Sponsored by:Alice Horner
- Birth
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Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA
- Death
- 4 Mar 1728 (aged 41)
South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA
- Burial
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South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA Add to Map
- Memorial ID
- 17802747 View Source
Note: the tombstone says 1727 and not 1728 because England and the Colonies were still using double years because the Gregorian Calendar was not yet in use (not until 1752). This is a complex issue; look under "Gregorian Calendar" in Wikipedia and other sources, but prepare yourself for a mind boggling description.)
During the 19th century, after South Hadley was noted as the seat of Mt. Holyoke College, it desired the site of this old burial ground for the location of the Public Library. It was decided to use this land for that purpose. Many objected, including Mr. Henry Preston of Boston, who learned South Hadley had never been given a legal title to the land. The matter was compromised when the town agreed to leave the grave of John Preston undisturbed. So his tombstone still stands, and is now behind the library building on the land he gave to the village at its very beginning.
John Preston was born July 31, 1686 in Hadley, Massachusetts, the child of John Preston and Sarah (Gardner) Preston. He married Mary Smith on December 2, 1714; she was the daughter of Luke Smith and Mary Crow, and was born in 1693. He died March 4, 1728 in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Refer to my Rootsweb.com family tree, "The Downing, Bickelhaupt, And Preston Families of Carroll County, Illinois" for more information about him and his family.
Information added August 5, 2011: Previously someone asked me to link John Preston to #39574593, another John Preston, who someone said was the father of the John Preston buried out behind the Gaylord Library. I apparently linked this man without researching it, and subsequently have determined this information was not correct. Although this man's name was also John Preston he was born in 1654 and died in 1728. I am a descendant of the John Preston who is buried out behind the Gaylord Library. His father is the John Preston who was born July 14, 1651 (not 1654) and died after his son died on March 4, 1728. I do not have the exact date. The parents of the John Preston who was born on 1651 are Daniel and Mary (Unknown Maiden Name) Preston. #39574593's parents are William and Anne Preston.
Note: the tombstone says 1727 and not 1728 because England and the Colonies were still using double years because the Gregorian Calendar was not yet in use (not until 1752). This is a complex issue; look under "Gregorian Calendar" in Wikipedia and other sources, but prepare yourself for a mind boggling description.)
During the 19th century, after South Hadley was noted as the seat of Mt. Holyoke College, it desired the site of this old burial ground for the location of the Public Library. It was decided to use this land for that purpose. Many objected, including Mr. Henry Preston of Boston, who learned South Hadley had never been given a legal title to the land. The matter was compromised when the town agreed to leave the grave of John Preston undisturbed. So his tombstone still stands, and is now behind the library building on the land he gave to the village at its very beginning.
John Preston was born July 31, 1686 in Hadley, Massachusetts, the child of John Preston and Sarah (Gardner) Preston. He married Mary Smith on December 2, 1714; she was the daughter of Luke Smith and Mary Crow, and was born in 1693. He died March 4, 1728 in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Refer to my Rootsweb.com family tree, "The Downing, Bickelhaupt, And Preston Families of Carroll County, Illinois" for more information about him and his family.
Information added August 5, 2011: Previously someone asked me to link John Preston to #39574593, another John Preston, who someone said was the father of the John Preston buried out behind the Gaylord Library. I apparently linked this man without researching it, and subsequently have determined this information was not correct. Although this man's name was also John Preston he was born in 1654 and died in 1728. I am a descendant of the John Preston who is buried out behind the Gaylord Library. His father is the John Preston who was born July 14, 1651 (not 1654) and died after his son died on March 4, 1728. I do not have the exact date. The parents of the John Preston who was born on 1651 are Daniel and Mary (Unknown Maiden Name) Preston. #39574593's parents are William and Anne Preston.
Family Members
- Created by: Alice Horner
- Added: Feb 3, 2007
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17802747/john-preston: accessed ), memorial page for John Preston (31 Jul 1686–4 Mar 1728), Find a Grave Memorial ID 17802747, citing John Preston Gravesite, South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Alice Horner (contributor 46885959).