Philip Alston (counterfeiter)
| Philip Alston | |
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In the 1790s, Philip Alston and his criminal associate, John Duff carried out their counterfeiting operation, in the relative seclusion of the wilderness, at Cave-in-Rock.
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| Born | February 18, 1740 or 1741 Province of South Carolina (British Royal Colony), British North America, British Empire, present-day South Carolina |
| Died | After 1799 (aged 59-?) New Madrid, Spanish Louisiana Territory, present-day New Madrid, Missouri? |
| Nationality | American, Spanish |
| Other names | Phelipe Alston, Alston, Alston the Counterfeiter, Ruffles, Gentleman Counterfeiter |
| Occupation | counterfeiter, river pirate, criminal gang leader, planter, thief, land speculator, soldier, politician, tavern keeper, salt maker, fur trader, banker, businessman, teacher, preacher, farmer, empresario |
| Employer | Spanish government, self-employed |
| Known for | Counterfeiting coins in the Carolinas, Virginia, Natchez, West Florida and at Cave-in-Rock, along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, as an associate of John Duff, being one of the first settlers, bankers, and businessmen, of Russelville, Kentucky, and empresario in New Madrid, Spanish Louisiana Territory |
| Title | Empresario of Mexico |
| Movement | Natchez Revolt of 1781, Cumberland Compact of 1780, Yazoo Land Scandal of 1795 |
| Spouse(s) | Temperance Smith, Mary Molly Temple, Mildred McCoy |
| Children | Peter Alston |
| Parent(s) | Solomon Alston and Sarah Ann "Nancy" Hinton |
| Relatives | John Alston (brother) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | British West Florida |
| Service/branch | Loyalist local volunteer corps |
| Years of service | 1781 |
| Unit | Natchez Volunteers |
| Battles/wars |
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Philip Alston (Feb. 18, 1740 or 1741 – after 1799) was an 18th-century counterfeiter, both before and after the American Revolution, in Virginia and the Carolinas before the war, and later, in Kentucky and Illinois afterwards. He is associated with Cave-in-Rock and his son, outlaw, Peter Alston and John Duff, the counterfeiter, as well as, an early settler of Natchez and the Cumberland and Red River valleys in Kentucky and Tennessee.
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