Edward Colston, “A person ever memorable for his benefactions and charities” was the eldest son of William Colston Esq., an eminent Spanish merchant in Bristol. Edward was born in that City on 2nd November in 1636. He was brought up to follow in the family business and lived for some time in Spain as did his brothers, two of whom were brutally murdered there by assassins. He inherited a handsome fortune from his parents, which received continual additions from the fortunes of his brothers; all of whom, though numerous, he survived.

This family wealth he vastly increased by trade and having no close relatives other than a married sister whose two daughters and co-heirs were well provided for. He disposed of a great part of his vast wealth in acts of charity and beneficence to Hospitals, Schools, Alms Houses, Churches and Parsons. He gave £6,000 for the augmentation of 60 small livings, but his principal interest centred on the Cities of Bristol and London.

Some years before his decease, he retired from business and went to live in London, and at Mortlake in Surrey, where he had a country seat, “One eminent resident with no love for dissenters” was Edward Colston, who spent the last thirty-two years of his life at Cromwell House. Its gateway still remains in the lane behind the “Clayend” sportsground. As further evidence that Colston was a great Philanthropist he gave benefactions during his lifetime which amounted to £70,695.

He gave generously to Mortlake charities and founded the Colston Almshouses which would have been adequately endowed had not a fussy Vestry refused him the right to nominate residents during his lifetime. Mrs. Marshall, the novelist has described Colston and his household on their way to the parish church, “James the black servant walked behind bearing the books, and all hats were raised and many bows and curtesies showed the respect in which the family was held” .On his death on 11th October 1721, Colston’s body was taken with magnificent pomp to the family vault in All Saints, Bristol, a week’s journey. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Harcourt and printed in
London the same year. Returning to Mortlake after the funeral, one of the mourners found an old woman seated in a niche of the stone gateway. “I have come from a distant part to ask help of one who never turned his face from the poor” she sobbed, “I am footsore and famished, and they have shut the door on me”. (l)

The part Edward Colston played in Froyle was considerable for it was he who provided financial assistance to Benjamin Gauden in connection with Froyle Place and other parts of the Estate, and it was his descendants who, in 1756, rented large areas of the Froyle Estate (2) and who later, in 1772, sold the same to Sir Thomas Miller, Bt. (3)

Francis Willoughby, Lord Middleton, Baron Middleton, Co. Warwick and Alexander Ready (later changed his name to Colston) each married daughters and co-heirs of Thomas Edwards of Filkins Hall Co. Oxford.

Lineage:- The Rev. Alexander Colston, of Filkin Hall, Co. Oxford, Rector of Broadwell and Henbury 1744, son and heir of Alexander Ready (afterwards Colston), of the Inner Temple, by
Sophia his wife, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Edwards of Filkins Hall, Co. Oxford, and Mary his wife, only daughter and heir of Sir William Hayman of Bristol who married 1670 Mary only surviving sister and heir of Edward Colston of Bristol, the Philanthropist.