GASTON  GENEALOGY

www.doddridgecountyroots.com

10/12/2008

 

Generation One

 

1.    Jean (John)1 Gaston, b. ca 1600 in Foix, France.[1]  Jean (John) Gaston of France was the first known ancestor of our Gaston family.  There has been much speculation regarding his ancestry, ranging from descendancy from the Grand Duke of Tuscany to the possibility that he belonged to the Bourbon family and was a cousin to King Louis XIV of France.  Jean Gaston belonged to a Protestant group known as Huguenots.  On Apr 13 1598, King Henry IV of France endorsed the Edict of Nantes, which granted rights to the Protestant Huguenots.  But the edict was abrogated in 1685 by King Louis XIV, who declared France entirely Catholic again and embarked on a policy of persecuting all Protestants.  In the meantime, because of the political and religious climate, at age 40 Jean Gaston fled with his family to Scotland, and his estate in France was confiscated.  His brothers and sisters in France remained Catholics and sent money to him in Scotland until he became established there.  Some 25 years later, his three sons fled Scotland for Ireland with their wives, also for religious reasons.  Jean died in either Scotland or Ireland.  [American Ancestry, Vol V, p. 104]

      

       "That the Gaston family was a French family there is no doubt.  As early as 1445, "two gentlemen" of the name of Gaston, living at or near LaMothe St. Didier, became interested in what were believed to be wonderful cures wrought at the shrine of St. Andrew in that town, especially because one of these Gaston sons was there cured of the disease known as "St. Anthony's Fire."  In consequence, they devoted their property to the work, and, seven other persons assisting, built a large hospital.  The hospitallers soon founded the "Congregation of Regular Canons of the Order of Anthony," and one of the Gastons was made Grand Master of the Order.  (See McClinton and Strong's "Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature" (1894), Vol. I, p. 252).  The name was common in France afterward.  Alphonse Daudet, the noted French novelist, used the name "Marie Gaston" as a pseudonym."  [Anna Reger Gaston, "Gaston Family Lines of Somerset," published in the "Somerset County Historical Quarterly" in New Jersey]

      

       It is likely that some embellishment of the facts has occurred over the years, as some Gaston researchers have attempted to show tenuous royal connections and paint a romanticized picture of the family history.  An excellent treatment of the facts and myths of the Gaston legend can be found at http://genforum.genealogy.com/gaston/messages/1461.html

      

       This is a genealogy of the descendants of this Jean (John) Gaston, with particular emphasis on those branches of the family tree closest to the principal compilers, Samuel David Gaston and Geneva Gaston Brown.  The information presented here was obtained from countless sources over several years of research.  Wherever possible, the original source is documented, but the reader can rest assured that even when a source is not specified, the compilers were highly confident of the accuracy of the information before including it in this genealogy.  By its very nature, this collection is a work in progress, and additional information regarding the early generations, as well as the current one, will be added as it becomes known.  In that vein, the reader is invited to inform the compilers or editor of any errors or additional information for future updates.  [Samuel David Gaston & Geneva Gaston Brown (1926-2001), principal compilers; R. L. Brown, editor]

 

       He married ca 1616 in Scotland,[2] Agnes ___, d. aft 1650 in Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland.  Agnes: Possibly the daughter of Phillip of Navarre.  She was accused of witchcraft in 1650 [per "Surnames of Scotland" by George Black (1946), p. 220].[3]

                                      Children:

                2.          i.       William2 Gaston b. 1642.

                3.          ii.      John Gaston b. 1645.

                             iii.     Alexander Gaston, b. 1648 in Scotland, d. in Ireland.  Alexander Gaston, along with his brothers, John and William, went to County Antrim in Northern Ireland between 1662 and 1668, during the time of the persecution of Protestants in Scotlands.  Alexander Gaston left many descendants in and around Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland.  One of them was a certain Miss Gaston of Killycowan, who was reportedly the great-grandmother of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur (exact lineage not specified and has never been determined).[4]

 

 

Generation Two

 

2.    William2 Gaston, (1.Jean1) b. 1642 in Scotland, d. in Ireland.  William Gaston (b. 1642), along with his brothers, John and Alexander, went to County Antrim in Northern Ireland between 1662-1668.  He is referred to by genealogists as "the first Irish William Gaston" to distinguish him from brother John's son William and others.  He was the father of the Charleston, SC Gastons who emigrated in the 1760's-1770's from County Antrim, Ireland.  Much of the information here pertaining to William Gaston (b. 1642) and his descendants was obtained from "Ohio Valley Genealogies," by Charles A. Hanna.[5],1 He married Unknown.

