John Preston

  • American

John Preston was born at Walnut Grove on July 8, 1781. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1799 and studied law under Henry St George Tucker at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1801-1802. He married Margaret Brown Preston, the youngest child of William Preston and a cousin of John's, on October 5, 1802 at Smithfield Plantation. Soon after their marriage the couple returned to Washington County. John Preston served as a captain in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812 and later became the colonel of the 105th Regiment of the Virginia Militia. He was appointed justice of Washington County on January 17, 1804 and became presiding judge of Washington County in 1820, a position he held for thirty-two years.

John and Margaret Preston had five daughters and nine sons. Two of their sons gained notoriety in their own right. Colonel Thomas Marshall Preston served on the staff of Confederate General Albert Sydney Johnston and was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Walter Eugene Preston settled in Phillips County, Arkansas, and served as a member of the US House of Representatives from 1848-1851.

Upon retiring as the judge of Washington County, John Preston built The Grove as his retirement home in 1850. He gave his father's house, Walnut Grove, to his son, Robert F Preston. From 1852 until his death in 1864 John Preston concentrated on raising cattle and farming at the Walnut Grove plantation. - NRHP, 29 March 2002

Notable Position Organization From To
Colonel, 105th Regiment Virginia Militia
Captain, War of 1812 Virginia Militia 1812

Lineage


Timeline

Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
1781/07/08 John Preston is born at Walnut Grove. Born Walnut Grove Bristol
1799/00/00 John Preston graduates from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1799. Education Old West, Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
1802/00/00 John Preston studys law under Henry St George Tucker at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1801-1802. Education Wren Building, College of William and Mary Williamsburg
1802/10/05 Margaret Brown Preston, the youngest child of William Preston, marries her cousin John Preston at Smithfield Plantation. Groom Smithfield Blacksburg
1854/00/00 Colonel John Preston builds his retirement home. Home The Grove Bristol
1863/09/25 Union Federal troops coming from Kingsport, Tennessee, are stopped by Confederate forces, including 37th Virginia regiment and John Preston, near The Grove. Confederate Soldier The Grove Bristol
1864/10/10 John Preston dies at The Grove in 1864. Died The Grove Bristol
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