John W. Aston was born about 1846, the son of William S. Aston and Dorinda Taylor. He enlisted at Fred Hall on 17 March 1864 as a private in Capt. Willis J. Dance’s Company of Light Artillery of the 1st Regiment Virginia Artillery (also listed as Pv’t Dance’s Battery of Hardaway’s Artillery). His enlistment was for the duration of the war. He was shown as present through 20 July 1864. On 31 August 1864 he was shown as absent–sent to hospital. He was again present in September through December 1864. Separate registers show him as admitted at Receiving and Wayside Hospital, or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, on 23 July 1864, and then as a patient at Chimborazo Hospital No. 5 in Richmond admitted 24 July 1864. He was suffering from “Remit fever.” On 9 August 1864 he gave a receipt for clothing from the hospital, presumably when he was discharged to return to duty.

He never married and lived with his nephew Edwin P. (Ned) Hicks and Ned’s wife Carrie. After the war, John worked as a prison guard in Goochland County, Virginia.

John died in October 1932 and is buried in Fine Creek Cemetary in Powhatan County, Virginia. In spite of the limited duration of his service on behalf of the CSA, he apparently took great pride in it. He was one of the Virginia veterans from Powhatan County who went at State expense to the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1913. Three years later in 1919 he was one of only six Powhatan County veterans who was able or willing to go to the Confederate reunion in Atlanta.

His brother Napolean M. Aston served in the 4th Virginia Cavalry.

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