The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.

PRESTON Lord DINGWALL.

THE sirname of Preston is certainly lo∣cal, and was assumed by the proprietors of the lands and barony of Preston, in Mid-Lothian, as soon as sirnames begun to be fre∣quently used in Scotland.

I. LEOLPHUS de PRESTON flourished in the reign of king William the Lyon, who succeeded to the crown, anno 1165, and di∣ed anno 1214.—He was father of

II. LEOLPHUS de PRESTON, who, in a donation to the monastery of Newbottle, is designed Leolphus de Preston filius Leolphi, &c. tempore Alexandri regis II.

He died before the year 1260, leaving issue a son,

III. Sir WILLIAM de PRESTON (design∣ed miles) who succeeded him, and made a considerable figure in the reign of king Alex∣ander III.

After the death of that great prince, he was one of the magnates Scotiae that were summon∣ed to Berwick by king Edward I. in the com∣petition for the crown betwixt Bruce and Baliol, anno 1291.

He was witness also in a charter with Hen∣ry de Preston, domino Willielmo de Sto. Claro vicecom. de Edinburg, &c. anno 1292.

He was succeeded by his son,

IV. NICHOL de PRESTON, who was one of the Scotch barons that swore fealty to king Edward I. of England, anno 1296.

We find other three of this sirname, viz. William, Henry, and Thomas de Prestons, swearing allegiance to king Edward that same year; but we cannot pretend to connect them with this family.

Nichol died in the beginning of the reign of king David II. and was succeeded by his son,

V. Sir JOHN de PRESTON, a man of sin∣gular courage and resolution, and in great fa∣vour with king David Bruce, whom he ac∣companied in his unfortunate expedition into England, and was taken prisoner with him at the battle of Durham, anno 1346; was seve∣ral years confined in the tower of London; but was afterwards released for a ransom, and returned to Scotland.

He is witness in a charter of donation to the monastery of Newbottle, by Patrick de Ramsay, anno 1353, in which he is design∣ed Johannes de Preston, miles, &c.

He was witness also in a charter of confir∣mation to John Campbell earl of Athole, dat∣ed the last day of January, the 30th year of king David's reign, anno 1359.

He was appointed one of the Scotch com∣missioners, to treat of a peace with the En∣glish, anno 1360, and was again nominated an ambassador extraordinary, anno 1361.

There flourished in the minority of king David II. a great patriot, said to be of this family, though we cannot connect him with it, viz. sir Laurence Preston, who signalized himself upon several occasions, against the e∣nemies of his country, inter 1330 and 1340; particularly he, with William de Keith, and Robert de Gordon, defeated the English under the command of general Talbot, whom they took prisoner, &c. &c.

Sir John was succeeded by his son,

VI. Sir SIMON de PRESTON, who, in his father's lifetime, is witness to a charter of a donation to the monastery of Newbottle, in which he is designed filius et haeres apparens domini Johannis, &c. anno 1360.

He acquired the lands of Craigmiller from John de Capella, anno 1374, which after∣wards became the chief seat, and one of the titles of the family.

He left issue two sons.

1. Sir Simon, his heir.

2. Sir Henry, a man of great parts, and highly esteemed by king Robert II. He got a share of 40,000 franks, that were sent by the king of France, to be divided amongst his faithful allies the Scots, anno 1335. He was joined in commission with sir Henry Swinton, sir Henry Douglas, and sir John Dal∣ziell, to treat of a peace with England, anno 1391; and was again named one of the am∣bassadors extraordinary to the same court, an∣no 1392; but whether he had any succession or not, we cannot now determine.

Sir Simon was succeeded by his eldest son,

VII. Sir SIMON PRESTON, the first we have found designed by the title of Craig∣miller.

He is witness in a charter of a donation to the abbacy of Dunfermline, wherein he is designed filius Simonis, &c. tempore Roberti regis III.

He left issue two sons.

1. Sir George, his heir.

2. Andrew de Preston, ancestor of the Pres∣tons of Whitehill, &c. of whom afterwards.

VIII. Sir GEORGE PRESTON succeeded his father, and he and his successors were pro∣miscuously designed by the titles of Preston, Craigmiller, and Gourton, and were possessed of several other lands and baronies.

He died on 2d August 1424, leaving issue a son and successor.

IX. JOHN PRESTON of Craigmiller and Gourton, who was served heir to his father anno 1424, and married Christian Cockburn, a daughter of the family of Langton, by whom he had a son,

X. WILLIAM PRESTON of Craigmiller, who was retoured heir to his father in the lands of Gourton, anno 1442.

He is witness in a charter of a donation to the abbacy of Dunfermline, in which he is designed Willielmus dominus de Gourton, &c. anno 1452; and, dying the same year, was succeeded by his son,

XI. WILLIAM PRESTON of Craigmil∣ler, who was retoured heir to his father anno 1453.

He got a charter, Willielmo Preston de Craigmiller, et suis assignatis, de terris quae fue∣runt Christianae Cockburn, sponsae quondam Jo∣hannis Preston de Craigmiller, dated at Perth 12th July 1459.

