Primus Priss Alston (1856 - 1910)

Born Dec 1856 in Pittsboro, Chatham, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Mary Della (Bryan) Alston — married 17 Nov 1886 in Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States

Husband of Anna (Miller) Bearden — married 24 Sep 1895 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

Died 18 Oct 1910 at age 53 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Primus Alston is a part of US Black heritage.

Reverand Primus Alston was born a slave around Dec 1856 to Parmelia Alston and possibly her owner, Nathaniel M. Alston (who had no issue), a son of Joseph John Alston. According to the research done by filmmaker, Mackey Alston, Primus' mother was the house servant of Nathaniel Alston. Primus was born at the time of her servitude. Primus is recorded in 1870 as mulatto. He married Anna Elizabeth Miller (later Beardon) on 24 Sep 1895. They had 5 children. Only 3 survived to adulthood: The well-known artist Charles Alston, Ronomarie, and Wendell.

Primus was the founder of Saint Michael's Episcopal Church.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Family Name, a film by Mackey Alston, 1997; https://mackyalston.com/family-name/

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW8D-SFP : 18 March 2020), Primus Alston in entry for Jno S McClenahan, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC6N-H8T : 14 September 2017), Primus Alston in household of Clorsow Darke, Hickory Mountain, Chatham, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district ED 27, sheet 125C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,957.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPSS-YRTX : 28 November 2018), Primas P Alston and Mary Della Bryan, 17 Nov 1886; citing Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm .* "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP9R-XX9F : 28 November 2018), P P Alston and Anna Miller, 24 Sep 1895; citing Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSBS-PHJ : accessed 5 August 2020), Primus Alston, Township 1 Charlotte city Ward 3, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 47, sheet 5B, family 111, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,205.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLSK-2BR : accessed 5 August 2020), Primus P Alston, Charlotte Ward 3, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 101, sheet 5B, family 122, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1121; FHL microfilm 1,375,134.
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3FW-HL4 : 16 August 2019), Rev. Primus P. Alston, 18 Oct 1910; citing Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, reference item 5 cn 94, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,877,581.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #134596612

See also: NYTimes article, May 22, 1995: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1995/05/22/321395.html?pageNumber=8