(Infamous, or at Least Noteworthy)
People Named "Ralston"
This page documents notable individuals bearing the surnames Ralston, Rolston, Roulston, Raulston, and related variants. Where possible, known lineages are identified, and any confirmed or potential Y-DNA connections to the Ralston Project are noted.
Individuals listed here share the surname Ralston (or variants). Inclusion does not imply a genealogical relationship unless lineage is shown or DNA evidence exists. Lineage identifications reflect current research and may be revised as new documentary or genetic evidence emerges. If you are a male Ralston (or a direct male-line descendant), your DNA can help clarify these connections and expand the historical record of the surname. To learn about participating get started here.
CONTENTS
(Group numbers refer to Y-DNA lineages identified in the Ralston DNA Project)
POLITICS, LAW, JUDICIARY
MILITARY
EARLY SETTLERS AND PIONEERS
CELEBRITIES
Actors • Actresses • Authors • Artists • Athletes
BUSINESS, FINANCE, INDUSTRY
SCIENCE, MEDICINE
RALSTON IN NAME ONLY
⚖️ POLITICS, LAW, JUDICIARY
Samuel Moffett Ralston (1 Dec 1857 – 14 Oct 1925)
Samuel was a Democratic politician, the 28th Governor of and a United States Senator from the U.S. state of Indiana. Born into a large impoverished family, he took many jobs as a child including working in a coal mine. He taught school and studied law, becoming a prominent state lawyer.
(Wikipedia.org)
In 1924 the Democratic presidential nomination was virtually Ralston's for the accepting after a long, complex battle in the convention, but Ralston stunned the convention by withdrawing his name. His reason, though unexplained at the time, was his precarious health.
(www.in.gov)
Lineage:
- Samuel Moffett Ralston (1857–1925) Tuscarawas County, Ohio, USA
- John Ralston (1812–1882) York Springs, Adams, Pennsylvania, USA
- David Ralston (1786–1814) York Springs, Adams, Pennsylvania, USA
- Andrew W Ralston (1753–1827) Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
- John Ralston (1726–1762) Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
William Rolleston (19 Sep 1831 – 8 Feb 1903)
William was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist, and Canterbury provincial superintendent. Rolleston was born at Maltby, Yorkshire, as the 9th child of the Rev. George Rolleston and Anne Nettleship. His brother was the physician and zoologist George Rolleston.
After saving his money from a tutoring job, William left England and arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand, in 1858. In 1868 he was elected to the New Zealand Parliament, where he served until 1899. He served as Minister of Justice in the government of Premier John Hall from December 1880 to April 1881. He was also appointed Minister of Native Affairs in January 1881 after the resignation of John Bryce.
In 1891 he was elected unopposed as Leader of the Opposition.
In 1893 he supported women's suffrage and subsequently claimed the credit in the 1893 election.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- William Rolleston (1831–1903) Maltby, Yorkshire, England
- George Rolleston (1792–1868) Gainsborough, Lincoln, England
- Robert Rolleston (1747–1826) Derbyshire, England
- John Rolleston (1705–1770) Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1680–unk) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
Christopher Rolleston (27 July 1817 – 9 April 1888)
Christopher Rolleston was a prominent colonial civil servant in New South Wales Australia in the mid-1800s. He served in various roles, including the Register-General of New South Wales, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Darling Downs, private secretary to the Governor of New South Wales, and auditor-general. The town of Rolleston in Queensland is named for him.
(wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Christopher Rolleston (1817–1888) Nottinghamshire, England
- John Rolleston (1787–1862) London, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1739–1807) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
Sir John Fowke Lancelot Rolleston (26 March 1848 – 9 April 1919)
Sir John was a Conservative Party Member of the British Parliament in the early 1900s. He was the eldest son of Rev. William Lancelot Rolleston, vicar of Great Dalby and Scraptoft, and his wife, Mary Sophia Fowke, daughter of Sir Frederick Gustavus Fowke, 1st Baronet.
(wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Sir John Fowke Lancelot Rolleston (1848–1919) Leicestershire, England
- Rev William Lancelot Rolleston (1816–1890) Nottinghamshire, England
- John Rolleston (1787–1862) London, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1739–1807) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
James Harvey Ralston (12 Oct 1807 - 8 May 1864)
James Harvey [Hervey] Ralston, lawyer, Illinois and California state legislator, and quartermaster at the Alamo from 1846 to 1848, was born on October 12, 1807, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, the son of John and Elizabeth (Neely) Ralston. In the fall of 1828, he moved to Quincy, Illinois, where he pursued a career as a lawyer and was sworn in by the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the state of Illinois on October 21, 1830, as an attorney and counselor. In August 1836 he was elected to represent Adams County in the lower house of the Tenth General Illinois Assembly, a body whose members included Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. On January 14, 1837, he was elected judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. He held this post until he resigned in August 1837 to pursue his private practice.
In 1849 he moved to California. In 1852 he was elected the Democratic representative of Sacramento County to the California Senate. He subsequently moved to Virginia City, Nevada, where he continued his political and legal career. In 1863 he was a representative to the Nevada constitutional convention. The next year he moved to Austin, Lander County, Nevada, where he continued his legal practice. Ralston disappeared while traveling from Austin to his ranch in Smoky Valley during the first week in May 1864. He apparently became lost in a blinding snowstorm in the desert. His body was found by Shoshone Indians, who cremated it. A search party retrieved the remains and conveyed them back to Austin, where they were laid to rest. The area in Nevada where he died was subsequently named “Ralston's Desert.”
(find-a-grave.com)
Mrs. Harriet N. Ralston, James’ second wife, claimed that Judge Ralston and financier William Chapman Ralston of San Francisco were second cousins.
(adams.illinoisgenweb.org)
Lineage:
- James Hervey Ralston (1807–1864) Bourbon County, Kentucky
- John Ralston (1769–1834) Botetourt County, Virginia
- (Spec.) John Rolston (c1730-1800) Botetourt County, Virginia
- (Spec.) William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708-1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Although unconfirmed, there is speculation that this lineage is related to Group 1 - Ulster
Jackson Harvey Ralston (6 Feb 1857 - 13 Oct 1945)
Attorney Jackson Harvey Ralston was born in Sacramento, California to James Harvey and Harriet Newell Jackson Ralston.
Jackson H. Ralston was prominent at the turn of the twentieth century and devoted his career to the growing fields of international arbitration, domestic taxation issues, and teaching, he argued before the Supreme Court on many occasions and his scholarly contributions were many as the author of numerous books and articles. He also lectured at Stanford University between 1929 and 1933. He represented the United States as agent and counsel in the first dispute to be submitted to the permanent court of arbitration at The Hague under the Hague Convention of 1899.
Despite his father’s untimely death when he was a young child, Jackson was committed to following in his footsteps, graduating from Georgetown University with an LLB degree in 1876 and gaining admittance to the bar. Two years later, he started a legal practice in Quincy, Illinois. In 1897, he was awarded a Doctor of Law degree in Washington, D.C. by the National University School of Law, which later merged with George Washington University Law School. While Ralston spent many years in Washington, D.C., and traveled abroad extensively, Northern California was his home. Born in 1857 in Sacramento, CA, he later died in 1945 at the age of 88 in Palo Alto, CA. The Jackson H. Ralston Prize in International Law was established at Stanford Law School in 1972 in his memory by his widow, Opal V. Ralston.
