SOURCE: The source for information on the Prestons of Ireland is from "Preston
Genealogy" by William Bowker Preston, however, the same information can be found in
"Burke's Peerage and Baronetage" under Gormanston Prestons.
Originally my parents were told that we descended from John Preston son of Jenico
Preston the 10th Viscount of Gormanston. Since our John and his wife Eleanor Fairman were
born about 1725-26 and the John Preston son of Jenico was born 1742, it is apparent these
are two different Johns. Another problem is our John came to America from the Londonderry
area of northern Ireland, while Jenico and the Gormanston Prestons are located in County
Meath outside of Dublin.
If anyone in the United States has a proven connection to the Gormanston Prestons I
would like to know about it. Of all the Prestons shown on these pages I know of none
connected to this line.
There is a college or boarding school of about 450 students (1999) adjacent to the
Gormanston Castle. I have had email from several students or ex students who have provided
some current information. For one, in the late 1950's the castle was sold to the
Franciscans who live there now, about 25 of them. The castle is in good shape. There is a
legend about the castle that was conveyed by John
McMahon of Massachusetts who attended Gormanston College. The legend goes that
whenever a family member died, the foxes would gather at the foot of the steps. One of the
family members went to WW2 and was listed as missing in action. After 7 years he was
declared legally dead and his widow remarried. The groundskeeper had his doubts because
the foxes did not appear during that time. Sure enough around 1952 he resurfaced, had
apparently suffered loss of memory.
Another interesting point was that the Prestons had a Pet Cemetery on the grounds. The
Preston dogs are buried under a 350 year old Yew tree in a plot about 200 feet long, head
stones and all. Also, much of the Preston history is inscribed in the wood paneling of the
Great Entrance Hall.
The following will be an account of the Gormanston Prestons. The Swainston Prestons are
an off-shoot of the Gormanston Prestons and will be covered separately.
The first member of the family is --
- Philip de Preston (abt.1250) whose grandson
- Roger de Preston (abt.1290) was justice of the Court of Common Pleas
in the first year of Edward III. In 1331 he was one of the justices of the Court of King's
Bench. Roger's son:
- Sir Robert de Preston b.xxxx d.1396 was knighted in the field,
1361, by Lionel, Duke of Clarence, and obtained a grant forever of the Manor of Gormanston
in the Counties of Dublin and Meath. He was Lord of Preston in Lancashire and filled the
office of Lord High Chancellor of Ireland. Being possessed of Carberry, County Kildare, he
made that the chief place of his residence.
Sir Robert married Margaret Birmingham (b.abt 1340), daughter and heir of Walter de
Birminghan, Lord of Carberry. Sir Robert was succeeded by his only son:
- Sir Christopher Preston, Knight (b.abt.1350). Sir Christopher was
imprisoned in the Castle of The Trim for corresponding with the Prior of Kilmainham. Sir
Christopher married Elizabeth Laundres (b.abt.1370), daughter and heir of William
Laundres, Baron of Naas, in the right of his Mother, Emma Fitzmaurice, daughter of William
Fitzmaurice, Baron of Naas (so created by Henry II) and his wife Helen, sister of Richard,
Earl of Pembroke, by which marriage the Prestons obtained the Barony of Naas. Sir
Christopher was succeeded by his only son:
- Christopher Preston, (b.abt.1380) Baron of Naas, in the right of his
mother, married Jane D'Artois, daughter of Sir Jenico D'Artois, Knight. Christopher was
succeeded by his eldest son:
- Sir Robert Preston b.xxxx d.4-5-1503 was appointed deputy to Sir
John Dynham, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Richard Duke of York, youngest son of Edward
IV; and being constituted lord-deputy of Ireland, May 5, 1478. Sir Robert was appointed
that Prince's deputy (he being in minority) with power to elect a deputy to himself. On
the seventh of August in the same year (1478) he was elevated to the peerage of Ireland,
by the title of Viscount Gormanston of Gormanston. His lordship sat in the Parliament of
1490 and in that of 1493. He married Janet Molyneux, daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, of
Sefton, co. Lancaster. He was succeeded by his eldest son:
- Sir William Preston, 2nd Viscount Gormanston b.xxxx d.9-21-1532.
