Preston

PRESTON, a parish in the hundred of Babergh, county Suffolk, 2 miles NE of Lavenham, its post town, and 6 NE of Sudbury. The village, which is small, is situated near the river Brett, and is wholly agricultural. There was formerly a mansion called Preston Place, the seat of Robert Ryece, a preserver of the antiquities of the county. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £402, in the patronage of Emanuel College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St Mary, has a tower containing six bells. The windows are emblazoned with the coats of arms borne by the principal families of this and the adjoining counties. The parochial charities produce about £14 per annum. The rectory-house was rebuilt in 1835. There is a National school, which was built in 1843. The parish is divided into four manors, of which Mr W Makin, Mr John Wright, and Sir B C Brodie Baronet, are lords.
Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)

The Reverend Mr Thomas Willis, who died and was buried in the parish in 1638, was Rector for 45 years. His register is a delight – easy to read and full of extra information. Sadly the existing registers only start in 1628, which must mean the earlier register, containing 35 years of entries from Rev Willis, must have been lost. I can only imagine what information it would have contained.

Preston baptisms FL616-4-1-1 1628-1785

Preston baptisms FL616-4-2 1786-1812

Preston marriages FL616-4-1-1 1628-1774

Preston marriages FL616-4-4 1786-1812

Preston burials FL616-4-1-1 1628-1785

Preston burials FL616-4-2 1786-1812

Further registers for Preston are included in the FreeREG database.