(Biographical information cited from: law.stanford.edu/directory/jackson-ralston/)
(WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA Copyright, 1901, by A. N. Marquis & Company pg 924)
Lineage:
- Jackson Harvey Ralston (1857 – 1945) Sacramento, California
- James Hervey Ralston (1807–1864) Bourbon County, Kentucky
- John Ralston (1769–1834) Botetourt County, Virginia
- (Spec.) John Rolston (c1730-1800) Botetourt County, Virginia
- (Spec.) William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Although unconfirmed, there is speculation that this lineage is related to Group 1 - Ulster
James Layton Ralston (27 Sep 1881 - 21 May 1948)
James Layton Ralston, lawyer, politician, born at Amherst, NS was a WWI battalion commander with a reputation for bravery and competence. He was twice minister of national defense, 1926-30 and 1940-44. Intense, scrupulously honest, and an able representative of the political interests of the Maritime provinces, he was a stalwart in Prime Minister Mackenzie King's WWII Cabinet, serving briefly as minister of finance, 1939-40, before becoming defense minister. Despite a tendency to become mired in administrative detail, he was a fine judge of generalship and a devoted defender of Canada's fighting men. King forced Ralston's resignation in 1944 because of his outspoken support of overseas conscription.
(thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
Lineage:
- James Layton Ralston, (1881-1948) Nova Scotia, Canada
- Burnett William Ralston (1856–1933) Nova Scotia, Canada
- Thomas Atkinson Ralston (1825-1865) Nova Scotia, Canada
- William Ralston (1793 or 1811–unknown) Scotland or England
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
John Tate Raulston (22 Sep 1868 – 11 Jul 1956)
American state judge in Rhea County, Tennessee, who received national publicity for presiding over the 1925 Scopes Trial, a famous creationism-evolution debate.
Raulston, who was a member of a prominent Republican family, was born on a small farm in Marion County, Tennessee. He attended U.S. Grant University, later known as Tennessee Wesleyan College, and was admitted to the bar in 1896. He served in the Tennessee state legislature and was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1908 against John A. Moon. He was elected judge of the Eighteenth Tennessee District in 1918.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- John Tate Raulston (1868–1956) Marion, Tennessee
- William Doran Raulston (1832–1908) Jackson, Alabama
- William O Raulston (1802–1870) Jefferson, Tennessee
- James Raulston (1778–1844) Henrico, Virginia
- Matthew Raulston (1742–1800) Bedford, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
David Ralston (14 Mar 1954 - 16 Nov 2022)
David Ralston was an American attorney and a Republican politician who was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 2003 until his death. From 2010 onwards, he was also its 73rd Speaker of the House. Ralston was the longest-serving Republican Speaker in state history.
Born in Ellijay, Georgia, he attended Young Harris College, graduated from North Georgia College and State University, and later from the University of Georgia School of Law.
From 1992 to 1998, he served as a member of the Georgia Senate. In 2002, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives for the 7th district and elected Speaker in 2010.
(wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- David Ralston (1954–2022) Gilmer County, Georgia
- David Willard Ralston (1929–2010) Gilmer County, Georgia
- George Ralston (1886–1967) Gilmer County, Georgia
- David Kell "Tump" Ralston (1848–1936) Gilmer County, Georgia
- David Etheridge Ralston (1800–1849) Lumpkin County, Georgia
- John Tate Ralston (1774–1827) Newberry County, South Carolina
- Robert Ralston (1725–1789) Probably Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
🎖️ MILITARY
Colonel James Raulston/Roulston (16 June 1778 - 7 Aug 1844)
Colonel James Raulston was born in Augusta County, Virginia, the son of Matthew Roulston and Martha "Polly" Moore. James Raulston operated an inn in the Chestnut Mound section of Jackson County, now Putnam County, Tennessee, that became known as Raulston's Stand. He was a delegate to Knoxville in 1801 and was instrumental in enacting the necessary legislation to create the county of Jackson. He was married to Jane Simmons.
[NOTE: James’ father was Matthew Roulston or Roulstone, son of William Roulston or Rolstone 1708-1767. James used the name Roulston after coming to Tennessee. James' tavern in Smith County was known in contemporary 1826 deeds as "Roulston's Stand," and is only referred to as "Raulston's Stand" in local histories written after his death. His commision as colonel spells his name "Roulston." James and siblings transitioned to "Raulston" sometime after the War of 1812.]
In 1809 James was commissioned into Andrew Jackson's army to fight against the Creek Indians. In 1812, Jackson again called him to serve in command of the 3rd Regiment of Tennessee. He became Colonel Roulston and served with General William Carroll in the Battle of New Orleans.
An interesting historical note: When the Tennessee–Alabama boundary was surveyed in 1817, James discovered that his log cabin sat directly on the state line between Tennessee and Alabama. He first moved his bedroom to the Tennessee side of the cabin so that he could stay involved in Tennessee politics; then in 1828 he moved his bedroom to the other side of the cabin, declared his home to be in Alabama, and became a prominent member of the state legislature of Alabama. He died in 1844.
Lineage:
- James Raulston (1778–1844) Henrico, Virginia
- Matthew Roulston (1742–1800) Bedford, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708–1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Major Orville Alfred Ralston (9 Sep 1894 - 30 Dec 1942)
Orville Ralston was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He returned to service for World War II, only to die in a B-17 crash.
He joined the United States Army Air Service after attending Peru State College but was attached to the Royal Air Force for seasoning in combat. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a in "Mick" Mannock's flight of 85 Squadron, and gained his first two victories there, destroying a Fokker D.VII each on 24 July and 22 August 1918. He then returned to American aviation, becoming a Sopwith Camel pilot with the 148th Aero Squadron. He teamed with fellow ace Elliott White Springs and two other pilots for his next win, and then independently destroyed two more D.VIIs—one each on 26 September and 3 October 1918.
He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross in 1921. After the war, Orville was a dentist in Ainsworth, Nebraska, and served a term as mayor. An intelligence officer during WWII, he died in a stateside plane accident in December 1942.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Orville Alfred Ralston (1894-1942) Cass, Nebraska
- Charles Alexander Ralston (1859-1908) Adair, Iowa
- David W Ralston (1827-1883) Christian, Kentucky
- Samuel R Rolston (1799-1889) Virginia
- David John Rolston (1775-1856) Augusta, Virginia
- Samuel David Roulston (c1740-1807) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708+1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
General Joseph W. Ralston (4 Nov 1943 - Living)
Joseph Ralston served in the United States Air Force from 1965 to 2003. He became Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1996. He was favored to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1997, however, following revelations of a secret affair he remained Vice Chairman until May 2000. He then became Supreme Allied Commander for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe until January 2003 when he retired.
He was appointed in August 2006 by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as Special Envoy for Countering the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), responsible for coordinating U.S. engagement with the Government of Turkey and the Government of Iraq to eliminate the terrorist threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups operating in Northern Iraq and across the Turkey-Iraq border. He also holds senior positions in various defense-related corporations.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Joseph W. Ralston (1943-) Kentucky
- Howard Ray Ralston, (1901–1979) Kentucky
- Thomas Wesley Ralston (1875–1956) Kentucky
- Wesley W Ralston (1841–1910) Kentucky
- Robert M Ralston (1816–1874) Kentucky
- David John Rolston (1775 - 1856) Augusta, Virginia
- Samuel David Roulston (c1740 - 1807) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Norman William Ralston (28 Nov 1916 – 14 Nov 2007)
Norman Ralston , known as "Swede", was a civilian American stunt pilot. Although not in the military, during World War II, Swede trained hundreds of Army pilots at the Rankin Air Academy in Tulare, California. Rankin Aeronautical Academy was a civilian flight school for the United States Army Air Corps.
