Mr Digory Martin married Mrs Ann Rowse on 8 April 1716 at Hatherleigh. Both being a "Mr" and "Mrs" would suggest they were both notable in the community, and also, in the case of Ann (sometimes Anne), that she was a widow.

Digory believed to be born 1694 and died 1762 Hatherleigh. Ann(e) buried Hathleigh 28 May 1743.

Digory was apprenticed by his father, John (a gentleman), in 1712 to John Fortescue (also a gentleman, and who I found to be an Attorney) of Hatherleigh, Digory being one of several individuals who John Fortescue took on as apprentices over the years.

I am interested in the wife Ann(e), who the use of "Mrs" would suggest she was a widow, but who was her husband and when and where did they marry. There is no indication in the Hatherleigh burial register of her age when she died, and I have searched the Hatherleigh Registers back to 1690 without success, so might she have been older - ?and rich - widow. There was a John Rowse (Rouse) who was a Vicar of Hatherleigh from 1701 but he didn't die until 1721, so Ann(e) couldn't have been his widow. Perhaps her former husband was a relative of his?

Would anyone have any suggestions as to how I might take my research further, to answer some of my questions about her previous marriage.

David