Rev Thomas ALSTON M.A. of Assington SFK [3432]

  General Notes:

Thomas was aged 2 yrs 5 mths 2 wks at the death of his father, he was educated at Queens College Cambridge, graduating M.A., he took Holy Orders.

First Name: Thomas
Last Name: Alston
Occupation Given: gentleman
Address: Gedding Hall Suffolk
Admission Date: 17/11/1627
Call Date: 26/05/1639
Inner Temple Admissions (2009)

Thomas's date of birth in 1609 is illegible, but it is midyear approx - from reference to the Register.

Thomas was mentioned for £5, in his uncle Isaac Alston's will 20 May 1625, upon reaching his majority.

St Edmunds Church Assington has a wall plaque listing Thomas's benefactions dated 1690. He bequeathed a charity to the church-attending poor of Assington, which was then administered by the local Council (1899), and "a small library of divinity books for the use of the Vicar" which were still there in 1899.
2015. A balance of 191 of the 280 books Thomas bequeathed are now held at the Suffolk County Record Office, Ipswich,
A note book belonging to Thomas listing the titles in this library and other matters is deposited in the Bury RO Ref FL521/11/2 Copy with E L Fenn 2004
He also founded a scholarship at his Cambridge College, Queens called the "Alston Scholarship", to which scholars of the name Alston, or those from Suffolk should be preferred.

Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Branch:
ASSINGTON PARISH RECORDS
Catalogue Ref. FL521
Creator(s):
Church of England, Assington Parish, Suffolk
CHARITIES
FILE - Assington memoranda book of gifts or bequests to the Church or poor begun in 1684 - ref. FL521/11/2 - date: 1684 - 1878
Also including terriers, 1760, 1763 and catalogue of the parochial library bequeathed by Thomas Alston
FILE - Lists of beneficiaries of Gurdon, Alston and Waterflood charities, with small accounts - ref. FL521/11/6 - date: 1918 - 1957
Ref A2A

ASSINGTON CHURCH.
In the floor of the Nave
Alston 10 Etoiles 4, 3, 2 and I a mullet for diffn.
Helmet, Mantle and Crest.
Thomas Alstonus utriusque Academiae
Alumnus et in Artibus Magister, Ecclesiae
Anglicanoe Presbyter, ad sacros ordines
Francisco White Eliensi Episcopo, juxta
Ritus ejusdem Ecclesiae admissus mortalitatem
Suam exuit secundo die mensis Decembris et
Anno Domini 1690 Natus Aprilis sexto A.D.
1609, sepultus.
Fui in generatione ab Adamo miser
Sum in regeneratione a spiritu sancto felix
Ero in resurrectione a Christo beatus
Resurgam spe ad vitam per Christum
Fide ad oeternam in cum Christo.
Alstoniana Pg 249

Alston Helmet Mantle & Crest.
Thomas Alston both universitys
Student and master of arts, of the Church
Anglican priest to holy orders
Francis White Bishop of Ely, according to
The rites of the Church admitted mortality
he died the second of December 1690 A.D.
Born April sixth year
1609, was buried.
I was miserable generation from Adam
I am happy in the regeneration by the Holy Spirit
I will be happy in the resurrection of Christ
Rise to the hope of eternal life through Christ
Used in conjunction with the faith of Christ to everlasting.

  Research Notes:

See attached sources.

  Other Records

1. Rev Thomas Alston: His Ledger Stone Inscription, Details of his Benefactions.
ASSINGTON CHURCH.
In the floor of the Nave
Alston 10 Etoiles 4, 3, 2 and I a mullet for diffn.
Helmet, Mantle and Crest.
Thomas Alstonus utriusque Academiae
Alumnus et in Artibus Magister, Ecclesiae
Anglicanoe Presbyter, ad sacros ordines
Francesco White Eliensi Episcopo, juxta
Ritus ejusdem Ecclesiae admissus mortalitatem
Suam exuit secundo die mensis Decembris et
Anno Domini 1690 Natus Aprilis sexto A.D.
1609, sepultus.
Fui in generatione ab Adamo miser
Sum in regeneratione a spiritu sancto felix
Ero in resurrectione a Christo beatus
Resurgam spe ad vitam per Christum
Fide ad oeternam in cum Christo.
Alstoniana Pg 249

Alston Helmet Mantle & Crest.
Thomas Alston both universitys
Student and master of arts, of the Church
Anglican priest to holy orders
Francis White Bishop of Ely, according to
The rites of the Church admitted mortality
he died 2 December 1699 A.D.
Born 6 April 1609, was buried.
I was miserable generation from Adam
I am happy in the regeneration by the Holy Spirit
I will be happy in the resurrection of Christ
Rise to the hope of eternal life through Christ
Used in conjunction with the faith of Christ to everlasting.

