Research notes: Prestonsburg

Founding

• Area part of the 100,000-acre grant to the family of Elizabeth Patton Preston, administered by John Preston. Sources: WP Pburg
• John Spurlock of Montgomery County, Va., arrived 1791 and laid out Preston’s Station in 1797. Sources: WP Pburg
• Renamed to honor Col. John Preston, landowner. Sources: SOS
• Contested: the brief credited surveyor John Graham and a May 3, 1797 plat; its source was an AI encyclopedia and was not used.

County seat

• Floyd County created Dec. 13, 1799, effective June 1, 1800, from Fleming, Montgomery and Mason; named for John Floyd; seat at Preston’s Station. Sources: WP Floyd
• First courthouse burned April 8, 1808, destroying early records. Sources: WP Floyd
• Post office ‘Floyd Court House’ 1816 to late 1820s; town formally established 1818. Sources: WP Pburg
• Brief’s ‘six residents in the 1800 census’ was cut: not found in the sources.

Timeline

1. 1791 John Spurlock arrives. Sources: WP Pburg
2. 1797 Preston’s Station laid out. Sources: WP Pburg
3. 1800 Floyd County takes effect; Preston’s Station is the seat. Sources: WP Floyd
4. 1808 First courthouse burns. Sources: WP Floyd
5. 1818 Town formally established. Sources: WP Pburg

People

• John Spurlock Laid out Preston’s Station
• John Preston Grant administrator and namesake
• John Floyd County namesake

Open questions

• Primary record of the 1797 plat and who drew it (Spurlock vs. Graham).
• Exact date of the 1818 act establishing the town.

Sources

Secondary sources

• “Prestonsburg, Kentucky.” Wikipedia. (opens in a new tab)
• “Floyd County, Kentucky.” Wikipedia. (opens in a new tab)

Primary sources

• “Prestonsburg.” Kentucky Secretary of State, Land Office city record. (opens in a new tab)