Clan Preston

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Preston Scottish_Clans

Scotland Project > Scottish Clans > Clan Preston

Contents 1 Welcome to Clan Preston 2 Clan Team 2.1 Team Goals 2.2 Team To Do List 3 Septs 4 Clan History 5 Clan Branches 5.1 Other Names Associated with the Clan 6 Allied Clans 6.1 Rival Clans 7 Clan Research and Free Space Pages 7.1 Source Material 7.2 Image Credits and Acknowledgements 8 See Also 9 Places of Interest

Welcome to Clan Preston

Clan Preston Team
Team Leader	TBA
Team Members	Dan Lauder

Clan Chief:

Crest:

Motto:

Slogan/War Cry:

Region:

Historic Seat:

Plant badge:

Pipe music:

Gaelic name:

Clan Team

Team Goals

The focus of this team's work is to identify, improve and maintain profiles associated with the Lairds and Chiefs of Clan Preston together with members bearing the name Preston, the related families and those recognised as septs of Clan Preston.

Team To Do List

This list will be developed by the Team. If you are working on a specific task, please list it here:

• promoting the entries of those bearing the name Preston on Wikitree.
• ensuring entries appearing on Wikitree are as accurate as possible, correcting mistakes once spotted.
• encouraging interest in and study of Clan Preston

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Septs

Clan History

Clan Branches

Other Names Associated with the Clan

Allied Clans

Rival Clans

Clan Research and Free Space Pages

Source Material

Image Credits and Acknowledgements

Information below this line should be summarized and incorporated into this Team page. Detailed information should be moved to additional Clan pages.

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Image:Clan Tartans-57.jpg

Crest: An angel proper

Motto: Praesto Ut Praestem (I undertake what I may preform)

Slogan:

Region: Lowlands

District: Midlothian

Plant badge:

Pipe music:

Gaelic name:

Septs:

Names associated with the clan

Preston History

The surname Preston comes from the barony of Preston, or Prestoun, which was later called Gourtoun, and then finally Craigmillar in Midlothian. In 1222, Alured de Preston is recorded as a witness to a charter, and sometime between 1240 and 1250, Lyulph, son of Lyulph de Preston had a charter for a piece of land in Linlithgow from John Albus, which he later made over to Neubotel (now Newbattle) Abbey. It is said that there is an ancient link between this family of Prestons and the de Prestoun family in Ireland, who later became the Viscounts Gormanston. A quitclaim by Johannes Gallard apud Muskilburg was witnessed, in 1248, by Johannes de Prestun, and in 1292, both William de Preston and Henry de Preston appear as charter witnesses. Nicol de Prestone and William de Prestone from the Edinburgh area both signed the Ragman Roll in 1296, pledging their allegiance to England's Edward I. In 1342, Sir John Preston managed to obtain a charter for the lands of Gourtoun, or Gorton. At the 1346 Battle of Durham, which was a decisve English victory, Sir John was captured, as was King David II. Both were eventually released, for the king that was after eleven years, after significant ransoms were paid. Symone de Prestoun, in 1362, was burgess of Edinburgh, and, in 1363, Peter of Preston of Scotland was given back 13 marks which he had spent on jewels for Joan, David II's consort, who died the previous year. An arm bone of Saint Giles was brought to Scotland from France by William Preston, and he gave it to the kirk of St. Giles in Edinburgh. In 1470, clerk of the realm of Scotland, Alexander Preston, had safe conduct papers into England. In 1491 Will of Preston is recorded as a witness to a charter, and in the same year a Vill of Prestoune appears. The provost of Edinburgh in 1557 was Sir Simon Preston of Craigmillar, and he gifted the land of Trinity Hospital. The principal line of the Preston family ceased to exist after the death of Sir Robert Preston in 1639. During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) Sir Charles Preston, 5th Baronet, commanded Fort St. Jean in Quebec during its seige. He returned to Scotland after the war, in 1784, and subsequently became the Member of Parliament for Dysart in Fife.

find one here [1] or here [2]

Preston Baronets

The Preston Baronetcy, of Airdrie in the County of Fife, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 22 February 1628 for John Preston. The descent after the death of the fourth Baronet sometime after 1701 and the accession of Robert Preston in 1784 is uncertain. The title became dormant on the latter's death in c. 1792.

