Willliam Gray Preston1

b. 7 November 1852, d. 29 March 1929
FatherThomas M. Preston2 b. 14 May 1807, d. 22 Feb 1875
MotherEvaline Gray2 b. 2 May 1813 or 3 May 1813, d. 5 Dec 1884
Birth7 Nov 1852 Willliam Gray Preston was born on 7 Nov 1852 in Washington County, Virginia.3,2 
Childhood  Willliam was the youngest child in a blended family of 11 children. His father's first wife died leaving 3 sons and his mother's first husband died leaving a young daughter. His parents added 7 children of their own although 2 of William's sisters died of dysentery in 1854 and a third sister died in 1860.4,5 
Marriage27 Nov 1878 He married Margaret McQuown, daughter of Isaac Alexander McQuown and Nancy Keys (?), on 27 Nov 1878 in Washington County.2 
Cens-Sum  Willliam and Margaret lived and farmed in the Holston district of the county. Census records indicate that Margaret gave birth to 8 children but by 1900 only 5 were living. There is some confusion regarding the name of one of the couple's daughters. The census records are difficult to interpret and the name may have been Willie or Nellie.6,7,8,9 
Death29 Mar 1929 Willliam died on 29 Mar 1929 according to his father's family Bible, although his headstone simply reads d. 1930.1 
Burial He was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.1 

Research Comment:

Only 5 of the couple's 8 children appear with them on census records suggesting the other 3 children were born and died between 1880 and 1900. One of the 3 is identified by Washington County death records as Thomas. The other two children are tentatively identified as Alexander Graham and Nannie Kate. Their stones are identical in style to Thomas's and lie adjacent to his at Rock Spring Cemetery. It should also be noted that Margaret's father's middle name was Alexander and her mother's name was Nancy.

Related Links and Images:

William's stone; second photo shows William and Margaret's stones along with those of their 3 probable children)
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery

Family

Margaret McQuown b. 12 Aug 1849, d. 3 Feb 1937
Children
Last Edited22 Mar 2011

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 209. Stone reported to read: William Gray Preston, 1852-1930.
  2. [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.
  3. [S2123] "Thomas M. Preston Bible", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us).
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  6. [S165] Wm G. Preston household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 100, page 5A (p. 243A), dwelling 39, family 39, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2007, image 5 of 54. Household includes: Wm G. Preston, 28, farmer; Margaret, 30, wife; Eva, 5/12, dau b. Jan.; Eveline, 67, mother; all b. VA; all parents b. VA except Eveline's father b. PA.
  7. [S634] William G. Preston household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 114, sheet 4A (p. 151 stamped), dwelling 64, family 64, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2007, image 7 of 34. Household includes: William G. Preston, 47, marr 20 yrs, b. Nov. 1852, farmer, owns farm; Margaret, wife, 45, mother of 8 children, 5 are living, b. May 185_; Eva, dau, 18, b. Apr 1882; Bertie, son, b. March 1886; Rebecca, dau, 9, b. May 1891; Willie M., dau, b. Apr 1894; Grey R., son, 5, b. May 1895; 1 servant; all b. VA.
  8. [S237] William G. Preston household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 120, sheet 2B, dwelling 21, family 21, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2007, image 4 of 28. Household includes: William G. Preston, 60, marr #1, marr 31 yrs, Margarette, wife, 61, marr 31 yrs, mother of 8 children, 5 are living; Bert, son, 23, salesman at general store; Rebecca, dau, 19; Nellie, dau, 17; Robert, son, 15; all b. VA.
  9. [S238] William G. Preston household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston district, ED 155, sheet 9B, dwelling 182, family 182, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Apr 2007, image 18 of 21. Household includes: William G. Preston, 65, owns home free of mort, is farm; Margaret, wife, 70; __llie, dau, 25, high school teacher; Gray R., son, 24, farmer; all b. VA.
  10. [S1768] Fridley, "Washington Co., VA Deaths 1853-1885" online database, <www.Ancestry.com>, viewed Mar 2011: Thomas Preston, s/o William & Margaret, d. 28 Aug. 1882; b. Washington Co., VA.
  11. [S7] See parent's narrative.