Astin/Aston Family
The Astin/Aston family is still a bit of a mystery. We can only trace the family back a few generations from where they first arrived in Illinois, after that we have been unable to track them further.
4. Roland Deward Astin
3. William Astin
2. George Astin/Aston
1. Walter/Walker Aston
4. Roland Deward Astin
3. William Astin
2. George Astin/Aston
1. Walter/Walker Aston
There is some speculation that Walter/Walker Aston, the first Aston to appear in Illinois, may have changed his last name. There was a Walter/Walker Estill in Kentucky. He joined the Kentucky Militia during the War of 1812. The unit he was in was treated poorly and left on their own for supplies and such in the harsh winter march through Indiana from Kentucky to Michigan. As a result, a high percentage of the unit deserted. Many returned to their homes in Kentucky, others disappeared from record. Walter/Walker Estill is one of the latter. The prominent theory among Astin historians is that Walter/Walker Estill changed his name to Aston/Astin and moved to the new territory of Southern Illinois to escape any desertion charges. Now whether this theory is true or not, we may never know. Records for Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana during the War of 1812 time period and even decades later are few and far between. Some of the records that may have been recorded at the time have been lost over the years due to a myriad of incidences (fire, war, water, carelessness, etc).
Perhaps one day we'll discover if we are truly a long lost line of the Astin/Aston family descended from England, or if we are of the Estill line that has a rich history within the early years of the state of Kentucky.
Perhaps one day we'll discover if we are truly a long lost line of the Astin/Aston family descended from England, or if we are of the Estill line that has a rich history within the early years of the state of Kentucky.