The Preston Baronetcy, of Valleyfield in the County of Perth, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 13 March 1637 for George Preston. The fifth Baronet sat as Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy Burghs. The title became dormant on the death of the ninth Baronet in 1873.

Preston baronets, of Airdrie (1628)

Sir John Preston, 1st Baronet (d. c 1655)

Sir John Preston, 2nd Baronet (d. 1660)

Sir John Preston, 3rd Baronet (d. 1675)

Sir John Preston, 4th Baronet (d. after 1701)

succession unclear until 1784

Sir Robert Preston, ? Baronet (c. 1706-c. 1792)

Preston baronets, of Valleyfield (1637)

Sir George Preston, 1st Baronet (1679)

Sir William Preston, 2nd Baronet (c. 1703)

Sir George Preston, 3rd Baronet (c. 1670-1741)

Sir George Preston, 4th Baronet (died 1779)

Sir Charles Preston, 5th Baronet (c. 1735-1800)

Sir Robert Preston, 6th Baronet (1740-1834)

Sir Robert Preston, 7th Baronet (1757-1846)

Sir Robert Preston, 8th Baronet (c. 1780-1858)

Sir Henry Lindsay Preston, 9th Baronet (1789-1873)

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Prestons of Scotland - Craigmillar

The following account of Craigmillar Castle is from a document by Denys Pringle, Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic Scotland, Edinburgh HMSO.

The castle of Craigmillar is one of the most perfectly preserved examples of late medieval castle-building in Scotland. Begun in the early 15th century by the Preston family, who had acquired Craigmillar in 1374. The Prestons were lairds of Craigmillar for almost 300 years.

The castle stands on a rocky hilltop 3 miles (4.5 Km) south east of Edinburgh, within sight of Edinburgh Castle, and commanding extensive views in all directions. A village already existed at Craigmillar in the 12th century, when David I (1124-53) granted Dunfermline Abbey some land and houses there. In 1253, the same abbey also received from William, son of Henry, the laird of Craigmillar, a building plot (or 'toft') and some arable land, meadow and pasture. There was no evidence of any castle at this date.

Sir John Preston had received the nearby barony of Gorton (or Gouerton) from David II. In February 1374, Robert II granted to Sir John's son, Sir Simon Preston, the whole of Craigmillar (or Cragmelor), which had been surrendered by its previous tenant, William de Capella. Sir Simon was an important local figure, serving at various times as sheriff of Edinburgh, or Midlothian. He was to hold Craigmillar from the king as a hereditary fief in return for providing an archer to serve in the king's army whenever so required.

It may have been Sir Simon Preston's son, also named Simon, or perhaps his grandson Sir George, who began to build the massive L-shaped tower around which the castle was later to grow.

The lineage goes as follows:

Sir John de Preston of Gorton b. ca.1280 d. by 1346 married and had 2 sons and a daughter:

Sir Simon Preston (I) b. ca.1310, Sheriff of Edinburgh/Lothian from 1360 and of Craigmillar 1374. Sir Simon had two sons:

Sir Simon Preston II b.ca.1340.

Sir Henry Preston fl. 1371/85.

William Preston b.ca. 1312.

Margaret Preston b. ca. 1314.

Sir Simon Preston II married and had three sons:

Sir George Preston (I) b.ca 1365 d.8-1424. Sir George had a son, his successor:

John Preston (I) b. ca.1390 d.1425/6 married Christiana Cockburn d. c.1459. Sometime sheriff of Edinburgh and Berwick, set his seal to a charter at Craigmillar in October 1425, but it appears he died soon after, for in the following year his son and heir William Preston, who was still a minor, was placed in the care of his cousin Archibald until he should reach the age of 25.

John Preston b. ca.1372 d.xxxx

Sir Andrew Preston b. ca.1374 d.xxxx. Sir Andrews descendant, Sir David Preston of Whitehill will succeed to the barony in 1640.