As a stunt pilot, he operated a fleet of aircraft for Ralston Airshows. Ralston became famous for flying an AT-6 Texan through Naval Air Station Tillamook, a World War II Blimp Hangar, in Tillamook, Oregon. Ralston constructed the first commercial hangar at Hillsboro, Oregon, and helped found the Hillsboro Airport. He co-founded the airline company Aero Air, a successful full-service Fixed Based Operator.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Norman William Ralston (1916–2007) Washington, Oregon
- William Gray Ralston (1890–1970) Douglas, Oregon
- Samuel David Rolston (1864–1945) Ray, Missouri
- William F Rolston (1826–1897) Hart, Kentucky
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Captain John Steel Ralston (27 Apr 1887 – 25 Jul 1918)
John Steel Ralston was a Scottish World War I war hero and flying ace. After winning a Military Cross in 1916 for lifesaving gallantry while serving in the infantry, he was credited with 12 official aerial victories as a fighter pilot before he was killed in action. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- John Steel Ralston (1887–1918) Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Thomas Binnie Ralston (1852–1924) Lanarkshire, Scotland
- David Ralston (1820–1886) Lanarkshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston (19 Aug 1847 - 25 Mar 1941)
Lancelot Rolleston was the son of Colonel Lancelot Rolleston and Eleanor Charlotte Fraser. He served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1877 and later held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry between 1896 and 1908. During the Boer War he was wounded in action and mentioned in dispatches, and he served as second-in-command of the 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry.
Rolleston also held several county offices, including Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and Justice of the Peace. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1902. From 1908 to 1912 he served as Colonel of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Mounted Brigade of the Territorial Forces and received the Territorial Decoration in 1909. In 1911 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He lived at Watnall Hall in Nottinghamshire, England.
His father, Colonel Lancelot Rolleston (1785–1862), had earlier served as a Conservative Member of the British Parliament in the mid-nineteenth century.
(thepeerage.com, wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Lancelot Rolleston (1847-1941) Nottinghamshire, England
- Lancelot Rolleston (1785–1862) London, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1739–1807) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
Watnall Hall in Nottinghamshire, home of several English Rollestons
📜 EARLY SETTLERS AND PIONEERS
William Henry Ralston (30 May 1862 - 11 Nov 1943)
William Henry Ralston, better known as "Harry," was a prominent livestock trader and rancher. He owned what was likely the most developed ranch along the Laramie River in Laramie County, Wyoming. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, to Andrew W. and Joanna* Ralston, farming people of Ayrshire. The father came to the United States in 1879 in the interests of the London Insurance Co. and resided in New York until his death in 1901. Harry lived in Scotland until 1879, when he went to New Zealand and engaged in farming until 1883, then coming to Wyoming by way of South America, the Atlantic Ocean, and New York, and entering the employ of the Teschemacher & DeBillier Cattle Co. He was initially placed in charge of the ranches before being promoted to range manager, where he oversaw all livestock operations from 1884 to 1892. When the firm divested its local holdings that year, Mr. Ralston purchased the "home ranch" in Uva, located along the Laramie River. He owned about 900 acres and leased other tracts.
(genealogytrails.com)
* Both of Harry’s parents were Ralstons. Andrew Wyllie Ralston (1833-1901) married a distant cousin, Joan Fullarton Ralston (1838-1864).
Lineage:
- William Henry Ralston (1862–1943) Ayrshire, Scotland
- Andrew Wyllie Ralston (1833–1901) Ayrshire, Scotland
- Alexander Ralston (1808–1861) Ayrshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (1764–1833) Ayrshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (1731–1818) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- William Ralston (c1679-bef 1753) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (c1655-bef 1720) Renfrewshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 2 - Paisley
Gavin Ralston (6 Aug 1869 - 25 Mar 1951)
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002), better known as the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, spent most of her childhood at St Paul's Walden and at Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland, her father’s ancestral home.
(Wikipedia.org)
Gavin Ralston was factor (manager) of Glamis Castle during the early 1900s. He succeeded his father, Andrew Ralston (1831-1914), in this role. Both Andrew and Gavin were said to be dour and ‘hard-headed’, though much respected. Gavin’s brothers, Andrew Ralston (1866-1926), was factor to the Earl of Hopetoun; William Henry Ralston (1863-1943), was employed by the Strathmore family on their English estates; Claude Lyon Ralston (born 1867), worked for a time for the Earl of Airlie; and Charles Ralston (born 1864), was an employee of the Duke of Buccleuch.(ghostsofglamis.blogspot.com)
Lineage:
- Gavin Ralston (1870-1951) Forfarshire, Scotland
- Andrew Ralston (1831-1914) Wigtownshire, Scotland
- William Ralston (1797–1864) Ayrshire, Scotland
- James Ralston (1757–1816) Wigtownshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (1731–1818) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- William Ralston (c1679-bef 1753) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (c1655-bef 1720) Renfrewshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 2 - Paisley
George Roulstone (8 Oct 1767–10 Aug 1804)
George Roulstone (8 Oct. 1767–10 Aug. 1804), the first printer and newspaper publisher in Tennessee, was born in Boston, Mass., where he received a fair education and learned the printer's trade. He possibly was the son of Mary and George Roulstone, sexton of the First Church of Boston between 1776 and 1780.
In 1789 he moved to Fayetteville, N.C., and worked for a newspaper until March 1791, when he and Robert Ferguson, … were induced by William Blount, newly appointed governor of the Southwest Territory (later the state of Tennessee), to found a newspaper for Knoxville, intended to become the territorial capital. This was the first newspaper west of the Appalachians. Named the Knoxville Gazette, the paper was first published in 1791, in Rogersville, before Knoxville was established. George was not only the first printer of the state from 1796 to 1804, but was the first clerk of the Southwest Territory, the first postmaster of Knoxville, and a trustee of Blount College, now the University of Tennessee. He was the printer of the "Laws of the State of Tennessee," generally referred to as "Roulstone's Laws" and considered to be the first book published in Tennessee.
(jem.cci.utk.edu)
(www.ncpedia.org)
(tennesseeencyclopedia.net)
--See Myths About George Roulstone following--
Probable Lineage:
- George Roulstone (1767–1804) Boston, MA
- George Roulstone (c1744–1781) Boston, MA
- John Roulstone (c1712–c1770) Baston, MA
- John Roulstone (c1684–1744) Unknown
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Myths About George Roulstone
Myth #1 - There is an image depicting George Roulstone.
An engraving often circulated online as a portrait of George Roulstone is almost certainly misidentified. Roulstone died at age 36, yet the man depicted appears significantly older. The clothing and engraving style are characteristic of mid- to late-19th-century Victorian portraits, decades after Roulstone’s lifetime. Moreover, early historical sources discussing Roulstone do not reference or reproduce any portrait of him.
