Rev William ALSTON [89]

  General Notes:

Entry in the Alston Law Practice Diary
"My son William went to Mr Alefounders School on the 22nd day of June 1778"
Manor of Weeley ESS Court Records 1696-1793.
Both Thomas Alefounder & Samuel Alston were involved with the Manor of Weeley ESS.

ALSTON (WILLIAM), s. Samuel, of Nayland, Suffolk, arm. University Coll. matric. 22 Jun 1790, aged 18, B.A. Magdalen Coll. 1794. Coll. Reg., v.7.
Oxoniensis 1891

ALSTON WILLIAM, s. Samuel, of Nayland, Suffolk, arm. University Coll. matric. 22 Jun 1790, aged 18, B.A. Magdalen Coll. 1794. Coll. Reg., v.7.
Oxoniensis 1715-1886 NZSOG

William suffered from mental illness. There is mention of this in the Wills of his brothers and sisters. There is also mention in The Nayland Record, Spring number 1981 No. 29 page 2 which says: George Alston quote - He also had other urgent commitments, most worrying of which was the monthly visit to William Alston, George's younger brother, who was mentally unstable and more or less imprisoned in apartments in Islington. William was looked after by a manservant, who sound pretty tough and a landlady who encourage him to sin, and his condition varied with each visit. He seems, from the letters, to have been a lunatic rather than a madman. unquote.

William is mentioned several times in letters to George Alston by his friend and business associate in London Edward Blair. Blair writes 24 Dec 1802 "Your brother Samuel is satisfied that the state of poor Wm's mind is not such as to justify his being at large; and that the expense of a continued personal attendance will not be less than it is at present; while the security of both himself and his neighbours will be considerably diminished. His looks and behaviour are somewhat less wild than when you saw him; but his conversation was equally extravagant, and his pulse at the same rate of 120 in the minute"

A further letter 31st March 1813
"Your brother Samuel breakfasted here a few weeks ago. We called together upon your brother William at Islington. I have never seen him more calm, or in better humour. He sung us several songs at the desire of his landlady, shook us heartily by the hand, and expressed no signs of discontent or impatience. He is greatly reduced in his fat and his pulse was also lowered to between 80 and 90, which was formerly 120 in the minute. During the time of our stay he said nothing irrational, and with some difficulty would accept a few shillings for fruit; but employed a part in the purchase of snuff. But whether this remission be permanent, or only temporary time alone will be able to discover"

William Alston of Fore St
Burial
Age:67
Estimated birth year:abt 1772
Burial Date:9 Feb 1839
Burial Place:St Giles without Cripplegate, City of London
Register Type:Parish Register