Sir William Preston b.<1417 d.7-1453, son of John Preston, succeeded his father as laird of Gorton and Craigmillar in 1442. Sir William was one of the most celebrated of the line, for it was he who presented to Edinburgh's high kirk a reliquary containing the arm bone of the city's patron saint, St Giles, which he had acquired during his travels in France. It may also have been Sir William or perhaps his son who enlarged the castle by constructing the quadrangular barmkin wall around three sides of the tower. This enclosed a series of courtyard buildings and was strengthened at the corners with circular towers, provided with gun-loops, from which a deadly fire could have been directed at any attackers.

When Sir William died in July 1453, he was buried in the Lady Aisle, just south of the choir in St Giles' Kirk. A chapel was to be built on the south side of the Lady Aisle, in which a chaplain was to celebrate mass and offer prayers for his soul on each anniversary of his death. This was later called Preston Aisle. The relic of St Giles disappeared during the Reformation a century later, and there is no trace of the memorial plaques or arms today. The Preston arms can still be seen however, on the easternmost pillar of the south choir arcade, immediately next to the bay where the high altar stood.

Sir William Preston was succeeded in 1453 by his son, William Preston II who died abt.1478.

Sir William Preston II b.xxxx d. c.1478 was succeeded by his son Sir Simon Preston III. One of the first duties of Sir Simon was to take custody of James III's younger brother, John, Earl of Mar. Resentful of his two brothers' popularity and warned by a witch, suitably prompted by the princes' political enemies, that he would die by the hand of his nearest of kin, the king had already imprisoned the elder of his brothers, Alexander, duke of Albany. Albany, however, had escaped from the Edinburgh Castle and fled to the French court. Bishop John Lesley's History next records that the king's second brother, the earl of Mar, 'wes takin in the nicht in his awin house, had to Cragmillar, and keipit thair at the Kingis commaund, and wes convict of ane conspiracie be witchecrafte agains the King'. The unfortunate man was then brought to a house in Canongate and while seated in a bath, 'they cuttit ane of his vanes and causit him bleid to dead'.

In August 1511, James IV erected the lands which Sir Simon Preston III was holding at Craigmillar, including the 'castle, fortalice and mill', into a free barony, for which the annual rent was to be a penny Scots at Whitsun.

Apparently, Sir William Preston II also had a son Sir Thomas Preston who was the castle chaplain from 1523.

Sir Simon Preston III b.ca.1450 d.1519, married Unknown and had two sons, William Preston and George Preston. His eldest son William Preston b.ca.1480 d.c.1519, married Elizabeth Hepburn and died before Sir Simon, therefore, in 1520, Sir Simon was succeeded by his son George Preston. It is believed that much of the addition to the castle was done by Sir Simon Preston III because the Preston Coat of Arms, accompanied by the Press-tun rebus, which now surmounts the gate to the west garden, bears the date 15{1}0. (The Preston rebus mentioned under the coat of arms consists of a press on the left and a tun, or barrel, on the right. All carved in stone.) The new walls also enclosed the eastern side of the family chapel which appears to have been built around this time. The chapel is first recorded in a protocol of the notary John Foular, dated 1 June 1523, by which the rents from two properties in Edinburgh, amounting to 7 merks annually, were granted 'to a discreet man, Sir Thomas Preston, chaplain in the chapel of Saint Thomas the Martyr [ie Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, died 1170], situated within the Castle of Cragmilour, and his successors, chaplains therein, for celebrating [mass] now and in all time coming, for the soul of the late Sir Symon Preston of that Ilk, and for the souls of his forebears and their successors'.

Sir George Preston b.ca. 1480 d.xxxx, second son of Sir Simon Preston III, succeeded the barony in 1520. He married Isabella Pringle and they had a son Simon Preston IV who succeeded to the barony of Craigmillar in 1543.

Sir Simon Preston IV b.ca.1510 d. c.1575 married first Janet Beaton b.xxxx d. by 1549. Sir Simon married 2nd Elizabeth Menteith.

