This book is dedicated to my brother, Tom Huston, of Miami, Fla., researcher, developer and industrialist; founder of the Tom Huston Peanut Company of Columbus, Ga., and other enterprises. It was he who recognized the need for an account of the origin and early history of the remarkable Houston-Huston family.

Through the years, he assembled a private library, including many rare volumes, dealing with the lives and historical background of the Houstoun patriarchs and their Houston and Huston descendants. These books, along with some documents and helpful notes made on his travels, were placed at the disposal of the writer in the production of this book.

Without these materials and the encouragement and assistance of Tom Huston, this work could not have been consummated.