Thomas Ralston, the first son of Peter Ralston and Nellie Maxwell, was born about 1768¹ in Scotland. Married 16 March 1790² to Margaret Picken in Knockstapplemore, Southend. "His signature is included among those on Relief Church call of 1799. His lease of Brecklate of 1830 was in the amount of £50 annually. Thomas may have died on the 27th of July 1833 at the age of 84."³

Their children were:

• +1) Patrick (Peter); born 18 June 1791, Brecklate, Southend⁴ , married Jannet Brown 21 Jan. 1820, Southend, Scotland, died 1879.
• 2) William; born 17 June 1793, Brecklate, Southend, married Elizabeth Andrew 23 Aug. 1822 Southend. Emigrated in 1842 to Illinois aboard the British Barque Gleaner.
• 3) Helen; born 10 March 1796, Brecklate, Southend.
• 4) Jane; born 16 Sept. 1798, Brecklate, Southend.
• 5) Alexander; born 10 Feb. 1801, Brecklate, Southend, married 24 Dec. 1824 Elizabeth Ferguson, Southend, he died 9 March 1858. They had nine children.⁵
• 6) John; born 21 Dec. 1803, Brecklate, Southend, married 25 Dec. 1834 Catherine Brown, Southend, he died 17 December 1851. They had eight children.⁶
• 7) Thomas; born 30 Mar. 1809, Brecklate, Southend.