John Preston 1726 - 9-1-1796

John Preston is the starting point of the Walnut Grove Prestons. We know nothing of his parents. He was in County Derry, Ireland and married Eleanor Fairman (Ferman) (1725)(1-6-1820) in Ireland. His son Robert came to America in 1773 at the age of 23. (See Robert Preston's Statement of Service) We are not sure who came with him but apparently Col. William Preston (Smithfield Prestons) had something to do with his coming to America and settling in Botetourt, Co. Virginia. He wrote to his parents, and John and Eleanor came to America in 1775 with Robert's brother Walter who was 19 and his sister Jane who was 17 at the time. They later settled in Washington County, Virginia. John Preston died at 70 years of age in Sullivan County, Tennessee while on a visit to his daughter, Jane Preston Rhea. He is buried in the Weaver Church Cemetery a few miles south of Bristol, Tennessee. His wife, Eleanor Fairman Preston died at the family home, Walnut Grove, Washington County, Virginia on January 6, 1820 and was carried to Sullivan County Tennessee and buried in the same grave with her husband in the Weaver Church Cemetery. See his WILL. Their three children are as follows:

1. * Robert Preston (1750)(12-16-1833) was married on September 28, 1780 to Miss Margaret Rhea (1757)(6-3-1822) the daughter of Rev. Joseph Rhea. They had three children.
2. Jane Preston b.1758 d.Nov.1800 married Matthew Rhea (1755-1816) brother of Margaret Rhea. They lived in Sullivan County Tennessee and had four children.
3. Walter Preston (12-25-1756)(8-9-1834) married on October 18, 1785, Miss Anne ("Nancy") Montgomery (1761)(2-8-1808). They had eight children.

[ Surnames ] [ Individuals ] [ Home Page ] [ Changes ]

Original 8/12/97
Last updated 4/9/2007
Page by F. L. Preston