Moses Preston Sr. (1762 - 1842)

Born 17 Jul 1762 in Bedford, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Frances (Arthur) Preston — married 9 Jul 1783 in Bedford, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1842 at age 79 in Georges Creek, Lawrence County, Kentucky, USA

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Note; add categories for battles of Milford, Camden, and Ninety-Six

Biography

Private Moses Preston Sr. served with 7th Virginia Regiment (1779), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Moses Preston Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A092923.

"Moses Preston, Sr., was born in Virginia, presumably in Bedford county, in July 17, 1762 and died in Lawrence County, Kentucky, April 18, 1842.

Alternate/Nickname: Coby

"The early ancestor of this family in the Sandy Valley was Moses Preston, born and raised in Bedford County, VA, who, on coming to man's estate, found his country in the throes of the approaching Revolutionary struggle, and patriotically enlisted on the side of freedom. He fought through the war, and at its close returned to Bedford, and married a Miss Arthur, from which name are perpetuated many of the given names worn by the Preston's.

In 1800 Moses Preston moved into the valley, and settled on what is known as the Morgan farm in Floyd, thence to the forks of Beaver. He came down to near George's Creek and settled on the farm, where he lived and died, which latter event occurred in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was all his life a sterling Jeffersonian Democrat. He was the father of six sons and five daughters. Isaac, Stephen, Moses(Coby), John, Henry, Arthur, Susan, Linda or Lynchie, Polly, Jane or Jency, and Betty.

The Preston's, from the beginning on Sandy, have, as a family, sustained an unblemished reputation for truth and honesty and most of them are well-to-do people. In politics they are Democrats, with rare exceptions, inclining to the Methodists in religion, though some are Baptists. As a representative member of the Preston family, we give Preston, the progressive merchant and trader of Graves' Shoal, a young man of mental vigor and a leader of the younger generation of the Preston's." ^[1]

In the Fall of 1779 or the Spring of 1780, he enlisted as a private for a term of eighteen months in the Virginia Line of Infantry and served under Major Hill and Colonel Abraham Buford. . He served also under Captain "Boyers" (Bower? Bowyer) in a regiment commanded by Colonel William Campbell in the Army commanded by General Horatio Gates subsequently commanded by General Nathaniel Green. He was in the battles and/or engagements of Guilford Court House six (June 29, 1781); and continued in the service until the close of the War at which time he was guarding the home of General Hagar near the Eutaw Springs, South Carolina in 1783,by Captain Crawford, a regular officer; and received a certificate for his bounty lands which, as he stated in his declaration for a pension, he "sold for 20 or 25 dollars."

Returning to his home in Bedford County, Virginia, Moses Preston, on the 9th day of July 1783, in that county, married Fanny Arthur, born in 1764, in Bedford County, Virginia, daughter of Captain Arthur.She died December 30, 1844 in Floyd Co., KY.

Immigrating to the Big Sandy Valley in 1800, in the Great Westward Movement, he settled on the Morgan farm, Floyd County. From there he moved to the Forks of Beaver Creek, that county; and finally settling on a farm at the mouth of George's Creek, then Floyd now Lawrence county, where he lived and died. He was a farmer." ^[2]

Military

Military: Bet. 1779 - 1783, Revolutionary War 7th (Virginia Line)

Moses, along with his brother Nathan, served in the Virginia Line as soldiers during the Revolutionary War, along with several other Preston men (unknown if these were related). Moses Preston was with George Washington at the surrender of Yorktown, October 18, 1781. According to The Revolutionary War Records of Virginia, (page 261) Moses was one of several soldiers who was reported to the Senate of the United States, as not having claimed his Warrants (land Grant), as of 1835 no Bounty land was received. These same records show on page 301, that Nathan Preston did receive 3,892 - 100 (unknown but believed the first number was acres of land and the second money), there was an assignee listed on Nathan?s warrant, Cadwallader Wallace.

