Alfred Ernest ALSTON [3778]

  General Notes:

Living in High Street Manningtree, Essex in the 1881 Census with his family.

Notes from Ann Hewitt, Toronto, Canada:
Alfred was the squire of Great Bromley and his family lived in Bromley Hall. His money came from a long established family brewery, The Stour Brewery, in Manningtree, Essex. Alfred was the brew-master, and known to his staff as The Pater.
Apparently he did not get along with his three sons. They were raised and educated as "gentlemen" with no real skills for the work-a-day world.
Ref Susan Perrett

Kellys Directory 1894 Manningtree ESS - Alston Alfred Ernest High St Manningtree - Alston & Sons, Brewers, Maltsters, Wine & Spirit Merchants & White Hart Hotel High St.
Ref 1851 ESS Census aged 6 bn Gt Bromley - ESS 461/GBY

Kellys Directory 1933 Manningtree ESS
Alston Alfred Ernest 6 High St Manningtree.

Alston Alfred Ernest of Brewery House Manningtree Essex died 23 June 1935. Probate Ipswich 29 August 1935 to Edith Caroline Alston spinster and Ralph Sunderland Taylor solicitor. Effects L39462 5s 8d.
National Probate Calendar.

Alfred is remembered on the Alston Tomb in Great Bromley Churchyard, Essex:
"Sacred to the memory of Alfred Ernest Alston, fourth son of the late Edward John Alston, died June 23rd 1935 in his 91st year. . . . ."
Ref: Photographed and recorded by Mike Burn 2014.

  Research Notes:

Picture of Alfred in a garden from Susan Perrett 2004

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Gt Bromley ESS. Alfred is recorded as a son aged 6 born Gt Bromley

2. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Gt Bromley Hall ESS. Alfred is recorded as a son unmarried aged 16 brewer born Gt Bromley

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, High St West Manningtree ESS. Alfred is recorded as head of house married aged 26 a brewer born Gt Bromley ESS

4. Alfred E Alston: Reports on his death and sale of his assets, 1935, Gt Bromley.
AUCTION MANNINGTREE ESSEX
By direction of A E Alston Esq. who is approaching 90 years of age and retiring from the business which has been in the same family for many generations under the name of ALSTON & SONS.
The Stour Brewery - Manningtree together with 21 fully Licenced Houses and 1 Beerhouse which are all freehold viz. :-
In Essex.
The White Hart Hotel - Manningtree
The Thorn - Mistley
The Waggon & Horses - Mistley
The Horsley Cross Inn - Mistley
The Kings Arms - Lawford
The Village Maid - Bradfield
The Wheatsheaf - Wrabness
The Cross Inn - Gt Bromley (Beerhouse)
The Wagon & Horses - Wix
The White Hart - Wix
The Castle - Ramsey
The Royal Oak - Dovercourt
The Coach & Horses - Harwich
The Packet - Harwich
The Swan - Stones Green Gt Oakley
The Hare & Hounds - Upper Kirby
The Red Lion - Lower Kirby
The Red Lion - Gt Holland, Clacton-on-Sea
The Red Lion - Gt Bentley
The Bowling Green - Elmstead Market
In Suffolk
The Hare & Hounds - East Bergholt
The Kings Head - Higham
Messers Fleuret, Haxell, Marks, & Barley.
c 1933