Sir Simon Preston IV was to have a long and eventful career as laird of Craigmillar. His connections with the city of Edinburgh were also close. In 1538-43 and 1544-45 he served as provost, following a family precedent already established by his forebears Sir Henry Preston in 1434-39 and James Preston in 1525. (First mention of James Preston and he is not shown in the lineage chart.) In addition to Craigmillar, Sir Simon also possessed a town house opposite the town cross, on the site now occupied by the City Chambers (formerly the Royal Exchange.)

The first major event to affect Craigmillar under Sir Simon Preston IV was an English invasion of Scotland. In May 1544, following the Scots' repudiation of an agreement made earlier at Greenwich to form an alliance between Scotland and England by marrying the young Queen Mary to Prince Edward, the son and heir of King Henry VIII, the earl of Hertford landed with an army in Leith with a view to persuading the Scots to change their minds. An anonymous history of the period tells us that the army 'past to Craigmillar, quhilk was haistilie gevin to thame, promesand to keip the samyne without skaith [damage]: quhilk promes thai break, and brunt and destroyit the said hous'. A rather different interpretation of the apparent ease with which the English took the castle, however, is given by the Bishop John Lesley, who casts the city's provost in the unflattering role of a collaborator. Lesley relates that the merchants of Edinburgh had taken most of their valuables to Craigmillar for safe keeping: but that this, 'not without froaud of the keparis, as wes reported, wes betrayed to the Inglishmen for a parte of the bowtaine [booty] and spoill thairof'. If the accusation was true, it could have done Sir Simon little good, for he was himself taken prisoner and made to walk as far as London before being released.

In 1549, Sir Simon Preston IV was once more in Edinburgh, when he and his second wife Elizabeth Menteith, were granted a charter for the barony of Preston. A stone panel bearing the Preston coat-of-arms and the date 1549 which formerly surmounted the outer main gate of Craigmillar indicates that Sir Simon did not delay in making food the damage which the castle had suffered five years before. The construction of this period seems to have included the rebuilding of the east and south-east ranges around the inner court, and building (or rebuilding) of a strong outer wall around the castle, defended by rounded towers pierced by wide-mouthed gun-ports.

In the years following the return of Mary Queen of Scots from France, in August 1561, Sir Simon Preston IV was to show himself to be one of the queen's most loyal supporters. In 1562, he won Mary's gratitude when, as governor of Dunbar Castle, he failed to carry out a sentence of execution passed on the rebel earl of Huntly. In October of 1562, Mary nominated him once more for the position of provost of Edinburgh, but it was not until August 1565 that the burgh council would agree to accept him. He held the post until 1568, and between 1565 and 1567 also served as a privy councillor.

In September 1563, Mary spent a week at Craigmillar Castle as a guest of Sir Simon Preston IV. While there she received Thomas Randolph, the ambassador of Queen Elizabeth I, who warned her that if she wished to remain on friendly terms with England she should find herself an acceptable husband. Mary's eventual choice was the Catholic, Henry, earl of Darnley, whom she married on 29 July 1565. Darnley was not liked by Mary or her supporters and in December 1566, she spent some time at Craigmillar and a group of her advisors also meeting at Craigmillar made a fateful decision that would seal the fate of her unwanted husband. The pact was subsequently known as the Craigmillar Bond. Conspirators included the earls of Argyll, Huntly and Bothwell. Early in 1567 Darnley returned to Edinburgh from Glasgow. Mary suggested they spend some time at Craigmillar but he elected to stay at his own town house, Kirk o'Fields, just next to the town wall. On the nite of Feb. 9/10, 1567, the house was blown apart by an explosion. The next day when Darnleys body was found it was discovered he had been strangled.

Sir Simon Preston IV died sometime before 1575, but had already been succeeded as laird of Craigmillar by his son David in June 1569.

Sir David Preston (I) b.c.1530 d.1593, succeeded to the barony of Craigmillar in 1569, married Unknown and had 3 children:

Sir George Preston III b.c.1560 d.1625.

Sir Robert Preston b.c1563 d.1639.

Richard Preston b.c.1565 d.1638/9.

In Feb. 1593, Sir David Preston was succeeded by his son, Sir George Preston III.

May 18, 1625, George Preston III was succeeded by his brother Sir Robert Preston. Sir Robert died without issue in 1639. Craigmillar then passed to a distant relative.

