There are lots of little details that make this church attractive, moreso than nearby Groton. There are super chandeliers in the chancel and nave, and a fine jacobean pulpit, with a contemporary rood-loft door behind.
There is an excellent organ here, and when I last visited I stumbled on a recording session of Purcell's anthems. This lovely space gives instruments and voices a warm resonance, and the opportunity to attend a concert here should not be missed. Nor should the sentimental memorial to Benjamin Brand and his wife, who died within 12 days of each other shortly before the Civil War.
St Mary, Edwardstone, is located along the road between Boxford and Little Waldingfield. You won't easily miss the grand archway entrance.
http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/

Map of Edwardstone: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/print.cfm#zoom=14&lat=52.0372&lon=0.8210&layers=1

  Other Records

1. Edwardstone Alstons: Tree Scraps.
Liveing Archive 11052020

Henry married SIMONDS [2644] [MRIN: 870], daughter of Thomas SIMONDS [2821] and Unknown.