Preston, Susanna Smith
Biographical Note
Susanna Smith was born in Hanover County, Virginia, in 1740 to Francis and Elizabeth (Waddy) Smith. In 1761, Susanna Smith married William Preston and in 1769, they settled at Greenfield (in Botetourt County). They moved to Fincastle in 1772, and then in 1773 to Smithfield, the home William built for her in Montgomery County. Susanna and William had at least twelve children: Elizabeth Preston Madison (1762-1837), John Preston (1764-1827), Francis Smith Preston (1765-1835), Sarah Preston McDowell (1767-1841), Anne Preston (1769-1782), William Preston (1770-1821), Susanna Preston Hart (1772-1833), James Patton Preston (1774-1843), Mary Preston Lewis (1776-1821), Letitia Preston Floyd (1779-1852), Thomas Lewis Preston (1781-1812), and Margaret Brown Preston Preston (1784-1843). William Preston died in 1783, and although the historical record is lacking about Susanna, it is known that she lived at Smithfield for another 40 years, raising the younger children and managing the household and the estate (sometimes with the help of her sons, who were known to handle legal matters). Susanna died in 1823 and is buried in the Preston Cemetery at Smithfield Plantation.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Preston Family (Alice Preston Moore Collection) Papers,
The collection consists of family papers, receipts, correspondence, and original and photocopied materials relating to the Preston family, primarily William and Susanna Smith Preston, John Preston, and William Ballard Preston, dating from the 1740s to the 1880s. Other materials include 19th and 20th century genealogy research on the Prestons.