Also served in the Revolutionary War in place of William Hallegin

Moses Preston was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of five dollars per month, was resident of Lawrence Co., KY and died in the County of Lawrence in 1844 on the 3rd day of Dec. Left widow Fanny Preston, who has since died leaving children; Susan Mead widow of Abram Mead, Isaac Preston, Polly Haws widow of John Haws, Lyndia Price, wife of Jesse Price, Stephen Preston, Moses Preston, Jayne Borders, wife of Archibald Borders, Henry Preston, Elizabeth Childers, and Arthur Preston.^[3]

Residence

Moses and Frances settled about 1800 at the mouth of Beaver Creek on the Big Sandy River on the Morgan Farm near Allen in Floyd Co., KY. About 1814, they moved to Deep Gut Branch on the Levisa Fork just south of the Mouth of George's Creek. Moses and Frances both died there. They are buried in the Moses Preston Cemetery near Deep Gut Branch. His grave is marked with a government stone. Frances' grave is only marked with a field stone. Their son Stephen and his wife Priscilla Miller are also buried in this cemetery.

The 1810 Census for Floyd Co., KY listed Head of Family: Moses Preston-Free White Males-4 under age 10, 1 age 10-16, 2 age 16-25 and 1 45 years & on. Free White Females-2 under age 10 and 1-45 years &on, Slaves-7.

Marriage

Husband: Moses Preston Sr.

Wife: Frances Arthur^[4]

Marriage Date: 1783, Preston, Moses & Fanny Arthur, certificate of marriage. Bedford VA, db7, 343

Marriage Place: Bedford County Virginia.

Children:

1. Susannah (Susan) Preston, b. Abt. 1784, Bedford Co., VA; d. November 08, 1859, Steep Gut Branch, Lawrence Co., KY. married to Abraham Meade
2. Mary Preston, b. Abt. 1787, Bedford Co., VA; d. Aft. 1870, Louisa, Lawrence Co., KY.
3. Isaac Preston, Sr., b. March 20, 1788, Goose Creek, Bedford Co., VA; d. 1864, Peach Orchard, Lawrence Co., KY.
4. Lynchia Preston, b. 1794, Tazewell Co., VA; d. April 17, 1870, Paintsville, Johnson Co., KY.
5. Stephen Jeffery Preston, b. October 15, 1795, Bedford Co., VA; d. October 20, 1869, Peach Orchard, Lawrence Co., KY.
6. Moses (Coby) Preston II, b. May 02, 1797, Bedford Co., VA; d. November 28, 1868, Graves Shoal, Lawrence Co., KY.
7. Henry Preston, b. February 01, 1799, Bedford Co., VA; d. April 10, 1872, Nat's Creek, Lawrence Co., KY.
8. Jane (Jency)Preston, b. February 01, 1799, Bedford Co., VA; d. August 06, 1888, Catlettsburg, Boyd Co., KY.
9. Arthur Preston, b. 1806, Floyd Co., KY; d. July 1884, Graves Shoal, Lawrence Co., KY. married first Nancy Miller; second Sarah Perry, sister of Nancy Strong
10. Elizabeth (Betty) Preston, b. May 05, 1809, Floyd Co., KY; d. 1884, Richardson, Lawrence Co., KY. married G. Burgess, 2/22/1/1810
11. John Preston, b. October 10, 1810, Floyd Co., KY; d. June 07, 1871, Tadpole, Lawrence Co., KY.married Kizzie Fitzpatrick
12. Polly Preston ^[4]
13. Jeff Jeffie) Preston^[4]
14. Henry Preston ^[4]

More information about children

Isaac, the oldest son, married Polly Sloan of Pike County, of an old time house up there. They lived all their life on a farm in the vicinity of Peach Orchard. He, like his father Moses, died in theseventy-sixth year of his age, his wife Polly reaching the grand age of eighty-five before she was called to shuffle off the mortal soil. They left a large number of descendants, who are among the best citizens of the Sandy Valley. Milton T. Preston, the enterprising merchant of near Peach Orchard is a grandson of theirs.

Stephen the second son, married a Miss Miller, and like his brothers settled on a farm near where he lived in his boyhood. Here he lived and here he died at the age of seventy-four. although he had traveled through Indiana in early manhood, he returned to his native soil, happy to keep his place among his brother and sisters. His wife, Pricie, was a devoted Methodist. She still lives at the age of eighty-one, active in body and mind. They have many descendants to honor there name. Among them is Robert M. Preston, a bright, intelligent gentleman of Peach Orchard.

