Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wordless Wednesday- Family Visits



Isaac Trimble Preston- Catherine Lawn Layton

Isaac T. Preston was born in 1793 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, the son of Francis Preston. His mother may have been a Campbell. He graduated from Yale in 1812, and then continued his studies in law at the Litchfield Law School in Connecticut.

In 1813 he left his law studies behind and entered the Army as a Captain of the 35th Infantry during the War of 1812. Isaac was honorably discharged in 1815 after which he continued his law studies. He then moved first to Virginia and then to Louisiana.

In New Orleans, Louisiana he married Catherine Lawn Layton the daughter of Robert Layton and Susan Gilchrist on November 20, 1828. They had six children.

In New Orleans Isaac became one of the leading attorneys of the time. He went on to be the Attorney General of Louisiana from 1824 to 1829 and then again in 1843 to 1846. In 1844-1845 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Louisiana. He served the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1845-1846 and became a Supreme Court Judge in 1850.

Isaac was one of the key promoters for the  construction of the railroad from New Orleans to Jackson, Ms. He was a well respected and prominent land owner. He contributed to many charities among which was the donation of the land for the Methodist Episcopal Church in Carrollton, La.

Isaac remarried in 1845 after the death of Catherine in 1842 to Margaret Hewes. Who was the step mother of his deceased wife, Catherine Lawn Layton.

Isaac died in 1852 aboard the steamboat the St. James, which was involved in a race. The steamboat exploded and burned on Lake Ponchartrain.

The children of Isaac Preston and Catherine Lawn Layton were:

Francis Preston

Isaac Trimble Preston who died as an infant

Robert Layton Preston

Thomas Layton Preston

Buxton John Preston

Isaac T. Preston











Sources:
The Prestons of Smithfield and Greenfield in Virginia by: John Frederick Dorman
 The Litchfield Historical Society
The Louisiana Advertiser- Historical Newspaper

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sentimental Sunday- Remembering the Veterans

In honor of Veteran's Day I would like to add photos of a few Gulf Coast natives who have served our country.


Moise J.Pete Ladner

Clarence Saucier




Francis Ladner









Saturday, November 3, 2012

Surname Saturday- Lawn/Layton

Buxton Lawn and Mary Dawson of England had a large family of ten children. Of those children we know that at least six of them came to America, where they married and raised large families themselves.

Robert the eldest son in America changed his name to Layton. He along with one brother and three sister's settled in Louisiana. The sister's were Anne Lawn McKittrick, Elizabeth, and Mary Lawn.

Anne was widowed while still in England, she had one daughter from this marriage, Mary. Anne later married Samuel James Stephens in Louisiana. They had three daughters. Ann, Catherine, and Cecelia.

Elizabeth Lawn married William Blackman Ligon and they had eleven children.

Mary Lawn married Charles K. Porter and they had two children.

Robert Layton first married Susan Gilchrist and later Margaret Newman Hewes. His first marriage produced four children and the second, six children. He owned Layton and Co. and was a ship's chandler. Robert had a hand in building the St. Tammany Parish courthouse. He is listed in the roll of enlisted men for the War of 1812 as Quarter Master, 1st Regiment DeJan's Louisiana Militia.

His grandson was Dr. Thomas Layton of New Orleans. Thomas studied medicine in Paris and was received his M.D. in 1868. He returned to New Orleans where he practiced. He wrote the Transmission and Transformation of Nervous Diseases Through Heredity.





Friday, November 2, 2012

An All Saints Traditon

There is nothing in the world like pulling up to the cemetery in the dark of the night and seeing hundreds of glimmering lights. There is something so serene and beautiful about those flickering  lights.

Many cultures celebrate All Saints on November 1st and All Souls on November 2nd by cleaning and adorning the graves with beautiful flowers, and when the darkness falls, lighting multiple candles around the headstones of loved ones.

Here in South Mississippi we still carry on this tradition. Last night I went to Wolf River Cemetery to light the candles on my father in laws grave. There is such beauty in the lights. There is nothing creepy about the cemetery on this night. It is transformed into a beautiful tribute to those who have gone before us.

There are hushed voices and people everywhere. They are all out lighting their candles, showing their love and remembrance in this small but beautiful way. People stop and greet one another, talk about the old times when so and so was still alive.

Slowly the people melt away into the night, and all that is left is the quiet and all those lights in the darkness.