                                      Children:

                4.          i.       (Male)3 Gaston.

 

3.    John2 Gaston, (1.Jean1) b. 1645 in Scotland, d. in Ireland.  John Gaston (1645) or his father John (1600) was listed on the hearth-money rate list at Magheragall, Upper Massereene Barony, in the extreme south of County Antrim, Ireland, SW of Belfast. The family later moved a few miles north, as John (1645) had a son William ca 1680 at Carenleigh, Cloughwater, near Ballymena.  Clough was a few miles north of Ballymena in Kilconway Barony, and held five Gaston households at time of the 1740 Protestant Householders index of County Antrim.3 He married Unknown.

                                      Children:

                5.          i.       William3 Gaston b. 1680.

                6.          ii.      Hugh Gaston b. ca 1687.

                7.          iii.     Mary Gaston b. 1695.

                8.          iv.     Joseph Gaston b. ca 1700.

                9.          v.      John Gaston b. ca 1703.

                10.        vi.     Alexander Gaston b. 1714.

 

 

Generation Three

 

4.    (Male)3 Gaston, (2.William2, 1.Jean1). He married in Ireland, Unknown.

                                      Children:

                11.        i.       Alexander4 Gaston b. Feb- 5-1702.

 

5.    William3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1680 in Cloughwater, County Antrim, Ireland,[6] ["Ohio Valley Genealogies," p. 41, reports birth date as about 1680-90; "Colonial Families of the United States," Vol III, p. 175, reports it as 1685.], d. ca 1770 in Ireland.2,[7],[8],[9]  William's brothers, John, Hugh, Joseph and Alexander, arrived in America ca 1720 through the Port of Perth Amboy and settled in New Jersey.  William himself remained in Ireland, although all his children emigrated to America.  [Note:  Unless otherwise indicated, nearly all information pertaining to William Gaston (b. 1680) and his immediate descendants was obtained from "Ohio Valley Genealogies," by Charles A. Hanna, and "The Gaston Genealogy," by Jane Farrell Burgess.] He married Olivet Lemon, also known as Mary Lemmon, b. 1688 in Scotland,9,[10] d. 1752.9  Olivet: Name given as Mary Lemmon (sic) in Colonial Families of the United States, Vol III, p. 175.

                                      Children:

                12.        i.       John4 Gaston b. Apr- 4-1703.

                13.        ii.      Mary Gaston b. 1712.

                14.        iii.     Janet Gaston b. 1714.

                15.        iv.     Martha Gaston b. 1718.

                16.        v.      Robert Gaston b. 1720.

                17.        vi.     Hugh Gaston b. 1722.

                18.        vii.    Alexander Gaston b. 1727.

                19.        viii.   Elizabeth Gaston b. 1727/30.

                20.        ix.     William Gaston b. 1735.

 

6.    Hugh3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. ca 1687 in County Antrim, Ireland,[11],[12] d. Dec-23-1772 in Bedminster Twp, Somerset Co, NJ,11,[13],[14] buried in Lamington Presb Church Cem, Somerset Co, NJ.14,11  Hugh, along with his brothers, William, John and Joseph, arrived in America ca 1720 through the Port of Perth Amboy and settled in New Jersey.  Hugh obtained land in Bucks County, now Northampton County, PA, in 1746 and 1751.  Later, he lived in Somerset County, NJ, where he died. He married ca 1718,12 [probably in Ireland], Jennet Kirkpatrick, b. ca 1698,12 d. Aug- 1-1777 in New Jersey,[15],12 buried in Lamington Presb Church Cem, Somerset Co, NJ.14

                                      Children:

                21.        i.       John4 Gaston, Sr. b. ca 1719.

                22.        ii.      William Gaston b. ca 1720.

                23.        iii.     Joseph Gaston b. ca 1725.

                             iv.     Margaret Gaston, b. in Ireland.  Probably the daughter of Hugh Gaston (b. 1687), but may have been his granddaughter. She was living in Somerset Co, NJ at the time she was married. She married Nov- 8-1750 in New Jersey,[16] Thomas Moffat, d. 1770,12 resided in Middlesex Co, NJ.12

                24.        v.      Hugh Gaston, Jr. b. 1734.

