James Preston (abt. 1675 - 1729)

Born about 1675 in Baltimore, Province of Maryland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Scott) Pycraft — married 1709 in Baltimore, MD

Descendants

Died 19 Jun 1729 at about age 54 in Baltimore, Province of Maryland

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Biography

James Preston was a Maryland colonist.

Birth

No birth record for James Preston has been found. He was likely born around 1673 on his father's plantation in Calvert County called Preston's Chance. James Preston was identified as a planter of Baltimore County in 1715 when he purchased 100 acres part of Denises Choice in the Bush River area of the county. ^[1] Apparently, James was also a barber as well as a planter because he was fined for refusing to repair his roads, but was identified as a barber.^[2]

Marriage & Children

James was married around 1709 to Sarah Scott. They were the parents of the following children:

1. ANN PRESTON.
2. GRACE PRESTON, b. 1710, Lower Gunpowder, Balto. Co Md.
3. SARAH PRESTON, b. December 03, 1711.
4. JAMES (JR) PRESTON, b. March 25, 1713; d. 1766.
5. DANIEL PRESTON, b. October 10, 1715; d. 1772.
6. ELIZABETH PRESTON, b. December 19, 1720.
7. HANNAH PRESTON, b. May 09, 1723; d. January 12, 1761.
8. BERNARD PRESTON, b. January 13, 1726/27.^[2]

Death

The death of James Preston was recorded in :St. John's Parish Register as follows:

"James Preston, Barber, Departed this life the 19th day of June in the year of our Lord 1729." ^[3]

James Preston signed his will on 5 NOV 1728. As abstract follows: I James Preston of Baltimore County in the province of Maryland planter being very sick . . .

• to my two eldest sons James Preston and Daniel Preston 300 acres of land a tract called Denises Choice the land my dwelling plantation is now on to be equally divided between them.
• to my youngest son Barnard Preston 100 acres called Prestons Chance on the northeast side of Denises Choice.
• all my personal estate after my debts are paid to be divided between my wife Sarah and children according to law saving £6 currency to be deducted out of my daughter Grace, the wife of Charles Anderson, she already receiving that sum.

Signed with a cursive signature and witnessed by Daniel Scott, George Rigdon and John Kearsey. Probated on 5 NOV 1729.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber TR A 379
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Barnes, Robert W. “Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759” Baltimore, MD: Clearfield 1989
3. ↑ familysearch.org Register Log of St. John's Parish page 27 image 342 (image attached)
4. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills of Maryland Liber 19 folio 778 [1]