probably were drawn to Voluntown because a Church holding that
faith was there established. Alexander returned to Massachusetts a
few years later, residing in Richmond, where some of his
descendants now reside; but most of that branch of the family are
living in the western states.

John Gaston was made a freeman of Voluntown at the organization of
its town government in 1736-7. He was a prominent member of the
Separatists Church in that town, the meeting for the settlement of
Reverend Alexander Miller, their pastor, being held at his house.
He was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. His
three children were born in America: Margaret, born 1737, died
1810; Alexander, born 1739, was a commissioned officer in the
French and Indian War; John, born 1750, died 1805.

John Gaston married Ruth Miller, daughter of Reverend Alexander
Miller. Their children were Alexander, born in Voluntown, August 2,
1772; Margaret, born December 13, 1781. The latter died in early
childhood.

Alexander Gaston married Olive Dunlap, a daughter of Joshua Dunlap,
of Plainfield, Connecticut, who was born 1769, died in Killingly,
September 7, 1814. He married for his second wife in Killingly, in
April, 1816, Kezia Arnold, daughter of Aaron Arnold, born in
Burrillville, Rhode Island, November, 1779, died in Roxbury,
Massachusetts, January 30, 1856. His death occurred in Roxbury,
February 11, 1856. The children of first marriage: Esther, born
1804, died 1860; John, born 1806, died 1824. William Gaston, of
whom this sketch is written, was the sole issue of the second
marriage. He was born at Killingly October 3, 1820. With his