Richard Preston (abt. 1619 - bef. 1669)

Born about 1619 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 16 Sep 1669 before about age 50 in Calvert County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Richard was a Friend (Quaker)

Richard Preston "of Chucktuck" was living in Norfolk County, Virginia before 1644 when his name appears in the court records as being bound to pay a London mariner 12,000 pounds of tobacco. ^[1] When the English Civil War ended with the execution of the king of England in 1649, many of the Puritans living in Norfolk County removed to Maryland upon the invitation of Governor William Stone and the promise of freedom of religion. Richard Preston, along with his wife and seven children was among this group of settlers from Virginia. ^[2] Richard settled with his family and other Puritans on the Pautuxent River near the present town of Lusby in Calvert County. He was a leader of the Puritan community and represented Calvert County in the Lower House.^[3]

Government Positions

1654 to 1658 - Parliamentary Commissioner during the period of Puritan takeover of the Provincial Government

1654-1657/58 - Represented Calvert County in the Assembly

1654, 1661, 1662 - He was the speaker of the Lower House

1663-1664, & 1666 - Represented Dorchester County,

Richard was a justice on the Provincial Court off and on from 1652 to 1658 and temporary secretary of the province in 1655/56. He was also the commander of the north side of Patuxent militia in 1652.

Marriage and Family

Richard was the father of seven children when he arrived from Virginia. His wife was named Margaret. This list shows children and their spouses and children mentioned in Richard's will.

1. Richard, married Margaret Marsh, their son was Samuel
2. James, his daughter was Rebecca
3. Samuel
4. Naomi, married William Barry, children William and James
5. Sarah, married William Ford; ?married (2nd) Edward Pindar?
6. Margaret
7. Rebecca married Lovelace Gorsuch^[4]

Death

Richard Preston left a very long and complicated will. An abstracted version follows: 7 SEP 1669 Richard Preston of Patuxant in Maryland

• to my son James Preston (if he be now living & shall live to come again to Maryland) the whole of this plantation where I now live until my grandchild, Samuel Preston shall attain the age of 21, at which time the plantation to Samuel & his heirs.
• if my son never again come to Maryland my plantation to be sold for the use of Samuel Preston until he attain to the age aforesaid at which time the proceeds of the plantation to be at the use of Samuel.
• Samuel to have sufficient maintenance during his minority for food, raiment and education unless his mother, my daughter-in-law Margaret Preston shall think it more convenient for her to have the ordering of her son until he comes of age.
• my land lately purchased of Walter Douch laid out for 600 acres be to my two daughters, Rebecca and Sarah Preston, equally between them. If either of my daughters dies without issue then her part to belong to the other that shall survive and if both die to my son James.
• 500 acres of land at the head of Little Choptank River (1/3 part I have already given to my kinsman Ralph Dossey) that the other 2 thirds to belong to John Dossey and his heirs. There is a covenant with William Fick a Dutchman relating for the delivery of some cattle, when it expires Ralph Dossey shall have the use of the cattle.
• Edward Norman, my now overseer, be paid his full wages at the end of his service.
• Thomas Brockson be paid his full wages, 500 pounds of tobacco & one good milch cow.
• to William Purnell one milch cow, some tools, nails, rugs, clothes & shoes, and to be free for himself the 20th of Dec. next year.
• to my kinsman John Dossey besides the land before mentioned, goods to the value of 20 Pounds sterling.
• to George Hawes 20 pounds sterling to be paid half in goods if he come from England this year, the other half in such debts as due to me in tobacco is due to him by promise when he went with my son James for England or to be paid him next year.
• to my two grand children Willilam and James Barry 5000 pounds of tobacco.
• to my grandchild Rebecca some plate which is this year coming from England to the value of four pounds sterling and ten cows and one ram amongst the said 3 children.
• to James Dossey 4000 pounds of tobacco.
• to my daughter-in-law Margaret Preston to what she has already to the value of 27 pounds sterling and 10,000 of this years sweet scented crop of tobacco plus other furniture and items around the house and plate if any come into me this year in the value of 500 pounds sterling.
• to my son James Preston, half the money which I have sent by James Conaway to be brought in this year, if my son be living in England. If he be dead the money to be divided among the overseers of my will, the other half to Friends in the ministry to be disposed of according to the discernment of the overseers of my will.
• to Thomas Preston upon the Clifts what tobacco he owes unto me.
• to Isaac Hunt goods worth 5 pounds sterling.
• to William Harper what is due to me from him
• I appoint my dear friends Wm. Barry, Peter Sharpe, Thomas Taylor of Kent and John Meares upon the Clifts or any 2 or more of them to be overseers.

The will was witnessed by Enoch Coomes, George Devlin, Thomas Peake and William Jones. It was presented to the probate court on 8 JAN 1669/70.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Walter, Alice Granbery. "Lower Norfolk County, Virginia Court Records. Clearfield, Baltimore:1994
2. ↑ Gibb, Dr. Carson. “The New Early Settlers of Maryland” [earlysettlers.msa.maryland.gov]
3. ↑ [1]
4. ↑ Papenfuse, Edward C. "A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature" published online [2]
5. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 1 folio 357 [msa.maryland.gov

• Troth, Samuel. “Richard Preston, Sr., Puritan Quaker of Maryland, Grandfather of Samuel Preston, Mayor of Philadelphia.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 16, no. 2, 1892, pp. 207–15. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20083479. Accessed 14 Jul. 2022.
• http://www.jstor.org/stable/20083479.
• https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000426/html/am426--660.html

Note

Some researchers have placed Richard Preston of Calvert County as the son of Thomas Preston of Norfolk, England. More proof is needed to establish any parents for this Richard Preston.