In 1639, the estate passed to Sir David Preston b. c.1600 of Whitehill, descended from the first Sir Simon. Sir Simon Preston II had three sons, including a Sir Andrew Preston. Sir David Preston was the descendent of Sir Andrew Preston. Sir David Preston (II) married Susana Colville and had 3 children:

Sir George Preston IV b.c1630 who later sold Craigmillar Castle to Sir John Gilmour in 1660.

John Preston b. c.1633 d.xxxx.

Agnes Preston b.c.1635 d.xxxx.

Thus ended the Prestons of Craigmillar, 1374 to 1660. There has to be a lot of other Prestons descended from these Prestons. Perhaps a John born 1726 (Walnut Grove Prestons) or another John born about 1699 (Smithfield Prestons) or perhaps a Philip born about 1715.....who knows.

The document goes on to talk about Craigmillar under the Gilmours. Much of the above is quoted directly from the document No estimate of dates of birth were given.

http://www.suddenlink.net/pages/fpreston/craigmil.htm

See Also

Places of Interest

Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh

Nooks and crannies

Craigmillar is one of Scotland’s most perfectly preserved castles. It began as a simple tower-house residence. Gradually, over time, it developed into a complex of structures and spaces, as subsequent owners attempted to improve its comfort and amenity. As a result, there are many nooks and crannies to explore. Of equal importance were the surrounding gardens and parkland, and the present-day Craigmillar Castle Park has fascinating reminders of the castle’s days as a rural retreat on the edge of Scotland’s capital city.

At the core lies the original, late-14th-century tower house, among the first of this new form of castle built in Scotland. It stands 17m high to the battlements, has walls almost 3m thick, and holds a warren of rooms, including a fine great hall on the first floor, and the so-called ‘Queen Mary’s Room’ beside it, where Mary is said to have slept when staying there as a guest of the Prestons. In all probability, Mary resided in a multi-roomed apartment elsewhere in the courtyard, probably in the east range.

Also here is a labyrinth of dark spaces, including a grim basement prison where an upright skeleton was found walled up in the early 19th century. The west range was rebuilt as the Gilmour family’s residence after 1660. Beyond the well-preserved 15th-century courtyard wall, complete with gunholes shaped like inverted keyholes, lie other buildings, including a private family chapel.

The lands of Craigmillar were granted to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey by King David I in the 12th century.[3] The Preston family were first granted land in the area by King David II in 1342 and held 2/3 of the estate. In a further grant of 1374, King Robert II gave the remaining lands of Craigmillar to Sir Simon de Preston, Sheriff of Midlothian.[3][4] It was Simon's son, Simon Preston, or his grandson, Sir George Preston, who began work on the tower house which now forms the core of the castle. This was in place by 1425, when a charter was sealed at Craigmillar by Sir John Preston.[3] The courtyard wall was probably added by Sir William Preston (d. 1453), who had travelled in France, and drew on continental inspiration for his new work.[4] He also brought back the arm of Saint Giles, which he presented to the High Kirk of Edinburgh, where the Preston Aisle is named for him.[5] In 1480, John Stewart, Earl of Mar, brother of King James III was held prisoner at Craigmillar, accused of practising witchcraft against the King.[4] 16th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craigmillar_Castle

http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/Castles/craigmillar.htm

Culross Castle, Fife. Culross Palace and Abbey. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Sir George Bruce of Carnock (c. 1550 – 1625) was a Scottish merchant and engineer. He was born in Carnock, near Dunfermline.

Between 1597 and 1611,[2] Bruce built a mansion house in Culross, using materials from his foreign trading. This building has subsequently become known as Culross Palace. He lavishly decorated the palace and the stunning painted ceilings, ornate features and panelling can still be seen. Culross Palace is now under the care of the National Trust for Scotland and has been restored to its 17th-century splendour.[3] The palace building, which had faded to a white wash has been restored to its original yellow-orange exterior. The courtyard path and the garden have also been remodelled, with the garden now full of vegetables, herbs and plants, growing as they would have done in the 17th century.

Fenton Barns, by Drem, East Lothian. Estate owned by the Prestons.