Myth #2 - George Roulstone was a cousin of Matthew Roulston, father of Col. James Raulston,
Although this claim is made on some genealogical sites, there is no documentary or DNA evidence to support the claim. The Y-DNA line of Matthew Roulston is connected to families with origins in Ulster. George Roulstone perportedly descended from a family of Boston Roulstones. There are no known Y-DNA testers this line, but family lore state this Roulstone line originated in England.
Myth #3 - Geroge Roulstone's son George settled in Blount County, Tennessee.
This claim appears in some family trees but does not withstand chronological scrutiny.
According to the 1860 mortality schedule for Blount County, George Raulston of that county died in 1860 at age 79, indicating a birth about 1781 in Virginia. However, George Roulstone of Knoxville did not come from Virginia. He is known to have migrated from Boston to North Carolina, and from there to Tennessee in 1791. His wife, Elizabeth Gilliam, was born in 1777, making it impossible for her to have been the mother of a man born in 1781.
After Roulstone’s death in 1804, his widow Elizabeth remarried and moved with her children to Carthage in Smith County, where the family established the Carthage Gazette. A notice published in that paper on July 8, 1812 announced that “the funeral sermon of George W. Roulstone” would be preached at the courthouse in Carthage. Because the elder George had died eight years earlier in Knoxville, the notice most plausibly refers to his son George, who had moved to Carthage with the family and does not appear in later records that document the lives of his siblings.
The George Raulston who died in Blount County in 1860 was therefore a different individual, unrelated to the Knoxville family.
Annie Ralston (25 Jan 1853 - 6 Jul 1944)
Annie Ralston was the daughter of Samuel Ralston (1809–1899), from Ireland. Samuel and his family lived in Independence, Missouri, and were said to be wealthy, and of culture and refinement. Annie was beautiful, talented, and intelligent, being the highest in her class at school. Her father was a southern supporter and suffered much from the war. He was visited frequently in his home by other sympathizers, including Frank and Jesse James. Many said that it was Annie who was the actual attraction for the James boy’s visits.
After college, Annie became a school teacher, but, In 1875 at age 21, without her parent’s knowledge or approval, she left home and rendezvoused with Frank James. They traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they were married.
Following their marriage, Annie lived a life as a fugitive with Frank, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee, under false names before his final surrender in 1882.
FAIR ANNIE RALSTON, THE OUTLAW'S BRIDE
" The loves and hopes of youthful hours,
Though buried in oblivion deep,
Like hidden threads in woven flowers,
Upon life's web will start from sleep.
And one loved face we sometimes find
Pictured there with memories rife —
A part of that mysterious mind
Which forms the endless warp of life."
(Poem from the 1880 book, Life and Adventures of Frank and Jesse James: The Noted Western Outlaws by Joseph A. Dacus.)
Lineage:
Samuel Ralston (1809–1899) Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Thomas Ralston (30 Aug 1827 - 19 May 1879)
Thomas was born at at Homeston, Campbeltown Parish, Argyleshire, Scotland to Peter Ralston and Janet Brown. He emigrated with his parents in 1840 to New York on the ship "British Barque Tay" and went to live with his mother's brother, Alexander Brown in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then in Illinois in 1843.
In 1857, he married his second cousin, Jean (Jane) Ralston.
Thomas established a successful farm in Harlem Township, Winnebago County, located between Caledonia and Argyle, becoming a prominent early resident of the Scottish Settlement in Argyle, Illinois.
Thomas tragiically died in 1879 at the age of 51 from injuries sustained while attempting to administer medication to a horse on his farm near Roscoe.
Lineage:
- Thomas Ralston (1827–1879) Argyll, Scotland
- Peter Ralston (1791 - 1879) Argyll, Scotland
- Thomas Ralston (1759–1833) Southend, Argyll
- Peter "Patrick" Ralston (1708–1795) Southend, Argyll
- William Ralston (c.1650–1709) Ayrshire, Scotland
- David Ralston (1620–1670) Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 2 - Paisley
Jeremiah Ralston (7 Feb 1798 - 9 Aug 1877)
Jeremiah, the son of Joseph Ralston (1760–1834) from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1798. The Joseph Ralston family, including Jeremiah, later relocated from Tennessee to Indiana. Jeremiah later moved to Ohio.
In Ohio, Jeremiah was told by a friend who had just returned of the good land available in Oregon. In the spring of 1847, Jeremiah and his family departed with 12 yoke of oxen and three wagons. In those wagons, besides his household goods, he brought supplies and merchandise with which to start a store. On the site of Lebanon Ralston found two squatters who had erected a cabin and made some improvements. Ralston traded $30 and a yoke of oxen for their rights.
Jeremiah had the site of Lebanon surveyed and recorded in 1851. It is said he chose the name because the many cedar trees by the river made him think of the Biblical references to the cedars of Lebanon and because of his sentiment for his birthplace - Lebanon, Tennessee.(www.oregonpioneers.com)
(www.linncountyroots.com)
Lineage:
- Jeremiah Ralston (1798–1877) Lebanon, TN
- Joseph Ralston (1760–1834) Antrim
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Monument in Lebanon, Oregon
Alexander Ralston (1771 – 1827)
Alexander Ralston (1771 – 1827) was a Scottish surveyor who was one of two co-architects for the design of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. He also helped to design Washington, D.C. He was born in Scotland, parents unknown.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
Unknown
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Major Alexander Ralston (5 Apr 1779 – 5 May 1861)
Alexander Ralston (1779–1861) was born in Pennsylvania to David Ralston (1741-1831) from Northern Ireland and Mary Reid (1757-c1811) from Scotland. While still a child they moved to the Cumberland Settlements near Nashville, TN. During the War of 1812, Alexander was second Major under Col. Philip Pipkin as part of General Andrew Jackson’s army, and at one point placed in command of Fort Strother (Mississippi Territory, now Alabama.) During the war, Alexander penned at least two letters to General Jackson which are maintained in the US Library of Congress, national archives.
After the war, Alexander lived on the Harpeth River in Williamson County, Tennessee where he had a mill and was a cabinet maker.
Alexander later moved his family to West Tennessee and settled in what is today Weakley County. He was a prominent figure in early West Tennessee and Ralston, Tennessee, was an important railroad station where he was the first postmaster. He owned vast sections of land and was very prolific in land purchases and sales. Alexander is mentioned in the book "Home In the Wilderness" by Effie Meek Maiden. From the book review: “An authentic story of a pioneer family's settlement in West Tennessee after the Indian removal. The story begins in 1848, when James A. Meek travels by horseback from his mill on the Duck River near Chapel Hill, TN to Weakley County to investigate the appeals made to him by Major Alexander Ralston to settle in the ‘Western District’ and ends in 1880.”
Ralston, Tennessee, (originally Ralston Station) was named for Alexander, today a suburb of Martin, Tennessee.
Lineage:
- Alexander Ralston (1779–1861) Cumberland County, PA
- David Ralston (1741-1831) Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
John Shelby Ralston (13 Oct 1787 - 23 Nov 1865)
John Ralston, brother of Alexander, was born in what is today, Nashville, Tennessee. He was a captain in the War of 1812 and was later a surveyor in West Tennessee, and one of the early settlers and founders of Shelby County, TN. He married Lucy Tice McDaniel (1801–1879), daughter of Colonel John Clement McDaniel (1759–1836).
John surveyed and planned the city of Raleigh, the original county seat of Shelby County. He was also one of the surveyors of the city of Memphis. John served as a justice of the peace and later became an attorney practicing in Raleigh and Memphis.
