NICHOLAS PRESTON OF BURTON UPON STATHER, LINCOLNSHIRE.
(1849 - 1899)
Although of Lincolnshire parents Nicholas Preston was actually born in Hatfield, Yorkshire in 1849.The family moved back to Lincolnshire soon after and Nicholas was brought up in Burton Upon Stather.He became a carpenter and joiner by trade serving his apprenticeship in Hull.
In 1872 whilst living in Sculcotes, Hull he married Jane Neal in Appleby, Lincolnshire. Jane was born in Appleby in 1847. They had eight children, the eldest Edith Elizabeth Emmaline was born in 1874 in Hull. The rest of the children were all born in Burton Stather. The eldest son George Richard Frederick (my grandfather) was born in 1876. There followed Sarah Hannah Gertrude 1878, Arthur Henry Neal 1980, Rosa Eleanor May 1881, Percival Marmaduke 1884, Lucy Alice 1886 and Jessie Christine 1889. Sadly Sarah, Arthur, Percival, Lucy and Jessie all died in infancy.
Many of the letters regard Nicholas's joinery business but he had many other part time agencies. He was secretary to the Star Dividend Society and insurance agent for the London, Liverpool & Globe Insurance Company where he received 15% of the premiums he generated. I'm not sure what remuneration (if any) he received from the dividend club. He was always on the lookout for other agencies, the following seemed short lived.
	The Always Bliss Company - Herbal Remedies (letters 178 & 182)
	Kays Universal Stores - Mail Order (Letter 44)
	The Otto Gas Engine Works - I think an early electric generator (letters 26 & 101)
He was Clerk to the Parish Council and also carried out the roles of Rates Collector, Returning Officer and Overseer of the Poor. He was also secretary of the Burton Stather Cricket Club.
I have tried to type the letters and extracts as written. With Nicholas's love of flowery language and long rambling sentences, it has often driven the Microsoft Word grammar check to distraction.
Nicholas died of a stroke 22nd January 1899, just three months after the last letter.
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