                25.        vi.     Elizabeth Gaston b. 1737.

                             vii.    Rebecca Gaston, b. Dec-12-1739 in Bedminster Twp, Somerset Co, NJ,12 d. Jun-23-1819.[17]  Known to be a sister of Hugh Gaston Jr. (b. 1734) and thus the daughter of Hugh Gaston (b. 1687), but he may actually have been their grandfather. She married William Logan, b. Mar-18-1736,12 d. Jan- 8-1814,12 resided in Bedminster Twp, Somerset Co, NJ,12 occupation Captain.

                             viii.   James Gaston.  Presumed to be a son of Hugh Gaston (b. 1687), as a James Gaston, probably a brother to John Gaston of New Jersey (b. ca 1710-19), was listed as a subscriber to the fund for building Allentown Church parsonage, 1758, in connection with that of John Gaston of Upper Freehold.  However, that James Gaston may actually have been the one baptized 3/28/1742 as the eldest son of John Gaston (b. ca 1710-19).

                             ix.     Alexander Gaston,[18] b. in Bedminster Twp, Somerset Co, NJ.18

 

7.    Mary3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1695 in Ireland.[19]  Excerpts from "Family Records and Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Passaic Valley," Littell, 1852, 1976:  "James Cauldwell, with his wife Mary, emigrated from Ireland about ... 1732 ....  James Cauldwell's wife was Mary Gaston, sister of the father of Hugh Gaston of Peapach...."  This appeared in a genealogical accounting of the Cauldwells.  Gaston genealogies have been found to omit the listing of female offspring, and no other reference to this Mary Gaston has been found by us. She married in Ireland,19 James Cauldwell, b. 1691 in Ireland.19  James: James & Mary Gaston Cauldwell had a total of eight children, the first of which was William.19

                                      Children:

                26.        i.       William4 Cauldwell b. 1717.

 

8.    Joseph3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. ca 1700 in County Antrim, Ireland,1,12 d. Apr-  -1777 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co, NJ,1,12 resided aft abt 1720 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co, NJ,1 resided unti abt 1720 in Ireland,1 occupation farmer.12  Joseph, along with his brothers, William, John and Hugh, arrived in America about 1720 through the Port of Perth Amboy and settled in New Jersey. Member of Baskingridge Presbyterian Church.  May have been married more than once.  [Note:  Unless otherwise indicated, nearly all information pertaining to the descendants of Joseph Gaston (b. ca 1700) was obtained from "Ohio Valley Genealogies," by Charles A. Hanna, and "The Gaston Genealogy," by Jane Farrell Burgess.]1,5,[20],12 He married 1725/28,12 Margaret ___, b. ca 1705,1 d. Aug-31-1795 in Hardwick Twp, Sussex Co, NJ,1,12 buried in Jellow Frame Presbyterian Church, Frelinghuysen, Sussex Co, NJ.[21]  Margaret: Margaret Gaston lived with her son, Joseph, after the death of her husband, Joseph Gaston in 1777.12

                                      Children:

                             i.       Martha4 Gaston, b. 1726 in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co, NJ.21  She married ___ Patterson.

                27.        ii.      Margaret Gaston b. 1728.

                28.        iii.     John Gaston b. Nov-10-1730.

                29.        iv.     Robert Gaston b. Jan-28-1732.

                30.        v.      Joseph Gaston b. Nov-10-1738.

                             vi.     Priscilla Gaston, also known as Purcilla Gaston,21 also known as Prucilla Gaston, b. in Bernards Twp, Somerset Co, NJ, d. in Hardwick Twp, Sussex Co, NJ,21 resided 1771 in Somerset Co, NJ.21  She married Sep-24-1771 in New Jersey,21 Daniel McCain, (son of James McCain) resided 1771 in Somerset Co, NJ.21

                31.        vii.    Ann Gaston.

