Samuel Preston was born about 1651 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts to Roger and Martha Preston. About 1659, the family moved to Salem, Massachusetts where Roger rented a farm and ran an inn and tavern. When Samuel was 15, his father died and Samuel was "put out" to Thomas Johnson, to be taken care of and to work for him until he turned 21. At age 21, May 27, 1672, Samuel married Susannah Gutterson at Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts and their children were: Samuel Jr., William, Susannah, Mary (#115755829), Jacob, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Ruth, Lydia and Priscilla. Samuel was an accuser in the Salem Witch Trials, 1692, when he said he lost two cows dying in a strange manner after Martha Carrier had differences with him. She was eventually hanged for "her crime" August 19, 1692. Samuel's wife, Susannah, died December 29, 1710 and he married Mary Rowlandson, widow of Jonathan Blodgett, September 24, 1713. Samuel was admitted to the church in Andover in 1711, he was a carpenter and sometimes referred to as a yeoman because of the land he owned. Samuel died July 10, 1738 at Andover and is probably buried there.
Emigrant from England, came to Salem, 1684/5, Marshall and Deputy Sheriff 1691,2,3