| Notes |
- Bits and pieces of information are available for William Preston. He was a churchwarden in Chesham, England in 1617. He was a solicitor and therefore likely a man of education and superior station in life. Two of his sons preceded himerica. In his will, he mentions the aid his second wife was to him on the journey over. In many places, it states that William's second wife, Mary, was the daughter of Robert Seabrook including the "Dictionary of New England Settlers". This information was interpreted from a deed given to Mary by her son Jehiel Preston. Jehiel mentioned that it came from his grandfather, Robert Seabrook. It turns out that Jehiels wife's grandfather was Robert Seabrook, not Mary's father. Mary's surname is still therefore, unknown.
The family first came to Dorchester, Mass. in the "True Love" in Sept. 1635 along with their children Elizabeth, Sarah, Marie and John. Only son, Daniel, remained behind. In "The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660" by Peter Wilson Coldham gives their ages at this departure as "William Preston 44; Marie Preston 34; Elizabeth Preston 11; Sara Preston 8; Marie Preston 6; John Preston 3." Shortly after, the rest of the Prestons settled in New Haven, Connecticut. William signed the fundamental agreement June 4, 1639. In a Land List dated approximately 1640, it states that there are a family of 10 persons living on an estate worth $40.00. William was admitted as a member of the Court on July 6, 1643. He took the oath of fidelity on July 1, 1644. In 1645 he was given the responsibility for the town pound. In 1646, he was temporarily cast out of the church for lying, and was reassigned a seat in March of 1646/7.
He probably died quickly as his will was made 9 July, 1647 and probated on Sept. 7, 1647. In his will, he felt he was on his death bed. He gave small shares to his children, Joseph Alsop's wife, Edward, Daniel, John (under 20), Mary (under 19) and William Meeker's wife. The bulk of the estate went to his second wife. He also left 3/4's of his estate in Gigleswick, England to his children by his first marriage and a quarter to his second wife. (F-131)
As to William's parentage, a varying theory is published in a book called "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut". It states his father was John Preston, who was a different son of George (d.23 Apr.1685) and Anna Saunders. (George is the same grandfather in both lineages found for William.) George (or his father George?) of Valley Field was given the title of Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1637. (F-436c)
George's death date is listed 100 years too late in this document which is also quoted next by Sharon Metcalf: "PRESTON The name Preston is of great antiquity in North Britain and was assumed by the family from territorial possessions in Midlothian in the time of Malcolm, King of Scots. Leolphus De Preston of the time of William the Lion in 1040 was grandfather of Sir William De Preston, one of the Scotch noblemen summoned to Berwick by Edward I. in the competition for the Crown of Scotland between Bruce and Baliol, the decision having been referred to Edward, After the death of Alexander III. in 1291, this Sir William De Preston was succeeded by his son. Nicol de Preston, one of the Scottish barons who swore fealty to King Edward I. He died in the beginning of the reign of David II. of Scotland, son of Robert Bruce, and was succeeded by his son, Sir Lawrence De Preston, who. in turn, was succeeded by Richard De Preston, who was seated at Preston Richard in Westmoreland in the time of Henry II. Sir Richard De Preston, fifth in descent from the above, Richard of Preston Richard, represented the county of Westmoreland in parliament in the seventeenth year of Edward III. His son, Sir Richard De Preston, had likewise the honor of being Knight of the Shire for Westmoreland in the same reign. twenty-seventh, Edward III., and in the same year, 1368, obtained license to empark five hundred acres. His successor was Sir John De Preston, of Preston Richard and Preston Patrick, and was member of parliament for Westmoreland in the thirty-sixth, thirty-ninth and forty-sixth years of Edward III. His son Richard had no male issue; his son John was judge of the court of common pleas in the reigns of Henry IV. and VI. and retired from the bench in consequence of great age in 1427. Children of Judge John Rev. John; Richard, his heir; and a daughter.(I) The American line is undoubtedly of this family and is traced to George Preston, of Valley Field, who was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1637. Children George, had a son Major William, who died in 1637; William, mentioned below.(II) William, son of George Preston, married Anna Saunders and lived in England in the reigns of Charles I. and Charles II., dying April 23, 1685. Children William, left no male issue Richard, took the title; had a son William who inherited it; Ellen; Alice; John, mentioned below.(III) John, son of William Preston, had two sons William, mentioned below; John, had a son William, who died without issue in 1729; was Lord Bishop of Fernsborough; Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.(IV) William (2), son of John Preston, came to this country from Yorkshire in 1635 with wife Mary and six children and settled at New Haven, Connecticut. The settlement of his estate, January 4, 1639, shows that he owned real estate in Yorkshire, England. Children Edward Daniel; Eliasaph; Sarah; Mary; John, of New Haven; Jeheil, born 1640, lived at Stratfield; Joseph, born 1646; Hackaliah. mentioned below; Eliasaph, twin of Hackaliah, 1650."
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1591 - 1647 (56 years)
