Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Preston Family Papers, Accession #11166-b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the University of Virginia Library on July 26, 1995, from Jerry Showalter, Bookseller, Ivy, Virginia.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the correspondence and legal & financial papers of the Preston family of Abingdon, Virginia, and Columbia, South Carolina, twenty-two items, 1789-1845. The legal and financial papers, 1789-1830, pertain to Francis Preston, Robert Preston, William C. Preston, Robert R. Preston, and William R. Preston & the heirs of Francis Preston and include a receipt, an account of the estate of William Preston, an indenture, an agreement, an account with Shaw, Tiffany & Company, and a power of attorney.

Most of the correspondence is addressed to General Francis Preston, Abingdon, Virginia, and is chiefly concerned with business and legal matters, including advice about purchasing lands belonging to the estate of William King (1820 Mar 27); financial difficulties of his brother J[ohn?] Preston (1821 Nov 19); and an offer to help Francis Preston sell his lands in [Kentucky?] (1826 Jan 22); permission to use the name of George C. Light to inquire about Preston's Ohio lands from General Thomas Gatch of the Ohio Legislature (1826 Nov 28); a possible suit against Mr. Vance's heirs (1827 Oct 30); the status of several legal suits in the courts and the purchase of a land tract in Louisville, Kentucky (1831 Apr 16); and information about shipments of salt and plaster by William King & Company and an inquiry about whether Preston has a black woman, aged eighteen to twenty-one, for sale (1834 Apr 19); and a suit on behalf of E. Henry concerning a legacy in the will of Patrick Henry left to Edmond Henry (1844 Jan 13). Other topics include: request for information about difficulties at the Abingdon Lodge No. 48 (1809 Oct 7); a reference to the debate over the admission of slaves into Missouri (1820 Jan 23); an inquiry about a slave (1834 Apr 19); invitations to stay with two brothers in Macon, Georgia, during the Harrison Convention (1840 Aug 5 & 7); and social and family news (1845 Feb 8).

Correspondents include:

1806 Sep 16 James Breckinridge to Francis Preston
1809 Oct 7 William Fitzwhylsonn to Francis Preston
1819 Jan 4 William Dickson to Sarah Preston
1820 Jan 23 James Brown to Francis Preston
1820 Mar 27 John Kennedy to Francis Preston
1821 Nov 19 J[ohn] Preston to Francis Preston
1826 Jan 22 James Hector to Francis Preston
1826 Nov 28 George C. Light to Francis Preston
1827 Oct 20 Judge Thomas Emmerson to Francis Preston
1831 Apr 16 R.J. Breckinridge to Francis Preston
1834 Apr 19 Pleasant Creasy to Francis Preston
1840 Aug 5 James A. Nesbit to William C. Preston
1840 Aug 7 E.A. Nesbit to William C. Preston
1844 Jan 13 George W. Read to Robert R. Preston
1845 Feb 8 William C. Preston to his sister, Mrs. Carrington
1845 Apr 11 Thomas Wilson to Robert R. Preston