The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-25

Death Of HIillionairc-His Pedigree and Long
Descent-The Only Heir at LAW Joseph A.
Scoville, OF the New York Pick.
WOODBURY., IITcHrm1D Co., CONNECTICUT.
March 22d, 1854. :
To JAS G. BxSNErr, ESQ.,,
EDITOR OF THE HERALD, NEW YORK CrrY:--
have read an article in your paper about the late
Nathan Preston You in in stating that he died
in Itchfeld He died in this town. at Marshas Hotel
He died very suddenly, occasioned by bursting blood
vessel although he had been aing for several years,
and besides quite old man. Mr. Preston has al
ways been independent and lived upon his money. He
used to reside at Hartford but for years had lived
in this town, He old bachelor, very quiet and
economical in his habits and he is generally supposed to
have left large quantity Of real estate bonds
mortgages stocks and notes, valued at $4,000 70
.ooo az, to which Joseph A. scovle Of your city, is the
only legal heir now living
His hame-that Of Nathan Preston-was a >,
and ASSUMED by the family from their territorial
possessions in Mid Lothian, in the time of Malcolm
King Of the Scots The first upon record is Leophus de
Preston, who lived in the time of william the Lion
about 1910 His grandson was Sir William de Preston
who of the Scottish mobiles summoned 10 Ber-
wick by Edward the First in the competition for the
crown of Scotland between Bruce and Balol 1t having
been submitted to Edward for decision After the death
of King Alexander III. in 1891 this Sir William was
succeeded by his son. Nico de Preston of the Scot
tsh Barons who fealty to King Edward I. He
died in the beginning of the reign of David H. of Scot
land, Of Robert Bruce and succeeded by
his son, Sir Lawrence de Preston, who was succeed
ed by Richard de Preston, who seated at Pres
ton Richard In Westmoreland in the time of Henry II
Sir Richard de Preston the fifth in descent from the above
Richard represented the county of Wesnorelapd in Par
lament in seventeen Edward III His son. Sir Richard
was Knight Of the Shire for Wesmoreand in the same
reign, and in the year Q36s) obtained license
te mpar five hundred acres His heir was Sir John dc
Preston, Of Preston Richard, and Preston Patrick was
member Of Parliament for Westmoreland in the 36th
seth and 46th years Of Edward Ill He left John who
was Judge of the Court Of Common Pleas in the reign
Of Henry w. and VI agd retired in consequence of his
was Richard. His William Robert Preston, In
1893 His son, George Preston, created Baron of
Nova Scotia in 1927. His William married daughter
Of Sir James Saunders, and he lived in the reigns Of
Charles l. and II. His son William came to America in
1885. He came to Massachusetts, with Mary his wife
Thence he removed to- and settled in New Haven Conn.,
where he signed the agreement of the 4th of
January 1882 He possessed at his death real estate in
Yorkshire England which he inherited from his father
He had two twins born in New Haven in 1643
named Hackalah and the other Eliasaph Hackalah
settled in Woodbury. in 1851. Hackaah married Emma
William, who in 1705 married Martha, daughter Of John
Judson He died in 1854. He left son, named Seth
november
beth, daughter Of Lieut. Joseph Judson He left SON
named Nathan, who was born April 20, 1866. He was
ber 3s i7ss this Nathan Preston married Annence Prn
dle and the following the issue of that marriage
Polly, born Nov Is, 1888 died March Is, 1sl4Eno is
Nancy born jan 1e 1885, died April g. 1s1e-no ISSUE
Nathan, born Oct, 1889, and who died recently was
Sylvia born Oct /, 1886, married David Hitchcock. of
New York. She died in May, 1927 but left daughter
yho married James Hoyt She died, leaving two chill
Caroline born Feb 27, l7ss, married Joseph scoville
Oct 10 1873 She died Sept 80, 1881 leaving son. Jo
seph Alfred who resides in New York
As legal matter Of fact the children of the sisters
Of Mr. Preston are his nearest blood relatives but the
His second wife Sally, widow of Rev. Phil Perry At
the time of their marriage she had three children who
were adopted by the husband One Charles Perry
Henry Perry who colonel in Miners expedition
and killed by the Spaniards in 1917 Julia who
ried John P. Marshall in 1872, and had four children
Henry Frederick Julia and Walter Nathan Preston had
by his second wife William Preston, born Aug H. 1901
who is Episcopal clergyman at Columbus Ohio and is
half brother of the Nathan Preston recently deceased
Itwas generally supposed here that the Marshall family
would inherit the property of Mr.. Preston he made
his home with them and had discarded his nephew alto
gether, owing to having lost considerable amount of
money by him some years ago and his incorporate dis
sipated habits Lewis judd of this town is admins
traitor Of the late Mr.. Preston but he made will
the property Of course will go to the legal heirs who
his sisters children or grandchildren.
don't know that you will publish this letter from
place little known quiet village; but, although
day We have had book recently published, called
"Cotheren's History of Ancient Woodbury." Our town
is not much known to strangers There have been four
United States Senators Of one from this town
Perry Smith, Truman Smith, Nathaniel Smith and Ma
than Smith-who have represented Connecticut in Con.
gress The town Is situated in beautiful valley, and
contains about two thousand people about half and half
politically, democrats and wings. There are two Presby-
tcran meetinghouses Episcopal church. and one
Methodist The Presbycrans mostly wings, and the
Episcopals and Mehodsts democrats. There are
two graveyards in the town Is very old one 1t
has tombstones in it of all the Prestons named in my let
ter going back to 1885 The oldest tombstopes were inn
ported from England-some the common red stone of
the neighborhood and the modern Of marble,
which came from New Preston, village adjoining this
old town The old Preston mansion Is situated in the
sIIolow" as II is called II is in very dilapidated
diton none of the family having lived in 1t for some
thirty years.
/ must not close without confessing my indebtedness
for the history the Preston family TO the work called
Ancient Woodbury. which Mr. w Cotheren Of this town,
has recently issued heavy loss TO himself and which
should the hands Of person who can lay claim
TO being the good old ancient Woodbury. stock you
publish this will you please send copy Of the HERALD
to mer Your obedient servant y. >.