Much of what we know about the Thruston family comes from the Thruston Family Register, a book that was started by John Thruston (1606). He used the book to document important events in his lifetime: births, christenings, marriages, deaths, and burials of his family members.
John Thruston's entry on June 1st, 1656:
This first day of June 1656
about 12 of y Clocke
at noon being Sunday my
wife was delivered of a ----
daughter wch makes my
24th child 12 sons & 12
daughters. Shee was baptized
the 6th day of the same
mounth & names Sara
my cosson James Thruston
my cosson Sara Bridges
& Mrs Bringdon Gossops
John Thruston's son Edward Thruston (1638) inherited the family register upon his father's death and continued the practice of documenting family events.
Edward Thruston's (1638) first entry in the book on April 8th, 1675:
This 8th day of Aprill 1675 my
ffather Mr John Thruston (being
Chamberlain of this Citty of
Bristoll 11 years & 11 months)
Departed this life & was buryed
the 12th instant in St Thomas
Church yard on the South side of
my mother who Departed this
life the 30th of November 1647 as
before specified. ____________
Edward Thruston (1638) would eventually pass this book down to his son, Edward Thruston, Jr. (1679). This tradition of passing the book from father to son would continue for many generations of Thrustons.
The Thruston Family Register made its way from Bristol, England, to Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas. The last known Thruston descendant in possession of the book was John Dean "Jack" Thruston (1894-1958), son of Charles Mynn Thruston (1868). Jack Thruston (1894) had two sons: Charles Mynn Thruston (1921) and Merrill Bryson [sic?] Thruston (1926).
John Dean "Jack" Thruston (1894-1958) eventually moved to Berkeley, California. He died on December 8, 1958. In his obituary it was reported that his only surviving son was Merrill Thruston, also of Berkeley.
Perhaps the Thruston Family Register was passed to Merrill Thruston.