Edward ALSTON [3079]

  General Notes:

Odell
Register Extracts.
Edward son of Edward Alston & Hester Bap 14 Mar 1640/41

Edward of St Andrews Holborn Middlesex, was admitted to Grays Inn 25 Nov 1662 ref Law List PRO, died d.s.p. Will dated 23 June 1715, proved PCC 2 Nov 1716.

Alston Edward: s of Edward Alston of Strixton co Northampton Knt., - 25 Nov 1662 f1177. Brother of Charles Archdeacon of Norwich.
Collectanea Genealogica.

Edward is said in a statement by his sister Catherine to have lived as a young man with his brother Thomas in Smyrna until Thomas died.

Alstoniana states (Pg 19) John Alston brother of William died unmarried insane from a blow with a quarter staff, but the researcher (E L Fenn) believes it to have been the fate of Edward.

Edward appears not always to have been of sound mind, judging from a number of statements gathered from various depondants between 1714 and 1715 part of actions over distribution of his fathers Will.
His sister Catherine deponded in a lengthy statement that by reason of his distraction and madness he was was for some time tyed to his bed and confined to his chamber. On the death of his father he is reported to have obstructed the closing of the coffin, he also rode unclothed and was not able to do any manner of business.
Ref: PROB 28/705 on file
PROB 28/70

Statement in 33 parts by Catherine Wiseman [3082] 1715.
See Other Records below

ALSTON v. ALSTON & another.
Bill, 20 May 1693, by Edward Alston of Strixton, co. Northants, Esq. v. Charles Alston, John Alston and Katherine Wiseman for recovery of legacies under the will of complainant's father, Sir Edward Alston, late of Bozeat, Northants, Kt.
Recites facts already noted in connection with this family.
Whittington 532 1693
Alstoniana Pg 186

ALSTON v, ALSTON & Others.
Chancery Proceedings before 1714. Bridges 352.
Answer, 6 December 1712, of Edward Alston, Esq., one of the defendants to the complaint of Thomas, Elizabeth, Frances and Sarah Alston.
Defendant believes that John Alston, his late brother, was possessed of a considerable personal estate, and willed that the defendant should have the benefit thereof for his life, with remainder to the children of his cousin John Alston of Pavenham, co. Bedfordshire (the plaintiffs) John Plaxton the executor duly proved the will. He is willing all moneys should be paid plaintiffs as testator desired in his will, and has never hindered the same &c. &c
Bridges. 352 1712. Ref: TNA C5/352/10
Alstoniana Pg 193
TNA C5/221/36 Alston v. Plaxton: Middlesex 1702 (not searched 2007)

  Other Records

1. Further Statements concerning Edward: By Thomas Boomer, John Ravenscroft & Hester Cullum, Jul 1714.
Document in English on file (2011) transcription to be completed.
PRO Ref: 32/58/9-11-13-15-21.

They are mainly affidavits supporting Catherine Wiseman's (nee Alston) long statement on her observations of her brother Edward's mental health

2. Catherine Wiseman nee Alston, sister of Edward.: Statement about Edward as part of litigation over their Fathers Will, Part 01 1715.
Part 01
Statement in 33 parts by Catherine Wiseman [3082].

1. Edward Alston deceased, while he was a young man, lived with his brother Thomas Alston deceased a merchant at Smyrna and continued there with him till his said
brother's death.

2. The said Edward Alston shortly after his said brother's death to wit about 50 years since returned to England and soon afterwards followed or exercised the trade or employment of a merchant or any other trade, and his father Sir Edward Alston being then a Gent Pensioner to his late Majesty King Charles the 2nd bought him a Gent Pensioner's place, but the said Edward Alston shortly afterwards falling distracted and mad and continuing so and being thereby rendered incapable of executing the office the said Sir Edward Alston thereupon sold the same and this was and is true, public, and notorious.

3. Edward Alston by reason of his aforesaid distraction and madness was for some time tied and made fast in his bed and was then confined to his chamber for several months together, and afterwards for many years together he was not suffered or permitted to go abroad without a man servant going along with and attending on him and this was and is true, public, and notorious so much the said Edward Alston hath confessed and declared to several persons.

4. Edward Alston for all the time would not suffer his face or beard at any time to be shaved and behaved himself after a distracted manner and talked inconsistently and was not capable of doing any manner of business and he was commonly reputed and taken as a distracted person.