He got other two charters of several other lands and baronies, anno 1463 and 1471; and dying anno 1474, was succeeded by his son,

XII. Sir SIMON, who got a charter of the lands of Craigmiller, Simoni de Preston, militi, &c. anno 1475; and was served heir in general to his father, anno 1478.

He had issue two sons, and one daughter.

1. Sir William, who got a charter from his father of some lands, to him and Elizabeth Hepburn his spouse, anno 1510; but he died without issue, anno 1512.

2. Sir George, his heir.

His daughter,—, married to sir Wil∣liam Sinclair of Herdmandston.

He died anno 1519, and was succeeded by his son,

XIII. Sir GEORGE PRESTON of Craig∣miller, who was retoured heir to his father, anno 1520.

He got a charter from king James V. Georgio Preston de eodem, militi et Isabellae Hope-Pringle, sponsae suae, of several lands and baronies, anno 1538.

By the said Isabel, a daughter of the fa∣mily of Galashiels, he left issue a son and suc∣cessor,

XIV. Sir SIMON of Craigmiller, who got a charter, to Simon Preston (son to George of that ilk) and Janet Beaton his spouse, of the barony of Craigmiller in Edinburgh-shire, Balgay in Forfar-shire, &c. &c. upon his father's resignation, anno 1542:

And a charter of several other lands, wherein he is designed son and heir of sir George Preston of that ilk, dated 5th June 1543:

Also a charter, to sir Simon Preston of that ilk, and Elizabeth Menteith his spouse, of the barony of Preston, &c. anno 1549.

By Janet Beaton, his first wife, he had no issue; but by Elizabeth, daughter of William Menteith of Carse, he had a son,

XV. DAVID of Preston and Craigmiller who succeeded him, and got charters, under the great seal, of several lands and baronies in 1576 and 1577.

He left issue three sons, and two daugh∣ters.

1. Sir George, his heir.

2. Robert, who succeeded his brother.

3. Sir Richard, created lord Dingwall, of whom more hereafter.

1st. Daughter,—, married, 1st, to James Cunninghame of Drumwhassell; 2dly, to Walter MacFarlane of Gartarton.

2. Magdalene, married to James Nichol∣son of Laswade.

He died in February 1593, and was suc∣ceeded by his eldest son,

XVI. Sir GEORGE of Preston and Craig∣miller, who married a daughter of— Hay of Fingask, by whom he had a son,

James, who died before himself, without issue;—and a daughter,

Elizabeth, married to sir George Bucha∣nan of that ilk; and dying without male-issue, anno 1609, was succeeded by his brother,

XVI. ROBERT of Preston and Craigmil∣ler, who was served and retoured heir to his father, who died last infeft and seased in the lands of Craigmiller, &c. 18th May 1625.

This Robert died without issue in Decem∣ber 1639; and his brother lord Dingwall dying also without male-succession, the male-line of sir George, eldest son of sir Si∣mon, the seventh generation of this genealo∣gical account thus ended; and the male-re∣presentative of this ancient family is,

David Preston of Whitehill, lineally de∣scended of Andrew, second son of the said sir Simon, who was served heir to the last men∣tioned Robert (ejus pronepos, trinepos, &c.) 8th April 1640.

We now return to lord Dingwall.

XVI. Sir RICHARD PRESTON, third son of David of Preston and Craigmiller, having been educated at court, and a man of fine parts, became a great favourite of king James VI. who first conferred upon him the honour of knight∣hood, then appointed him one of the gentle∣men of his bed-chamber.

He attended his majesty into England, and was made one of the knights of the bath on 30th July 1603.

In 1607, he had the constabulary of Ding∣wall bestowed upon him, and was raised to the dignity of the peerage, by the title of lord Dingwall, by patent to the heirs of his body, lawfully begotten, whatsoever.

He married lady Elizabeth Butler, only daughter of Thomas earl of Ormond, widow of Theobald viscount of Theophelim in Ireland; and he was created earl of Desmond in that kingdom, on 6th June 1614, by patent to the heirs-male of his body.

By her he had only one daughter,

Lady Elizabeth, his sole heiress; and having no male-issue, the title of Desmond became extinct.

He was drowned in his passage from Dub∣lin to England, 28th June 1628, and suc∣ceeded in the honours of Dingwall by his only child,

XVII. Lady ELIZABETH PRESTON, ba∣roness of Dingwall, married to James duke of Ormond, to whom she had issue eight sons, and two daughters.

