Malachias Thruston was born in 1588 in Wellington, Somerset, England. His grandson, Malachy Thruston, born in 1637 in Bristol, England, emigrated in the 1660's to Norfolk, Virginia, and died there ca. 1698-1699. Descendants have lived principally in Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri, and Texas.

Edward Thruston was the son of John Thruston (1606-1675) and grandson of Malathias Thruston. Edward immigrated from England to Norfolk County, Virginia and married Ann Loving in 1666. Descendants and relatives lived in Virginia, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and elsewhere.

John James was born in 1688 in England, possibly the son of William James of Kent County, England. He and his wife, Justina Thurston, immigrated to James City County, Virginia, in 1713. Record includes some other descendants, but chiefly traces line of descent to the author's father, Godfrey Hunter James (1897-1949). He was born at Penrod, Kentucky, the son of Addison David James (1849-1910). He married Margaret E. Moseley (1895-1945) in 1916 at Springfield,...

General Gates Phillips Thruston (b. 1835 in Dayton, Ohio) descended from Rev. George Phillips (b. 1593) who came from Essex, England and settled in Watertown, Mass. in 1630. After growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Gates distinguished himself in the civil war. He married a southern girl, Ida Hamilton of Nashville, Tenn. One condition of the marriage was that he become a citizen of Nashville, which he did, and where he spent the rest of his life.