Nathaniel Preston

Nathan (Nathaniel) Preston ~1755-1832

Bedford Co., Virginia

Nathan (Nathaniel) Preston b. abt.1755 d.8-4-1832 was born in Bedford County, Va. Nathan had a brother Moses and a sister Elizabeth Preston, all born in Bedford County Virginia. Nathan married Elizabeth Vaughn and they had 7 children: (All of this data supplied by Frances Kaye Grimes. Frances showed names as they were in the source, therefore multiple spellings may occur, as in Edy, Eddy, Eda, Edith or Jeffery and Jeffrey. Frances died April 6, 2000 but her son James Sherman Larrison will accept any questions or input.) Another source of information was "Early Families of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky."

Nancy Preston, according to Jeffery Preston's deposition in Nathan's Rev. War Record, "was the eldest child born after Cornwallis was taken, but in the same month, October 1781, probably in Bedford County, Virginia. (Cornwallis capitulated Oct. 19, 1781.) Jeffery "further stated that he has always understood from both of his parents that they had eight children." (Deposition of Jeffery Preston taken 29 Aug. 1839 in Floyd Co., KY.)

Nancy Preston married Benjamine Hilton in Floyd County, KY about 1803. From Early Families in Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, page 374, we find: "Benjamine Hilton, farmer and stonemason, was born in Kentucky, presumably in Madison County, March 13, 1786, and died in Johnson County, KY June 4, 1856. He married in Floyd Co., KY about 1803, Nancy Preston, born in Bedford County Virginia in October 1781, died June 28, 1871 in the home of her son E. P. S. Hylton, near Willard, Carter County, KY. She was buried in a near by graveyard at the mouth of Hylton branch. She was the eldest child of Nathan Preston, Revolutionary War soldier, and his wife, Elizabeth (Vaughn) Preston." The children of Nancy Preston and Benjamine Hilton (Hylton) were:

Nathan Preston "Press" Hylton b.1816 in Floyd Co., KY married first in Lawerence Co. on 8-5-1832 Mary "Polly" Meek, who died about 1842. She was the daughter of William and Julia Poplar Meek. He married secondly, Frances Youst in Lawrence Co. on 1-2-1843. Frances Yost was born 1823. Nathan was a farmer and he died in Johnson Co., KY after 1880.

Elizabeth Hylton married Charles Jefferson Grim 5-6-1824 in Floyd Co., KY..

Leah H. Hylton married James Corder on 8-22-1832 in Floyd Co. and migrated to Missouri.

Louvina Hylton married Charles W. Young Jr. on 5-11-1834 in Floyd Co. and migrated to Texas.

Anna Hylton married James Wright on 2-13-1840 in Floyd Co., KY.

Eliphaz "Life" Preston Shelton Hylton was born 2-18-1820 in what was then Floyd Co., KY. He married first Sarah Green in Johnson Co. on 9-19-1844. Sarah was the daughter of Giles and Katie Chandler Green. Katie Chandler Green was the daughter of Thomas Chandler, Rev. War Soldier. Eliphaz married secondly Nancy Castle in Lawrence Co. on 11-8-1855. Nancy was born in 1824 and died near Willard, Carter County, and was buried in a graveyard at the mouth of Hylton branch. Eliphaz was a farmer, old-time school teacher, and United Baptist preacher. He had service in the Union army during the Civil War, having enlisted at Grayson, KY on 9-26-1863 as a private in Company "C", 40th KY Regiment of Volunteers. He was honorably discharged as a corporal at Catlettsburg, KY on 12-30-1864 by reason of expiration of enlistment. Eliphaz died Feb. 1896 and is buried at Cherokee, Lawrence Co., KY.

Edy Preston ca. 1786. From a depositon taken from Elizabeth Preston Burgess, Nathan's sister, on 9-2-1839 in Nathan's Rev. War Record states Nathan and Elizabeth raised several children, the oldest, Nancy is now about 58. The second child was Eddy (Edy, Eda or Edith ?) Preston who is about 53. (therefore born about 1786 presumably in Bedford County, Virginia) Edy married Francis Asbury Brown. Francis was a merchant and also active in the public affairs of the city of Paintsville, and like his father, he held offices of responsibility and trust in his county. Francis and Edy were married in Floyd County KY on 6-1-1811. They had 9 children: (Source: Early Families of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, p.98. and 1850 Johnson Co. KY census.)

William Brown b. ca 1812 in Johnson Co., KY. A farmer and a preacher in the Methodist Church. He married Julia Stafford on 10-6-1828 in Lawrence Co., KY. He lived in Morgan Co., KY.

Thomas S. Brown b. ca 1814 married first in Floyd Co. on 5-7-1835, Emaline Damron and secondly he married Fanny Baldwin. Thomas was a merchant in Paintsville and a lawyer but devoted little time to the practice of law. He was judge of the Johnson County Court for four years. He was on the expulsion of John M. Elliott as state representative of the General Assembly of KY at the beginning of the Civil War. Thomas was elected to fill the vacancy. While a member he made a speech against secession that was remarkable for brillancy as well as sound logic and carried all doubters with him. He was for many years a preacher in the Methodist Church but after his second marriage he joined the Latter Day Saints and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Daniel Brown b. ca. 1815 married Ebbie Borders. Daniel was a preacher in the Methodist Church and lived in Lawrence Co., KY.

