John Preston, Nineteenth Generation, b.1511 d. >1569, son of Sir Thomas Preston, entered into the possession of his inheritances of Preston Patrick, Under Levins Hall and the manor of Abbey of Furness, he established his principal residence at Furness, and his branch of the family from that time forward was known as the "Prestons of the Manor". He married Margaret Curwen, daughter of Sir Thomas Curwen, of Workington in Cumberland, and his wife, Agnes (Strickland) Curwen, who was the daughter of Sir Walter Strickland, of Syzergh Castle. He married second, Dorothy Layton, widow of Richard Redmayne. He served the County of Lancashire as Sheriff in 1569. He had issue, three sons and one daughter:

1. Thomas Preston who succeeded to the Preston Estates.
2. Nicholas Preston who was a lawyer and who died without issue.
3. Thomas Preston who married Margaret Fytche, dau. and heiress of Roger Fytche of Ellel, the owner of the vast Cockerham estates and thenceforward, with his descendents became identified with that County seat.
4. Margaret Preston who married Roger Kirkby, Esq., of Kirkby in Lancashire.

Thomas Preston, Twentieth Generation, son of John Preston and Margaret Curwen, succeeded his father not only in the possession of the Estates of Preston Patrick, Under Levins Hall and the manor and Abbey of Furness, but in the office of Sheriff of Lancashire, which position he held in 1585. He married Margaret Westby, daughter of John Westby, Esq., of Mowbreck, died June 14, 1604 and was buried at Heversham. His heir and only child:

John Preston, Esq., married Elizabeth Holland, daughter and co-heir of Rich Holland, Esq., of Denton in Lancashire. John, Twenty-First Generation, and his wife Elizabeth Holland had issue as follows:

1. Thomas Preston who died young.
2. John Preston born in 1617 who became his heir.
3. Ann Preston who died young.
4. Margaret Preston who married Sir Francis Howard of Corby Castle, the second son of Lord William Howard, of Nawerth Castle, and by him had issue.
5. Agnes Preston who married Christopher Anderson, Esq., of Lostock.
6. Frances Preston who married Francis Downes, Esq. of Wardley Hall.

The last Will and Testament of Mr. Preston bears the date of September 1642. He died shortly after that date, and was buried at Furness Abbey.

Sir John Preston b.1617 d.1645, Twenty Second Generation, son of John Preston and Elizabeth Holland, succeeded to the estates of Preston Patrick, Under Levins Hall and the manor and Abbey of Furness in Lancashire. He married in 1637, Jane Morgan, daughter and sole heiress of Thomas Morgan Esq., of Heyford Hall in Northamptonshire, and Weston-sub-Weathley, in Warwickshire.

1. John Preston who was the second baronet, but who died unmarried in April 1663.
2. Thomas Preston who married Mary Molyneux, daughter of Caryll, third Viscount Molyneux and who became the third and last baronet.
3. Ann Preston who married Sir William Gerard, Baronet of Bryn and Garewood.
4. Elizabeth Preston who married William, the eleventh Lord Stourton.

Sir Thomas Preston, Twenty Third Generation, son of John Preston, was a Catholic Priest, but when at the death of his brother, John, in April 1663, without issue, he became third baronet, by a dipensation of the Pope of Rome, he renounced his vows and married Mary Molyneux, daughter of Caryll, third Viscount Molyneux, and entered into possession of the vast Preston Estates, now consisting of Preston Patrick, Under Levins Hall in Westmoreland, manor and Abbey of Furness in Lancashire and Heyford Hall in Northamptonshire. He had issue:

1. Francis Preston who died young.
2. Mary Preston who married William, Marquix of Powis.
3. Ann Preston who married Hugh, second Lord Clifford of Chudleigh.

Mary Molyneux died 6-6-1673, leaving Sir Thomas a widower and without any male heir to inherit the vast estates or perpetuate the family name. He decided to renounce the world and take upon himself the robes of the priesthood. Accordingly he settled upon his daughters the estates in Westmoreland and in Northampton, and the manor and Abbey of Furness, upon the Jesuits, and making his way across the channel to Flanders where he entered a monastery and spent the remainder of his days.

The legality of his act in making over the Manor and Abbey of Furness to the Jesuit Order was attacked in the Courts by Thomas Preston, Esq. of Holker Hall, who, after enormous expense to himself, finally succeeded in proving that the estate was properly forfeited to the Crown, which thereupon immediately seized upon it.

Sir Thomas Preston died in the monastery in Flanders about the year 1710 and with him expired the baronetcy of "Preston of the Manor".

Christopher Preston and Holker Park.

Thomas Preston and the Cockerham Estates.

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