Robert Preston

Born [date unknown] in Gormanston, Co. Meath, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Robert Preston was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

To help clear up any confusion regarding the numbering system:

• There were 3 successive Lords (or Barons) of Gormanstown starting ca.1370 -- Robert (d.1396), then Christopher (d.1422)^[1] then Christopher.
• In the next generation, the title was upgraded to Viscount in 1478 -- starting with Robert (d.1503, great-grandson of the above Robert) followed by William (2nd Viscount, d.1532), Jenico (3rd Viscount, d.1560), another Christopher (4th Viscount, d.1599), et al.

Biography

Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston, created by patent on 7 Aug 1478 ^[2] He was the Deputy Chancellor of Ireland in 1461.^[3]

Robert married Joan Molyneux, daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, Lancs. ^[4]

Robert & Janet (Joan) were the parents of:

1. Sir William Preston, 2nd Viscount Gormanston, m. 1) Anne Burnell, m2). Eleanor Dowdall, widow of John Nangle, (d. 1517) ^[5]
2. Anne/Elizabeth Preston, m. Christopher Nugent. ^[6]

Robert died 9 Apr 1503. ^[7]

Research Notes

• Anne and Elizabeth could be 2 separate daughters above. Elizabeth Preston is known to have married Sir Thomas FitzGerald, son of Thomas, 7th Earl of Kildare and Joan Fitzgerald. Joan, in turn, was the daughter of James, 6th Earl of Desmond.

• Another explanation could be that Anne/Elizabeth married 1) Christopher Nugent (died of plague 1478) and then 2) Sir Thomas FitzGerald (died in battle 1487).

• Sir Thomas Fitzgerald's wife Elizabeth Preston was daughter of Robert Preston, 4th Baron/1st Viscount of Gormanston/Gormanstown, 1st son of Christopher Preston, 3rd Baron Gormanston, by his wife Jane D'Artois, daughter of Sir Jenico D'Artois.

• Robert Preston married Janet Molyneux, daughter of Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, County Lancaster, by his first wife Joan Haydock, daughter and heiress of Sir Gilbert Haydock, of Bradley.

• Robert succeeded his father Christopher c.1450 as 4th Baron Gormanston; Deputy Chancellor of Ireland 1461; elected a Knight of St George 1472; created 1st Viscount of Gormanston in the Counties of Dublin and Meath on 7 Aug 1478; Deputy Chief Governor of Ireland under the Duke of York 1478 and under the Duke of Bedford 1493; received a general pardon 1488. He died 5 Apr 1503.

Sources for these Research Notes:

• Fitzgerald, Walter. "The Fitzgeralds of Lackagh", Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. 1 (1895), with detailed family pedigree on p.313:
  • https://archive.org/stream/journalofcountyk01coun#page/n313/mode/2up
• Cracroft's Peerage: Robert Preston, 4th Baron/1st Viscount of Gormanston/Gormanstown
• Wikipedia: Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston

Sources

1. ↑ Christopher Preston, 2nd Baron
2. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 107th Edition., page 1601. Botrick, William., Editor.
3. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage.
4. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage,
5. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage,
6. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage,
7. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage,

• Profile of Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston, in the Dictionary of Irish Biography:
  • https://dib.cambridge.org/viewFullScreen.do?filename=a7490

• William Preston, 2nd Viscount Gormanston ThePeerage.com

• Gormanston, Viscount (I, 1478) Cracroft's Peerage