5. The said Sir Edward Alston and William Alston Esq his eldest son and heir (by reason that the said Edward Alston was become and continued distracted) passed a fine and recovery and cut off the entail upon their estate and settled the same upon the [...] William Alston and his heirs to bar and prevent the said Edward Alston [...] and the said William Alston Esq who died a widower with[out?] children after the death of his said father for the same reason [...] the same by his Will to his brother [...]and his heirs subject to the payment of his debts as by the said Will reference being thereunto had may appear and this was and is true and so much they have confessed and declared.

6. Edward Alston for several years after he became distracted as aforesaid lived with his said father at East Barnett in the county of Hertford and some time afterwards with his father's approbation lived with the said Catherine Wiseman his sister at Bozeat near Strixton in the county of Northampton and then returned again to his said father's house but made his escape from there and came up to London and stayed there for some time at the house of one Thomas Phillips who had formerly been his father's servant and during his stay at the said several places he the said Edward Alston was distracted and talked and behaved himself after a distracted manner and was not capable of doing any manner of business and so much was observed and taken notice of by several persons.

7. During the time Edward Alston was in London, his father died in the winter time at Catherine Wiseman his daughter's house at Bozeat being about 50 miles from London, and Edward Alston hearing thereof immediately went down there on horseback in a distracted manner without any boots or riding coat upon him and without cleaning his clothes or refreshing himself or taking notice of anybody cried out "Where is my father?" and being told he was dead he replied "You have killed him" or to that effect and then asked for some burnt claret and rosemary which being brought him he held the tankard of claret in his hand walking about the room without drinking and saying "rosemary is rosemary" for about a quarter of an hour and the said Edward being conducted to the place where his father lay in his coffin he looked upon him and refused to let the said coffin be nailed up saying "I must first speak with my father and my father to me" and then he cried out several times with a loud voice after a distracted manner "father! father! father! speak to your son Edward!" and would not suffer him to be buried for some time after his said sister and his other relatives had designed his burial, and this was and is true, public, and notorious.

8. After his father's funeral Edward Alston continued at his sister Catherine Wiseman's house where he talked and behaved himself after a distracted manner and was not capable of doing any manner of business and for and as a distracted person he was then accounted, reputed, and taken, and this was and is public and notorious.

9. Sir Edward Alston from the time that Edward Alston his son became distracted until the time of his death always maintained him and by his last Will and testament gave to him or for his use £1500 but in regard of his said son's distraction and incapacity of managing his affairs he therein constituted and appointed the said William Alston Esquire and Dr. Charles Alston trustees for the management of Edward's legacy which
they accordingly did and the said William Alston kept during his life the said 1500L in his hands and paid the interest thereof for or towards the said Edward Alston's maintenance.

10. Edward Alston for several years next after his father's death lived with a man for a time alone who was hired to look after him at a farm house belonging to his said brother William Alston Esq at Strixton and was for all the time distracted and not capable of any manner of business and beat his manservant after such a cruel manner that he had like to have killed him without any manner of provocation given him by such
servant, this was and is true, published, and notorious.

11. About 6 years later when his said brother William Alston Esq died a widower at London the said Edward Alston as soon as he had heard of his death in a distracted manner threw himself down and rolled upon the ground and cried out "They have killed my brother!" and then talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and for and as such he was then accounted, reputed, and taken.

12. Edward Alston immediately upon his said brother William Alston's death possessed himself of his the said William's real estate at Strixton of the value of about £500 or £600 per annum and lived there at which time he behaved himself after a distracted manner and turned his said brother's servants and old tenants from off the same and let most part thereof lie waste and untenanted without any stock and untilled as he had no manner of right there to and that the same had some time before been settled by Wills upon the said Dr Alston after the said William's death subject to the payment of several considerable debts and legacies
among which was his the said Edward's aforesaid legacy of £1500 and the said Dr Alston could by no fair means prevail with the said Edward to acquit the same to him and was thereupon forced to serve him with a declaration of ejectment and turn him out by due course of law, and this was and is true, public, and notorious.
Document on file (2011)
Ref: 28/705
The repeditive word Ye and other unimportant abreviations have not been used in this transcription.
Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan 20.10.2022

3. Catherine Wiseman nee Alston, sister of Edward.: Statement about Edward as part of litigation over their Fathers Will, Part 02 1715.
Part 02

13. Edward Alston also possessed himself of his said brother William's personal estate and of several rents arising from his said real estate and foolishly and extravagantly spent and wasted the same and suffered himself to be cheated thereof without paying any of the aforesaid debts and legacies and when he has been desired to pay some of the said debts he has foolishly answered that he owed none and would pay none and the said estate was his or to that effect.