Moses was the third son, whose life we will pass over at present, as he was not only like his brothers and sisters, a good citizen, but was destined to become a historic figure in Big Sandy annals.

John the fourth son married Kizzie Fitzpatrick. She still survives. They raised a large family on sons and one daughter. Henry, the fifth son, married Betty Kanes and settled on a farm on Nat's Creek where he resided until his death, which occurred at seventy-two years of age. She died in the eighty-sixth year of her age. Both husband and wife were staunch Methodists. They left fifteen children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren behind them. Among the former is McDonald Preston, the merchant and hotel-keeper at Richardson, Kentucky. Arthur Preston a well-off merchant and timer dealer of Graves' Shoal, who is a rising man in his section, is a member of this branch of the Preston family.

Arthur, the sixth son married Nancy Miller and first settled on Rock Castle, but soon after moved to the Tygart Valley in Greenup County. After remaining a few years in Greenup County, he came back to the Sandy River and settled on the farm where he died, at the Graves' Shoal. He was known as a model farmer and stock raiser and prospered in business. His first wife died in a852. He afterwards married Sarah Peery, daughter of David Peery of Virginia. She lived until 1881 and then passed to the better land. He died in 1884, leaving a host of descendants who are not unworthy of their ancestry. Susan, the eldest daughter married Abraham Mead and lived on a farm on Mead Branch She died in 1847 and left numerous sons and daughters." ^[5]

Death

Preston - Moses - Grave

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=e1761258-7984-4a0b-bbc8-df62428ee4df&tid=5608799&pid=-1429436487

About 1814, they moved to Deep Gut Branch on the Levisa Fork just south of the Mouth of Georges Creek. Moses and Frances both died there. They are buried in the Moses Preston Cemetery near Deep Gut Branch.

Moses and Fanny are buried in the Moses Preston Cemetery near Deep Gut Branch. His grave is marked with a government stone. Frances' grave is only marked with a field stone ( Family members have since added a new marker for Fanny). Moses' grave is marked with a government stone.

The Moses Preston Cemetery is located on the west bank of the Levisa River, above the mouth of Georges Creek about 2 miles, Rt 581, turn left off Rt. l45 onto Georges creek, Lawrence County, KY.

Inscription:

VA Line/ Revolutionary War Soldier

Served under George Washington

Husband of Fanny Arthur

Burial:

Cemetery: Preston Cemetery

Place: Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky, USA

Sources

1. ↑ From "The Big Sandy Valley"
2. ↑ "Early Families of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky"
3. ↑ Lawrence County, Kentucky, March Term 1845, Page 197
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} From "History of Johnson Co., KY."
5. ↑ Big Sandy Valley" by William Ely c. 1887

• The Prestons,, (Extracted from "Johnson County Kentucky" by Mitchel Hall Vol. II
  
  Section 145.

• Annals of Floyd Co. KY 1800-1826 By Charles G. Wells.

• Clara Elizabeth Preston, Original researcher for this individual.

• Family Bible Records Source:David P. Borders Bible.

• Appalachia Crossroads - Descendants of Hezekiah Sellards By Clayton Cox

• Big Sandy Valley by William Ely. Page 121.

• "Early Families of Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky"

• 1810 Census for Floyd County, Kentucky

See also:

For reference to the services of Moses Preston during the Revolution see the Special Report of the Department of Archives and History of Virginia, in 1911 for Revolutionary Soldiers, page 358, also a book, War 4, page 308, on file at the Virginia Historical Society at Richmond.

• 1818/3/18, Burgess, Edward, Rev Pension Application, age 74. Floyd Co, KY. Age 74 Also filed 1819/12/21, age 75, Floyd Co KY. Resident for @ 13 years. Wife Nancy, no other family. 1822, Sept, also verified by Moses Preston, resident of Lawrence Co KY, age 58 who knew Edward and also rec’d pension.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to TinaSue Friel for creating WikiTree profile Preston-1807 through the import of My Family Tree - 2013-01-04 13-20-43.ged on Jul 12, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by TinaSue and others.