This nobleman filled the office of Deputy to Sir James Butler, Lord-Treasurer in 1493. In
1504 his lordship attended the Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy, to the famous battle of
Knocktough in the province of Connaught, where with Lord Killeen, he led the wings of the
bowmen; and in 1525 he was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland. His Lordship married firstly
Anne Burnell(b.abt.1475), daughter of John Burnell, of Ballgriffin, co. Dublin. He married
secondly Eleanor Dowdall (b.abt.1490), daughter of Sir Thomas Dowdall and widow of John
Nangle of Navan. His Lordship was succeeded by his eldest son by his first wife, Anne
Burnell:
- Jenico Preston, 3rd Viscount Gormanston, b.xxxx d.1569 married
Catherine Fitzgerald, daughter of Gerald, 9th Earl Kildare. His children included:
- Christopher Preston, 4th Viscount Gormanston.
- Nicholas Preston (abt.1525).
- Martin Preston (abt.1527) married Alison Herbert. See Swainston Prestons.
- Elizabeth Preston (abt.1528) who married firstly Thomas Nangle, Baron of Navan and 2nd
she married the 13th Baron Delvin who died 12-10-1559.
- Christopher Preston, 4th Viscount Gormanston, b.xxxx d.1-24-1599
married twice. By his second wife, Catherine, daughter of Sir William Fitzwilliam, of
Meryon, co. Dublin, left with several daughters, three sons:
- Jenico Preston, 5th Viscount Gormanston.
- Thomas Preston b.est.1570 d.xxxx who created Viscount Tara and was succeeded by his son
Anthony:
- Anthony Preston b.est 1590 d.xxxx 2nd Viscount Tara had issue:
- Elizabeth Preston (abt 1624) who married Nicholas Preston son of Nicholas Preston 6th
Viscount Gormanston.
- Thomas Preston b.est 1625 d.7-6-1674, 3rd Viscount Tara. Thomas was killed by Sir
Francis Blundell, Kt. of the King's County, and his brothers William and Winwood Blundell.
The Blundells were acquitted of murder and received his Majesty's pardon in December of
the same year. Thus ended the title of Viscount Tara.
- William Preston b.est.1570 d.xxxx.
- Jenico Preston, 5th Viscount Gormanston, b.est. 1565 d.3-14-1630
married Margaret St. Lawrence (abt.1570), daughter of Nicholas St. Lawrence, Lord Howth.
After Jenico's death, Margaret married the 1st Earl of Fingall and she died 11-16-1637.
They had two children:
- Mary Preston b.abt.1600 d.xxxx married Sir Thomas Alen, Bt. of St. Wolstan's, and 2ndly,
Simon Luttrell, of Luttrelstown.
- Nicholas Preston b.abt.1601, 6th Viscount Gormanston.
- Nicholas Preston b.abt.1601 d.7-29-1643, 6th Viscount Gormanston
married Mary Barnewall, daughter of 1st Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland. Mary died May
1642. They had issue:
- Jenico Preston, 7th Viscount Gormanston.
- Nicholas Preston b.abt.1631 d.xxxx who married Elizabeth Preston b.abt.1624, daughter of
the 2nd Viscount Tara. They had issue:
- Jenico Preston b.abt.1640, 8th Viscount Gormanston.
- Anthony Preston b.abt.1645, 9th Viscount Gormanston.
