John Preston (1611–1686), born at Tara, Ardsallagh, County Meath, served as Mayor of Dublin in 1653–1654.
Following the death of his first wife, he married Katherine Ashburnham, the widow of Sir John Sherlock MP of Littlerath, County Kildare.
These lands had been confiscated from the Catholic Nangle family who held the title of Baron of Navan and distributed among Cromwell's various adventurers and soldiers who sold on these lands for a low price having not wished to move to Ireland.
It is also said that John held land in Dublin which may have been donated for the construction of the Royal Hospital and the Blue Coat School.
[5] His son John inherited the lands at Balsoon and later built Bellinter House after becoming in his own right a successful brewer.