Just a little history: Alstons kept adding land, slaves

When I began to research the history of our house I found the large annual handwritten ledgers that contained the tax rolls for Wake County, and for the Forest District, the name then for the area around Wake Forest.

Along with information about our house and its taxes, I began to record the number of acres and the number of slaves John Purefoy and Foster Fort listed because John was the father of James Purefoy, the first owner of our house, and Foster Fort was the father of James’ wife, Mary.

I also noted the land and slaves owned by the Alston family, which lived and farmed in the vicinity of Forestville. William Alston owned a store – sometimes also called the Alston-Crenshaw Store – in or near Forestville and was named the first postmaster in 1837.

My research was not thorough, I did not go through all the census information for the Alstons; I relied on the handwritten rolls for the property taxes assessed in the Forest District for the years 1828 through 1838. After all, it was a side interest.

In 1828 the Alston family was made up of Thomas and Sarah with information provided by William Alston, according to the note in the rolls. Thomas then owned 2,947 acres and 27 slaves while Sarah owned 965 acres and 37 slaves. Were Thomas and Sarah husband and wife, brother and sister? And what relation was William, though it had to be close to list the taxes.

In 1831, three years later, Thomas had acquired more land, 870 acres, for a total of 3,817 acres. He also added 13 slaves for a total of 40. He may have done some swapping with Sarah because her land was reduced by five acres to 960 acres and 26, 11 fewer, slaves.

William entered the tax rolls in 1832 – perhaps he reached adulthood? – with 444 acres and only six slaves. Thomas now had 3,807 acres and 42 slaves while Sarah had 960 acres and 20 slaves.

Samuel Alston was first listed in 1833 with three slaves and no land. Perhaps he was a youngster? Sarah’s property was listed by William in 1833, and she had only 229 acres and six slaves. Thomas had the same 3,807 acres and 48 slaves. Together the family owned 4,796 acres and 79 slaves.

In 1834 the figures changed again. William owned 529 acres and seven slaves. Sarah suddenly had 1,132 acres and 22 slaves, Samuel had 69½ acres and seven slaves, while Thomas had the same 3,807 acres and 43 slaves. Totals: 5,537 acres and 79 slaves.

By 1838, the final year I investigated, Thomas still had 3,807 acres and but now he held 67 slaves, Sarah owned 1,132 acres and 22 slaves, Samuel had 1,029 acres and 11 slaves, William had 529 acres and nine slaves. Together they owned 6,487 acres and 109 slaves.

I leave it to the readers to consider what the numbers mean.