Alston, William, 1756-1839.

Charleston and Georgetown County, South Carolina resident and plantation owner. William Alston, son of Joseph Allston and Charlotte Rothmahler, changed the spelling of his name from Allston to Alston to avoid confusion with his kinsman, William Allston (1738-1781) of Brookgreen Plantation. Alston inherited Fairfield Plantation on the Waccamaw River and had a rice mill constructed there about 1787. At the time of his death Alston owned Fairfield, Clifton, Weehawka, Claremont, Midway, Crabhall (or DeBourdieu Island), and Strawberry Hill. He also had owned Rose Hill and Bellfield Plantations. Alston served as a South Carolina Representative and a South Carolina Senator.

Alston was a member and steward (1785, 1790) of the Jockey Club and helped organize the fourth South Carolina Jockey Club (1792). Alston entered horse racing with the purchase in 1788 of part interest in Edward Fenwick, Jr.'s Johns Island stud. He eventually developed a successful stable of thoroughbreds.