- Jenico Preston b.xxxx d.3-17-1691, 7th Viscount Gormanston,
having adhered to his legitimate Sovereign, James II, was indicted for high treason, and
outlawed upon that indictment 4-16-1691. Jenico married 1stly Frances Leke, 5th daughter
of Francis Leke, 1st Earl of Scarsdale. He married 2ndly in Nov. 1683, Margaret Caryll,
daughter of the 3rd Viscount Molyneux. His lordship dying and without male issue was
succeeded by by his nephew Jenico Preston in March 1691. Jenico had one child:
- Mary Preston b.abt.1660 d.xxxx married Anthony Preston 9th Viscount Gormanston.
- Jenico Preston b.abt.1640, 8th Viscount Gormanston, although the
title was not acknowledged but was borne by him and his three immediate successors. He was
succeeded by his brother Anthony.
- Anthony Preston, 9th Viscount Gormanston, b.xxxx d.9-25-1716,
married in 1700 Mary Preston, daughter and only child of Jenico Preston, 7th Viscount
Gormanston. Anthony was succeeded by his only son:
- Jenico Preston, 10th Viscount Gormanston, b.1707 d.10-31-1757
who married on 2-9-1729 Thomasine Barnewall b.xxxx d.1-10-1788, eldest daughter of 11th
Baron Trimlestown. They had issue:
- Catherine Preston b. abt 1731 married Anthony, Count Dvria.
- Frances Preston b.1733.
- Anthony Preston b.1736 d.12-8-1786, eldest son and 11th Viscount Gormanston.
- James Preston b.1738 d.4-25-1823 married Purefoy Aston b.xxxx d.3-1792, daughter of
Willougby Aston, Baronet. They had 9 children:
- Jenico Willoughby James Preston b.1775 d.1796.
- Catherine Elizabeth Preston b.4-10-1776 d.xxxx married on 5-4-1813 Theodore J. V. de
Hensch.
- Antoinette Jane Preston b.12-20-1777 d.4-20-1778.
- John Aloysius Paticius Preston b.1779 d.1796.
- Mary Frances Preston b.12-16-1780 d.xxxx, a nun.
- Sidney Mary Preston b.3-8-1782 d.xxxx.
- Edward Lewis Preston (Count) b.9-13-1783 d.5-1884 married on 6-11-1827 the daughter of
Mr. Holmes of Louth, Lincolnshire. Died without issue at Doncaster.
- Frances Antoinette Preston b.4-24-1785 d.xxxx.
- Philip Frederick Preston (Count) b.2-8-1790 d.5-1880. He resided at Shonbveck, near
Liege.
- Jenico Preston b.1740.
- John Preston b.1742.
- Bridget Preston b.1744.
- Elizabeth Preston b.1746.
- Margaret Preston b.1748.
- Anthony Preston b.1736 d.12-8-1786, 11th Viscount Gormanston
married Henrietta Robinson b.xxxx d.2-6-1826, daughter of Lt. Gen. John Robinson of
Denston Hall, Suffolk. They had one son and successor:
- Jenico Preston b.1-4-1775 d.2-10-1860, 12th Viscount
Gormanston, married on 12-19-1794 Margaret Arthur b.xxxx d.1-26-1820. The indictment for
treason was removed on 8-2-1800 and the title of Viscount Gormanston was again recognized.
Jenico and Margaret had 8 children:
- Edward Anthony John Preston b.6-13-1796 d.9-28-1876, 13th Viscount Gormanston.
- Arthur Anthony Preston b.6-2-1798 d.4-20-1827.
- Jenico Preston b.9-24-1800 d.2-3-1874.
- Robert Preston b.1-23-1802 d.3-3-1869.
- Charles Preston (Captain) b.4-28-1803 d.2-2-1888 married in 1853 Alicia Margaretta North
b.xxxx d.11-11-1903 daughter of William North Esq., of Northbrook, County Galway. They had
2 children:
- Jenico Edward Preston b.11-30-1855 d.1-27-1940. Lt. Col. served in Jowaki Expedition, in
Afghanistan and in Burma. Died unmarried.