2. Rev Thomas Alston: The inventory of his library of religious books, Mainly 17th Century. Part 1

3. Rev Thomas Alston: The inventory of his library of religious books, Mainly 17th Century. Part 2

4. Rev Thomas Alston: The inventory of his library of religious books, Mainly 17th Century. Part 3

5. Thomas Alston: Will, 1690, Assington SFK.
THE WILL OF THOMAS ALSTON OF ASSINGTON co. Suff. Cleric.
Dated 1st May 1690.
I give my messuage or farm called Clarbecks "als" Orrels in Newton and Assington co. Suffolk to Elizabeth Tracy 'als' Euans one of the daughters of Mr John Tracy deceased, for her life with remainder to Edward Alston Rector of Newton Church and Thomas Alston my godson, son of the said Edward Alston and his heirs.
I leave to the rectors of Newton an annuity of 40/- chargeable upon the above lands.
I give to the Vicar of Assington and his successors hoping that some worthy and charitable persons will make some additions thereto, certain books with my name at the beginning or stamped on both sides T.A. also the shelves in my study - the register of the books bequeathed which register is to be examined and compared with the books therein described on the vicarage changing hands
I desire to found and endow a scholarship in Queen's College, Cambridge, of which I was fomerly a member - the endowment of L3 yearly to be paid out of the preceeds of my lands in Assington and Newton - any scholar of the name of Alston to be preferred for this gift, or a native of Suffolk. I desire that this scholarship be called Alston's Scholarship.
I leave to the poor of Assington 26/- annually to be distributed as follows- The Churchwardens to provide every Sunday 6 penny loaves of mistelan with the June bread put into them - to be given in the first place to poor widows.
I give to Cornelius Alston son of Robert Alston 20/-
I give to Anna Hurrel, one of the daughters of my Uncle William Alston 40/-
To Rebecca Smith one of the daughters of my Uncle William Alston 40/-
To the children of Frances Williamson a third daughter of my Uncle William Alston 40/-
To the children of Rachel Rinch a fourth daughter 40/-
To the children of Mary Finch a 5th daughter 40/-
I give to Hellen Duncomb and Rachel Goldsmith daughters of Samuel Alston 20/-each
To Edmund Alston of Rogers 40/- and my gold seal ring which was my grandfathers
To Edmund my godson, son of above 20/-
To Thomas Alston of Newton Hall my silver spoons marked T.A. and my pewter plates with my coat of arms on them
To Samuel and Edmund his brothers 20/- each and a mourning ring each
To John Curd son of my Aunt Curd 20/-
To the children of Amy Dale and Susan Meller Daughters of my Aunt Curd 20/- each
To my godchildren Henry Goldsmith, Robert Ponder, Hellen Duncomb, and Susan Cook 20/- each
To Edward Alston of Boxford and his wife 20/-each
To the children of John Tracy of Moulton Suffolk, ( whose wife was Ann Alston) to Paul 40/-, to Charles 20/-, to Dorothy 40/-,and my piece of gold which was my mother's 33/- to Mary 20/-
To Luke Eales M.D. I give all my physic books and books of Chyrurgery and Gardening, my silver tobacco box and 40/-
To Mary Eales his sister 40/-
To Edward Alston Rector of Newton all my books not before bequeathed
To my friend Philip Gardon a guinea for a ring
To my kinsman Giles Duncomb a guinea for a ring
To the poor of Newton 20/-
To Ann Street widow my faithful servant an annuity of 20/- for 2 years
I appoint Elizabeth Tracy my executrix and leave to her the residue of my estate.
signed Thomas Alston
Witnesses: Barret Gudon, Will How, Philip Franck, Will. Firmin.
Proved 31 January 1690/1 by Eliz. Euans 'als' Tracy wife of ? Tracy sole executrix named in will.
Page 126 Alstoniana
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