MR A E ALSTON
DEATH AT MANNINGTREE IN HIS 91ST YEAR.
The name of Alston is an honoured one in Manningtree and District and over a much wider sphere, it is the oldest family in the district one that has played a great part in the industrial life of the place, for Alston Breweries at Manningtree had been in existence for generations up to January 1933 when the brewery was sold.
Mr Alfred Ernest Alston the former head of the firm died at his home in Manningtree on Sunday and thus causes a break in the association of so highly esteemed a personality with the district. He was in his 91st year.
For the last three years Mr Alston who was the fourth son of the late Edward J Alston of Gt Bromley Hall, had been a semi invalid during which time he had been most devotedly and lovingly nursed by his daughter Miss Caroline Alston, who made her fathers long illness her special and patient care.
The family of Alston were connected with brewing industry for many generations, the last family of A E Alston and Sons being primarily the fifth of a long line originating in Cumberland. In the popular history of Margaret Catchpole¹ there was mention of a Mr Alston of Diss. It will be remembered that whilst Margaret having stolen the horse was making her way to London Mr Alston rode into the yard of the Black Bay as the pursuers were were in the act of getting into the chaise. "Pray mister may I be so bold as to ask if you come from along the London Road" asked the pursuers and Mr Alston replied " I left the town this morning and am now on my journey to Manningtree" and then the story goes on how Alston gave Margaret away to her followers.
Although it is not possible to connect Mr Alston of Diss with the family of Alston, members of the family have every reason to believe they are descendants of the Alston of Margaret Catchpole's history, and Mr Alston had very frequently said "This is the one Alston of whom I am ashamed"
The late Mr Alston had been connected with the brewing industry for the long term of 73 years having left school at the age of 16 to become associated with his father then head of the firm. The district can ill afford to lose its old established families. There was a time when there were many such in residence but the Alston family is now almost the last of a long line and with the disposal of the premises three years ago, and now with the decease of Mr Alston, and an industry that was well known to every resident in the North East corner of Essex, from a family of many generations, there has passed the last of a much respected and almost historic family.
PHILANTHROPIC INTERESTS.
Mr Alston was possessed of a peculiarly quiet and unassuming character but he was possessed of a wonderfully charitable disposition, and there were in fact few organisation's and associations in and around Manningtree with which he was not associated in practical form. The Church in Manningtree had in him a stalwart and zealous friend and worker, following in the footsteps of his father, he became Churchwarden. To him also fell the honour of the introduction of the motor car into Manningtree and he was the first member in this locality of the RAC and it was always a proud boast of his that he was successful in winning the cup that was offered for first hill-climbing contest for motor cars held at Manningtree. His car was an old Swift a strange object from the perfect streamlined models of today, and it was the late Mr Alston's car that occupied such a prominent place in the Dovercourt Bay carnival during the past two years, and which was awarded a special prize at the Concours D'Elegance by Mr Kaye Don the official judge.
The late Mr Alston, it will be recalled by all residents in the Manningtree district particularly, organised in 1887 the Jubilee celebrations in the place, on which occasion a public dinner was served in the High Street.
A YACHTING ENTHUSIAST.
Yachting and yacht racing also had in him a great enthusiast. He was present at most of the yachting festivals around the coast in his small cruising yacht, although he never participated in actual racing.
Archaeology had also in him a very firm adherent. He was member of both the Essex and Suffolk Archaeological Societies and their meetings in the locality were never considered complete with out his presence; in fact he was present at their functions right up to the time of his last illness.
The British Legion Manningtree Branch have lost in the late Mr Alston a very firm friend. He was also a respected member of the Wine Club in London, a connoisseur of rare wines, he was frequently called to London for his expert opinion.
Mr Alston's wife predeceased him in May 1934 (?) He leaves a family of five, two daughters and three sons.
1. Margaret Catchpole 1762-1819 was an Ipswich woman with a colourful history, being twice sentenced to death and reprieved she was deported to Australia and made good.

Buried with his wife in the family tomb in Gt Bromley Churchyard pictured, he is remembered;
Sacred to the memory of Alfred Ernest Alston, fourth son of the late Edward John Alston, died June 23rd 1935 in his 91st year. .

Alfred married Edith Emma Harwood STACY [3945] [MRIN: 1351], daughter of George STACY [10011] and Mary Emma CHAPLIN [23918], on 7 Mar 1867 in St Michaels Stockwell. (Edith Emma Harwood STACY [3945] was born in 1845 in Lewisham LND, baptised on 14 Jan 1846 in Lee KEN, died on 1 May 1930 and was buried in Gt Bromley Church Family Vault.)