- Charles Arthur Preston b.6-19-1857 d.6-7-1924 married on
11-3-1889 Miriam Alleyne b.xxxx d.1936, daughter of Hon. Charles Alleyne of Canada. They
had issue:
- Arthur Preston b.10-14-1902 d.xxxx married 4-14-1928 Marion Blair Dean dau. of John
Dean. They lived at Lennoxville, P.Q., Canada. They had a son Richard Dean Preston
b.4-3-1929 d.xxxx.
- Hubert Philip Preston b.6-3-1905 married 2-26-1938 Marie Hester Aherne, dau. of Michael
Joseph Aherne. They lived in Noranda, Quebec, Canada. They had issue:
- Anthony Ernest Michael Preston b.2-17-1938.
- Ronald Thomas Edward Preston b.2-20-1940.
- Andrea Margaret Preston b.8-14-1941.
- Michelle Joan Andrienne Preston b.1-21-1944.
- Ruth Jocelyn Vickie Preston b.2-25-1945.
- Louise Marie Isabel Preston b.5-27-1946.
- Oswald Preston b.5-6-1907.
- Yvonne Preston b.abt.1908 d.xxxx.
- Blanche Preston b.abt.1900 d.xxxx married 1stly on 9-6-1916 Arthur Fitzpatrick, only son
of Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Fitzpatrick. Arthur died 1938 and Blanche married 2ndly in 1941,
George Blaikie. He died in 1948. They lived in Toronto, Canada.
- Mary Preston b.xxxx d.xxxx married in 1922 Lt. Col. Francis M. Stanton, and they lived
in Thornhill Park, Quebec. They had issue:
- John Preston Stanton b.9-19-1923 and was killed in action, WWII in Holland 1-26-1945.
- Mary Frances Stanton b.12-29-1937.
- Elizabeth Anne Stanton b.10-26-1939.
- Frances Preston died unmarried 3-1937.
- Edmund Preston b.2-16-1808 d.1826.
- Thomas Preston b.5-3-1817 d.8-29-1903 of Silverstream, co. Dublin,
a commissioner of National Education in Ireland, married on 8-9-1843 Margaret Hamilton
b.xxxx d.12-28-1891, 4th daughter of John Hamilton of Sundrum, Ayrshire, Scotland. They
had issue:
- Jenico John Preston b.2-11-1846 d.4-30-1879, Capt. Rifle Brigade.
- Thomas Edward Preston b.5-16-1851 d.2-4-1919, unmarried.
- Arthur James Preston b.6-19-1852 d.4-14-1896 married on 3-22-1887 Christina Maria Dundas
Spencer b.xxxx d.4-2-1914 only dau. of Henry Spencer of Woodlands, Hants, England. They
had issue:
- Jenico Thomas Preston b.2-17-1891 married in 1919 Violet Saunt. Jenico served in WWI and
WW2.
- Rudolph Arthur Preston b.8-30-1893, killed in action WWI 1916.
- Antoinette Eileen Maude Preston b.abt.1894 d.xxxx.
- Ina Esme Hilda Preston b.abt.1896 d.xxxx married married 6-7-1933 George Herbert Cuming
Butler. He died 1959.
- Marguerite Irene Preston b.abt.1898 d.xxxx.
- Hermione Kathleen Mary Preston d. unmarried 4-18-1960.
- Francis Edmund Alexander Preston b.3-28-1861 d.9-26-1942 unmarried.
- Laura Mary Preston died unmarried 7-27-1941.
- Frances Harriette Preston died unmarried 9-13-1942.
- Mary Christina Preston d. unmarried 11-11-1953.
- Caroline Dundas Preston b.abt.1870.
- Anna Maria Preston b.abt.1871.
- Matilda Jane Preston b.abt.1872.
- Margaret Pauline Preston b.abt.1873.
- Matilda Margaret Preston b.1-1-1810 d.12-22-1888 married on
6-16-1842 Matthew Elias Corbally of Corbalton Hall.