14. Edward Alston for all the time he continued to be in possession of his said brother's estate was in a distracted manner of business and talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and for and as such he was then accounted, reputed, and taken.

15. Edward Alston shortly after he was tuned out of his brother's estate came up to London in a distracted manner and some time afterwards had lodgings provided for him in Fleet Street where he continued for about 4 months and for all that time was in a distracted condition and talked and talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and as such was accounted, reputed, and taken, and then had a person kept constantly to look after him and was not capable of any manner of business and by reason of such his distraction and incapacity whilst he lodged in Fleet Street aforesaid he was not permitted to go abroad and few persons were permitted to come to him.

16. Edward Alston being informed that Whitehall was burned talked after a distracted manner and said that
then his school house was burnt.

17. Edward Alston by reason of his continuing distraction was removed in the night time in a coach from his said lodging in Fleet Street to a house in Fisher's Court in Eagle Street near Red Lion Square and continued there in a distracted condition without ever going abroad for about 2 years and then had a person constantly kept to look after him and for all that time he talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and was not capable of any manner of business and so much was then observed and taken notice of by several persons and by reason of his distraction and incapacity very few persons were then permitted to come to him.

18. Edward Alston was removed by night time in a coach from his lodgings in Fisher Court aforesaid to a lodging in Brownlow Street [near?] Drury Lane and continued there a year and then was removed to a lodging in Peter Street Bloomsbury and there continued for about a month at both which places he kept constantly in his chamber in a distracted condition and then had a person constantly to look after him and for all the time he talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and was not capable of any manner of business and for and as such person he was constantly in his chamber in a distracted condition and then had a
person constantly to look after him and for all that time he talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and was not capable of any manner of business and by reason of such his distraction and incapacity
very few persons were then permitted to see him and so much was then observed and taken notice of by several persons.

19. In the year 1700 a small house in Fisher's Court aforesaid of about £9 a year was taken by the person who usually attended upon and looked after Edward Alston for them to live in with more conveniency and retirement then (sic) in lodgings and Edward Alston by reason of his distraction was removed thither in a coach in the night time and they accordingly lived together from that time till Edward's death which happened thereon or about the 9th day of December last past and for all that time Edward Alston continued in a distracted condition and talked and behaved himself like a distracted person and was not capable of any manner of business and for and as such a person he was then commonly accounted, reputed, and taken and this was and is true, public, and notorious.

20. Edward Alston by reason of his said distraction could not for above 12 months after his removal to the said house in Fisher's Court be persuaded to go into the said court nor into a little yard belonging and adjoining for half a year and after such times as he went abroad would talk to anybody he met in the streets in a foolish and distracted manner and then behaved himself like a distracted person and so he continued to do until the time of his death and this was and is true, public, and notorious.

21. Edward Alston from the time he became distracted upwards of 30 years afterwards would not suffer
any strange woman to come near him saying that if they should they would take away his virtue and qualifications, but for about [?] years last past he would kiss or attempt to kiss any woman though never so mean which he met with in the street or elsewhere in a foolish and distracted manner, and so much was observed and taken notice of by several persons.

22. Edward Alston, during his aforesaid continuance at his lodgings in Fleet Street, Fisher's Court, Brownlow and Peters Streets, wore his grandmother's wedding ring with the posy [...] tied with a ribbon or string about his neck, and used after a foolish and distracted manner to preach for an hour together upon the virtue thereof and say that the [...] was good against witches and wizards and that as long as he so [...] the same they could have no power over him or to that effect.

23. Edward Alston would frequently for 40, 30, or at least 20 years next before and till the time of his death talk after a distracted manner of witches and wizards and say they had bewitched the good Queen Elizabeth as well as himself and had destroyed his qualifications and also the qualifications of his father and mother and sometime the last summer the said Edward Alston declaring himself so to a person who then told him that witches and wizards might spoil his qualifications but not his father's and mother's who were dead, he then replied, if they destroy mine, then they destroy my father's and mother's, or to that effect.

