Page:A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Colonial Gentry Vol 2.djvu/246

 624 BURKE'S COLONIAL GENTRY. Mr. A. G. Ralston matriculated at Sydney University, June, 1878, got a scholarship 1888, was Belmore medallist 1881, B.A. 1881, and M.A. 188a, was called to the Bar, l.st Mai-ch, 1884, and was acting District Court Judge in Svdne}', February and March, 1894. He was a member of the Royal Commission for the consolidation of the statute laws of the colony, 1893. Uinrncic. Ceawford in bis Histori/ of Henfi-eics/iit-e, sa_TS : — " This vorv aueieiit family is des- cended from the Macdiiffs, Thanes, or Earls of Fife (rendered illustrious by tradition as haviug slain Macbetlj, and restored the right- fid sovereign to tlie throne of Scotland), one of whom baring bad a son named Ealpb, who obtained a grant of laud in Renfrewshire, he called them after himself (as was common in those days), Kalplistounc, and this softened down in time to Ralston, became the family name." Crawford also refers to charters, &c., wherein the family are named as early as 1272 and 1346. Pateeson in his Sisiory of the CO. At/r, and his Siston/ of Ayr and Wigton, and Robertson in his Description of Cunninghame, make mention of this ancient house. John de Ealstoune flourished in the reign of James II, of Scotland, rose to the highest honours in Church and State. In 1444, be was made Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal ; in 1448, Lord Bishop of Dunkebl ; and in 1449, Lord High Ti-easurer. In the latter year be was sent as Ambassador to the jinglisb Court and again in 1452. Keith, in bis Catalogue of Scottish Eishops, calls him the representative of a most ancient family of the same designation in the shire of Ren- frew. He was «. in the barony of Ralston by bis nephew, William db Ealstoune, of that ilk, who m. Elizabeth, daugliter of Sir John IMcRE, Bart., of Caldwell. His son and successor, Thomas de Ralstoune obtained in 1505 a renewed charter of the lands of Ralphs- toune, conflruiing them as a barony, with the usual privileges. He was .?. by his son, Thomas de Ralstoune, of that ilk, who acquired the lands of Rossholme, near Irvine, and of Dunlop Hill, near Dunlop, as per charter, dated 9th July, 1527. He was s. by his brother, Hugh de Ralstone, of that ilk, m. his cousin, Janet, daughter of Adam "SVhiteford, of that ilk, and fell at the battle of Pinkie, lOtb September, 15J7, and was s. by his son, Hugh de Ralstone, of that ilk, who ac- quired the lands of AVoodside and Turnerland, n the parish of Beith, from Gavin Ralston, commendator of Kilwinning, in 1551, and »«. Janet Hamilton, of the family of Torrence orTorrens, by whom he bad with other issue, a son, Gavin, m. 1575, Jean, daughter of Robert Ker, of Kersland, and rf. r. jj. leavmg a son, William, of Avhoni presently. Hugh de Ralston was s. by his grandson. William Ralston, of Ralston, m. Barbara, daughter of John Hamilton, of Uddcslon (afterwards Lord Bclbaven), and had issue, two sons, I. William, of Ralston, who acquii-ed in 1643, from James Hamilton, of Ar- doch, the lands of Rougbbank and Crummock and also those of Anclien- gown, in the jtarish of Lochwiunoch, from Lord Abercorn. He m. Jean, daughter of Dunlop of Dunlop, and from this marriage sprung the senior line of the Balstons, of that ilk, which ended at thedeceaseof Gavin Ralston, of that ilk, who m. Annabella, daugh- ter of James Pollock, of Arthurlca, by Jean, his wife, daughter of Sir Robert Pollock, Bart., of Pollock, and d. 1819, leaving two daughters only, viz., Annabeba, w. Hugh Craw- ford, and Jane, »». Colonel Stoddaet, of the Guar 's. II. John, of whom we treat. The younger son, John Ralston, of Honeybog, m. Eliza Graeme, and bad with other issue, a son, William Ralstone, of Auchentorie, Paisley, who ;«. Jane, daughter of Robert Ralston, of Auchengrammont, and bad issue, three sons, I. Robert, who was father of, 1. William Henry, of Warwick Hill, in. his cousin, Agnes, daughter of Gavin Ralston, of Auchengram- mont (vide infra), and d. s. p. 12th July, 1833, leaving his property to his sister's sou. ]. Margai'ct, m. Duncan MacDou- OALL, and had by him, a son, Alex- andoi' MacDougall, who s. his imclc and assumed the name of R.1LST0N. II. Gavin, of Auchengrammont, of whom presently. III. William, of Tower Hill, near Kil- maurs, a mnjo!- in the army, who was s. by his eldest surviv ng son. Captain John Ralston, of the 25tb Light Dra- goons. The second son, Gatin Ralston, of Aucb. ngrammont, left with other issue, at bis decease, a son and a daughter, I. Gatin, of whom presently. I. Agnes, m. her cousin, William Henry Ralston, of Tower Hill, and d. s. p. (vide supra). The son, Gavin Ralston, of Duuduff, m. Sarah