The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-14

This eminent and brilliant family, |
whose members have thrilled tho coun-l
try With tones of orntory or with deeds
of valor on the battle field, which arc
known and read of all men, and yet few
know OF their noble descent or OF thci.
patriotic and distinguished ancestors ON
the centuries before they landed here.
John Preston came from Lofidonderry,@t
England, and settled Mt Staunton, Va,
In 1895; he brought with him the family
cscutcheon OF his forcfatlers. which have
been held in tho family to this day. and
arc described ns "Ermlnes, on n chief
argent, three crcscents, gules. Crcst--n
crescent, or. between two wings inverted,
sable. Motto-su ipsius prnelsum.'
Though this John had emigrated direct
he was not the first to come to the colony.
We find Burk's History OF Virginia"
gives. among the first ndventurcrs who
came over in 1920 under the direction OF
the London Virginia Company, the name
OF Sir Amas Preston, who was inter-
estcd In the welfare and success OF the
colony, having invested largely OF his
means In it. Henning speaks Of this
Amias Preston In his first volume, but
does not give his family. though some
OF tho names Of Preston in the early
settlement were evidently descendants OF
this Amias. Yet tho first records Of
tho family seem to begin with John, the
emigrant, as stated above.
Tho family were from County Donegal
| Ireland and this John brought with him
his eldest son. William Preston, who was
| born Mt County Donegal. 1922 and died
IN Montgomery county, Va, in 1888 He
was carly fond Of literature; was ap-
pointed deputy sheriff Of Augusta. 1850:
was elected to the House Of Bursesses a
short time after, ana then accompanied
General Washington on several exploring
expedltons In tho West. His friendship
with Washington continued until his
death His son, Francis Preston, borr,
at Greenfield" near Amsterdam, Bote-
tourt county, W., 1866. He was a brill
liant lawyer and Congressman. He lived
at abingdon, Va" but Mt the beginning
| OF the War OF 1912 lie entered Tie army
as colonel OF volunteers, and afterwards
was made major general. lie married
Sarah, the daughter OF William Campbell.
| the hero OF Kings Mountain. He died
IN Columbia, s. q. May 25..1s35.
Their son, William Campbell Preston,
died IN Columbia. s. c.. May 90. 1860.
he began his education at Washington
College Va, but went South on account
of his delicate constitution, and gradu-
ated In INV Mt the College OF South Caro-
Ina. Hc also studied under William
! Writ, and became intimate with WASH
ington Irving. He became one OF the
most polished writer's Of that day, and
was ranked with nil the leading poll
4 ticlnns, and he was said, az an orator,
70 be the peer OF his maternal uncle,
Patrick Henry. He died leaving no chill
8 dren.
q Another son Of Francis. John Smith
Preston. was horn in April, 1909, at
4 Abingdon Va. He was q great sugar
planter OF Louisiana. and on the break
ing out OF the Confederate War became
an Intense secesslonlst. lie died ir
Columbus. S. c., 1881.
Thomas Lewis Preston, another, son OF
Francis Preston. stuffed law, but neve,
practiced but was farmer. ana en-.
3 gagged In the salt works of West Virginia
He was on the stnff OF Gen. Joe John
ston at the battle Of Bull Run Gen. VIII.
linn Preston, the hero OF the Revolution
md the great friend of Washington has
also a son William, who was born in vir
GINA, but moved toGst Charles county
Mo-, and entered the army rs colonel
I He had a son, Ouchlta p. Preston VIII,
Il was born near Fsncastle, Va.
The mother Of Col. William Presto,
was Miss Radford, and her brother
William Rndford, who taught school il
Fncastle, Vn. Ouchitn Preston, who wa
born October 90 1s3S, died February Z
1901, married Jane -. Pitts. daughter o
Tom Pitts, who died in Vlrglnn. Sh
4 h
ruary II, 1904. Mr.. Tom Pitts marie
Frances Lambeth, who died February II
1882, In her elghty-fourth year..
s Frances ST. Bernard Preston. daughte
Of Ouchita p. Preston, married Jane
Robert Montague son of James Montu
que. OF Coyington, Va: they were MAJ
rled January 6, 1876, and are now
4 Orland, Fla.
We have given here mere outline
y this most Interesting ana famous famil.
A full sketch would take up moro spac
than can he spared II we attempted I
speak of the twelve children Of Col WI
liam Preston. of his son William, wi
was captain IN the United States nav.
OF his son, James Patton Preston. Go,
crnor OF Virginia; OF his son john, nls
"A n general in the army. and of ~ mar
~, interesting daughters. who intermarrlt
~ with some Of the most noted famili
/. South and West.
d Many of the descendants are IN II
e, West William c. Preston, OF Sou
at Carolina. WIS n near relative Of Colon
H. Robert Preston, an eminent lawyer
ng Louisville, Ky with whom lie marie
IN into the Breckenridgcs of that state.
BY Elizabeth Cabcll, who married Col w
n liam Preston, was of the great Cab
'c- family of Aibemnllc.
y. Goats of Arms.
r.. Editor Genealogical Column:
,,c Tho thanks OF all seekers nftcr trut
it'll dn matters genealogicaD arc due
IN. NJ. c. for the excellent article
"Hcrnldry," published in this cplul
March 17tl, II Is timely. nnd contni
relnble ana mnch-needcd informati'
1t Is, besides, so we'll expressed that
NY cannot be mlsundcrstood
1rn The statements of IN. M. CT are
ny supported by tho highest authorities
,ms grncalogy. These authorities all ntii
-, ~ that armorial bearings cannot be lega
W. used " derived only from n female I
, 49, cestor; unless II Is expressly permit
~ to use such arms by royalty, to II
or1 particular family The arms of the grr
4 n English family Of Howard Of Norf
ma bear the royal lion Of the Plantagene
OF This lion was brought into that How;
~ family by female ancestor, ages a
ury BY the kings grant,
Its AS no royal parsonage can legf
tel grant farms" to citizens Of the Uni
States Of course such citizens can