I'm researching the ALSTON family mainly in Ayrshire, Midlothian and Lanarkshire. The earliest mention of the name ALSTON is contained in the history of the HAMILTON family. The founder of the Clan, Walter Fitz GILBERT, fled from Hameldone, in Northumberland, ENGLAND to SCOTLAND, to escape the anger of Edward II, after killing in a Duel, John de SPENCER, a favourite Knight of the King - Hugonis de ALDSTON (an early spelling of ALSTON) was his second in the duel and they fled to Scotland c1314. After arriving in SCOTLAND they were closely pursued through a forest, on the banks of the river Clyde, somewhere above Dalserf. They were in imminent danger of their lives from the pursuers, when they came across two woodcutters felling a tree, he and his attendant, ALSTON, changed clothes with them, and as his pursuers came by, he called 'Through', and the King's men went on. He later made this incident the subject for his crest in commemoration of his deliverance. They afterwards both joined the standard (army) of Robert de BRUCE (King Robert III of SCOTLAND) and fought in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when he was coming to the aid of STIRLING of Stirling Castle. After this successful altercation SCOTLAND regained its independence, and King Robert bestowed the lands of Cordsow, later named Cadzo, the present City of HAMILTON, upon GILBERT, who had changed his name to HAMBDEN and later still to HAMILTON. When SCOTLAND had succeeded in regaining its independence, King Robert bestowed the lands of Cadzow, forming as is believed the bulk of the present HAMILTON estate, upon (Lord) HAMBDEN in recompense for his gallantry and his Lordship granted Thinacre Mill, being part of the lands, to ALSTON, as a remuneration for his services. A family history was written by Lionel Cresswell called 'Stemmata Alstoniana' in about 1902 which gives some of the early families and shows the earliest origins of the family in Thinacre Milne from about 1610 onwards. Much of this is closely supported by OPR records. I have the Scottish chapter of this book in Microsoft Word format and can email to anyone who has a genuine ALSTON family interest. I am trying to continue the piecing together of the history of this family and would be interested in exchanging information with anyone with ALSTON connections. Best wishes to all list users! John Page