Thomas Preston abt. 1620 - after 1678

Prestons of Great Britain-- Holker Park, Part 2

Thomas Preston, son of George Preston and his wife Elizabeth Ashton, succeeded to the estates of Holker Park and married Katherine Hoghton, daughter of Sir Gilbert Hoghton, Baron of Hoghton Tower. In 1642, when hostilities commenced between the forces of King Charles I and the English Parliament, Thomas Preston, yet early in life, joined his kinsmen, the Prestons of the Manor, and of the Cockerham estate, on the side of the King. By this action he greatly damaged his estates, but not to such an extent, however, as to debar him from the honors which Charles II designed to bestow upon the more wealthy of the nobles who had proven true to the cause of his royal father, for Mr. Preston was among those wealthy gentlemen of Lancashire, who, after the Restoration, were selected by King Charles II for the order of the Royal Oak. His estates therefore were still valued at £2000 per annum. His honors also continued with him after the war, for he is mentioned as deputy-lieutenant of Lancashire and high Sheriff in 1678. His children were:

  1. George Preston b.ca 1642 who married Mary Lowther, the only sister of Lord Viscount Lonsdale. He died without leaving male isssue, leaving only one child, Elizabeth Preston, who married Sir Wilfred Lawson, Baronet of Isell.
  2. Thomas Preston b.1646 and married first Mary Dodding and second Elizabeth Bradshaigh. Thomas succeeded to the Holker Park Estate.
  3. Margaret Preston who married Edward Ogle, Esq., of Whiston, Lancashire, son of Cuthbert Ogle, Esq., and Elizabeth Harrington. Margaret died 10-5-1675. Their children were:
    • Cuthbert Ogle b.1673, to whom was devised in remainder at the death of Katherine, Lady Lowther, by his uncle Thomas Preston, a considerable portion of the Holker Estate.
    • Katherine Ogle.
    • Elizabeth Ogle.

Thomas Preston, Esq., who succeeded to the Holker Estate was born in 1646 and married first Mary Dodding, daughter of George Dodding, Esq., of Cornishead Priory; and second, Elizabeth Bradshaigh, daughter of Sir Roger Bradshaigh, Baronet of Haigh. Thomas died in London on 1-31-1696 and was buried with his fathers at Cartmel.

Thomas tried to persuade William Preston of Cockerham, the male heir next of kin, to break the settlement of the Manor and Abbey of Furness upon the Jesuits, by Sir Thomas Preston the third Baronet. Not succeeding in persuading William, Thomas took it upon himself to fight the case, even though he knew if he won, the estate would be seized by the crown. He took the case to court at great personal expense because his indignation was so great at the action of his kinsman, Sir Thomas. He won the case and the estate was seized by the Crown but the disinterested action by Mr. Preston won him such favor at Court that he was enabled to occupy the property under a long lease and on favorable terms. The estate of Furness Abbey therefore remained in the family after the extinction of the baronetcy, but only for that generation. Thomas represented Lancashire in the English Parliament after the suit was settled. Thomas had no children by his first wife Mary Dodding. By his second wife, Elizabeth Bradshaigh he had one daughter. Elizabeth survived Thomas until 2-29-1732 and is also buried at Cartmel Churchyard.

  1. Katherine Preston married Sir William Lowther baronet of Marske, and conveyed to him all the large property in Lancashire of the Preston family. Thus ended the Prestons of Holker Estates.


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Original 10/11/97
Last updated 4/13/2007
Page by F. L. Preston