24. Edward Alston for several years next before his death refused to suffer any pictures to be in his house or lodgings saying they brought witches and wizards and also refused to suffer his beard to be shaved and usually clipped it himself with a pair of scissors and saved and put into pieces of paper the clippings of his beard and cuttings of his nails and burned them in the fire so to prevent witches and wizards having any power over him, and several pieces of paper with the cuttings of his nails were found in his bedchamber or closet at or shortly after his death.

25. Edward Alston was for 3 years next before and till the time of his death always looked upon and accounted by his relations, friends, and acquaintances to be a distracted person and not capable of making a Will or doing any manner of business and so much several of them know and have confessed and declared, and particularly the said Dr Charles Alston and also his brother John Alston and the Lady Woolstonholme alias Alston the mother of Vere Alston the party proponent in this cause have several times declared that the said Edward Alston was a poor distracted person, and the said Dr Alston did usually at such times as he sent his servants to him order them to please him in his discourse and not contradict him in anything he should say, or to that effect, and Thomas Chettle a pretended witness examined on the behalf of the said Vere Alston in his cause hath also lately declared that the said Edward Alston was a poor brained person and not in his senses.

Document on file (2011)
Ref: 28/705
The repeditive word Ye and other unimportant abreviations have not been used in this transcription.
Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan 20.10.2022

4. Catherine Wiseman nee Alston, sister of Edward.: Statement about Edward as part of litigation over their Fathers Will, Part 03 1715.
Part 03

26. Edward Alston was at the time of his death about 80 years of age and for 3 years next before and till the time of his death could not remember what he said or did for a quarter of an hour together and usually contradicted himself and talked after an inconsistent and senseless manner, and at such times as he wrote or attempted to write letters and receipts, accounts or anything else he could not do the same without being first taught and instructed and having some person to direct him therein, and was usually about half an hour in writing a short receipt and commonly wrote nonsense or made mistakes therein, and his memory was so much decayed that he could not for many years next before his death cast any account up right, and so much was observed and taken note of by several persons.

27. Edward Alston for want of a capacity and understanding to manage his affairs spent and wasted the aforesaid legacy of £1500 given him by his father's Will and about the sum of between £700 and £800 which was paid to him about 11 years last past as his share or dividend of his cousin Ashton's (sic) personal estate who died a Bat (Sic - batchelor ?) intestate and was reduced to poverty, and the said Dr. Alston for about 4 years next before his death which happened in the month of June 1714 gave and paid to and for the account of Edward Alston about £9 yearly out of charity for his maintenance besides several other debts which he contracted.

28. Thomas Chettle always had, from the time of the death of the said Dr Alston until the time of the death of Edward Alston, the sole government of the said Edward Alston and the management of his estate and affairs, and for all that time had so great a power over and influence upon him that he could make him do whatsoever he pleased, and the said Edward Alston then stood in so much awe of Thomas Chettle that
he durst not do a thing without him, and so much was observed and taken notice of several persons who were daily conversing with him.

29. Thomas Chettle solicited on the behalf of Edward Alston a cause lately depending in this court between him and Edward Alston and Catherine Wiseman his sister concerning the granting the administration of the goods etc. of Dr Charles Alston, and afterward recovered from the said Catherine as administratrix of the said Dr Alston's goods in East India Company bonds besides £100 in money towards his (Edward's) share or dividends of such estate, and the said Chettle, then looking upon the said Edward not to be of sufficient capacity to take into his charge and custody the aforesaid bonds, thereupon prevailed with him the very day he received the same into his hands, which was on or about the day of [empty space] last, to leave them all except one in the custody and possession of Mr Keck a scrivener in Fleet Street a stranger to him the said deceased and friend of him the said Chettle, and he the said Chettle afterwards ordered and caused the said Mr Keck to receive the interest due thereupon and to pay the same or the greatest part thereof to him the said Chettle all which said bonds or most part of them remained in the said Mr Kecks custody at the time of Edward Alston's death, and so much that Mr Chettle and Mr Keck have confessed and declared.

30. Thomas Chettle had for a bond 12 months next before and till the time of Edward Alston's death
and still hath a great prejudice and aversion to and for Catherine Wiseman and her son John Wiseman
Esquire, and hath several times within the time aforesaid and particularly before the date of Edward's pretended Will in controversy being the 23rd day of June last past threatened, said, and swore that none of the Wisemans (meaning Catherine and her children) should be one penny better for Edward's estate and that he would cause him to make a Will and give all he had from them, or to that effect, and hath also several times said to Edward Alston regarding the Wisemans "You shall and must make a Will and give them nothing" or to that effect, and in case the aforesaid pretended Will was ever made or executed by Edward Alston, which the party proponent doth not confess but denies the same, it was so done by the importunity, persuasion, and instigation of the said Thomas Chettle, and the said Edward Alston was not then capable of making a Will or doing any other serious act.

31. Mr Chettle, during Edward Alston's illness from which he died (which was for about 3 weeks or a month) ordered and caused Mr Glass and his wife who then lived in the house to conceal and keep his sickness private, especially from Catherine Wiseman and her son and the rest of her children, and to say that it was the said Mr Glass or his wife who then lay sick there, and Mr Thomas Chettle, being then informed by a woman who was then hired to assist Mr Glass to look after Edward Alston that she had acquainted some of her neighbours who had enquired after Mr Alston's health that he was well and that it was the said Mr Glass that was ill, replied to her "You have done well", and Mr Chettle then also ordered and caused the said Mrs Glass and her husband to conceal Edward Alston's name from the physician who attended upon him and to call him by the name of Mr Glass, and both they and the physician then several times called him so, and the physician asked several times the said Alston how old he was and he twice answered full six and twenty.

32. Catherine Wiseman, the party in this cause, is Edward Alston's natural, lawful, and only sister and next of kin and she has a son and two daughters who are single persons now living, and she and her said
daughters were always very kind and obliging to Edward Alston and have yearly made him presents of fowls
and other things, and this was and is true, public, and notorious.

33. Mr Vere Alston the party proponent in this cause is a remote kinsman of the said Edward Alston and never saw him but twice in his life and had no manner of correspondence with him and was very much surprised when he first heard that Edward Alston had made his Will meaning the pretended Will in controversy and made him the said Vere Alston his executor and so much or to that effect Vere Alston hath confessed and declared to several persons.

Signed by the said Catherine Wiseman
in the presence of us.

William Surridge
Tho. Boomes
Katt Wiseman

Document on file (2011)
Ref: 28/705
The repeditive word Ye and other unimportant abreviations have not been used in this transcription.
Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan 20.10.2022

5. Further Statements concerning Edward: By George Sayer, John Usher[?], Abt 1716.
Documents in Latin & English on file (2011) transcription to be completed.
PRO Ref: 28/705

They are mainly affidavits supporting Catherine Wiseman's (nee Alston) long statement on her observations of her brother Edward's mental health

6. Further Statements concerning Edward: By B Rushworth, William Surridge, 1716.
Documents in Latin & English on file (2011) transcription to be completed.
PRO Ref: 28/705

They are mainly affidavits supporting Catherine Wiseman's (nee Alston) long statement on her observations of her brother Edward's mental health

7. Further Statements concerning Edward: By John Lettice, 9 Apr 1716.
Documents in English on file (2011) transcription to be completed.
PRO Ref: 28/705

It is an affidavit supporting Catherine Wiseman's (nee Alston) long statement on her observations of her brother Edward's mental health

8. Edward Alston: Will, 22 Oct 1716, Holborn LND.
THE WILL of EDWARD ALSTON of LONDON
23 June 1715
The will of Edward Alston of the parish of St Andrews Holborn, co. Middlesex, Esquire.
I give all my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments my goods Chattels and personal estate unto my kinsman Vere John Alstone rector of Odell co. Bedford, subject to the payment of my debts and funeral expenses (which I desire may be small) also chargeable with the following legacies.
I give to my Cousin Ann Alston sister to the said Vere John Alston L500
I give to my Cousins Thomas and Elizabeth Alston, Francis Whitelocke, and Sarah Alston, children of my Cousin John Alston of Pavenham co. Bedford L50 each.
To my friend Mr. Stephen Creagh of London L21/10/-
To Tho. Hill of Lincoln's Inn, Gent. L21/10/-
To the poor of the parish where I shall happen to die L10.
I appoint the said Vere John Alston sole executor.
Signed EDWARD ALSTON.
Witnesses : Jos. Fowke, Tho : Medowcourt, Tho : Chetle.
Proved: 2 November 1716 by Vere John Alston Clk and executor named in will.
Fox 200 PROB11/554/283
Page 132 Alstoniana

9. Edward Alston: Will, 2 Nov 1716.
Origional transcription of the Sentence imposed on the value of the evidence dated 22 Oct 1716, (in Latin).