 

9.    John3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. ca 1703 in County Antrim, Ireland,4 d. Mar-29-1783 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT.4  John, along with his brothers, arrived in America ca 1720-26 through the Port of Perth Amboy and settled in New Jersey.  Born in County Antrim, Ireland, probably near Ballymena (or possibly Ballymoney), in 1703 or 1704. Settled at Voluntown, Windham County, Connecticut in 1726 or 1727.  [Note:  Unless otherwise indicated, nearly all information pertaining to the descendants of John Gaston (b. ca 1703) was obtained from "Ohio Valley Genealogies," by Charles A. Hanna, and "The Gaston Genealogy," by Jane Farrell Burgess.] He married ca 1735 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT,3 Janet Thomson, b. 1711 in Scotland, (daughter of Alexander Thomson and Mary ___) d. Nov- 3-1806 in Killingly, Windham Co, CT.[22]

                                      Children:

                32.        i.       Margaret4 Gaston b. Oct-19-1738.

                             ii.      Alexander Gaston, b. May- 3-1739 in Voluntown, New London Co, CT,22 [Birth date of Oct 19 1738 has also been reported, but that appears to be his sister Margaret's.], d. 1760,4 [Died of disease in French & Indian Wars.], occupation Army officer,4 never married.

                33.        iii.     John Gaston b. Jan-10-1750.

 

10.    Alexander3 Gaston, (3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1714 in Ireland,[23],[24] d. Aug-24-1783 in Berkshire Co, MA, buried in Cone Road Cemetery, Richmond, MA,[25] military Officer in French & Indian War.  Emigrated to American with his brother John about 1720-26.  Said to have a third brother in New Jersey.  Settled at Richmond, Mass.  (Mr. Marshall Gaston of Oberlin, Ohio, made before 1892 a nearly complete record of the descendants of the children of this Alexander Gaston down to his own generation.)  Nearly all information pertaining to the descendants of this Alexander Gaston was obtained from "Ohio Valley Genealogies," by Charles A. Hanna, and "The Gaston Genealogy," by Jane Farrell Burgess. He married Sep-29-1743,[26] Mary "Molly" Wilson, b. 1716 in Ireland,[27],[28] d. Jul-30-1804 in Richmond, Berkshire Co, MA,26 buried in Cone Road Cemetery, Richmond, MA.28  Mary: Emigrated to America in about 1832.  Alexander & Mary "Molly" Wilson Gaston may also have had another child, a son/daughter named Ging.[29]

                                      Children:

                             i.       William4 Gaston, b. Aug- 9-1744,[30] d. Aug- 2-1787 in Richmond, Berkshire Co, MA,[31] buried in Cone Road Cemetery, Richmond, MA,28 [Headstone carries the title "Captain," presumably from Revolutionary War.].  He married26 Naomi Tilden, b. Sep- 9-1743,26 d. May- 6-1822.26

                34.        ii.      John Gaston b. Mar- 3-1746.

                35.        iii.     Robert Gaston b. Dec-28-1747.

                             iv.     Mary Gaston, b. Sep-20-1749.30

                36.        v.      Janet A. "Jennie" Gaston b. Dec-27-1750.

                             vi.     Margaret Gaston, b. Jan- 5-1753,30 d. Mar- 8-1807.26

                37.        vii.    Alexander Gaston b. Oct-28-1754.

                38.        viii.   David Gaston b. Jan-13-1757.

                             ix.     Thomas Gaston, b. Mar-16-1759,30 d. 1823,20 military Corporal - Revolutionary War.20  He married26 Sarah Chatman.

                             x.      Phebe Gaston, also known as Phoebe Gaston, b. Apr-22-1765,30 d. Dec- 7-1835.26  She married (1) Jun-11-1788 in Berkshire Co, MA, John Bacon, Jr..  She married (2) Elisha ___.[32]

 

 

Generation Four

 

11.    Alexander4 Gaston, (4.(Male)3, 2.William2, 1.Jean1) b. Feb- 5-1702 in County Antrim, Ireland,[33] d. in Ireland.  Although other researchers allow that only Alexander Gaston's (b. 1702) four oldest children emigrated to America, at least one, Edward H. Couey of Scotts Mills, OR, contends that all six did so, settling in Chester and York Counties, SC.  As he cites specific circumstances for this, we provide that information under this Alexander's son Alexander (b. ca 1750). He married in Ireland,3 Jane Harper.

                                      Children:

                             i.       Robert5 Gaston, b. ca 1733 in Ireland.3

                39.        ii.      Joseph Gaston b. Oct- 8-1738.

                40.        iii.     Jane Gaston b. 1740.

                41.        iv.     Matthew Gaston b. ca 1748.

                42.        v.      Alexander Gaston b. ca 1750.