1. Thomas, who died an infant.

2. Thomas, earl of Ossory.

3. James, died in infancy.

4. James, died in childhood.

5. Richard, who was created baron Buttler of Cloughgrenan, viscount Tulloch, and earl of Arran, on 13th May 1662, with limita∣tion of the honours to the issue-male of his brother John.

6. Walter, who died young.

7. John, created baron of Aghrim, vis∣count Clonmore, and earl of Gowran, 13th April 1676, and died without issue.

8. James, who also died in infancy.

1st Daughter, lady Elizabeth, married to Philip Stanhope, earl of Chesterfield, whose only daughter, lady Elizabeth, was married to John earl of Strathmore.

2. Lady Mary, married to William Ca∣vendish, duke of Devonshire.

XVIII. THOMAS earl of Ossory, the eld∣est surviving son, was a man of fine parts, and made a great figure in his time; but died before his father, anno 1680, having married lady Amelia Nassau, eldest daughter of Lewis lord of Beverwert, La Locke, Odyke, &c. &c. by whom he had six sons, four whereof died young, and six daughters, three whereof died infants.

1. Surviving son, James, afterwards duke of Ormond.

2. Charles, earl of Arran.

1. Surviving daughter, lady Elizabeth, married to William Richard George, ninth earl of Derby.

2. Lady Amelia.

3. Lady Henrietta, married to Henry D' Auverquerque, earl of Grantham.

XIX. JAMES, eldest surviving son of Tho∣mas earl of Ossory, succeeded his grandfa∣ther James, first duke of Ormond, anno 1688, and was the second duke.

As a succinct account of the life and heroic actions of this truly great man, is to be found in Mr. Lodge's peerage of Ireland, to that we refer our readers; and shall only add, that in 1710 he claimed the honour of Ding∣wall, as being lineally descended of Richard the first lord. His claim was sustained, and he voted by proxy for the sixteen Scotch peers elected to sit in the British parliament, called to meet on the 25th of November the same year.

His grace was impeached by the house of Commons, 21st June 1715, whereupon, be∣ing advised to avoid the impending storm of a parliamentary prosecution, he retired to France on 8th Angust, and was the 20th of that month attainted, his estate forfeited, and honours extinguished, &c.

But the British parliament passed an act, 24th June 1721, to enable his brother the earl of Arran, to purchase his estate, which accordingly he did.

The duke married, 1st, lady Anne, eld∣est daughter to Laurence earl of Rochester, by whom he had no issue. He married, 2dly, lady Mary, eldest surviving daughter of Hen∣ry duke of Beaufort, by whom he had a son,

Thomas, earl of Ossory, who died anno 1689, in the 9th year of his age.

Also five daughters, whereof ladies Mary, Amelia, and Henrietta, died in their infancy; and lady Elizabeth died unmarried, anno 1750.

Lady Mary, married to John lord Ash∣burnham; but died without issue.

XIX. CHARLES, a younger son of Tho∣mas earl of Ossory, and brother-german of James, second duke of Ormond, was creat∣ed a peer of Ireland by the titles of baron

Cloughgrenan, viscount of Tulloch, and earl of Arran, by king William, anno 1693; and also, that same year, a baron of England, by the title of lord Butler of Weston, &c.

Notes

• Chartul. of Newbottle, p. 57.
• Rymer, tom. II. p. 553.
• Chartul. of Newbottle, p. 184.
• Pry••ne vol. III. p. 656.
• Ibid. p. 661. & 662.
• Rymer, tom. V. p. 534.
• Chartul. of Newbottle, p. 53.
• Writs in the charter-chest of Craigmil∣ler, and Mr. Mill's collec∣tions.
• Rymer, tom. V. p. 207, & 305.
• Ibid. tom. IV. p. 823, and Fordun, vol. II. p. 317. 325, 326, &c.
• Chartul. of Newbottle, p. 359.
• Charta inrotul. Roberti Regis II.
• Rymer, tom. VII. p. 485, 733, &c.
• Chartul. of Dunfermline p. 337.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Nisbet, vol I. p. 312.
• Retour in Craigmiller's charter-chest and Mr. Mill's collections, &c.
• Ibid. & chart. inpub. archiv.
• Retour in Craigmiller's charter-chest, &c.
• Chartul. of Dunfermline p. 337.
• Retour in the charter-chest of Craigmil∣ler.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Ibidem.
• Ibidem.
• Retour in the charter-chest of Craigmil∣ler.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Retour in the charter-chest of Craigmil∣ler.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Chart. in pub. archiv.
• Ibidem.
• Ibidem.
• Ibidem.
• Retour in Chancery.
• Ibidem
• Ibidem.
• Crawfurd's peerage.
• Lodge's peerage of Ire∣land, vol. II. p. 26
• Ibidem.
• Ibid. p. 30 & 37.
• Ibid. p. 38.
• Ibid. p. 41.
• Ibid. p. 41.
• Ibid. p. 41 et infra.
• Ibid. p. 43.