The Central Passage

The house is especially regionally unique in its one-and-a-half-story form with dormers and the unique central-passage plan. This physically conveyed the stature of the Preston family to visitors. The low, rambling house contrasted dramatically with the compact, two-story, stone and log dwellings built by other leaders in the late eighteenth century and the one-story log houses and cabins of the vast majority of the population. The number and scale of the rooms is greater than those in any other known house of the region and period.

Colonel William Preston: William Preston (December 25, 1729 - June 28, 1783) was the oldest son of John and Elizabeth (Patton) Preston and was born on December 25, 1729 in Newtown-Limavady, Donegal, Ireland.  Preston immigrated to America in 1738, settling in Augusta County, VA with his family: father, mother, uncle (Colonel James Patton) and 3 sisters: Letitia, Margaret and Ann. Preston was involved in the House of Burgesses (1765 - 1770) which is where he gained much of his inspiration for the design of his future home of Smithfield. Through his career, he would go on to serve as a local militia unit leader, a county surveyor, a county sheriff, and a signer of the Fincastle Resolutions in 1775. The Fincastle Resolutions are often seen as a precursor document to the Declaration of Independence. Preston also served in the French and Indian War as well as the Revolutionary War.

Preston married Susanna Smith Preston (January 23, 1740 - June 19, 1823) in 1761, and the pair settled briefly in Augusta County, VA, before moving to and settling at Greenfield Plantation, in current-day Botetourt County. Eventually, they would move to Smithfield in 1774, and Smithfield would become the main family household. William and Susanna are the heads of the Preston Family. Any other Prestons referred to are children, grandchildren, relatives, and later descendants.