Richard Heighway and Mary Preest (General)
Richard Tilsley Highway (or Heighway) married Mary Preest on 25 April 1848 at Newland. She stated she was ‘of full age’ and the daughter of Richard Preest (labourer).
I have tracked Richard and Mary Heighway through the census records available, and she appears to have been born around 1823/24. In most census returns her birthplace is given as West Dean, but in 1881 it gives her birthplace as Ellwood. I cannot trace a baptism for her.
I think she is the daughter of Richard Preest and Anne Beach.
Richard and Anne married in 1821, but Anne died in August 1824 (aged 33). Richard remarried Mary Kear in 1832 and had two sons William in 1833 and Richard in 1836. Richard, Mary and their sons were living at Ellwood, Bream in 1841. (Whilst Mary Preest, aged 17, was living in Lydney with Ann Morgan, a school mistress.)
I have found the National Probate Calendar entry for Richard Preest’s Will in 1868. It lists the executors as William (his) son (Richard Jnr had died in 1863) and Richard Heighway Shopkeeper.
Can anyone help me prove (or disprove) that Richard Heighway was Richard Preest’s son in law?
Thanks
Mary