Preston of Ireland, Virginia & Butts, Jasper & Walton Counties

The first of the family to come to America was John Preston, born in the City of Londonderry, Ireland. His father and three uncles were Englishmen who served under King William and aided in the defense of that city when besieged by Roman Catholics commanded by King James in 1689. John Preston was a protestant. He married Elizabeth Patton, a sister of Colonel James Patton of Donnegal and removed with him from Ireland to Virginia in the year of 1740. Colonel Patton had, for some years, commanded a merchant ship and was a man of property, enterprise and influence. He obtained an order of Council from the Governor of Virginia under which he appropriated to himself and associates some 120,000 acres of the best lands lying above the Blue Ridge in Virginia, several valuable tracts of which fell to the share of his decendants. He was killed by Indians at Smithfield in the year of 1753. The first Virginia residence of John Preston was at Spring Hill in Augusta County, Virginia, but about the year of 1743 he purchased and settled with his family on a tract of land adjoining Staunton on the north side of that town where he died shortly afterwards and was buried at Tinkling Spring Meeting House, leaving his widow and five children. Mrs. Preston continued to reside on the family plantation until all of her children were educated and married. She then removed to Smithfield, Virginia, the seat of his son, Colonel William Preston.[1] Issue:

• Letitia Preston, born 1728 in Ireland, married Colonel Robert Breckinridge, a farmer in Botetourt County, Virginia.
• Margaret Preston, born ca 1730 in Ireland, married Reverend Hugh Brown, a graduate of Princeton College.
• William Preston, born in Ireland, came to American at the age of 8 years; Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses; surveyor and was an active Whig during the American Revolution. He married Susannah Smith of Hanover County, Virginia, and died at Smithfield on June 1783, age 53. Issue:[2]

Elizabeth Preston, married William S. Madison.

John Preston, a member of the Virginia Senate, married (1) Miss Radford (2) Mrs. Mayo.

Francis Preston, married Miss Campbell.

Sarah Preston, married Colonel James McDowell of Rockbridge County, Virginia.

William Preston, married Miss Hancock.

Susannah Preston, married Nathaniel Hart of Woodford County, Kentucky.

Hanes Patton Preston, married Miss Redd.

Mary Preston, married John Lewis.

Letitia Preston, married John Floyd of Kentucky.

John Lewis Preston, lawyer, member of the Virginia Legislature, married Miss Randolph.

Margaret Preston, married Colonel John Preston of Walnot Grove.

Ann Preston, born in Ireland, married Francis Smith of Virginia, removed to Kentucky where he died in 1813 at the age of 74 years.

Mary Preston, married John Howard of Virginia, removed to Kentucky where she died in 1814, at the age of 75.

Another branch of this family was Thomas Lewis Preston, the son of Thomas Preston, was born 1754 in Bedford County Virginia and died 1836 in Walton County, Georgia, his estate being administered between 1836 to 1845. He was married to Mary Harrison (1762-1843). He served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War; also as a Major in the War of 1812. He migrated to Jasper County, Georgia in 1798, listed on the 1820 Jasper County Census, and then to Walton County. Issue:[3]

• Gilliam Preston, born 1780 in Brunswick County, Virginia, died 1836-1845, married Sarah Floyd (born 1783 in Virginia). Issue:[4]

  1. Elisha Preston, born 11 November 1804 in South Carolina, died ca 1856, married on 12 December 1832 in Butts County, Lucy Mayo.
  2. James Madison Preston, born 1806 in South Carolina, died January 1882-1884, married 28 December 1835, Permelia Wilson Smith, in Butts County.
  3. Martha Preston, born ca 1808 in South Carolina, married on 24 May 1827 in Butts County, Jacob Mayo.
  4. John Franklin Preston, born ca 1811 in South Carolina, his LWT dated 4 September 1850. He married on 10 March 1836 in Butts County, Louisa Ann Crawford.
  5. Sarah Ann Preston, born ca 1813 in South Carolina.
  6. William G. Preston, born ca 1815 in Georgia, married on 8 November 1840 in Butts County, Lawson Underwood.
  7. Patricia J. Preston, born ca 1819 in Georgia.
  8. Laduzer Orestib Preston, born ca 1821 in Georgia.
  9. Thomas Jefferson Preston, born 4 November 1824 in Jackson, Butts County.
  10. Gilliam Holon Preston, born ca 1828 in Jackson, Butts County, married on 12 July 1849 in Butts County, Elizabeth Smith.

• Archibald Preston, born 13 March 1794 in Brunswick County, Virginia, died 12 December 1882, married on 19 December 1821 in Jasper County, Nancy Hill.
• Thomas Preston, born 1796.
• William H. Preston, born 23 January 1802, married on 6 March 1828 in Jasper County, Martha McDowell.
• Patsy Preston.
• Elizabeth Preston, married Armstead Cocke.
• Benjamin Preston.
• Nancy Preston.
• Polly Preston.

This house was built in 1772-1773 for Colonel William Preston and was home of three governors of Virginia, James Patton Preston, John Floyd, Jr., and John Buchanan Floyd. A gift from Mrs. Janie Preston Boulware Lamb to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.


This house was built in 1772-1773 for Colonel William Preston and was home of three governors of Virginia, James Patton Preston, John Floyd, Jr., and John Buchanan Floyd. A gift from Mrs. Janie Preston Boulware Lamb to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Sources: [1] The Preston Family by Orlando Brown, University of Kentucky Library; [2] Memoranda of the Preston Family by Orlando Brown, University of Kentucky Library; [3] Personal Records of Wesley Felts, Houston, Texas (1959); [4] Personal Records of John B. Preston, 806 Forrest Avenue, Tifton, Georgia 31794 (1972).