John is included in several history books and accounts of Memphis and the surrounding area. He is remembered as a pioneer of Shelby County.
Lineage:
- John Ralston (1787–1865) Nashville, TN
- David Ralston (1741-1831) Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Lewis Ralston was a Georgia prospector best known for making the first recorded gold discovery in Colorado. By most accounts he was born in South Carolina and moved as a young man to the Cherokee district of northern Georgia. There he partnered with Benjamin Parks, Jr., in trading horses and cattle. In 1826, he married Elizabeth Kell, the granddaughter of Cherokee Chief Benge, and they settled on Cherokee land. Gold was discovered near his property by his partner Parks, sparking the Georgia Gold Rush in 1828. Lewis began mining for gold on his land with some success, but due to his Cherokee connections, his land was confiscated by the federal government in 1832. He did, however, successfully avoid his family’s forced relocation on the Trail of Tears. But, having lost his land, he had to relocate his family to Auraria, Georgia.
In 1850, in response to claims of gold in California, Ralston joined a wagon train of Cherokee and Georgian prospectors traveling west. On June 22, 1850, while the party camped near the confluence of Clear Creek and the South Platte River (north of present-day Denver), Ralston panned about ¼ ounce of placer gold in a nearby stream for a day’s efforts. His companions named it Ralston Creek.
Although Lewis tried to get the group to remain in Colorado, they were unimpressed by the small yield and voted to continue. However Ralston found little success in California and later returned to Georgia. In 1858 he revisited Colorado with the Green Russell party. They discovered more gold and established a settlement they named after their hometown in Georgia. This helped spark the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush and the founding of Auraria and Denver.
Lewis Ralston was involved in two great American gold rushes—in Georgia and Colorado—yet never became wealthy from either. Today his name endures in Ralston Creek and landmarks across the Denver area.
(The curious case of Lewis Ralston)
Lineage:
- Lewis Ralston (1804-1870) Pendleton, SC
- John Tate Ralston (1774–1827) Newberry County, SC
- Robert Ralston (1725–1789) Probably Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
⭐ CELEBRITIES
Jobyna Ralston (21 Nov 1899 – 22 Jan 1967)
Jobyna Ralston (born Jobyna Lancaster Raulston in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, was an American stage and film actress. She had a featured role in the first Oscar-winning film, Wings in 1927, but is perhaps best remembered today for her on-screen chemistry with Harold Lloyd, with whom she appeared in seven movies.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Jobyna Lancaster Raulston (1899–1967) Marion, Tennessee
- Joseph L Raulston (1868–1940) Marion, Tennessee
- Hugh Lawson White Raulston (1833–1902) Marion, Tennessee
- Robert Simmons Raulston (1806–1867) Marion, Tennessee
- James Raulston (1778–1844) Henrico, Virginia
- Matthew Raulston (1742–1800) Bedford, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Vera Miles (23 Aug 1929 - living)
Vera June Ralston is a retired American actress who worked closely with Alfred Hitchcock, most notably as Lila Crane in the classic 1960 film Psycho, reprising the role in the 1983 sequel Psycho II. Other films in which she appeared include Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (1955), The Searchers (1956), Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man (also 1956), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Follow Me, Boys! (1966), Sergeant Ryker (1968) and Molly and Lawless John (1972).
Vera used the stage name Miles (her first husband's name) so as not to be confused with the Czech-born American actress and figure skater Věra Helena Hrubá, who had chosen the name "Vera Ralston" for her acting career.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Vera June Ralston (1929-) Boise City, Oklahoma
- Thomas Albert Ralston Sr. (1902–1979) Woodward, Oklahoma
- Thomas Dempsey Ralston (1870–1931) Ray County, Missouri
- John W. Ralston (1848–1878) Henry County, Indiana
- Thomas Ralston Sr. (1796–1885) Bourbon County, Kentucky
- James Ralston Sr. (1765–1833) unknown
- William Rolstone (c1735-1811) Botetourt County), Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708-1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Marcia Ralston (19 Sep 1906 – 23 Nov 1988)
Marcia Mascotte Ralston (19 September 1906 – 23 November 1988) was an Australian-born actress who appeared in Hollywood films in the 1930s and 1940s. Her father was well-known Australian singer and actor John Ralston. After her first marriage to Phil Harris ended in divorce in 1940, She married Bud Henderson in 1954. Henderson's sister, Betty, was married to actor Robert Young. The connection resulted in an occasional supporting role as Nurse Donnelly, in the TV series Marcus Welby, M.D. in the early 1970s. She died at Rancho Mirage, California in 1988.
Lineage:
- Marcia Mascotte Ralston (1906–1988) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- John Morgan Ralston (1882–1933) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- John Ralston (1850–1908) Montrose, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
T. W. Rolleston (1 May 1857 - 5 Dec 1920)
Thomas William Hazen Rolleston (May 1, 1857 - 1920) was an Irish writer, literary figure, and translator, known as a poet but publishing a wide range of literary and political topics. He lived at various times in Killiney in South Dublin, Germany, London, and County Wicklow; settling finally in 1908 in Hampstead, London, where he died. Approximately 168 books are associated with Rolleston, some as writer or editor.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Thomas William Hazen Rolleston (1857-1920) Kings County, Ireland
- Charles Rolleston (1808-1888) County Offaly, Ireland
- Charles Rolleston (1768-1820) County Offaly, Ireland
- James Frank Rolleston (1742-1800) County Offaly, Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Gilbert Ralston (5 Jan 1912 – 18 Mar 1999)
Gilbert Alexander Ralston was an American screenwriter, journalist and author. He was a television producer in the 1950s and a screenwriter in the 1960s. He created the television series The Wild Wild West and wrote scripts for Star Trek, Gunsmoke, Ben Casey, I Spy, Hawaii Five-O, and The Naked City. He wrote the screenplay for the 1971 movie Willard.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Gilbert Alexander Ralston (1912–1999) Los Angeles, California
- Alexander Gilbert Ralston (1876–1935) Montana
- William A Ralston (1845–1914) Pennsylvania
- Samuel Ralston (1816–1876) Pennsylvania
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
J.K. Ralston (31 Mar 1896 – 26 Nov 1987)
James Kenneth "J.K." Ralston (March 31, 1896 – November 26, 1987) was an American painter of the Old American West whose primary topics were the American West and images of cowboys and American Indians. He also did commercial artwork.
Ralston's family moved to Colorado from Independence, Missouri in 1859 by ox team, then Idaho in 1863, and finally Montana in 1864, seeking gold each time. Ralston's father, William R. Ralston, "arrived in Highland, a settlement on Alder Gulch" on July 4, 1864, settling on a ranch "about 12 miles" from Choteau, Montana in 1877.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- James Kenneth Ralston (1896–1987) Montana
- William R Ralston (1858–1932) Missouri
- Samuel Franklin Ralston Sr (1835–1904) Kentucky
- Matthew Ralston (1805– ) of Kentucky
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Aron Lee Ralston (27 Oct 1975 - living)
Aron Ralston is an American outdoorsman, mechanical engineer, and motivational speaker known for having survived a canyoneering accident in southeastern Utah in 2003 during which he amputated his own right forearm with a dull pocketknife in order to free himself from a dislodged boulder which had him trapped in Blue John Canyon for six days. After he freed himself, he had to make his way through the remainder of the canyon, then rappelled down a 65-foot (20 m) sheer cliff face in order to reach safety.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Aron Ralston - born in Marion County, Ohio
- Lawrence Eugene Ralston
- Pearl Kendall (P K) Ralston (1925–1996) Hardin County, Ohio
- Paul Thomas Ralston (1898–1973) Hardin County, Ohio
- Pliny Kendall Ralston (1875–1938) Wyandot County, Ohio
- William Ralston (1853–1904) Richland County, Ohio
- Joseph Ralston (1827–1865) Pennsylvania
- William Ralston (1796–1869) Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Paul Ralston (1741–1813) Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Dennis Ralston (27 Jul 1942 - 6 Dec 2020)
Richard Dennis Ralston was a former American professional tennis player whose active career spanned the 1960s and 1970s.
