Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-07-06

ers he has held-with honor and credit
to himself, and with the plaudits of his
countrymen-"Well done, good and
faithful servant"
Incidents of Border Life In Virginia.
| RELATED BY MRS. LETITIA FLOYD IN
| LETTER TO HER SON, COLONEL
BENJAMIN RUSH FLOYD.
[Continued from June 29th.l
"Colonel Preston was above the Or
dinary height of man-five feet eleven
inches. He was large, inclined to cor
pulency; was ruddy, had fair hair and
hazel eyes. His manners were easy and
graceful. He had we'll cultivated in
tellect and fine taste for poetry. l re-
member to have read several beautiful
productions of his addressed to MY
mother, in praise of her domestic vir-
tues. On the 18th June, 1928, this ex-
cellent lady expired, after having lived
a widow forty years. She desired to be
buried in the same grave with her hus-
band. This was done. A tombstone
was placed over their grave by their
second son, General Francis Preston.
No portrait of either was ever taken.
Colonel Preston and wife had twelve
children. The oldest was Mrs. Eliza
beth Madison; she married William,
the second son of Mr., John Madison
who was the father of the learned pres
ident of William and Mary College,
likewise of Mr.. Thomas Madison, who
married the youngest sister of Patrick
Henry; also of Governor George Madi-
son, who married Miss Jane Smith, the
niece of Colonel Preston. The next
child was General John Preston,f who
married Miss Polly Radford, the daugh-
ter of Colonel William Radford, an off
Ger in the Revolutionary army. The
third child was General Francis Pres
ton, who married the only daughter
and heiress, of General William Camp
bell, of Kings Mountain memory. Her
mother was the third sister of Patrick
Henry The fourth child was Mrs.
Sarah Mcdowell, the wife of Colonel
James Mcdowell, of Rockbridge. She
was the mother of Mrs. Susan Taylor
apde Mrs. Benton, and her only son is
Governor James Mcdowell of this
State The fifth child, Anne, died at
thirteen years of age. The sixth child
was Major William Preston, who was
captain in General Wayne's army. He
married Colonel George Hancock's
daughter. Hancock was RevOlu-
tionary officer. The seventh child was
NJ rs. Susan Hart, who married MIR. Ma
thanlel Hart, OF Kentucky, whose faith
err was killed at the siege of BoOnes
borough The eighth child was Gov
ernor James Patton Preston He mar
rfed fhe'secohd daughter of Mr.. Robert
Taylor, merchant of Norfolk borough.
Governor Preston was wounded at the
battle O. Chrystler's Field in Canada.
He is yet living at Smfthfield is pen
sioner, gentleman of exceedingly
graceful manner, greatly beloved by his
neighbours and relations. The ninth
child was Mrs Mary Lewis; she was
the wife of Colonel John Lewis, an Off
cerof the Revolution, and was wounded,
whilst performing some military evOlu-
ton, in the small OF his back. The
wound was a serious one-the surgeons
almost despaired of healing it. Lewis
had heard that the tongue of a dog would
heal wound when all else failed. He
had favorite dog in camp which fol-
lowed him to Fort Cumberland, whittier
he was taken. The dog was brought to
lick the wound, which was healed.
Lewis was entitled to half pay during
his life. He was the owner of the cele-
brated springs of Virginia The tenth
child is Mrs. Letitia ,FlOyd,f who mar
ried Governor John Floyd, of Virginia,
the youngest son of Colonel John Floyd
and Jane Buchanan The eleventh
child was Thomas Lewis Preston, who
married Miss Edmonia Randolph, the
second daughter of Colonel Edmund
Randolph, of Williamsburg. Colonel
Randolph was at one period the aide of
General Washington, then Attorney
General of the United States, then Sec
retary of State under Jefferson's admin
istration. Thomas Preston was law
yer of great popularity and fine orator.
The twelfth child was Mrs. Peggy
Brown Preston, the wife of Colonel
John Preston, of Washington county.
His father was Mr.. Robert Preston, sur
veyor of that county. Mr.. John Pres
ton, the father of Robert, and Mr.. Wal
ter Preston emigrated to Virginia in the
year 1770. He was distant relation of
Colonel William Preston's. In the year
1890 Mr.. Robert Preston made voyage
to Ireland. On his return he brought a
coat-ofar of the Preston family. /
remember to have seen it There was a
fox PEASANT the other memorials [ do
not recollect. The motto was Sans
1dche.%* Mr.. Robert Preston claimed
descent from the family of Prestons
from Lancashire,* in England, stating
that there were seven belted knights
who fought at the siege of Londonderry
in 1858. Mr.. Robert Preston's father
was a shoemaker; he (Mr. r. Preston,
acquired great wealth by the surveyors
office. He married Miss Margaret
Rhea, the oldest daughter of the Rev
Mr.. Rhea, who was likewise the father
of the Hon. Johnny Rhea. of Tennes-
see. Their only child, Colonel John
Preston, of Washington, was the he'll
to his fathers wealth. This concludes
the chapter of my fathers family.
~ will add that Mrs. Brown was the
mother of Mr.. John Brown. who was
the first member of Congress from the
State of Kentucky. He was after
wards senator of the United States
Mr.. James Brown, second son, was 6
representative in Congress from ths
State Of Louisiana, afterwards senator
of the United Safes, then minister tt
France under Mr.. John @. Adams. DR.
Samuel Brown was professor in Tran
sylvanla University, Kentucky. DR.
Brown was skillful physician and {
wealthy man. Mr. John Brown mar
*Long the Treasurer of Virginia.
he was the uncle of President James Madi
son. The family was OF very early seating il
virginia. Captain ''Isacke Madison was ont
OF the original patentees for 80 acres of land il
the "corporacon of Charles Cittie.' He APP
pears in the list of living in Virginia at ''Wes
and Sherlow Hundred Hand" February IL. 1923
and his name is among the"Dead at West
Sherley and at Sherley Hundred" in 1924. Th
The virginia Land Registry Office records
number OF early grants to the name
tBorn 1856; Governor of Virginia 1885 diet
near Lexington, Va, August "a, 1851.
SNathaniel Hart, the elder, born 1874 in Han
over county, Va, emigrated to Kentucky il
l7s2
William Patton Preston, born l775; William
and Mary College 1905; appointed lieutenant
colonel Twelfth United States infantry Marc