Othniel Preston (abt. 1732 - 1777)

Born about 1732 in Putnam Heights, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Sep 1777 at about age 45 in White Creek, Washington, New York, United States

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Biography

Othniel Preston was born about 1732 in Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut, son of Levi Preston and Elizabeth Harnden.

He died 17 Sep 1777 in White Creek, Washington Co., New York and was buried there in the family cemetery on his brother Levi's farm. where his headstone read: "Here lies the body of Othniel Preston who died Sep 17 in the 46 year of his age A.D. 1777". Othniel's stone was stolen in the mid 20th century to be used by a local resident for a doorstep. The present locations of the stone and the Preston family cemetery are unknown; the cemetery is said to be "back in the woods, all overgrown".^[1]

Children

Othniel Preston with wife Anna had three documented children:

• Othniel b. Feb 1757, married Roxana Unknown;
• Ruth b. 14 Aug 1764, married Abraham Case;
• Naomi b. 22 Jul 1766, married Abraham Case as 2nd wife.

In addition, born about 1762, was a Benjamin who is said to have accompanied his father Othniel and brother Othniel Jr. from Connecticut to New York where in the1800 census a Benjamin Preston lived in Cambridge Twp., White Creek, New York. Also, in 1779 a Benjamin Preston is listed beside his possible brother Othniel Preston in a New York Continental Army enlistment, and a pension record applied for by his widow (second wife) gives his death as 17 Aug 1827 in Haldeman, Canada, and states he was married twice: first to a Dorcas (children: Ebenezer, Syrene, Martha, William) and second to Jane Owen, the testifier at the pension hearing. Benjamin Preston and 2nd wife Jane Owen supposedly had many children, but only a son James and a daughter Dorcas were mentioned by name in the pension file. If there were other children none were mentioned by name in the 1931 book, "Descendants of Roger Preston".^[2]

Othniel Preston, a Loyalist during the American Revolution, was wounded in the battle of Bennington as one of the Queen's Loyal Rangers led by Lt. Col. John Peters. Othniel is listed as a prisoner in Albany, New York on 9 Sep 1777. Soon after that date he was given leave to return home to White Creek, New York where he died 8 days later. ^{[3] [4]}

Research Notes

Extended family members claim that the Othniel Preston of this profile had another son William Preston who removed to Ohio by way of Canada; documentation is needed to prove this theory.

Sources

1. ↑ Personal Communication with White Creek, Washington Co., New York Town Historian, 2017-18 by R. C, Amos
2. ↑ "Descendants of Roger Preston of Ipswich and Salem Village" by Charles Henry Preston. New York: Essex Institute, 1931, 355pp.
3. ↑ Minutes of the Albany Committee of Correspondence, 1775-1778, Volume 1, Albany Committee of Correspondence (New York,. University of the State of New York, 1923; www.googlebooks.com {accessed 2019 by R. C. Amos}
4. ↑ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~qceastwn/archives/QueensLoyalRangers.html.