As a young player, he was coached by tennis pro, Pancho Gonzales. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) and won NCAA championships under their coach George Toley. He and partner Bill Bond captured the NCAA doubles title in 1964. He was the highest-ranked American player at the end of three consecutive years in the 1960s; Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph ranked him as high as world no. 5 in 1966 (Ralston was also ranked world no. 3 by the magazine Reading Eagle in 1963).
Ralston was a member of the Handsome Eight, the initial group of players signed to the professional World Championship Tennis tour. He won 27 national doubles and singles titles, including five grand slam doubles crowns.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Richard Dennis Ralston (1942-2020) Kern County, California
- Robert LeRoy Ralston (1915-1992) California
- Roy Dixon Ralston (1887-1968) California
- Robert Ralston (1855-1935) Ontario, Canada
- William Ralston (1812-1879) Scotland
- Petter "Peter" Ralston (1768-1820) Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Frances Rolleston (29 Jun 1781 - 12 Jun 1864)
Frances Rolleston (1781-1864) was a painter, writer, poet, astronomy enthusiast, linguist, and student of geology and medicine. She is best known for writing Mazzaroth. The Constellations, which was her theory based on Egyptian astronomy that the signs and constellations were designed to represent Messiah according to the prophecy in Genesis 3:15. In addition, Frances worked to help abolish slavery in England and was a pioneer of infant schools in England by helping to locate building sites, finding people to underwrite the costs, preparing curricula, and training teachers.
(francesrolleston.com)
The Rolleston Memorial Fountain:
Located in Keswick, this drinking fountain was erected in 1865 to honor her service to the local community.
It serves as her most tangible physical monument.
Lineage:
- Frances Rolleston (1781-1864) London, England
- Robert Rolleston (1747–1826) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
John Ralston (26 Apr 1927 – 14 Sep 2019)
John R. Ralston was an American football player, coach, and sports executive. He served as the head football coach at Utah State University (1959–1962), Stanford University (1963–1971), and San Jose State University (1993–1996). He also coached the Denver Broncos of the NFL from 1972 to 1976, and the Oakland Invaders of the short-lived USFL in 1983 and 1984. Additionally, he served in the San Francisco 49ers front office (1979 to 1980) and served as a special assistant to the athletic director at San Jose State from 1997 until 2013. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1992.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- John R. Ralston (1927-2019) Oakland, California
- Milo J. Ralston (1901–1975) Indiana
- George W Ralston (1875–1917) Michigan
- Andrew Jackson Ralston (1846–1925) Ohio
- Paul Ralston (1809–1885) Pennsylvania
- John D. Ralston (1779–1865) Pennsylvania
- Paul Ralston (1741–1813) Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Jesse Buel Ralston (16 Sep 1910 - 17 Feb 1999)
Jesse Buel Ralston was born in Alfred, West Virginia, the eldest of three children born to Jesse Hugh Ralston and Ica May Goff. At about age three, his family moved to Marion, Ohio.
Jesse was recruited in the US Army in 1929 and lived for some time in the Philippines. On April 3, 1933, Jesse married Eladia Gatchallian de la Pena, a native of the Philippines, in Las Pineas, Cavite, Philippines. Jesse later worked as a Civil Servant for the US Navy. By 1940 the couple and their children moved to South Carolina and, by 1951, the family moved to Vallejo, California. It was there Jesse authored the fiction novel "Red Ravage," published in 1953 by Vantage Press of New York. It was an Anti-Communist Novel set during a Jungle Insurrection in the Philippines. Likely inspired by his time spent in the country and stories from his wife's family.
Jesse retired from the Civil Service in 1964 when he was age 54. In retirement, he returned to college and earned his bachelor's and then master's degrees. They moved to Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, where Jesse taught at the University of Arizona for eight years before retiring once again. He and his wife then moved to Arizona, where Jesse, died at age 88 and was buried in the McNeal Cemetery in McNeal, Cochise County, Arizona.
Lineage:
- Jesse Buel Ralston (1910-1999) Gilmer, West Virginia
- Jesse Hugh Ralston (1888-1986) Gilmer, West Virginia
- William Renick Ralston (1859-1936) Highland, Virginia
- Andrew J Ralston (1829–1864) Pendleton, Virginia
- Samuel Ralston (1785–1840) Augusta, Virginia
- Samuel David Roulston (c1740-1807) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708+1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
Brian Rolston (21 Feb 1973 - living)
Brian Lee Rolston is a former professional ice hockey player, born in Flint, Michigan, one of four children of Ronald Lee Rolston and Joyce Reynolds. Brian grew up in Ann Arbor and attended Lake Superior State University. He most recently played for the Boston Bruins of the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 playing for the United States. Rolston has represented the U.S. three times in Olympic competitions for ice hockey. In the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, he won the silver medal. Brian retired from professional hockey on April 30, 2013.
Brian’s older brother, Ron Rolston, is a former coach of the Buffalo Sabres, and his older brother, Greg, was also a professional hockey player. Brian's son, Ryder, is a forward who played for the University of Notre Dame before turning professional. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and has played for the Rockford IceHogs and Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL.
Lineage:
- Brian Lee Rolston (1973– ) Flint, Genesee, Michigan
- Ronald Lee Rolston (1938– ) Sparta, Kent, Michigan
- Irving F Rolstone (1910–1968) Newaygo, Michigan
- Bert Silas Rolston (1877–1964) Newaygo, Michigan
- David A Rolston (1844–1939) Knox, Ohio
- John Moffett Rolston (1812–1869) Rockingham, Virginia
- Jacob M. Rolston (1795–1845) Rockingham, Virginia
- David Rolston Jr (1760–1849) Rockingham, Virginia
- David Rolstone (1733–1802) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
💼 BUSINESS, FINANCE, INDUSTRY
William Chapman Ralston (12 Jan 1826 – 27 Aug 1875)
William "Billy" Chapman Ralston was a San Francisco, California businessman and financier, and was the founder of the Bank of California.
He built Ralston Hall in Belmont, California as a summer home. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is now part of the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University. He is the namesake of Ralston, California, and of Ralston Peak in the Lake Tahoe area.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- William Chapman Ralston (1826–1875) Richland County, Ohio
- Robert Ralston III (1797–1870) Hancock County, West Virginia
- Robert Ralston II (1768–1854)
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Joseph Stevenson Ralston (26 Aug 1863 - 11 Sep 1920)
Joseph Stevenson Ralston was born near Hamilton, Ontario, His father, Robert Ralston, a recent immigrant from Ireland. His mother, Sarah Springer Ralston, came from a family that had been in America since 1680 but had fled to Canada during the American Revolution because of their loyalty to the crown.
