Hailstown History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Hailstown familyThe surname Hailstown was first found in Shropshire at Halston, an extra-parochial liberty, in the hundred of Oswestry. "The Knights Templars had a preceptory here, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which subsequently belonged to the Hospitallers. Halston House is a handsome mansion, in front of which is a fine sheet of water, formed by a diversion of the channel of the river Perry." 1 However, we must look to Cheshire to find some of the first entries for the family. Thomas Halstein was listed there in 1227 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273-1279 included a listing for John Halsteyn. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 included an entry for William Halsteyn. A few years later, John de Halston was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1332. 2 Early History of the Hailstown familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hailstown research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1583, 1759 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Hailstown History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hailstown Spelling VariationsOne relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hailstown has appeared include Hailstone, Halstone, Halston, Hailston, Helistones, Ailston, Ailstone, Aylston and many more. Early Notables of the Hailstown familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hailstown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Hailstown familyAt this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hailstown arrived in North America very early: Susan Halston who settled in Virginia in 1653; and Thomas Hailstone to America in 1765.
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