Thomas M. Preston1

b. 14 May 1807, d. 22 February 1875
FatherSamuel A. Preston2 b. 15 Aug 1775, d. 17 Feb 1857
MotherAbigail Montgomery3 d. bef 1831
Birth14 May 1807 Thomas M. Preston was born on 14 May 1807.4,5 
Marriage25 Sep 1828 He married Jane Orr, daughter of James Orr and Mary Carson, on 25 Sep 1828 in Washington County, Virginia.1 
WidowedAug 1837  Jane died in August 1837. Thomas was 30 years old with 3 small sons left in his care. 
Marriage7 Jan 1841 He married second Evaline Gray, daughter of William Gray and Mary Davis, on 7 Jan 1841 in Washington County.6 
  Evaline herself was a young widow, having been previously married to Reuben Bradley with whom she had a daughter Mary Elizabeth.  
Cens-1850Sep 1850  Thomas and Evaline were recorded in 1850 in Washington County on the first federal census to list all members of the household by name. Their blended family included Thomas's 3 sons from his first marriage as well as the first 5 children born to Thomas and Evaline. Evaline's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Bradley, was not listed as part of the household.7 
  Thomas and Evaline named their first daughter Jane Orr Preston in honor of Thomas's first wife, and their first son Reuben Bradley Preston in honor of Evaline's first husband. 
ChildDeath1854  In August and September of 1854 daughters Sarah and Hannah died of dysentery. 
Cens-186031 Jul 1860 On the eve of the Civil War Thomas and Evaline were again enumerated in Washington County. Thomas was 53 and owned real estate valued at over $18,000 and personal property of $8,000. Five children were also enumerated: Jane (18), Rebecca (16), Reuben (15), Thomas (13) and William (8).8 
  Daughter Jane died of diphtheria a few months later. 
Cens-187021 Sep 1870  The 1870 census more narrowly focused the neighborhood in which the couple was living. They were listed in Glade Spring township where they were farming with sons Thomas and William.9 
Will4 Jan 1875 Thomas wrote his will on 4 Jan 1875 in Washington County. He stipulated that his sons Reuben, Thomas and William were to jointly pay Eveline $150 annually. Thomas also left $500 to his daughter Rebecca Graham and named her husband George as one of his executors. Thomas divided his land among his sons Reuben, Thomas and William. The will was accompanied by surveys showing the division of the land. Thomas also required that his land in Johnston Co., Texas be sold, and the proceeds divided among the 4 children mentioned above. Thomas did not mention the children of his first marriage (or their heirs) in his will.10 
Death22 Feb 1875 Thomas died on 22 Feb 1875 at age 67.4,5 
Burial He was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5 

Related Links and Images:

Thomas's will
Thomas and Evaline Preston family monument (Thomas' side and children's side); also photo of monument in relation to children's original stones
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Thomas as the head of household number 1002. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family 1

Jane Orr b. 27 May 1812, d. 26 Aug 1837
Children

Family 2

Evaline Gray b. 2 May 1813 or 3 May 1813, d. 5 Dec 1884
Children
Last Edited28 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S2123] "Thomas M. Preston Bible", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). Marriages: Thos M. Preston and Jane Orr his wife was married Sept. 25th 1828.
  2. [S826] Samuel Preston will (recorded 1857), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 14: 125.
  3. [S2527] "Bill of Complaint", Nelson Beaty by his guardian and best friend vs James Beaty, C. Jones, etc., Washington Co., Virginia Ended Chancery Causes 1850-05, reel 90, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia. The bill of complaint was undated but the summons that followed was dated 4 March 1843.
  4. [S2123] "Thomas M. Preston Bible", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us).
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 209. Stone reported to read: Thomas M. Preston, 14 May 1807-22 Feb. 1875.
  6. [S2123] "Thomas M. Preston Bible", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). Marriages: Thos M. Preston and Avalina Bradley was married January 7th 1841.
  7. [S367] Thomas Preston household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. 137 (stamped), dwelling 1002, family 1002, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2007, image 139 of 289. Household includes: Thomas Preston, 41, farmer, real estate: $8,000, Eveline, 36; Samuel, 21; James, 18; John 15; Jane, 9; Rebecca, 7; Reuben, 5; Thomas, 4; Sarah J., 2; all b. VA.
  8. [S234] Thomas M. Preston household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western district, p. 148 (script), dwelling 1102, family 1058, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2007, image 150 of 361. Household includes: Thomas M. Preston, 53, farmer, owns real estate: $18,125 and pers prop $8,000; Eveline, 47; Jane 18; Rebecca, 16; Reuben 15; Thomas 13; William 8; all b. VA.
  9. [S635] Thos Preston household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 8, dwelling 84, family 88, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2007, image1 2 of 49. Household includes: Thos Preston, 63, owns real estate val at $4,000, pes. prop __, farmer; Eveline, 57; Thos, 33, farmer; Wm, 18; Nancy, 35 Emeline Widener, 21, cook; Robt Evans, 22, laborer, all b. VA.
  10. [S706] Thomas M. Preston will (1875), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 18: 430. The will was dated 4 Jan. 1875 and recorded 22 Mar 1875. Reuben B. Preston and George Graham executors with $6,000 bond.
  11. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 290. Abstract reads: Samuel Preston, 31y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Thomas M. & Jane Preston AND Catherine Gray, 20y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, b & resid WCV, d/o John & Mary Gray; marr: 15 Dec. 1859.
  12. [S3046] "Biographies", transcriptions, California Genealogy and History Archives (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/… : viewed 30 Dec. 2012), "James C. Preston", transcribed by Kathy Sedler from An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1889), p. 592.
  13. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 289. Abstract reads: John Preston, 26, sgl, b. & resid wCV, farmer, s/o Thomas M. & Jane Preston and Elizabeth Gray, 26, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Mary Gray; marr: 8 March 1860.
  14. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 186. Jane O. Preston, d. 23 Sep. 1860, age 18y, 9m, 3d (with Thomas and Evaline Preston).
  15. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 135. Record reported to state: George Graham, 37y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Wm & Isabella Graham AND Rebecca Sandoe Preston, 18y, sgl, b & resid WCV, d/o Thomas M. & Eveline Preston; marr: 31 March 1863 by R.S. Reese.
  16. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 289. Ruben B. Preston, 23y, sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Thos M. & Eveline Preston AND Isabella J. Moore, 22, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John B. & Mgt. A. Moore; marr: 13 Jan. 1869.
  17. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 747.
  18. [S1682] Thomas & Jane (Fleenor) Colley, Washington County, Virginia Cemetery Annotations, Vol III, p. 1022, citing Washington Co., VA death register.
  19. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 212. Record abstracted as: Sarah Ann Preston, d. 21 Aug. 1854 of dysentery at age 6 y, 5 mos; parents: Thos M. & Evaline Preston.
  20. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 212. Record abstracted as: Ann Louisa Preston, d. 13 Sept. 1854 of dysentery at age 3y, 5 mos; parents: Thos M. & Evaline Preston.
  21. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 290. Abstract reads: William G. Preston, 26, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Thomas M. & Eveline Preston AND Mary Margaret McQuown, 28, sgl, b. & resid WCV, s/o Isaac A. & Nancy E. McQuown; marr 27 Nov. 1878.