                             vi.     Mary Louisa Gaston, b. bef 1755 in Ireland.3

 

12.    John4 Gaston, also known as Justice John Gaston, (5.William3, 3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. Apr- 4-1703 in Ireland [Headstone has birth date as 1700, while "Gaston of Chester" states ca 1710.], d. 1782 in South Carolina,14,2,[34],[35] buried in Burnt Meeting House Cemetery, Wylie's Mill, Chester Co, SC,14 occupation farmer, surveyor, Justice in South Carolina.10  Emigrated first to Pennsylvania in 1749, then to Chester District, SC, in about 1751-52, settling on Fishing Creek.  Served as King's Justice before 1776, and as leader of the patriots of his vicinity during the British incursion of 1780-81.  Often referred to by Gaston genealogists as "Justice John."  The nine sons of John and Esther Gaston served as soldiers in the American Revolution, and four of them lost their lives in that war.2,[36] He married in Ireland,10 Esther Waugh, b. 1715 in Ireland,14,[37],10 d. 1789,14,2,37 buried in Burnt Meeting House Cemetery, Wylie's Mill, Chester Co, SC,14 occupation school teacher.10

                                      Children:

                43.        i.       Margaret5 Gaston b. Aug-29-1738.

                44.        ii.      Martha Gaston b. Jun-11-1741.

                45.        iii.     William Gaston b. Jun- 5-1743.

                46.        iv.     John Gaston b. Jun-24-1745.

                47.        v.      James Gaston b. Apr-15-1747.

                             vi.     Robert Gaston, b. Mar-11-1749 in Pennsylvania,[38] d. Aug- 7-1780 in Hanging Rock, SC.38,[39],[40]  Killed in Revolutionary War battle at Hanging Rock, South Carolina, along with his two brothers, Ebenezer and David.

                48.        vii.    Hugh Gaston b. Mar-12-1751.

                             viii.   Alexander Gaston, b. Aug-24-1753,39 d. 1781,39 [Contracted smallpox at Wright's Bluff on black River and died in the home of McConnell family in 1781.].

                             ix.     David Gaston, b. Jul- 7-1755,39 d. Aug- 7-1780 in Hanging Rock, SC.39  Killed in Revolutionary War Battle at Hanging Rock, South Carolina, along with his two brothers, Robert and Ebenezer.

                             x.      Ebenezer Gaston, b. Sep-15-1757,39 d. Aug- 7-1780 in Hanging Rock, SC.39  Killed in Revolutionary War Battle at Hanging Rock, South Carolina, along with his two brothers, Robert and David.

                49.        xi.     Esther Gaston b. Oct-15-1760.

                50.        xii.    Joseph Gaston b. Jan-22-1763.

 

13.    Mary4 Gaston, (5.William3, 3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1712 in Ireland,[41],[42] d. 1802,41 [DAR Lineage Book (p. 103) states her death date as 1800.], buried in Burnt Meeting House Cemetery, Wylie's Mill, Chester Co, SC.14  Settled in South Carolina.  Elizabeth F. Ellet's "The Women of the American Revolution" provides a lengthy profile of Mary Gaston McClure, citing her brave and courageous actions during the American Revoloution.  [Burgess, "The Gaston Genealogy," p. 82]  The Lineage Book of the Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 103, states that Mary Gaston McClure "is recorded in history as 'The Cherokee Heroine.'". She married35 James McClure, occupation Justice.

                                      Children:

                51.        i.       John5 McClure.

                52.        ii.      William McClure.

                             iii.     Mary McClure.  She married Samuel Lowry.

                             iv.     (Female) McClure.  She married Edward Martin.

 

14.    Janet4 Gaston, also known as Jinny Gaston,35 (5.William3, 3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1714 in Ireland, resided in South Carolina.11  She married35 Charles Strong.

                                      Children:

                             i.       William5 Strong, d. ca 1776-83.  Killed in Revolutionary War.

                             ii.      Christopher Strong.

                             iii.     Letitia Strong.  James and Letitia Strong were cousins.38 She married James Strong.

                53.        iv.     Margaret Strong.

                             v.      Janet Strong.  She married ___ Gladney.

 

15.    Martha4 Gaston, (5.William3, 3.John2, 1.Jean1) b. 1718 in Ireland, resided (settled) in Chester Co, SC.11,35  She married11,35 Alexander Rosbrough.