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Thank you amondg,

I have a copy of his will and have accessed the church registers. Unfortunately there is no marriage for Richard and his first wife Anne. I haven't found a marriage to his second wife either, although there are two children baptised to them and a note to say that they confessed to not being married a couple of years after the baptism of their daughter.

The name 'Richard Towne' is unfortunately quite common. He was a butcher which also seemed to be the occupation for Richard Townes! Due to the proximity to London, I am wondering whether the marriage could possibly have occurred there.

My plan was to explore all local sources first. Does anyone know if the parish vestry books exist and are accessible?

I am after some local knowledge on potential sources to identify the wife of the above. The parish registers have given a number of children born from 1720 to Richard and his wife Anne. Anne dies in 1742. There is no marriage for the couple in the St Martin's parish registers. Richard leaves a will listing his children and various tenements he holds in the area.
My questions concern any potential manorial records, vestry books, MIs and any other useful records for 18th century West Drayton that could be accessed.

TIA.

Fiona

Hi My Name is John Ward and I am descended from the Hills of Ballycastle.
I have recently bought the building that used to be the Ramoan Rectory. It was built in 1809 and the rector at the time was the Rev Charles Hill. He had a son called Hugh Hill who got involved in the trade of smuggling potteen. He and his crew were unfortunately caught and their punishment was transportation to America. I have documentary information about this and if you wish to contact me I will pass it to you.
Kind Regards
John

Reverend Harrison Balfour's daughter Henrietta died at the Ramoan Rectory in 1821. Rev. Charles Hill was her uncle. Do you have any information concerning the tie in with the Balfour family?

Hi Floxxie
I've done a significant amount of research on the Leek family of Tamlaghtard and have them living in Macosquin on the Hearth Money Rolls of Charles ll's reign following the Cromwellian settlement. I haven't been able to find their origins in England but there is no apparent records of them in the area in Plantation times,  so presumably the name arrived with the task force (New Model Army?) to quell the Irish Rebellion.
I'm very keen to dust of my old genealogy records and assist with your research, and look forward to possibly learning something new about the Leeks.
Julian

Thank you Julian. I hope I can find something new for you although finding their origins sounds like it might be a post-dissertation project! Just send me a message when you have dusted off the files and we can have a chat about your family lines.

Tamlaghtard parish records survive back to 1746 and are available on microfilm in PRONI and Portrush Library. They are also indexed on the Causeway Coast & Glens FHS website (members only access).

Thank you. I have access to these.