Like a number of people in Canada, and certainly like many more in the United States, Joseph was a restless young man. After receiving a basic education, he went to sea on a ship called the City of Calcutta out of Glasgow, Scotland. After a four-year apprenticeship, he came home but soon was on the move once again.
By the turn of the century, Joseph was working in Chicago for a large manufacturer of railroad cars.
Working with a young engineer named Anton Becker, they developed plans for a new type of rail car. The entire car would be made of durable steel and would have a series of 16 trap doors along its bottom to permit coal or anything else to be quickly unloaded.
Beginning in 1905, Ralston and his financial backers began a process that was nothing short of amazing. Purchasing an old factory building, little of which had anything to do with building rail cars. The new company took the building and began to build rail cars. While this went on, it completely gutted the interior of the old building and then proceeded to build a brand-new building several hundred feet long to accommodate an assembly line to produce rail cars.
Between 1906 and 1911, the Ralston Steel Car Company built more than 10,000 of the new cars and soon found them shipped to all parts of the world. Over the years, the company built an entire community on the East Side of Columbus. The area sat on the north side of the rail yards to the east of Milo Grogan. It was a self-contained world with most of its residents earning their livelihoods at the great factory.
Ralston died in 1920. F. E. Simons led the company from 1920 to 1935 and he was followed by Frank Livingston in the years after World War II. Through all of those years, the Ralston Steel Car Co. was one of the great industrial businesses of Columbus.
Changes in America’s rail transport business after World War II made the company less competitive and it went out of business in 1953.
(thisweeknews.com)
Lineage:
- Joseph Stevenson Ralston (1863–1920) Ontario, Canada
- Robert Ralston (1826–1873) Ontario, Canada
- Joseph Ralston (1786–1865) Donegal, Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
Walter Vardon Ralston (12 Aug 1846 - 14 Oct 1920)
Banker Walter Vardon Ralston was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Scottish wine merchant, Gavin Ralston and wife, Emily Anne Vardon.
Ralston worked for several banks in Australia during his career and in 1874 joined Queensland National Bank. During the Australian banking crisis of 1893, the Queensland National Bank, and many others, was forced to close. The general manager at the time, who had handled the reconstruction, did not disclose the bank's full plight. When he died in 1896, Ralston was appointed general manager. “He reported to the chairman of the board that it was impossible to carry on: nearly '£3 000 000 was locked up and earns absolutely nothing and a considerable portion … will eventually have to be written off'. He submitted a vital scheme of rearrangement to prevent the liquidation of incalculable magnitude, 'which would cause disaster'. The board placed Ralston's report and his scheme before the Premier, Sir Hugh Nelson.
“In the end, Ralston's innovative scheme of rearrangement was adopted with minor amendments by shareholders and depositors in Australia and Britain and by the government.”
Walter Ralston was thus credited with the bank’s resurgence. Ralston also occasionally was an advisor to Prime Minister Fisher. Ralston was described by Geoffrey Blainey as “perhaps the most versatile banker in Australia in his day”.
(http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ralston-walter-vardon-834/text14239)
Lineage:
- Walter Vardon Ralston (1846–1920) Victoria, Australia
- Gavin Ralston (1806–1874) Ayrshire Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (1764–1833) Ayrshire Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (1731-1818) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- William Ralston (c1679-bef 1753) Renfrewshire, Scotland
- Gavin Ralston (c1655-bef 1720) Renfrewshire, Scotland
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 2 - Paisley
Shannon Ralston (4 Dec 1971 - living)
Shannon Teresa Ralston was born in Fayette County, KY, daughter of Laurie A Shields and Timothy George Ralston. The family later relocated to San Antonio, TX. where Shannon was a registered nurse. In 2002, as a single parent, she was working at three different hospitals, and often seven days a week, just to make ends meet.
Thinking that there had to be a better way, she invested $25 on a guide on "How to Start Your Own Nurse Staffing Agency" and after a lot of research and many sleepless nights she put together a business plan. It took months of hard work, but with a mere $257 in the bank, Shannon launched Angel Staffing in San Antonio. Her goal was to make life better for medical professionals so they wouldn't have to struggle like she did. Angel Staffing has become a highly successful business.
Angel Staffing also runs the Angel Charitable Foundation, which raised $150,000 for the relief effort in Haiti. The company also sponsored an orphanage in Haiti called Haiti's Children Relief Mission.
Over the last 20 years Shannon has been known for her philanthropy, donating $10 million to the San Antonio Zoo and $11.4 million to the Alamo.
In 2021, Shannon purchased country star George Strait's San Antonio home for about $7 million.
In addition to her son, Dakota, she adopted several children from Haiti.
(CASE STUDY: GUARDIAN OF ANGELS, SI REVIEW JULY 2010)
Lineage:
- Shannon Ralston (1971 -) Kentucky
- Timothy George Ralston (1950 - ) Michigan
- George Woodrow Ralston (1915 - 1996) Bradenton, Pennsylvania
- George R. Ralston (1874 - 1940) Somerset, Pennsylvania
- Thomas Jefferson Ralston (1843 - 1899) Pendleton, Virginia
- Samuel Ralston III (1819 - 1894) Pendleton, Virginia
- Samuel Ralston (Bet. 1766/1771 - 1850) Augusta, Virginia
- Samuel David Roulston (c1740 - 1807) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
🔬 SCIENCE, MEDICINE
James Chester "JC" Raulston (24 Nov 1940 - 21 Dec 1996)
Horticulturist for whom the North Carolina State University arboretum was named. J. C.’s biography, “Chlorophyll in his Veins,” (BJW Books/2009) was written by Bobby J. Ward. He died at the age of 56 in a head-on car collision on U.S. Highway 64 near Asheboro, North Carolina.
Pictured is J.C. in his famous “Green Man” jacket.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- James Chester "JC" Raulston (1940–1996)
- Daniel Webster Raulston Jr. (1906–1977) Garfield, Oklahoma
- Daniel Webster Raulston (1860–1934 Marion, Tennessee
- Evander Mckeever Raulston (1818–1870) Marion, Tennessee
- James Raulston (1778–1844) Henrico, Virginia
- Matthew Raulston (1742–1800) Bedford, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
James Grier Ralston (28 Dec 1815 - 10 Nov 1880)
For a greater portion of his life, James Grier Ralston was an educator and very much concerned with the religious/spiritual life of his pupils. His interests in religious affairs and education led to the founding of a seminary for women and missionary activities in Wisconsin. He was a student of natural history and mineralogy and the discoverer of a fluoride of aluminum and calcium that was later named Ralstonite.
(www2.hsp.org)
Lineage:
- Rev. James Grier Ralston (1815–1880) Pennsylvania
- Samuel F. Ralston (1785–1859) Pennsylvania
- John Ralston Sr. (1735–1795) Pennsylvania
- James Ralston (1684–1775) Antrim, Northern Ireland
Y-DNA Status:
No known Y-DNA connections to Ralston Project members
George Rolleston (30 Jul 1829 – 16 Jun 1881)
George Rolleston MA MD FRCP FRS was an English physician and zoologist. He was the first Linacre Professor of Anatomy and Physiology to be appointed at the University of Oxford, a post he held from 1860 until his death in 1881. Rolleston, a friend and protégé of Thomas Henry Huxley, was an evolutionary biologist.
