Charles James ALSTON [65]

  General Notes:

Charles was Articled as a Clerk to his father's legal practice in 1827 the Articles were assigned to his uncle Samuel in 1830, he was unmarried.
Records of professional dealings by Charles
Bury PRO HB 516/65/9 & 10 photos (2004)

About the time of Charles birth, in a letter dated London 25 Aug 1812 to his father from his friend E Blair is the following reference " When my tenant Creek came last to town to petition for the renewal of his lease, he told me your lady has a vessel on the stocks, but was unable to determine what time it would be launched. I was unwilling therefore to visit you at a venture, lest I should arrive at the unseasonable time of the groaning; which though you have not mentioned it, I presume must now be over".

My Dear Sir,
Merchant Taylor's School, E.C.,
March 14, 1895,
. . . . . There is no other Alston in our Register till 1820 when Edward Alston b. 13 Dec. 1810 and Charles Jas. Alston
b. 25 June 1812 entered together, but of these nothing is recorded.
I am, my dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(Rev.) WILLIAM BAKER (D.D.),
Headmaster.
Alstoniana Pg 382

Charles became of unsound mind and is recorded in the 1841/51/61/71 Census as resident in a Lunatic Asylum, The Retreat Maldon Rd Witham ESSex.

C 211/34/2 26 Victoria : Alston, James: of Blacklands House Asylum, Chelsea, Middx 1863 Apr
PRO C 211 Chancery: Petty Bag Office: Commissions and Inquisitions of Lunacy

  Other Records

1. Charles James Alston, 1827.
Confirmation of Charles Articles of Clerkship 23 Jul 1827.

Assignment of Charles Clerkship 6 Feb 1830

Assignment of Charles Clerkship 18 Mar 1830

Confirmation of Charles Articles of Clerkship 11 Feb 1831

Witham Asylum 1841 Census
Thomas Tompkin surgeon of Witham opened a private lunatic asylum at The Retreat Maldon Rd Witham early in the 19thC, an 1826 inspection of the institution reported to the Magistrates "we found it in every respect conformable to the Act for the regulation of such houses. It is also in our opinions admirably adapted to the comfort of the patients and well calculated to promote their restoration to sanity (signed John Badeley MD, Charles Dalton, William Lucio)"
Unfortunately Charles brother Rev Edward Alston was a residential patient until the end of his life, their uncle Rev William Alston of Cripplegate London also suffered from mental illness.

2. Charles James Alston, 28 Mar 1831.
Charles was acting as Deputy Steward of the Manor of Assington and executed this Surrender before he was overcome by mental illness in later years.

3. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, Lunatic Asylum Witham ESS. Charles is described as a patient, aged 28 a student in law, born ESS

4. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Maldon Rd Witham ESS. Charles is recorded as C A aged 38 a patient in a Lunatic Asylum born Nayland Suffolk

5. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Tompkins Lunatic Asylum Witham ESS. Charles is recorded as a patient aged 41 unmarried born Nayland SFK

6. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, Lunatic Asylum Maldon Rd Witham ESS. Charles is described as CA a boarder unmarried aged 58, law student born Nayland SFK lunatic