Hi again davidft
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Do you know the names of any of his siblings, would that help?
Do you know who the witnesses at his marriage were, any chance there were family members included?
Alternatively have you looked in Leicestershire as Apethorpe and Laxton are very close to there
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I don't know the names of his siblings. I would however if I knew which of two families he was from!
The witnesses to the marriage were someone from the bride's side (probably although the surname was spelled slightly differently) and someone from neither family if the name is anything to go by so I don't think that helps
Apethorpe and Laxton are closer to Rutland than to Leicestershire (and also to Peterborough which has spent time in Northants, Hunts and Cambridgeshire) and there is indeed an Edward Vines from around the same birth date in the records for Hambleton, Rutland. He is our second strong possibility and a branch of that family line can also be found a few decades later in a small village called Knossington in Leicestershire which we know our family lived in as well. Indeed there was even inter-marriage between the two lines in Knossington when the widow of a Vines from one line married a widower called Vines from the other line (saves changing the notepaper I suppose!) so there is some circumstantial evidence that the two lines may have earlier links. However, Apethorpe is closer to both Laxton and Collyweston (where Edward's marriage took place) so that too could be circumstantial evidence.
It is very annoying to get so far and not be able to get farther back but I do appreciate your ideas. Thank you.
Tony