Born at Maltby Hall, near Rotherham, Yorkshire, England, his parents were Rev. George Rolleston (rector and squire of Maltby) and Anne Nettleship; his brother, William Rolleston, became a prominent politician in New Zealand.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- George Rolleston (1829–1881) Maltby, Yorkshire, England
- George Rolleston (1791–1868) Gainsborough, Lincoln, England
- Robert Rolleston (1747–1826) Derbyshire, England
- John Rolleston (1705–1770) Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1680–unk) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
Sir Humphry Davy Rolleston (21 Jun 1862 – 23 Sep 1944)
Sir Humphry Davy Rolleston was a very prominent physician. In 1891, he became a Physician at St. George's Hospital and surgeon Rear-Admiral with the Royal Navy in World War One. He remained active on a consultative board for the Royal Navy for many years after that. Humphry was President of the London Medical Society in 1904, the Royal Society of Medicine (1918-1920), and of the Royal College of Physicians (1922-1925). From 1923-1932, he was Physician-in-Ordinary to King George V. In 1925, he was appointed as the Regius Professor of Physic (Cambridge). He became President of the Medical Society of London in 1926.
(wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- Sir Humphry Davy Rolleston (1862–1944) Oxfordshire, England
- George Rolleston (1829–1881) Yorkshire, England
- George Rolleston (1791–1868) Gainsborough, Lincoln, England
- Robert Rolleston (1747–1826) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
John Davy Rolleston (25 Feb 1873 – 13 Mar 1946)
John Davy Rolleston was an English physician and folklorist, who published extensively on infectious diseases and the history of medicine. Overshadowed by his brother, Sir Humphry Rolleston, he established himself as an epidemiologist, gave the Fitzpatrick Lecture at the Royal College of Physicians in 1935-1936, and became involved in numerous other learned societies and medical bodies, including The Royal Society of Medicine and the Society for the Study and Cure of Inebriety.
He became the president of three sections of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, including the History of Medicine Section from 1924–1926.
(wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
- John Davy Rolleston (1873–1946) Oxfordshire, England
- Dr, George Rolleston (1829–1881) Yorkshire, England
- George Rolleston (1791–1868) Gainsborough, Lincoln, England
- Robert Rolleston (1747–1826) Derbyshire, England
- Rev John Rolleston (1705–1770) Derbyshire, England
- Christopher Rolleston (1669–1736) Nottinghamshire, England
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 5 - Midlands Rolleston
Holmes Rolston III (19 Nov 1932 - 12 Feb 2025)
Holmes Rolston III was Colorado State University's longest-serving University Distinguished Professor and a philosopher known as the "Father of Environmental Ethics."
Over the course of his career, the Templeton Prize winner and Gifford lecturer often stirred controversy by challenging human-centered value systems, instead embracing the intrinsic worth of plants, animals and ecosystems. He was the author of "Philosophy Gone Wild" (1986), "Conserving Natural Value" (1994), "Genes, Genesis, and God" (1999), "A New Environmental Ethics: The Next Millennium for Life on Earth" (2012, 2020), and many other works.
Lineage:
- Dr. Holmes Rolston III (1932-2025) Staunton, Virginia
- Dr. Holmes Rolston Jr. (1900 - 1977) Augusta, Virginia
- Dr. Holmes Rolston Sr. (1864-1924) Rockingham, Virginia
- John Hopkins Rolston Jr. (1818-1885) Harrisonburg, Virginia
- John Hinton Rolston (1794-1874) Rockingham, Virginia
- David Rolston Jr (1760–1849) Rockingham, Virginia
- David Rolstone (1733–1802) Botetourt, Virginia
- William Roulston/Rolstone (c1708 - 1767) unknown, lived in Botetourt, Virginia
Y-DNA Status:
Confirmed connection – Group 1 - Ulster
🎭 RALSTON IN NAME ONLY
The checkerboard logo. Rice Chex cereal. Chex Mix for parties. Purina Dog Chow. Feed for almost any animal you can name.
Despite the name, the company was not founded by anyone named “Ralston.” The name actually traces back to the late-nineteenth-century health movement known as Ralstonism, founded by Webster Edgerly, who styled himself as “Dr. Ralston.”
Edgerly promoted a strict diet and lifestyle and marketed Ralston Whole Wheat Cereal through the Ralston Health Club. The cereal was manufactured by a St. Louis firm that eventually acquired the rights to the name and later became Ralston Purina.
Within the Ralstonism movement, the name RALSTON was sometimes explained as an acronym for its guiding principles:
Regime • Activity • Light • Strength •Temperation • Oxygen • Nature
Through decades of advertising, the brand made the spelling and pronunciation “Ralston” familiar throughout North America. In reality, the surname has many historical spellings—Ralston, Rolston, Roulston, Rawlston, and others—and several traditional pronunciations in the English-speaking world. The familiar North American pronunciation “RAWL-ston” owes much to a century of advertising.
Read more about "The Story of Ralstonism"
Esther Ralston (17 Sep 1902 - 14 Jan 1994)
Projected as wholesome but fun-loving, Maine-born leading lady Esther Ralston enjoyed a prime silent age career and, at her peak, was packaged and publicized as "The American Venus" by none other than showman Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. after appearing as a dazzling beauty queen in the film of the same name (The American Venus (1926)). A decade later, the blonde beauty's career, however, had tapered off.
Christened Esther Worth in 1902, Ms. Ralston endured a "born in a trunk" existence as the child of parents who graced the burlesque, carnival, and vaudeville circuits. By the time she was 2, she had become a part of the family act (which included four brothers) with the billing now extended to "The Ralston Family with Baby Esther, America's Youngest Juliet."
Reportedly, Esther's father, Henry Walter Worth, chose the name "Ralston" for the family's vaudeville act because he believed it sounded "more professional" and carried a sense of dignity and class that would help the act's marketability. This was likely because of the "Ralstonism" movement of the 1890s by Webster Edgerly.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
No Ralston lineage
Y-DNA Status:
No Y-DNA connection to Ralston Project members
Bob Ralston (2 Jul 1938 - living)
Robert Howard Ralston is a pianist and organist who performed on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1963 until 1982, when the series ended.
(Wikipedia.org)
Bob was the grandson of Henry Walter Worth and son of Bradford (Worth) Ralston. Esther Ralston was his aunt.
Lineage:
No Ralston lineage
Y-DNA Status:
No Y-DNA connection to Ralston Project members
Vera Ralston (12 Jul 1920 – 9 Feb 2003)
Vera Ralston (born Věra Helena Hrubá) was a Czech figure skater and actress. She later became a naturalized American citizen. She worked as an actress during the 1940s and 1950s.
As a figure skater, she was once approached by Adolf Hitler who asked her if she would like to "skate for the swastika." As she later boasted, "I looked him right in the eye, and said that I'd rather skate on the swastika.” The Führer was furious.
She moved to Hollywood with her mother and signed a contract in 1943 with Republic Pictures. She was told her last name was not suitable for Hollywood. She saw the name "Ralston" on a box of cereal, so during her career, she was known as Vera Hrubá Ralston and later Vera Ralston.
(Wikipedia.org)
Lineage:
No Ralston Lineage
Y-DNA Status:
No Y-DNA connection to Ralston Project members