Wallace W. Brown b.12-9-1816 d.9-12-1890, born and died in Paintsville. He was a farmer, merchant and lawyer. He was elected to many public offices including that of county attorney for Johnson County, State representative and senator where he gained distinction in speeches pertaining to the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. He married first Nancy Hill b.7-4-1820 d.12-15-1861. He married secondly Sarah Coleman.

Nathan Brown b. ca 1818 was a lawyer, sometime public official and a local preacher in the Methodist Church. He was judge of the Johnson county Court and held other offices of trust in Paintsville and Johnson County. He married Elizabeth Hill.

Julia Brown b. ca. 1820.

Jefferson Brown b. ca. 1822 was a farmer and carpenter. He lived and died in the Tom's Creek section of Johnson County. He married Jane George.

Edy Brown b. ca. 1824 married Jesse Van Hoose. Edy lived and died on Tom' Creek.

Lawrence Brown ?.

Polly Preston b. ca. 1789 m. John Haws on 11-7-1809. John was a Methodist preacher. Married in Floyd Co., KY, moved to Indiana and returned to Flat Woods, Lawrence Co., KY.

Jeffery Preston b. 1791 in Bedford Co. Virginia, married Jane C. "Jency" Burgess about 1814. The records of Floyd County (Order Book No. 6) show that Nathan Preston was a Revolutionary soldier, and that Nathan and Elizabeth had children: Jeffrey, Eliphus, Nancy, married a Hylton, Eda, married a Brown, Elizabeth married a VanHoose and Matilda married a Lewis. It states that Nathan's wife Elizabeth died 1-29-1846. The records also make mention of Elizabeth Preston being a widow of Nathan Preston the Revolutionary soldier, and that Mr. Preston died 8-4-1832. This is proof that Jeffrey was a son of Nathan, who evidently was a brother of Moses, the first. Winfred Preston, a grandson of Jeffrey said that Jeffrey was a brother of "Coby" and "Life" Preston." 'Coby' was the nickname for Moses and 'Life' was the nickname for Eliphaz Preston.

Jane C. Burgess was born about 1796 and she was the daughter of Garland and Levina Brumfield Burgess. Garland and Levina were married 3-21-1787 in Montgomery Co. Virginia. Garland Burgess was born 6-11-1767. Jeffery and Jane had 12 children: (Source: 1850 Johnson Co. KY census, Johnson Co. KY Vol II by Mitchell Hall PP 381-382.)

Matilda Preston b.1815 in Floyd Co., KY married Henry Sherman 12-1-1831. Since Matilda was only 16 years old in 1831, her father, Jeffrey Preston gave his oral consent to the clerk of the court, Jacob Mayo to issue a licence. Jeffrey was the bondsman. According to the 1850 and 1860 census in Johnson County their children were:

Eliza A. Sherman b.1835

William Sherman b.1836 (twin)

Jefferson Sherman b.1836 (twin) m. Catherine Unknown b.1840

Nathan Sherman b.1841

Nancy J. Sherman b.1843

Julia F. Sherman b. 1846

Winfield S. Sherman b. 1849

Lewis C. Sherman b. 1852

Henry C. Sherman b. 1854

James H. Burns Sherman b.1857

Burgess Preston b.1817 d.12-5-1875 married Elizabeth Porter 1821-1885, dau. of Samuel Porter and Anna (Hanes) Porter. Their children were:

Samuel W. Preston b.1844 d.Civil War. Served with Union Army and killed at Cynthiana, Ky with Morgan's men.

Helen Preston b.3/1/1847 d.1/11/1910 m. William A. Webb. Children:

Burgess Webb

Sidney Webb proprietor of the Webb Hotel, Paintsville and a realtor. Married Beulah Preston.

Allie Webb m. Frew S. VanHoose, minister of the Free Will Baptist Church in Paintsville.

Winfield Scott Preston b.1/27/1850 d.1/2/1926 m. Sarah Davis b.5/25/1858 d.6/5/1890 dau. of James McHenry Davis and his wife Naomi Price, dau of G. W. Price. Winfield married secondly on 11/9/1892 May Marshall. Children of Winfield and Sarah were:

Virgie Preston

Norma Preston

Bert Preston

Ernest Preston b.11/14/1875 d.12/22/1896.

Carson Preston b.8/6/1877 d.6/28/1890

Burnard Preston b.1/18/1880 d.5/31/1892

Child by 2nd wife, May Marshall:

Clyde Preston m. Alma Rice dau. of Nathaniel Jackson Rice and his wife Katharine Louise McCloud.

John H. Preston b.12/9/1853 d.xxxx m. in 1891 Vine Gibson dau. of D. B. Gibson of Floyd County. John was a merchant in McDowell, Floyd County and later in Paintsville. John and Vine had one child: