Re: Preston - Devon, England to Gaspe, Canada
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In reply to:
Re: Preston - Devon, England to Gaspe, Canada
Marilyn Brine Gilmour 12/03/10
Hi Ian,
Marilyn sent me your inquiry. As for the Canadian connection. Your ancestor Peter Preston (son of John Preston and Martha Wills) had an older brother Joshua, who should have inherited the family property in Tedburn St Mary but instead moved to Exeter where the family legend says he became a milk man. Joshua married Ann Lang and had 3 children George, Eliza and Jane. George (probably due to fnancial and legal troubles) left for Canada somewhat before or after 1840, the story being that he passed through Halifax, Prince Edward Island before settling at the end of the Gaspe Peninsula at a fishing station now the town of RiviƩre au Renard (at that time called Fox River). Marilyn and I are descended from George's son James, who with almost all George's other children, immigrated to the US in the last part of the 19th century.
As for the Tedburn St Mary Prestons, the records that I have, show that both George's and Joshua's names are most often wriiten as Priston in the church and legal records. I have the christening dates for Joshua's and Peter's other 8 siblings as well as those for the 5 children of their father Andrew Preston, married to Elizabeth Dicker. With limited access to the Devonshire records here on this side of the Atlantic, it seems that there are two possibilities for Andrew's father. In Tedburn St Mary, there are two Andrew Preston births at about the same time. One is Andrew Preston son of Andrew Preston and Sarah Smart. The other is Andrew Preston son of Robert Preston and Mary Melhuish. The few trees that I have seen use Robert and Mary as the parents but I haven't seen the evidence to support this. Assuming it is Robert and Mary, I have traced the rest of the Preston line back to the 1500's
I am missing death or burial dates on almost everyone from Joshua back and certainly any activities or other info about them. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
This message is becoming a litle too long for a message board and I would certainly like to talk with you. Perhaps you could I provide your e-mail address.
Michael Preston
Quebec