James Preston, Esq., who having acquired from Patrick Bruce the lands and barony of Valleyfield, in Perthshire, he and his successors have ever since been designed by that title. Upon the resignation of the said Partick Bruce, he got a charter of these lands from William, Commendator of Culross, the Abbot and Convent thereof, as superiors, “to and in favours of James Preston, son of Henry Preston, burgess of Edinburgh, and Margaret Home, spouse of the said James,” &c. The resignation is dated the 6th of September, 1543, and the charter in 1544. By the said Margaret Home he had a son,
Archibald Preston, Esq., who succeeded him, and was second Baron of Valleyfield. He married Giles Semple, descended of the noble family of Semple, and, upon his father’s resignation, he obtained sasine from the Commendator, Abbot, and Convent of Culross, of the whole lands and barony of Valleyfield, to and in favours of Archibald Preston, son and apparent heir of James Preston, of Valleyfield, and Giles Semple, spouse of the said Archibald, &c. The resignation is dated the 4th of September, 1545, and the sasine the 14th of February, 1549. He left issue two sons, James, his heir, and Richard, who was a Colonel in the service of the States of Holland. He was succeeded by his eldest son, James Preston, third Baron of Valleyfield, who married Jean, daughter of James Erskine, of Little Sauchy, third son of Robert, eleventh Lord Erskine, fourth Earl of Mar
